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/