Benefits and Branches of the United
States Army / Careers
Click on
the branch names to visit their websites.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Chemical
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.
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.
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 4) Police
intelligence operations.
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.
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 associated with keeping the Army running.
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.
Army Nurse
Corps Officers lead nursing teams in caring for Soldiers and their families.
They are responsible for all aspects of a patient's care and see that they are
addressed, and initiate the coordination of a patient's multidisciplinary care.
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.
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.
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.
