Careers Career Paths The Best Career Paths for an Army Officer Army Officer Career Path Options Print fstop123 / Getty Images Career Paths US Military Careers Technology Careers Sports Careers Sales Project Management Professional Writer Music Careers Media Legal Careers Government Careers Finance Careers Fiction Writing Careers Entertainment Careers Criminology Careers Book Publishing Aviation Animal Careers Advertising Learn More Table of Contents Expand Assignments for Army Officers Functional Areas for Army Officers Infantry, Engineers, Artillery Air Defense, Aviation, Special Forces Armor, Signal Corps, JAG Military Police, Intelligence, Finance Psychological Ops, Civil Affairs, Adjutant Chaplain, Medical, Dental Veterinary, Medical Specialists, Nurses Medical Service Corps, CBRN, Transport Logistics, Ordinance, Quartermaster By Rod Powers Rod Powers Air Force NCO Academy Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 10/21/19 There are many communities within the Army. These communities of different jobs (or MOS) are called branches. The following is a list of all the branches of officers of the Army. Officers are accessed upon commissioning into a single branch and come from the Military Academy, Army ROTC, Army OCS every year as newly commissioned First Lieutenants typically. Throughout their company grade years, it's where they are assigned, developed and promoted. In their fifth and sixth year, they may receive a functional area designation within the branch and change branches throughout their career as desired or offered by the Army. Assignments for Army Officers Most officers will serve in positions from within their basic branch through their company grade years. Some officers will serve in a functional area or generalist positions that are not related to a specific branch or functional area after they are branch qualified as captains. Officers serve their first eight to 12 years developing the leadership and tactical skills associated with their branch. Following the Career Field designation, officers are assigned to positions within their Career Field (basic branch or FA) or generalist positions. This type of assignment pattern promotes assignment stability and development within a branch or functional area. Functional Areas for Army Officers A functional area is a grouping of officers by technical specialty or skill, which usually requires significant education, training, and experience. An officer receives his or her functional area between the fifth and sixth years of service. The area is designated considering individual preference, academic background, the manner of performance, training, and experience, and needs of the Army. Here are the Branches and Functional Areas for Army officers. Branch 11–Infantry The infantry officer is responsible for leading the infantry and combined armed forces during land combat. This branch includes the 11A Infantry Officer. Branch 12–Corps of Engineers An engineer officer is responsible for providing full support to the wide range of engineering duties in the Army. They can help build structures, develop civil works programs and even provide combat support. This branch includes: 12A Engineer12B Combat Engineer (del 1310/1110-14)12D Facilities/Contact Construction Management Engineer (FCCME) (del 1310/1110-14) Branch 13–Field Artillery The field artillery officer leads the field artillery branch, who neutralizes the enemy by cannon, rocket, and missile fire. The officer must be an expert in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems. This branch includes the 13A Field Artillery Officer. Branch 14–Air Defense Artillery The air defense artillery officer leads the air defense artillery branch, who protects U.S. forces from aerial attack, missile attack, and enemy surveillance. They must be an expert in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of air defense systems. They also become an expert in one or more systems including the PATRIOT missile system and the AVENGER system. This branch includes the 14A Air Defense Artillery Officer. Branch 15–Aviation Aviation officers coordinate/lead operations using Army helicopters: OH-58 Kiowa, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and the AH-64 Apache. These operations can haul troops and carry supplies, as well as provide quick-strike and long-range target engagement. This branch includes: 15A Aviation-General15B Aviation Combined Arms Operations15C Aviation All-source Intelligence Branch 18–Special Forces The Special Forces officer is the team leader of an operational detachment alpha, a highly trained 12-man team that is deployed in rapid-response situations. The officer organizes the mission, outfits the team, and debriefs them on the mission objective. This branch includes the 18A Special Forces Officer. An officer in the Army who wants to transfer into Special Forces, must pass selection like every other SF candidate. An officer candidate seeking Special Forces must: be already serving in the Army at least two years. First lieutenants (promotable to captain) or captains can attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC).be eligibility for a top-secret clearance with no disciplinary information on file.have a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) score of 85 or higher. Special Forces is the only non-accession branch, recruiting officers with a minimum of three years of experience from the accession branches. This means you cannot join Special Forces as a newly commissioned officer with no company leadership experience. Branch 19–Armor Armor officers are responsible for tank and cavalry or forward reconnaissance operations on the battlefield. The role of an armor officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the armor branch and to lead others in many areas of combat operations. This branch includes: 19A Armor, General19B Armor19C Cavalry Branch 25–Signal Corps The signal officer leads the Signal Corps, which is responsible for the Army’s entire systems of communication. Officers plan and execute all aspects of communication on a mission and are critical to the Army’s continued success. 