<p>After the four year program at West Point, I know that West Point cadet/officers have a five year obligation in active duty. Generally and specifically what do West Point army officers do? If they are and aren't deployed? Thank you for your answers and look forward to your response.</p>
<p>-kpsong87</p>
<p>kpsong,</p>
<p>What do you mean by West Point officers? Do you mean those who graduate from here, or those who are stationed here?</p>
<p>If you are not deployed your life will be an endless hell of 16 hour workdays tracking equipment and maintenance...</p>
<p>did I say that aloud?</p>
<p>West Point graduates</p>
<p>I'm not an expert but I believe it varies by branch.</p>
<p>Don't scare them away ScreamingEagle! :D</p>
<p>USMA</a> Admissions: Apply to USMA: Prospectus: The West Point Experience: Your Career</p>
<p>An officer must meet the subtle challenges of leading and motivating soldiers to do their best. </p>
<p>Upon graduating, you will be commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and serve for at least five years of active duty as an Army officer. The Army has a wide variety of specialized fields called branches. Each branch has its own brand of technical and tactical expertise. Depending on the needs of the Army, and your personal desires, you will pick from several branch choices that are available, including Infantry, Field Artillery, Armor, Aviation, Engineer, Signal, Air Defense Artillery, Chemical, Military Intelligence, Ordnance, Military Police, Quartermaster, Transportation, Medical Service, Finance and Adjutant General. There are specialties within several of these fields that may also be chosen. </p>
<p>Whatever branch selected, you will be responsible for the training, health, welfare, safety, and morale of your soldiers and the maintenance and employment of your equipment. Your assignments around the world will test your leadership and managerial skills acquired at West Point.</p>
<p>There is certainly no single correct answer to your question. Although West Point rightfully emphasizes preparation for junior leadership in troop assignments, even Lieutenants can have quite a variety of responsiblities-some of which do not entail direct leadership roles. The difference in branches and assignments is much more significant than I ever realized as a cadet. One of the great things about a career as an Army officer (West Point or otherwise - no difference) is the incredible range of jobs that you can perform. I'm in my 27th year and have done the following:
- Troop leading assignments in CONUS and Germany (platoon leader, XO, Cdr, Bn Staff).
- Diplomat in U.S. Embassy.
- Instructor at at West Point (preceded by full time graduate schooling).
- Combat tours (Iraq, Afghanistan).
- White house honor guard.
- "Peacekeeping" tours in Haiti & Africa.
- NATO staff in Italy.
If you don't like your current job, your next job will probably be completely different.</p>
<p>Also remember that cadets are classified as "active duty" from "R Day" forward, while their "service obligation" of 5 years "active" and 3 years "reserve" begins on graduation.</p>
<p>shogun: "Also remember that cadets are classified as "active duty" from "R Day" forward, while their "service obligation" of 5 years "active" and 3 years "reserve" begins on graduation."</p>
<p>Can you please clarify something for me; does the 4-year "active duty" period from R-Day through graduation count towards anything (ie-retirement eligibility, pension $, seniority)?</p>
<p>as i understand it no, unless you do 20 years. if you get to 20 years, when you retire those 4 years count towards your time in service, that's what i've always been told at least.</p>
<p>No. Four years at West Point count for nothing - even after you retire. Ironically, the only way that you get credit for those four years is if you get out of the Army and enter federal civil service. You can then "buy in" those four years to count toward your civil service retirement.</p>
<p>I'm siding with ScreamingEagle on this one. Most cadets I've talked to are under the belief that years at the Academy count toward time in service when it comes to calculating pension. Not saying that makes it true but I would say there might be some truth to this.</p>
<p>Academy time does not add to your years of service and, thereby, increase your retirement pay. However, the date you entered the Academy determines (in most cases) WHICH retirement system you receive.</p>
<p>Further irony: If you are in ROTC, you can take "early commisioning" while you are still a cadet. As a result, when I was a Lieutenant a couple years out of West Point, one of my fellow Lieutenants (Rutgers ROTC graduate) who graduated at the same time that I did, showed up at a battalion meeting wearing Captain's bars! It turns out that he accepted early commisioning during his junior year and was, consequently, almost two years senior to me (and two additional years credited toward retirement).</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you are in ROTC, you can take "early commisioning" while you are still a cadet
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In the Vietnam war the Army started a Early commissioning program for Cadets at Military Jr colleges. After two years you would be commissioned and called to Active Duty.
The program still exists but - you need to earn a bachelor's degree within 36 months of commissioning and you won't be called to Active Duty until you earn your Bachelor's and won't be deployable while in school. Your eight years of service in the reserves begins on commissioning.
I am not aware of an early commissioning possibility from any program other than a military junior college.</p>