About ROTC

Table of Contents

• Course Structure
• Basic Course (First-Year and Sophomore Year)
• Advanced Course (Junior and Senior Year)
• What jobs can I get after graduating as an Army Officer?
• Army Components
• Army Branches
  • Operations Branches
  • Operations Support Branches
  • Force Sustainment Branches
  • Information Dominance Branches
  • Specialty Branches (Advanced/Specialized Degrees)
  • Special Operations Branches (Available After Commissioning)
  • Functional Area Branches (Available After Commissioning)
• Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO)
• Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors (KSBs)
• Branch Application Interviews (HireView)
• Talent Based Branching (TBB)
• Policy Memorandums

Course Structure

Army ROTC courses are divided into the Basic Course (first-year and sophomore year) and the Advanced Course (junior and senior year).

The full four-year ROTC curriculum spans 34 total credits toward your degree.

Basic Course (First-Year and Sophomore Year)

The Basic Course comprises elective courses that you can participate in during your first-year and sophomore undergraduate years without any obligation to join the Army. Any student with an interest in ROTC or leadership opportunities within higher education may participate in these courses to satisfy elective course credits within their degree plan. As a student in the Basic Course, you will have many opportunities to develop yourself as a future leader of your organization, your community, and your country.

Basic Courses include:

• MS*101 Introduction to Army (Fall First-Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*102 Foundations of Leadership (Spring First-Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*201 Leadership and Ethics (Fall Sophomore Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*202 Army Doctrine and Decision-Making (Spring Sophomore Year. 3 Credits.)
• One history course at your university in which 51% or more of the curriculum covers topics regarding American military history, subject to approval by Loyola-Towson Army ROTC’s Professor of Military Science. (Course availability and credits vary based on semester.)

Additionally, you will also register for the following co-requisite labs every semester:

• MS*009 Physical Training Lab (1-hour on Tuesday and 1-hour on Thursday, 6AM-7AM)
• MS*099 Leadership Lab (4-hours each Wednesday, 6AM-9:50AM. 1 Credit.)

The Basic Course addresses leadership, ethics, military organizations, weapons, map reading, land navigation, management skills, and public speaking skills with no contractual obligations or commitments. The Basic Course may be waived if you have graduated Basic Camp or Army Initial Entry Training ("Basic Training"), completed four years of high school Junior ROTC (JROTC), or if you have Senior ROTC credit for first-year and sophomore classes from another service branch (e.g., Air Force, Navy). This is done on a case-by-case approval basis.

Advanced Course (Junior and Senior Year)

The Advanced Course comprises courses that must be taken by ROTC Cadets in order to graduate and commission as a United States Army Officer. Students who decide to contract with ROTC take these courses during their junior and senior years (undergraduate) or during their last two years as a graduate/postgraduate student.

These courses are not open for non-contracted students to take as an elective for their degree plans; students must be contracted with Army ROTC obligating them to commission as a United States Army Officer in order to take these courses. They must take courses in sequence to fulfill prerequisite requirements. A student must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident with eligibility to receive U.S. citizenship upon graduation.

Non-contracted student (new student) enrollment into the Advanced Course (MS*301) is approved on a case-by-case basis by the Department Chair, only in the event that students wish to contract immediately upon enrolling in these courses. Students who are interested in contracting with ROTC can enter the Advanced Course directly as an undergraduate junior or graduate student without completing the Basic Course, given that they satisfy "Basic Course Credit" during a summer semester (either completing Basic Camp at Fort Knox, KY or graduating from U.S. Army Basic Combat Training) or are granted Basic Course Credit through an assessment of their classes from another service branch’s ROTC and performance assessment by the Professor of Military Science through MS 301.

Advanced Courses include:

• MS*301 Training Management and the Warfighting Functions (Fall Junior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations (Spring Junior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*401 The Army Officer (Fall Senior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MS*402 Company Grade Leadership (Spring Senior Year. 3 Credits.)

