U.S. Army Branch Information

There are 16 basic branches and nine specialty branches in the U.S. Army. Branches are the career fields that Army Officers work within. Below is a brief description of each branch and a depiction of the insignia associated with that branch. You can access - join the Army - into any of these branches except Special Forces which recruits officers with a minimum or three years experience. The specialty branches require that you possess the relative skills prior to joining them except for the Medical Service Corps.

For more detailed information on a specific branch click the branch name. This link will take you to the www.goarmy.com site which will give you a more detailed description of the branch, training, skills, responsibilities and related civilian careers.

For information about the Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) that you will attend as a new LT and other training for that specific branch, click the links under the branch insignia. There you will find information about your first assignment, how to prepare and what to expect. You will also find links for the post that the school is located on, the history of the branch, FAQs, reporting, an overview of the branch, links to professional publications, and much more. 

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The following link will help you match your interests to a career field. It is designed for enlisted Soldiers but will give you some insight as to what general field you may like as an officer.

Click here to MATCH YOUR INTERESTS to an Army career.

Click this link to learn about some of the benefits the Army has to offer. BENEFITS

If you have questions that cannot be answered here feel free to stop by the office and ask or send an email.

Combat Arms Branches Infantry An Infantry Officer is responsible for leading and controlling the Infantry and combined armed forces during land combat. They are also involved in coordinating employment of Infantry Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. IN Branch IBOLC Fort Benning Armor Armor Officers are responsible for tank and cavalry/forward reconnaissance operations on the battlefield. The role of an Armor Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Armor Branch and to lead others in many areas of combat operations. AR Branch ABOLC Armor Mag Armor School  Field Artillery The Army's Field Artillery Branch is responsible for neutralizing or suppressing the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fire and to help integrate all fire support assets into combined arms operations. The role of a Field Artillery Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Field Artillery Branch and to be an expert in the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of fire support systems. FA Branch FA BOLC Fort Sill  Air Defense Artillery The role of an Air Defense Artillery Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Air Defense Artillery Branch and to be an expert in the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of air defense systems. AD Branch ADA Fort Sill  Aviation An Officer within the Aviation Branch is first an expert aviator, but is also responsible for the coordination of Aviation operations from maintenance to control tower operations to tactical field missions. From providing quick-strike and long-range target engagement during combat operations to hauling troops and supplies, Army helicopter units play a critical role in getting the job done in many situations. AV Branch ABOLC MEDEVAC Pilot  Fort Rucker  Special Forces A Special Forces Officer is responsible for what is typically organized as a 12-man team, known as an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA). ODAs are deployed around the world in rapid-response situations whether it's during peacetime, crisis or war. The Special Forces Officer is the team leader of an ODA, responsible for mission organization, outfitting the team and debriefing mission objectives. SF Branch USASFC  Fort Bragg  Corps of Engineers An Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for providing support in a full spectrum of engineering duties. Engineer Officers help the Army and the Nation in building structures, developing civil works programs, working with natural resources as well as providing combat support on the battlefield. EN Branch EBOLC Ft. Leonard Wood Combat Support Branches Signal Corps A Signal Corps Officer must be an expert in planning, installing, integrating, operating and maintaining the Army's voice, data and information systems, services and resources. Signal Officers must be highly intelligent, forward-thinking and have a complete knowledge of communications and data management technologies. SC Branch SBOLC Fort Gordon Military Police Corps Military Police Officers are utilized in direct combat and during peacetime to lead other Military Police Soldiers while they serve five main functions: 1) Maneuver and mobility support operations, 2) Area security operations, 3) Law and order operations, 4) Internment and resettlement operations, and 5) Police intelligence operations. MP Branch MPBOLC Ft. Leonard Wood  Military Intelligence Corps Military Intelligence (MI) Officers are always out front, providing essential intelligence and in many cases saving Soldiers who are fighting on the front lines. MI Officers assess risks associated with friendly and enemy courses of action and act to counter or neutralize identified intelligence threats. The MI Officer also uses intelligence systems and data to reduce uncertainty of enemy, terrain and weather conditions for a commander. MI Branch MIBOLC  Ft. Huachuca Civil Affairs Civil Affairs Officers are experts in acting as a liaison between the Army and civilian authorities and populations. In many respects, Civil Affairs Officers have to share the same skills as a public relations executive in the civilian world. Civil Affairs Officers many times must facilitate relationships between U.S. military forces and the people of the nation(s) in which those forces are operating. CA Branch USACAPOC Fort Bragg  Chemical Corps The Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer advises the commander on issues regarding nuclear, biological and radiological warfare, defense and homeland protection. Chemical Officers also employ Chemical units in combat support with chemical, smoke and flame weapons, technology and management. