Branch Orientation

Benjamin BrownleeMS-I

W&J ROTC

Branch OrientationInformation Briefing

This briefing is unclassified. Inform cadets of various Army branches

available to them for their Army careers. Aid in cadets’ decisions in commissioning.

Combat Arms:Infantry

Forms the heart of the Army’s fighting strength. Goal: Destroy or capture the enemy, or repel his

assault by fire, close combat, and counter attack. Only close combat between ground forces decides

battles. Rifle forces play a key role in close combat situations:

Infantry, airborne, air assault, light, and rangers

Home of the infantry: Fort Benning, Georgia Closed to women

Infantry Officers Must maintain combat readiness at all times. Infantry leaders must be excellent leaders

and take care of soldiers Platoon or company commanders and staff

work Higher levels offer increased responsibility “The Army’s greatest challenge”

RangersArmy Rangers are elite infantry

soldiers, formed as early as 1676 in America under Colonel

Benjamin Church.

- Organized into “Roger’s Rangers,” 9 companies for the Frenchand Indian War and the

Revolution.-Pointe du Hoc

- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP) in Vietnam

-“Black Hawk Down”- Led the Invasion of Afghanistan, 2001

75th Ranger RegimentMembers of the 75th Ranger Regiment participate in the Ranger Rendezvous in 2009

Air Assault- Today, the Air Assault mission is the primary role of the 101st

Airborne Division.-Key operations in the Vietnam

War, Invasion of Iraq- 1994: 10th Mountain Division

Army’s first Air Assault from an Aircraft carrier

(Army’s largest operation from an aircraft carrier since the

Doolittle Raid)

Combat Support:Military Intelligence

Mission: To provide timely, relevant, accurate and synchronized intelligence and electronic warfare support to commanders.

Part of the Army since its founding in 1775. 1863: General Hooker establishes the Bureau

of Military Information

1885: Military Intelligence Division; reorganized as the Military Intelligence Service in 1942.

MI Details Consists of 28,000 military and 3,800 civilian

personnel; one of the largest Army branches. Determines an enemy’s plans, intentions and

capabilities. Battlefield Surveillance Brigades: Improve

situational awareness for commanders at division level and higher

MI Officers Engaged in fighting the “silent war” at

tactical, operational and strategic levels. Collect and disseminate intelligence data. New officers attend MI Officer Basic Course

How to collect and provide intelligence reports to others

Work with high-tech equipment in radio communications, computer analysis, digital imaging, and satellite data.

101st MI BattallionA soldier pushes a Shadow 200 UAV

Combat Service Support

Ordnance Corps The largest Corps in the Army. The Ordnance Corps is responsible for

keeping the Army's combat forces moving and shooting.

Develop, produce, acquire and support the Army's weapons systems, ammunition, missiles, and wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal, during peace and war.

Ordnance Corps Officers

New officers attend the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at either the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School or the U.S. Army Ordnance Missile and Munitions Center and School

Leaders must be smart and articulate. Manage large groups of personnel and high-tech equipment Officers trained in one of the areas of:

Tank/Automotive Materiel Management Missile/Electronic Materiel Management Munitions Materiel Management Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Reference Material and Sources

http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/branches.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/branch.htm

http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/rotc/branches/

http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/