25A Signal, General Branch 27–Judge Advocate General's Corps The Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps attorney is responsible for offering legal support that involves military operations. They primarily focus on the areas of criminal law, legal assistance, civil or administrative law, labor/employment law, international/operational law and contract or fiscal law. This branch includes: 27A Judge Advocate, General27B Military Judge Branch 31–Military Police A military police officer is responsible for leading the Soldiers that protect lives and property on Army Installations. This branch includes the 31A Military Police Officer. Branch 35–Military Intelligence The Army’s military intelligence is responsible for all collected intelligence during Army missions. They provide essential information that often saves the Soldiers fighting on front lines. This branch includes: 35D All-Source Intelligence35E Counter Intelligence (CI)35G Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare (SIGINT/EW) Branch 36–Financial Management The financial manager is in charge of the Army’s Finance Corps, who are responsible for sustaining missions through purchases of services and supplies. This branch includes the 36A Financial Manager. Branch 37–Psychological Operations Psychological operations officer conducts operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences. Psychological Operations leaders lead from the front and adjust to dynamic environments that are constantly changing and challenging. This branch includes: 37A Psychological Operations37X Psychological Operations, Designated Branch 38–Civil Affairs (AA AND USAR) Civil affairs officers act as a liaison between the Army and civilian authorities and populations. This branch includes: 38A Civil Affairs (AA and USAR)38X Civil Affairs, Designated Branch 42–Adjutant General Corps The Adjutant General Corps officer plans, develops and operates the Army’s personnel, administrative, and community activities support systems to build and sustain combat readiness. This branch includes: 42B Human Resources Officer42C Army Bands42H Senior Human Resources Officer Branch 56–Chaplain The Army chaplain has the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of soldiers and their families. 56A Chaplain 56D Clinical Pastoral Educator 56X Chaplain Candidate Branch 60, 61, 62–Medical Corps The Medical Corps is composed exclusively of commissioned officers who have a degree of Doctor of Medicine from medical school or Doctor of Osteopathy from osteopathic school acceptable to HQDA. This branch includes: 60A Operational Medicine60B Nuclear Medicine Officer60C Preventive Medicine Officer60D Occupational Medicine Officer60F Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care Officer60G Gastroenterologist60H Cardiologist60J Obstetrician and Gynecologist60K Urologist60L Dermatologist60M Allergist, Clinical Immunologist60N Anesthesiologist60P Pediatrician60Q Pediatric Sub-Specialist60R Child Neurologist60S Ophthalmologist60T Otolaryngologist60U Child Psychiatrist60V Neurologist60W Psychiatrist61A Nephrologist61B Medical Oncologist/Hematologist61C Endocrinologist61D Rheumatologist61E Clinical Pharmacologist61F Internist61G Infectious Disease Officer61H Family Medicine61J General Surgeon61K Thoracic Surgeon61L Plastic Surgeon61M Orthopedic Surgeon61N Flight Surgeon61P Physiatrist61Q Radiation Oncologist61R Diagnostic Radiologist61U Pathologist61W Peripheral Vascular Surgeon61Z Neurosurgeon62A Emergency Physician62B Field Surgeon Branch 63–Dental Corps The Dental Corps is a special branch of the Army composed of commissioned officers who are graduates of a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association and acceptable to the Surgeon General. This branch includes: 63A General Dentist63B Comprehensive Dentist63D Periodontist63E Endodontist63F Prosthodontist63H Public Health Dentist63K Pediatric Dentist63M Orthodontist63N Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon63P Oral Pathologist63R Executive Dentist Branch 64–Veterinary Corps The Veterinary Corps (VC) consists exclusively of commissioned officers who are qualified doctors of veterinary medicine. This branch includes: 64A Field Veterinary Service 64B Veterinary Preventive Medicine 64C Veterinary Laboratory Animal Medicine 64D Veterinary Pathology 64E Veterinary Comparative Medicine 64F Veterinary Clinical Medicine 64Z Senior Veterinarian (IMMATERIAL) Branch 65–Army Medical Specialist Corps The Medical Specialist Corps is made up of clinical dieticians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician's assistants. This branch includes: 65A Occupational Therapy 65B Physical Therapy 65C Dietitian 65D Physician Assistant 65X Specialist Allied Operations Branch 66–Army Nurse Corps The Army Nurse Corps provides the nursing care and services essential to the mission of the Army Medical Department. Responsible for all facets of nursing relating to the planning, management, operation, control, coordination, and evaluation of all nursing practices. This branch includes: 66B Army Public Health Nurse66C Psychiatric/Behavioral Health Nurse66E Perioperative Nurse66F Nurse Anesthetist66G Obstetrics and Gynecol66H Medical-Surgical Nurse66N Generalist Nurse66P Family Nurse Practitioner66R Psychiatric/Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner (add 1304/1110-13)66W Certified Nurse Midwife (add 1304/1110-12) Branch 67–Medical Service Corps From medical fields such as optometry and podiatry to laboratory sciences to behavioral sciences, the Army Medical Service Corps includes many areas of specialty. This branch includes: 67A Health Services 67B Laboratory Sciences 67C Preventive Medicine Sciences 67D Behavioral Sciences 67E Pharmacy 67F Optometry 67G Podiatry 67J Aeromedical Evacuation Branch 74–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer commands the Army branch that specifically defends against the threat of CBRN weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction. These officers lead an extraordinary chemical unit that is completely dedicated to protecting our nation. This branch includes the 74A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer. Branch 88–Transportation Corps The Transportation officer manages all facets of transportation related to the planning, operation, coordination, and evaluation of all methods of transportation including multi-modal systems. This branch includes 88A Transportation-General. Branch 90–Logistics Logistics Corps Officers are competent in planning and directing multi-functional logistical operations across the tactical, operational and strategic spectrum of logistical functions of maneuver sustainment. This branch includes 90A Logistics. Branch 91–Ordnance Ordnance officers are responsible for ensuring that weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment are ready and available, and in perfect working order, at all times. They also manage the developing, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions. This branch includes the 91A Maintenance & Munitions Materiel Officer. Branch 92–Quartermaster Corps The quartermaster officer provides supply support for Soldiers and units in field services, aerial delivery, and material and distribution management. This branch includes 92A Quartermaster–General.