Army officer branches?

Hello! Couple of quick questions.

When going into the Army as an officer and choosing a branch (job), is one required to already have training in the field they select? Or will the training be provided?

For example, if I am interested in working as a physical therapist (Army Medical Specialist) but I only have a Bachelor of Arts in English and mass communications, will I be allowed to select this and will they provide me the training?

Or will I be able to choose something else and go to graduate school to pursue studies in that area and then transition?

Also, what might be the most suitable choice for me having degrees in English and mass comm?

My recruiter doesn't know what to tell me, plus he won't answer his phone :/ That's why I am asking on here. Please help. Thank you for your answers!

You can have a degree in underwater basket weaving and you will be ok. After OCS (officer candidate school) you will be going to the school your MOS (military occupation specialty) is in. There they will teach you everything you need to know. But not necessarily paperwork. As an officer you are expected to know things and if you don't know then find out. It's gonna be a little difficult at first but once you get the hand of things and learn the ropes you will be ok.

About the specific field you want.....this isn't always the case. Usually they will choose your MOS and then when you graduate OCS you will then go to the base where they provide that training, UNLESS you have it in writing and signed for that you will be given a specific MOS.

My husband went through it but he was prior enlisted and wanted infantry. When he put in his packet he was guaranteed Infantry.
But when the MOS's are given out you have an opportunity to switch with other candidates within you class.

Good Luck and Congrats!!

p8ntballjunkie2004

Whatever you decide to branch, you will be given the training in that specific field. When it comes to getting a commission the military doesnt care what you got your degree in ect. You could get a degree in underwater basket weaving but you could still be a helicopter pilot!

However for the higher medical fields you need to base you studys off that. I know for the Marine Corpsa only one MOS requires you to have knowledge of the job before you can sign up for it, that MOS happens to be band, haha!

Goodluck!

Hooah!

CeciliaM

Depends.

I know that in the health care specialties, you have to have your degree and license to practice in that particular specilaty BEFORE you will be considered for a commission and MOS as that job skill. The military does not train you for it. As follows, doctors have to have their medical degrees and license and such in order to be commissioned and serve as a physician. Same goes for physical therapists, nurses, etc. This also goes for other "professions" such as lawyers and chaplains. The military as a whole expects you to have your training and credentials in hand in these specialties prior to receiving a commission.

Then, to serve in a military health profession, you would have to go through a "health professions" recruiter, who understands the particular education and licensure requirements of health professionals. It is a lengthy process that includes verification of all your credentials (meant in part to avoid impostors who claim to be physicians/nurses/etc but really aren't; also to verify your qualifications). I've been through it twice.

As far as Officers in other branches, I don't know the specifics on how you get put into any given MOS. I understand you may need to go through OCS before getting a commission.

SemiConsciousLiquid

I don't think it matters so much for most jobs, as officers have a lot more school after TBS and such.

It seems like for highly specialized areas, like medical fields, you would need some prior education.

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