<p>The article in the current issue of Time Magazine(great article) mentioned a new innovation in West Point's Branch for Service Program that was beta-tested this year on the Class of 2005. Called "Branch by eBay" by the cadets, the new program gave the cadets the opportunity to bid on how much extra service (minimum of 18 months) they were willing to offer if they could get their first branch choice.</p>
<p>According to the article (which may not be accurate), first choice branch was awarded to anyone who had offered 2 or more extra years of service. Although the article said the program was a "wild success" the program only accumulated 51.5 years of additional service commitment. That means only about 25 cadets bid extra service. </p>
<p>Given some of the branches (aviation, medical, legal) already require additional active-duty service , some cadets will be committed to quite an active-duty tenure when they enter their desired branches.</p>
<p>Anyone hear more about this new branching system??</p>
<p>I know of a current firstie whose grades were at the very bottom of the class, so got shut out of his first choice (armor) and was branched into field artillery. He was subsequently offered the choice to branch armor for an additional service commitment, and accepted. </p>
<p>I do not believe that they offered this choice for all branches.</p>
<p>The article also said that it is required that graduating cadets spend 2 years in a combat unit before going to a support unit. However, the article then says that 2 people branched finance in this year's class. Given the fact that the article just said cadets must go to a combat unit, how is this possible?</p>
<p>a guess is that --as noted in recent press-- women are not currently allowed in 'combat' postions --though this is a vague area ... i dont want to start the women in combat thing --please</p>