Additionally, you will also register for the following co-requisite labs every semester:

• MS*009 Physical Training Lab (1-hour on Tuesday and 1-hour on Thursday, 6AM-7AM.)
• MS*099 Leadership Lab (4-hours each Wednesday, 6AM-9:50AM. 1 Credit.)
• MS*499 Command & Staff Simulation Lab (Seniors only. 1-hour in-person or virtual each Monday, 8AM-9AM. 1 Credit.)

On a case-by-case basis, students who have successfully completed the Advanced Course but require more than eight total semesters to receive their undergraduate degree may take the following course to fulfill specific graduation requirements. This course may be repeated for credit. Note that most students do not take this course. Student enrollment must be approved by the Department Chair.

• MS*403 Senior Independent Military Studies (Special Circumstances Only. 3 Credits.)

Select seniors may opt to apply for internships applicable to their upcoming career paths during their final semester of college. These seniors may request approval from the Brigade Commander, 4th Brigade, Cadet Command, to take MS*403 as an independent studies class in lieu of MS*402.

During MS*403, students will pursue large-scale projects with real-world impact or original research similar to a graduate dissertation, with weekly in-person or virtual progress meetings with the Department Chair.

What jobs can I get after graduating as an Army Officer?

ROTC Cadets receive training that prepares them for success across a wide variety of careers across the branches of the U.S. Army. When Cadets graduate and commission as Second Lieutenants, they enter one of the Officer Career Fields across the U.S. Army's branches.

During ROTC, you will compete and apply nationally for your Army component and branch.

• A component is the status in which you will serve in the Army: full-time (Active Duty) or part-time (National Guard or Army Reserve in a state of your choosing).
• A branch is the initial job field you will serve in. Note that once you commission, there will be opportunities to request changes to your branch or pursue specialty and advanced branches.

Army Components

The Army consists of the Active Duty, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve components. Each ensures the Army is prepared and efficient as a well-rounded force.

Which component you choose at the end of your junior year (MS3 year) of ROTC, or when you accept an ROTC scholarship, depends on your career and higher education goals.

Commissioning as an Active Duty Officer ensures you receive a full-time salary with all Active Duty benefits for you and your family. Active Duty Officers have preference and flexibility to be stationed across the world.

On the other hand, the Army National Guard or Army Reserve components may benefit students who seek to guarantee part-time service upon graduation while simultaneously pursuing civilian career goals or graduate/postgraduate education. In addition, choosing part-time service in the National Guard or Army Reserve enables graduates to pinpoint specific states where they want to work after graduation.

Active Duty (AD)

On Active Duty, your role and the Army’s needs will influence where you live, but you’ll have some preference and flexibility in where you’re stationed. The everyday responsibilities of your specific Army job may require you to live on or near a base. Active Duty Officers have the opportunity to explore exciting locations overseas (e.g., Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, etc.). There's the possibility to serve on a base across the United States, as well as in another part of the world. Active Duty is working a full-time job with the Army and receiving a full-time salary with Active Duty benefits.

Army National Guard (ARNG)

As an Army National Guard Officer, you'll not only serve under the command of your state governor to respond to natural disasters or domestic emergencies, but you can also be called on to defend the nation when needed. States, U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), and the District of Columbia each have Army National Guard units. Serving part-time as an Army National Guard Soldier offers you work-life balance, flexibility, a paycheck, great benefits, and more. The Army National Guard lets you stay close to home surrounded by what’s already familiar to you. You can attend college, continue a civilian career, or pursue other personal endeavors while serving part-time. As part of your service commitment, you are required to spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year in training. Cadets can apply to any state or U.S. territories of their choosing.

Army Reserve (USAR)

The Army Reserve is a reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. With Army Reserve service, you can attend college full-time, live near the school, and receive education benefits. You can pursue your career goals and advance in your full-time civilian job while following your passion to serve your country part-time. As part of your service commitment, you are required to spend one weekend a month and two weeks a year in training. Cadets can apply to any state or U.S. territories of their choosing.

Army Branches

The Army branches can be categorized into Operations, Operations Support, Force Sustainment, and Information Dominance, each focusing on different aspects of military operations. Army branches also include those requiring advanced/specialized degrees, Special Operations, and other career specializations that will be available to you once you are a Commissioned Officer.

