Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/19/2009

Question
Col. Bedell,

     If I still decide to give the army a shot which branch (in the earlier stages
of my career)  do you think will utilize my analytical skills the most.

Yaw

Answer
Dear Yaw --

Most officers get many opportunities to analyze and solve problems for their units.  So Corps of Engineers, Chemical, Signal, Logistics, and Military Intelligence (MI) are all good choices for an officer with strong analytical skills. If you are skilled at science as well as math and economics, the Chemical Corps, and the Signal Corps would have the most interesting jobs for you.  The Army Corps of Engineers might accept you and allow you to serve on the business planning side of their projects, but they prefer degreed engineers.  

However, you will not get to specify your branch if you enlist.  You will go to Officer Candidate School, and as you near graduation, you will get to state your branch preferences and the Army will assign you a branch.  Later, usually between your 5th and 8th year of service, you will get to choose whether to remain in your branch or switch to a functional area that may align more with your academic skills.  Also, once you have been promoted to Captain, if you have been a successful officer, you can apply to teach college at the US Military Academy at West Point.  This is a very rewarding assignment, and if you do well there you can apply to become a permanent professor.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.

Good luck to you.