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. CM Branch CBOLC Ft. Leonard Wood  Combat Service Support Branches Adjutant General Corps An Adjutant General Officer is responsible for helping Soldiers with the tasks that affect their overall welfare and well being, while assisting commanders by keeping Soldiers combat-ready. In many cases, the duties of an Adjutant General Officer are very similar to the function of a high-level human resources executive in the civilian world. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. AG Branch AGBOLC Fort Jackson Finance Corps The Army's Finance Corps is responsible for sustaining operations through purchasing and acquiring supplies and services. Officers in the Finance Corps make sure commercial vendors are paid, contractual payments are met, balancing and projecting budgets, paying Soldiers for their service and other financial matters of keeping the Army running. FI Branch FBOLC Fort Jackson  Transportation Corps Transportation Officers are experts in the systems, vehicles and procedures in moving troops and supplies in the Army. Transportation Officers are responsible for commanding and controlling Transportation operations and combined armed forces during land combat. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. TC Branch ALU Fort Lee Ordnance Corps Ordnance Officers are responsible for ensuring that weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment are ready and available - and in perfect working order - at all times. Thus, Ordnance Officers and the Soldiers they lead are a critical component in the Army's success. Ordnance Officers also oversee the developing, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions. OD Branch ORD School Quartermaster Corps Quartermaster Officers are responsible for making sure equipment, materials and systems are available and functioning for missions. More specifically, the Quartermaster Officer provides supply support for Soldiers and units in field services, aerial delivery and material and distribution management. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. QM Branch QM School Special Branches Judge Advocate General's Corps As an Officer in the JAG Corps and a practicing attorney or judge, your responsibilities will cover a wide-range of practices that includes military law and criminal prosecution to international law and legal assistance - both in the U.S. and abroad. Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. JAGCnet UVA Law  Chaplain Corps As a Chaplain Officer, you will lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of you and a trained Chaplain Assistant. As an Army Chaplain you will have the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers and their families. Army Chaplains are the spiritual leaders of the Army and they perform religious ceremonies from births and baptisms, to confirmations and marriage, to illness and last rites. USACC Medical Corps An Army Medical Corps Officer is responsible for the overall health of Soldiers and their families. From allergists to oncologists to surgeons, Medical Corps Officers are also responsible for providing health care to Soldiers' families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community. During combat, the Medical Corps Officer oversees the emergency medical management of casualties and makes sure Soldiers are combat ready when it comes to their overall health. AMEDD  USAMC Dental Corps An Army Dental Corps Officer is responsible for the dental health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for providing health care to Soldiers - families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community. During combat, the Dental Corps Officer assists in the emergency medical management of casualties; identifies casualties through dental records and makes sure Soldiers are combat ready when it comes to their health. USADC DENCOM  Veterinary Corps Army Veterinarian Officers practice in three primary areas: animal medicine, veterinary public health and research and development. Veterinarian Officers are responsible for treating government-owned animals and the valued pets of service members and their families. Army Veterinary Corps Officers are also responsible for programs ensuring the safety and security of Department of Defense food supplies, both in the United States of America and abroad. VETCORPS  VETSVC Army Medical Specialists Medical Specialist Corps Officers are essential in treating and helping the overall health of Soldiers and their families. From medical fields such as occupational therapy and physical therapy to dietician and physician assistant, the Army Medical Specialist Corps includes several areas of specialty. Overall, Army Officers are leaders, and being a leader requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. AMSC  Army Nurse Corps Army Nurse Corps Officers lead diverse nursing teams in a variety of settings and provide holistic multi-disciplinary care for Soldiers and their families. Officers are leaders. All Army leaders require self-discipline, initiative, confidence, the ability to problem solve and make timely decisions. AN Branch USANC ANPD Medical Service Corps Medical Service Corps Officers are essential in treating and helping the overall health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for much of the medical research that takes place in the Army. From medical fields such as optometry and podiatry to laboratory sciences to behavioral sciences, the Army Medical Service Corps includes many areas of specialty. MS Branch USAMSC  MSC Careers MEDEVAC Pilot