• Operations Branches: The operations process involves planning, preparing, executing, and assessing a mission.
• Operations Support Branches: Support operations ensure that military forces are ready and effective.
• Force Sustainment Branches: Sustainment operations provide the logistics, maintenance, and support needed to keep military forces ready and effective.
• Information Dominance Branches: Information dominance may be defined as superiority in the generation, manipulation, and use of information sufficient to afford its possessors military dominance.
• Specialty Branches (Advanced/Specialized Degrees): Specialized degree branches offer medical, legal, and religious services and comprise the Army's doctors, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, and more.
• Special Operations Branches (Available After Commissioning): Special Operations are the most elite U.S. Army forces, consisting of five units with unique specialties, working in small teams on challenging missions.
• Functional Area Branches (Available After Commissioning): These branches include unique and specialized experiences such as acquisitions, marketing and economics, foreign diplomacy, data science, public affairs, space operations, and tenured professors.

Operations Branches

The operations process includes planning, preparing, executing, and assessing a mission. This category includes Soldiers and units that are directly involved in combat or combat-like missions. It covers things like Infantry, Armor (tanks), Artillery, Aviation (helicopters), and Special Operations Forces. These are the people and teams that are on the front lines or closely support those who are.

Air Defense Artillery (ADA)

The Air Defense Artillery branch specializes in anti-aircraft weaponry and maintains air space superiority to protect troops against aerial and missile attacks. They provide threat detection and early warnings from airspace.

Visit the VBO Air Defense Artillery Page

Armor (AR)

The Armor Branch is the Army’s decisive shock force. Armor Officers lead tank and scout formations that deliver unmatched firepower, speed, and protection on the battlefield. They close with and destroy the enemy while conducting reconnaissance and security to shape the fight. Armor Officers are masters of combined arms maneuver, trusted to lead from the front in the most demanding conditions.

Visit the VBO Armor Page

Aviation (AV)

The Aviation branch coordinates aviation operations from maintenance to control tower operations to tactical flight operations. Army Aviators provide quick-strike and long-range target engagement and transport troops and supplies.

Visit the VBO Aviation Page

Chemical Corps (CM)

The Chemical Corps uses the latest defense technology to protect the force from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

Visit the VBO Chemical Corps Page

Engineer Corps (EN)

Army Engineers lead the way by combining technical expertise with tactical skill. Whether building bridges under fire, clearing obstacles in combat zones, or constructing airfields and critical infrastructure, Engineer Officers enable friendly forces' mobility and deny it to the enemy. They design, build, and maintain roads, bases, and airfields, manage natural resources, and oversee large-scale civil works projects—all while supporting combat operations with engineering solutions that ensure mission success.

Visit the VBO Engineer Corps Page

Field Artillery (FA)

Field Artillery provides cannon, rocket, and missile fire support in an operational environment, earning it the title, "King of Battle."

Visit the VBO Field Artillery Page

Infantry (IN)

The Infantry branch is the main land combat force. Infantry Officers are tactical masters who plan and execute worldwide Army operations during war and peacetime.

Visit the VBO Infantry Page

Military Police (MP)

The Army depends on Military Police to maintain order and discipline. MPs serve as the Army's law enforcement and security officers and handle crimes committed on Army installations.

Visit the VBO Military Police Page

 

Operations Support Branches

Support operations include tasks like ensuring that the Army has the equipment needed for training, exercises, combat, and other scenarios. These are the professionals who help the frontline forces do their job effectively. This includes intelligence experts who gather and analyze information about the enemy, and communications specialists who ensure secure and reliable communication. It also includes people responsible for training and developing Army forces—those who make sure the Army is well-prepared and properly equipped for its missions.

Military Intelligence (MI)

Military Intelligence Officers provide essential information that can often save the lives of Soldiers fighting on the front lines. They lead intelligence Soldiers, assess risks, and act to neutralize intelligence threats.

Visit the VBO Military Intelligence Page

Signal Corps (SC)

The Signal Corps is responsible for operating and maintaining the Army's data systems and resources. Their experts ensure seamless end-to-end communication, including everything from phones and computers to routers and satellite relays.

