I am currently in ROTC and will be entering my MS III year next school term. I was giving alot of thought to branching Infantry but have come to the conclusion that it may not be the best idea for me. A few years back I broke my ankle and at times it gives me problems especially after ruck marches. I can fight thru the pain but I'm beginning to think that if I were to branch Infantry the years of ruck marches could severely hurt and possibly cause permanent damage to my ankle. I really don't want to use a walker if I make it to old age.

Anyway because of this I've been looking at other branches and the one I think I like the best is Armor, more for the Light Cavalry and Recon Troops than for the Tanks (sorry guys). Anyway I have two questions...

1) How difficult is it to get assigned to a Light Cav or Recon Troop as opposed to a Tank Company? Do I get some input in the decision or is it simply luck of the draw?

2) I know for Infantry officers, to successfully advance past the lower ranks, Ranger school is a unofficial requirement and I've noticed that it is also listed as "other training" for Armor officers... Is it also an unofficial requirement for higher ranked Armor officers?

(Don't get me wrong I'd like to go to Ranger school to see if I can do it, but 61 days of heavy ruck marching will tear my ankle up and I am a bit concerned about that. Also I know many will tell me not to worry about climbing the ladder and I'm not, but I also have no intention of getting out after 4 years either so it is a legitimate question...)

Thanks in advance.

The officers I worked with in Armor were all Infantry - and should have stayed there - -

Their lack of understanding as to what Recon/Scouts were supposed to do for training in garrison and in the field pretty much left us dangling as "detail" platoon for the tank companies - not fun!!!

Ranger school for Armor Officer's helps but is not required (and is not a discriminator as far as promotions go). Most Armor officers are not Ranger qualified.

Your right, infantry will tear up your ankles (I did both)...but jumping on and off tanks tear them up too.

And falling can't forget falling off tanks. You know like when someone traverses the turrent while you're sleeping and you get up to check the batteries on the drivers console? No you dont? God that hurt..........

quote:

Originally posted by amadeus76:
1) How difficult is it to get assigned to a Light Cav or Recon Troop as opposed to a Tank Company? Do I get some input in the decision or is it simply luck of the draw?

I don't know how they determine who gets assigned where from ROTC now. When I commissioned 11 years ago, you turned a wish list in to your branch, and then were able to trade assignments in OBC.

The numbers argue against a light cav assignment- there are 6 Stryker BCTs (with 3 Cavalry Troops and 9 MGS PLTs each), 18 Infantry BCTs (with 2 light cavalry troops each), 18 Heavy BCTs (with 3 armored cavalry troops and 4 tank companies each), and the 3d ACR (with 9 armored cavalry troops and 3 tank companies).

quote:

Originally posted by amadeus76:
2) I know for Infantry officers, to successfully advance past the lower ranks, Ranger school is a unofficial requirement and I've noticed that it is also listed as "other training" for Armor officers... Is it also an unofficial requirement for higher ranked Armor officers?

Ranger school is in no way a requirement for Armor officers. Only a few are Ranger qualified (although more recently, as light cavalry assignments have put more AR officers in light units).

I will be commissioned in a couple of wks and have been branched armor. I was supposed to go to JMTC but didn't want to play OPFOR and contacted branch to see if I could switch out for something else. One of my buddies Squadron Commander use to work for Armor branch and he got me into his unit. Your going to have to take the initiative to get assigned to a light cav or recon troop and get some help along the way. In order to get branched armor keep your grades up as well as keeping involved in extracurricular activities around campus. Armor is one of the most sought after branches so you need to be in the top 30% of the OML in order to not use the ADSO. Good luck with the rest of ROTC and don't worry about LDAC it's a joke.

I have been in Light Cavalry units (mostly Airborne) my whole career and we do the same amoutn of walking as the Infantry companies, and Ranger school is stressed in every unit Ive been in. If your decision is being made to get out of the walk you may want to stay out of the IBCT's or SBCT's...

quote:

I don't know how they determine who gets assigned where from ROTC now. When I commissioned 11 years ago, you turned a wish list in to your branch, and then were able to trade assignments in OBC.

Hubby just got PL for an MGS platoon in a Stryker BDE. It was much the same when he commissioned in '07. They commissioned with a wish list, and then could trade assignments at BOLC II and BOLC III (formerly AOBC).

kingram5 is right about keeping grades up, etc., in order to go armor. It is the second most asked-for branch after Infantry (or so I understood when my hubby was in ROTC). B used his ADSO (though I'm not sure whether it was for Armor or for something else), but he was planning on going career anyway.

LDAC goes back and forth. B's year they tried to toughen things up, but then decided it was too difficult, so they loosened the standards a little. I'd say be prepared for the tough, then if it's easy you can skid through no problem.

In his new unit, B is an Armor officer in an MGS platoon in an infantry company. He has to do the same running, ruck marching, etc., as the infantry officers. If staying off your ankle is your primary concern, I would also advise staying away from strykers.