Basic Branch Officers

Commissioned officers in all of the National Guard's career fields hold positions of tremendous authority. They are proven leaders, willing to accept challenges, make important decisions and take on great responsibility.

As a basic branch officer, you'll choose a career in one of the following areas:

Combat Arms Branches

• Infantry An Infantry officer is responsible for leading and controlling the Infantry and combined armed forces during land combat.
• Armor Armor officers are responsible for tank, cavalry and reconnaissance operations on the battlefield.
• Cyber Cyber officers lead defensive and offensive cyberspace operations and engage threats in the digital domain.
• Field Artillery The Field Artillery Branch is responsible for neutralizing or suppressing the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fire, and for overseeing the combined use of all fire support.
• Air Defense Artillery Air Defense Artillery officers are experts in air defense tactics, techniques and procedures, and leaders in air defense operations.
• Aviation Aviation officers are expert aviators first, overseeing Aviation operations from maintenance to control tower operations to domestic and combat missions.
• Corps of Engineers Engineer officers help the Army and the nation build structures, develop civil works programs and work with natural resources, as well as provide combat support.

Combat Support Branches

• Signal Corps Signal Corps officers are experts in installing, operating and maintaining all aspects of the Guard's communication, data and information systems and services.
• Military Police Corps Military Police (MP) officers oversee area security, law and order, police intelligence, and maneuver support in peacetime and combat, plus internment and resettlement.
• Military Intelligence Corps Military Intelligence officers are always out front, providing essential intelligence and information about the enemy, terrain and weather conditions.
• Chemical Corps Chemical officers are experts in nuclear, biological and radiological defense and warfare, and homeland protection. They also lead chemical units in combat support.

Combat Service Support Branches

• Adjutant General Corps An Adjutant General officer is responsible for overseeing Soldiers' general welfare and well-being. Duties are similar to those of human resources executives.
• Finance Corps The Finance Corps is responsible for all Guard financial matters: purchasing supplies and services, balancing budgets, and being sure Soldiers are paid for their service.
• Transportation Corps Transportation officers specialize in vehicles and transport procedures, leading transportation operations, and movement of troops and supplies during land combat.
• Ordnance Corps Ordnance officers are responsible for ensuring that weapons systems, munitions, vehicles and equipment are ready and in perfect working order at all times.
• Quartermaster Corps Quartermaster officers oversee availability and function of materials and systems from food, water and petroleum to parachute maintenance and general equipment repair.

Requirements

To become an officer in the National Guard:

• You must meet the Guard's general eligibility requirements
• You must have a minimum of 90 college credits toward an accredited degree to begin training*
• You must be a U.S. citizen
• You must be morally and medically qualified
• If you have no prior military service, you must complete the enlistment process and become a member of the Army National Guard on or before your 35th birthday, and must complete the commissioning process on or before your 42nd birthday
• If you have prior military service, you must complete the commissioning process on or before your 42nd birthday
• You must have a 110 GT line score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

*Applicants interested in attending Federal OCS must have a baccalaureate degree or higher.