Visit the VBO Signal Corps Page

 

Force Sustainment Branches

Sustainment is a warfighting function that provides personnel, logistics, and other support to maintain and prolong operations. Sustainment operations are used to build and maintain combat power. This group keeps the Army running. It includes logistics (e.g., supply and transport), human resources, and financial management—everything that ensures Soldiers are fed, equipped, paid, and supported. These roles are not on the front lines, but the Army could not function without them.  They often are embedded within Operations Units.

Adjutant General (AG)

The Adjutant General Corps is responsible for personnel management. AG Officers provide personnel support that affects Soldiers' overall welfare and well-being while assisting commanders by keeping Soldiers combat-ready.

Visit the VBO Adjutant General Corps Page

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists are responsible for locating, identifying, rendering safe, and disposing of explosive threats, including conventional, chemical, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They also support VIP missions for agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service and the State Department, conduct bomb scene investigations, and provide technical support to other military units. Their duties involve specialized training to deal with hazards in various operational environments.

Visit the VBO Explosive Ordnance Disposal Page

Finance (FC)

Financial managers are responsible for purchasing services and supplies to sustain missions, Army pay, commercial vendor support, auditing, accounting, financial management information systems, and banking.

Visit the VBO Finance Page

Logistics (LG)

The Logistics branch is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the sustainment of Army forces, ensuring they are equipped, supplied, and maintained for operations in both peacetime and wartime. It encompasses functions such as supply, maintenance, transportation, and field services—all working together to provide the support needed for mission accomplishment.

Visit the VBO Logistics Page

Medical Service Corps (MS)

Medical Service Corps Officers plan, direct, manage, administer, and participate in the functioning of health care facilities and organizations. They advise commanders at all levels on aspects of health care facilities and delivery.

Visit the VBO Medical Service Corps Page

 

Information Dominance Branches

Information Dominance is a crucial element for achieving operational advantage. It refers to the degree of information superiority that allows a commander to effectively use information systems and capabilities to gain a tactical edge while simultaneously denying those capabilities to the adversary. Information dominance is not about simply having more data than the enemy, but rather about transforming that data into relevant information in a timely manner for diverse forces with dynamically changing needs. It is a critical component of U.S. military success in multidomain operations, where operations are conducted across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. 

This is the Army’s high-tech edge. It includes cyber specialists and information warfare experts who protect Army networks, disrupt enemy systems, and manage the flow of digital information to gain the upper hand in both physical and virtual battlespaces.

Cyber (CY)

Cyber Operations Officers conduct integrated, synchronized defensive and offensive cyberspace operations to target hostile enemy activities and capabilities.

Visit the VBO Cyber Page

 

Specialty Branches (Advanced/Specialized Degrees)

With an advanced/specialized degree, you are able to commission directly into these Army career fields. For some fields that require graduate and postgraduate education, students would seek an Educational Delay, remaining in higher education until their advanced degree is complete, and commissioning into the Army at a higher starting rank based on their specialization. Scholarships are often available for these graduate and postgraduate degrees.

Nurse Corps (NC)

The Army Nurse Corps comprises more than 11,000 Soldiers dedicated to providing high-tech, high-quality health care to military personnel, their families, and military retirees worldwide. They support humanitarian missions and respond to natural disasters, experiences unmatched as a civilian nurse. Army nurses choose one of five specialties: Critical Care, Mental Health, Perioperative, Emergency Trauma, and Gynecology/Obstetrics.

Visit the Nurse Corps Page

Chaplain Corps (CC)

Chaplains are spiritual leaders who reach out and provide spiritual guidance to anyone in need. As an Army Chaplain, you'll have the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers and their Families. You’ll also oversee a full program of religious ministries, including workshops, counseling sessions, religious education, and special events.

Visit the VBO Chaplain Corps Page

Dental Corps (DC)

The Army Dental Corps teaches more residents than any other institution in the country. It maintains modern dental facilities in the U.S. and abroad, across diverse countries. The Army’s Specialty Residency Programs regularly produce graduates who score in the top 95th percentile. The Army Dental Corps comprises nine specialties: Comprehensive Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, General Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Public Health.

