My god....

[Hammer6]

I think I might have found the sorriest bunch of cadets in Cadet Command. You guys bring shame upon the cadets that have blazed the path before you. I have never seen such falsly motivated cadets. EVER. You should all be disenrolled.....

I'm glad to have found a home with people just like me.

Someone posted this over on platoonleader.army.mil - this place is awesome, I wish I had found it sooner. I definately hope to be actively posting on this site.

About me - I go to the University of Cincinnat- I am an MS IV and the XO of my BN - just branched Armor/Signal - and I'm happy with the branch detail - especially because I heard that it is easier to stay in the detail then to try and change branches down the line. The reason I posted that I'm the XO isn't because I care that much, but I put up with A LOT of funny stuff that would be directly applicable to this board.

Thanks for giving me a place to vent my anger.

[Dark Phinx]

Great to see another newbie. :D

BTW, what military branch do you want to change into after you get in the army?

__________________________________________________ ____________
"Wellcome aboard the Uss homestarrunner.net, it's dot comm..."

[Hammer6]

Mostly I was torn between Signal and Armor - I knew I wanted to be a Tanker - but I wasnt sure if it was something I wanted to stay in after a few years - and how applicable it would be after I got out. Everyone I talked to said Branch Detail was the way to go. So If I like Armor it would be easier to stay and not go to my control branch, then branch straight Armor, hate it, and then try to change to Signal.

At least thats what the majority of the people tell me - who knows how true that is.

Hammer 6

[TheChick]

Can someone explain this branch detail thing a little better? I've never heard of such a thing, and so I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

[Gambit]

Branch Detail: You are given a "control branch", and a "detail branch". So at the end of the day you belong to the control branch, but (as in doing shit work) are "detailed" to the detail branch for a finite amount of time, usually two years.

So, let's say that you were branched Signal with a branch detail to Armor, like our pal Hammer 6 here (welcome, BTW)... he'll go to AOBC when he graduates and whatever other applicapble schools, and serve a total of about 2 years as a tanker. Then after two years he'll go to the Signal transition course, learn the basics about being a sig-o, and serve the rest of his time in the Army as a Signal officer.

Hope that helps... anybody know exactly why the Army does that? My only guess is just to load up on LTs for some branches, then get 'em to other branches where maybe the don't have enough O-2+...? Would make sense esp. for Signal, as everybody there probably leaves for twice the cash in the civilian sector...

[Hammer6]

Heres what I have been told -- imagine two pyramids, one right side up, the other right side down.

The bottom of each pyramid (the wide part on pyramid one, and the pointy part on the other one) represents the needs for junior officers, especially LTs. The wide pyramids would be the CA branches - IN, AR, FA. These branches need plenty of young officers. The upside down pyramid would be the other branches - for me: Signal. This is because there is a smaller need of Junior Officers. Understand that the "rank" of the pyramid is a bit different, the tippy top of the right side up pyramid, is no less than the CSA, whereas the broad part of the upside down pyramid, is more COL, BGs.... so dont go thinking that there are more GO's in the CS and CSS then in CA.

If that makes any sense - thats what I was led to believe.

[Domer]

I think I might have found the sorriest bunch of cadets in Cadet Command. You guys bring shame upon the cadets that have blazed the path before you. I have never seen such falsly motivated cadets. EVER. You should all be disenrolled.....

Don't worry, Hammer6, some of us were. Well, maybe not so much like that, but damn near. Anyway, good to have you in the ranks here at AIFA.

Oh, and Please, Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

[Hammer6]

Now that I think of it, I should have started off my post with : "Here's what I bring to the party...."

I don't know if any of you have seen the Drew Carey when they are all strippers...

Ah well, nevermind.

I know someone is going to bust my balls anyways -- so go right ahead.

[Sammy Sandbag]

I know someone is going to bust my balls anyways -- so go right ahead.

How about we poke at em with an exacto knife.
http://photographytips.com/Images/tennis-ball01.jpg

[Hammer6]

Looks really similar

swollen and green.

[Gambit]

Oh, and Please, Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

Was that really necessary? I vote Domer goes under the knife next for that one...

[Zirkowitz]

Gambit, stop... its Hammer time.