Visit the Dental Corps Page

Medical Corps (MC)

The Army Medical Corps contains over 40 specialties, from internal medicine and neurosurgery to pathology, anesthesiology, and psychiatry. Army Medical Corps physicians practice in three main areas: Operational Medicine, Clinical Medicine, and Research Medicine.

Visit the Medical Corps Page

Medical Service Corps (MS) Advanced/Specialized Degree

The Medical Service Corps is the most diverse branch of the U.S. Army. This Corps is home to medical administrative, scientific, and provider specialties, from direct patient care to management of the U.S. Army’s health service system. Disciplines include: Behavioral Sciences, Health Services, Laboratory Sciences, Optometry, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Preventive Medicine, and more. While Medical Service Corps Officers with general degrees manage health care facilities and organizations, those with advanced/specialized degrees will serve in specialized disciplines.

Visit the VBO Medical Service Corps Page

Medical Specialist Corps (SP)

The Medical Specialist Corps comprises four distinct specialties: Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Dietitians, and Physician Assistants.

Visit the Medical Special Corps Page

Veterinary Corps (VC)

As an Army Veterinary Officer, you’ll specialize in animal medicine, veterinary public health, and research and development. You’ll gain valuable experience leading Veterinary Corps units to treat Army animals, including K-9 units, ceremonial horses, and helping care for Soldiers' family pets. You’ll also serve an important role in food safety for your fellow Soldiers and join humanitarian missions to help local communities with animal care.

Visit the Veterinary Corps Page

Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG)

As an Army Judge Advocate (lawyer in the Army), you’ll be responsible for offering legal services to Soldiers, Officers, and families. You’ll primarily focus on criminal law, legal assistance, civil and administrative law, labor and employment law, international and operational law, intelligence law, and contract and fiscal law. You’ll offer legal reviews, ethics opinions, advice to commanders and their staff, and assist Soldiers with legal services.

Visit the VBO Judge Advocate General's Corps Page

 

Special Operations Branches (Available After Commissioning)

After commissioning, you can apply for selection to one of several special operations branches. Special Operations consists of five units with unique specialties for each. Soldiers in Special Operations work in small tactical teams to take on the Army’s most challenging and sensitive missions. It requires extensive training to ensure physical and mental resiliency.

Civil Affairs (CA)

As a Civil Affairs Officer, you’ll act as a liaison between the Army and civilian authorities and populations. You’ll perform strategic and tactical civil affairs operations and combined armed forces, both overt and covert, in peacetime or when activated for crisis or war. You’ll also coordinate employment of civil affairs Soldiers at all levels of command in U.S. and multinational operations.

Visit the VBO Civil Affairs Page

Psychological Operations (PSYOP)

As a Psychological Operations Officer, you’ll be a master of persuasion and influence, and an expert in political trends, cultural trends, and attitudes of the people in your given area of operation. You’ll utilize your understanding of social psychology and individual and group dynamics to influence individuals, groups, and populations.

Visit the VBO Psychological Operations Page

Special Forces (SF)

As a Special Forces Officer, you’ll become a member of the Green Berets, one of the most highly skilled Soldiers in the world. You will lead teams on missions, including counter-terrorism, direct action, foreign internal defense, intelligence gathering, and unconventional warfare. You’ll have several duties, including training, resource management, mission and logistics planning, and working with U.S. and foreign government agencies.

Visit the VBO Special Forces Page

 

Functional Area Branches (Available After Commissioning)

After commissioning, many other specialty functional branches will be available throughout your career. Functional area branches fall under Maneuver, Fires & Effects (MFE), Operations Support (OS), Force Sustainment (FS), Medical Service Corps Functional Areas, and Judge Advocate General's Corps Functional Areas. This list is far from comprehensive, but gives you a quick snapshot of the variety of jobs available.

Army Acquisition Corps (AAC)

Acquisition Officers strive to meet the needs of the Soldier across the full spectrum of operations by incorporating technical solutions to address the rapidly evolving threat environment. Officers work with joint and international partners, as well as those in industry and academia, to develop, acquire, deliver, sustain, and safely dispose of weapons systems, and to provide contracting services to Soldiers in all military operations.

Visit the VBO Army Acquisition Corps Page

Enterprise Marketing and Behavioral Economics Officer (AEMO)

The American people expect the U.S. Army to be the world’s premier land combat force. To achieve this goal, the Army must be comprised of talented volunteers who represent our principal source of competitive advantage. To acquire this talent, the Army relies on effective marketing to attract, employ, and retain talent by building awareness, setting expectations, and shaping preferences. Army Marketing’s purpose is to communicate our Employment Brand–who we are, what we do, what we value, and what type of people thrive with us, as well as our Employee Value Proposition–the true benefits of Army service as an employer of choice. To do this successfully, the Army, led by Enterprise Marketing and Behavioral Economics Officers, must find and create marketing opportunities and leverage marketing approaches grounded in marketing theory, behavioral economics, social sciences, decision sciences, economics, psychology, systems engineering, and statistics.

Visit the Enterprise Marketing and Behavioral Economics Officer Page

Foreign Area Officer (FAO)

Army Foreign Area Officers are Soldiers grounded in the Profession of Arms who provide leadership and expertise in diverse organizations in joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational environments, who advise seniors as regional experts, and who offer unique war fighting competencies―cross-cultural capabilities, interpersonal communications and foreign language skills―that are critical to mission readiness of the Army in today’s dynamic strategic environment. U.S. Army FAOs are specially selected and trained to be regionally focused political-military specialists who possess a unique combination of regional expertise and strategic focus. A FAO will typically serve overseas tours as a military attaché, security assistance officer, or strategic-level political-military planner on the Geographic Combatant Commander’s or Army Service Component Commander’s staff. Additionally, FAOs serve as political-military planners in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Army Staff, Army Commands, or in other agencies of the Department of Defense.

Visit the Foreign Area Officer Page

Operations Research/Systems Analysis Officer (ORSA)

The Operations Research/Systems Analysis Officer combines operational experience with technical expertise using a wide variety of traditional and emerging analytic tools and techniques to underpin and enable leadership decisions in a constantly changing global environment. ORSA introduces quantitative and qualitative analysis, data analytics, and data science into the military’s decision-making processes by developing and applying probability models, conducting statistical inference, running simulations, optimizing, analyzing, and visualizing data. ORSA encompasses diverse disciplines that include personnel management, doctrine and force development, training management, system testing, system acquisition, decision analysis, and resource management, as well as tactical, operational, and strategic planning from Division through Combatant Command, and from Army Command through the highest levels of the Department of Defense.

Visit the Operations Research/Systems Analysis Officer Page

Public Affairs Officer (PAO)

Army Public Affairs fulfills the Army’s obligation to keep the American people and the Army informed. Public Affairs operations help establish the conditions that foster trust and confidence in America’s Army in peacetime and in war. The Public Affairs Officer (PAO) is the commander’s principal advisor and counselor on public affairs. As a skilled communicator and member of the commander’s personal staff, the PAO must be closely and continuously involved in the operations, staff coordination, and communication processes to support mission command.

Visit the Public Affairs Officer Page

Space Operations Officer

Space Operations Officers utilize and integrate space capabilities with terrestrial, air, sea, and high altitude-based systems owned and operated by the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and civil agencies and commercial partners to provide integrated and timely capabilities to the warfighter. Army space operations, duties, and responsibilities are centered on seven codified joint space capabilities: space situational awareness (SSA); space control; positioning, navigation and timing (PNT); space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); satellite communications; environmental monitoring; or missile warning. The sheer variety of the more than 350 Space Operations Officer billets across the Army means they could be performing these basic functions in a vast array of different circumstances and levels, from tactical planning with Army Brigades and Divisions to operational and strategic roles with higher headquarters.

Visit the VBO Space Operations Officer Page

United States Military Academy (West Point) Tenured Faculty

Academy Professors serve as military and academic leaders within their respective departments. Academy Professors are a critical link between the senior academic leaders and the remainder of the faculty and staff. Officers will not be designated as tenured professors until the completion of their PhD, physical assignment to West Point, and the existence of a vacant tenure position. Tenure means that you can remain at USMA until you have 30 years of commissioned federal service as a COL and 28 years as a LTC. It is very competitive, with an average of 30-50 very qualified personnel competing for 1-2 positions during each advertisement period (in the Army Times).

Visit the West Point Tenured Faculty Page

 

Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO)

Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO) Website

What is VBO?

Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO) is a virtual environment designed to provide branching education and assistance to Cadets. As Cadets consider what branches they want to assess into, they must consider many questions, including location options, daily life in the branch, and compatibility of the Cadet’s talent profile to branch requirements. Cadets must also consider if they want to serve on Active Duty, in the National Guard, or in the Army Reserve. These questions are critical in assessing Cadets into the right branch, maximizing their leadership potential while assisting with Army retention goals.

With VBO, Cadets can identify their talent profile, schedule their HireView branch interviews, and ask questions to inform their branching decisions. It works with the Talent Based Branching model that emphasizes placing the right leader in the right occupational specialty based on talent and propensity to succeed within the branch. Though the tool is available to the public, branching Cadets can take the experience further by registering for an account, which grants secure access to chat features, live webinars, branch meetings, and convention style live virtual events that bring all branches together at one time for scheduled webinars, keynote speakers, and peer networking.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors (KSBs)

The Army uses Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviors (KSBs) to understand your potential as a future Commissioned Officer, and every career field has its own list.

Knowledge: What I Know. A topically organized set of facts and information acquired by a person through experience, education, or training, which supports work related performance.

Skills: What I Can Do. A person’s proficiency and ability to perform a job-related activity that contributes to effective performance or learning.

Behaviors: How I Act. A person’s values, attitudes, and temperament as evidenced through their actions.

The KSBs for each branch are located on the following website. Use this as research material to prepare you for your HireView branch interviews.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors (KSBs) Reference Page for All Branches

Branch Application Interviews (HireView)

At the end of your junior year up until the beginning of your senior year, you will need to login to the Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO) website to conduct the HireView interview process with the branches you want after graduation.

During the HireView interview process, you'll discuss and demonstrate these qualities through a short online video recording. It is critical that you research and take notes on the KSBs valued by the branches you seek prior to the start of your recorded interview.

HireView Interview Links and Schedules are Located on the Individual Branch Pages on VBO

Example HireView interview questions include:

• Which of this branch's talent priorities is your greatest strength? Describe a situation in which you have demonstrated that talent.
• Recall a high-pressure or stressful situation at work or in school. Describe how you responded and your approach. What was the outcome?
• How do you set yourself apart from your peers? Provide a brief example.
• You have been assigned as the Officer-in-Charge to plan for a 7-day field training exercise for your Platoon. Based on this general task, determine your minimum requirements to start this task.

How many interviews should I do? Should I wait until the last hour before the deadline to start my interviews?

• Schedule time to start your interviews early.
  • You will have many months to conduct them.
  • Take breaks between interviews to mentally recharge.
  • Cadets who procrastinate until the deadline often receive branches they do not want.
• Practice your first interview for a branch that you absolutely do not want. Research the KSBs for that branch, prepare in detail, and tell them professionally why you are not a good fit for the branch.
• Spend time crafting your interview answers for your "Top 3" branches. When you rank your desired branches by preference, the branches in your "Top 3" slots will see that you have selected them in your "Top 3", but will not know if you ranked them #1, #2, or #3. Spend extra time on these interviews.
• Continue interviewing for branches you desire in sequence of preference.
• We recommend interviewing for a minimum of eight to ten branches.
  • Interview for every branch that you would be satisfied receiving.
  • Interview for the branches you absolutely do not want and tell them why you are not a good fit based on your KSBs.
  • If you do not meet the initial qualifications for a branch (e.g., Aviation, Cyber, etc.), you do not need to interview for them, as your lack of credentials will automatically disqualify you.
• These interviews will determine your future. Do not procrastinate.

What else can set me up for success during the recorded interviews?

• Wear a clean uniform without wrinkles. Have a friend ensure your patches are attached properly to your uniform.
• Ensure your personal appearance and grooming is in accordance with regulation.
• Have a professional backdrop.
• Ensure you have good lighting.
• Test your camera and microphone early.
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

Talent Based Branching (TBB)

Talent Based Branching (TBB) ***NOTE: You need a military ID card plugged into your computer and military certificates installed on your computer in order to open this link. Otherwise you will see an error message.***

The Talent-Based Branching (TBB) website is the online platform where Cadets enter all the information needed for their branching decision. Cadets use TBB to build their profile, describe their experiences, and formally list their preferred branches in order.

Branch representatives access TBB to view Cadet profiles, see which Cadets are interested in their branch, and evaluate who might be a good fit. Once all information is submitted, the Army uses the data stored in the TBB system to run the matching process, linking Cadet preferences with branch preferences and Army requirements.

Logging into Talent Based Branching (TBB):

• You must have a valid and current (not expired) military ID card (CAC).
• You must know the login pin to your CAC.
• You must have a CAC reader (USB device). You can borrow extra CAC readers from our ROTC offices.

• Your computer must have military certificates installed:
  • Download and install military certificates using this link and follow the instructions on the page.
  • Restart your computer.
• Login to TBB with your CAC connected.

Once you are logged into Talent Based Branching (TBB):

• Immediately look for account errors, which are very common and take time to fix. Look at the very top left corner of your browser window. If you see an error code in small black font, your account is broken. Similarly, if you are missing all of your Cadet tabs on the top of the page, your account is broken. If your account is broken:
  • Take a screenshot of the error code at the top left corner of your browser window.
  • Send an email to branching_support@westpoint.edu 
  • Include your screenshot, host school (Loyola University Maryland), and DODID number located on the back of your CAC.
• Complete the Self-Assessment Tab no later than the first week of February of your junior year spring semester.
• Complete your Cadet File using the File Tab no later than the first week of February of your junior year spring semester.
  • Your Cadet File should be as comprehensive and complete as possible.
  • Spell-check your narrative entry blocks.
  • This is your written resume for the branching process. Take your time and give thorough answers. A 3-sentence response with typos, grammar errors, and capitalization issues will be heavily considered against your favor.
• Take the Talent Assessment Battery (TAB) no later than the first week of February of your junior year spring semester. This 3-4 hour assessment will provide you specific feedback regarding your talent strengths and weaknesses. Note that this system routinely crashes for multiple weeks at a time near the submission deadline date; you must complete this as soon as possible.
• Find and contact mentors for your desired branches using the Mentorship Tab (optional but recommended).
• Submit your interim component and branch preferences no later than the first week of February of your junior year spring semester and before Cadet Summer Training (CST).
• You will have an opportunity after CST to change these entries as your experiences and education better inform your preferences. The last date to modify your profile and your interim component and branch preferences is the first week of September of your senior year fall semester after Cadet Summer Training (CST).
• Confirm your final component and branch preferences no later than mid-October of your senior year fall semester.
• Note: Aviation SIFT scores and Educational Delay packets must generally be submitted by the first week of September of the senior year fall semester.

Policy Memorandums

Below are the policy memorandums that maintain the Greyhound Battalion's academic integrity, fairness, legal, ethical, and moral standards, and code of conduct. They exist to protect students and faculty, and ensure that every member of the Greyhound Battalion is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect. All ROTC Cadets, Cadre, ROTC Civilians, and ROTC Augmentee Staff, are bound in accordance to these policies as a lawful order from the Chair of the Department of Military Science. As a student, you should familiarize yourself with these policy memorandums.

• Policy Memorandum #1: Open Door Policy
• Policy Memorandum #2: Battalion Order of Merit Policy
• Policy Memorandum #3: Battalion Course Grading, Course Structure, and Attendance Policy
• Policy Memorandum #4: Integrity, Accountability, Standards, and Waiver Authority for Academic and Professional Practices, Independent Studies, and Early Dismissals
• Policy Memorandum #5: Standard Operating Instructions (SOI) and Contact Practices
• Policy Memorandum #6: Contracting

For the most recent U.S. Army Cadet Command policy memorandums, please visit their official page.