Army Branches - Explore Officer Career Fields

When exploring Army branches, cadets consider factors like their long-term goals and career interests, as well as the culture and lifestyle of each branch.

Army Branches - Explore Officer Career Fields

When exploring Army branches, cadets consider factors like their long-term goals and career interests, as well as the culture and lifestyle of each branch.

Branches by Category

The U.S. Army branches can be categorized into Operations, Operations Support, Force Sustainment, and Information Dominance, each focusing on different aspects of military operations. 

  • Operations: The operations process involves planning, preparing, executing, and assessing a mission.
  • Operations support: Support operations ensure that military forces are ready and effective.
  • Force Sustainment: Sustainment operations provide the logistics, maintenance, and support needed to keep military forces ready and effective.
  • Information Dominance: Information dominance may be defined as superiority in the generation, manipulation, and use of information sufficient to afford its possessors military dominance.

Explore operations branches Explore operations support branches Explore force sustainment branches Explore information dominance branches

Operations

Operations is where strategy meets action, the Army’s decisive edge on the battlefield. This group brings together the soldiers and leaders who plan, prepare, and execute missions that shape the outcome of every fight. Whether leading an infantry platoon, commanding a tank crew, coordinating artillery fire, or piloting helicopters through demanding conditions, Operations is about precision, adaptability, and courage under pressure.

These are the warriors at the center of every mission .Thinkers and doers who thrive in complex environments and make split-second decisions that determine success. From the first plan to the final execution, they embody the Army’s core values: teamwork, leadership, and the relentless drive to win.

This is the branch category for those who want to lead from the front; to inspire others, overcome challenges, and make an impact where it matters most.

Air Defense Artillery

The Air Defense Artillery branch protects U.S. forces, equipment and critical locations from enemy aircraft, missiles and drones. Air Defense Artillery officers use advanced radar, sensors and missile systems to detect, track and defeat aerial threats before they can strike. They provide early warning, coordinate with joint and allied forces and help control the airspace to keep soldiers safe on the ground. These officers play a key role in ensuring units can move freely, respond quickly and operate securely in combat and crisis environments.

Visit the VBO Air Defense Artillery page

Armor

The Armor branch provides the Army’s fast, powerful ground combat force. Armor officers lead tank and scout units that bring speed, firepower and protection to the fight. They find and defeat enemy forces, protect friendly troops and support infantry and other units. Armor officers are experts in combined-arms operations and lead from the front in demanding combat environments to help U.S. forces move, fight and win.

Visit the VBO Armor page

Chemical Corps

The Chemical Corps safeguards the force and the nation from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, including weapons of mass destruction. Chemical officers and soldiers conduct detection, identification, protection, decontamination, and consequence-management operations to ensure units can survive and continue fighting in contaminated environments. They employ advanced protective systems, sensors, and analytical tools to assess hazards, advise commanders, and integrate with joint and interagency partners to defend against emerging global CBRN challenges.

Visit the VBO Chemical Corps page

Aviation

The Aviation branch provides the Army with air mobility, reconnaissance and precision fires. Aviation officers lead aircrews and maintenance teams that plan, coordinate and execute flight operations, including troop transport, medical evacuation, surveillance and attack missions. They ensure aircraft are mission-ready, manage airspace operations and deliver rapid and flexible capabilities across the battlefield.

Visit the VBO Aviation page

Engineer Corps

Engineer officers combine technical expertise with tactical skill to support combat operations and build critical infrastructure. They enable friendly movement, deny mobility to the enemy and strengthen the Army’s ability to fight and win. Engineers construct and repair roads, bases and airfields; clear obstacles and hazards; build defensive positions; and employ demolitions. They also support large-scale civil and environmental projects and help restore essential services during humanitarian and disaster-relief missions.

Visit the VBO Engineer Corps page

Field Artillery

The Field Artillery branch delivers powerful and precise fire support for Army and joint forces—earning its title as the “King of Battle.” Field Artillery officers plan, coordinate and execute fires using cannons, rockets and missiles to destroy enemy targets and protect friendly troops. They use advanced sensors and digital fire-control systems to deliver accurate strikes, from close support on the ground to long-range attacks against high-value targets.

Visit the VBO Field Artillery page

Infantry

The Infantry branch is the Army’s primary ground combat force and the core of close-combat operations. Infantry officers lead soldiers who close with and destroy the enemy, seize and hold key terrain, and dominate in all environments—from urban streets to remote mountains. They plan, synchronize, and execute missions across the full range of military operations in both war and peacetime, working alongside joint and allied forces. As tactical masters, Infantry leaders train their units to move, shoot, communicate, and win under the most demanding conditions.

Visit the VBO Infantry page

Military Police

The Military Police Corps protects the force by enforcing law and order, securing Army installations and supporting missions at home and overseas. Military Police officers prevent crime, conduct investigations and ensure the safety and discipline of soldiers and families on post. When deployed, they provide route and area security, manage detainees, support customs missions and strengthen force protection, helping maintain stability and uphold the rule of law.

Visit the VBO Military Police page

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Operations Support

Behind every successful mission stands a team that makes success possible. Operations support is the Army’s backbone, ensuring that every soldier, system, and strategy is ready for action. These professionals coordinate logistics, manage equipment, deliver intelligence, and maintain secure communications across the force.

They’re the bridge between planning and performance, making sure that troops on the front line have exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. From intelligence analysts who uncover critical enemy movements to communications specialists who keep information flowing under pressure, operations support keeps the Army one step ahead.

This is where organization meets innovation. If you’re detail-oriented, mission-driven, and thrive on making complex systems work seamlessly, operations support is your battlefield.

Military Intelligence

The Military Intelligence branch gives commanders the information they need to make quick, informed decisions. Military Intelligence officers gather, analyze and share intelligence to protect U.S. and allied forces and counter enemy threats. They identify enemy plans and capabilities and use sensors, cyber tools and human intelligence sources to gain an information advantage, helping units anticipate and outmaneuver adversaries.

Visit the VBO Military Intelligence page

Signal Corps

The Signal Corps builds, operates, and secures the Army’s communication and information networks. Signal officers ensure commanders and soldiers can communicate anytime and anywhere, whether across a tactical battlefield or through secure digital networks that connect forces around the world. They lead teams that manage satellites, tactical radios, data systems, cybersecurity, and mission-command platforms, enabling rapid, reliable, and protected information flow across all domains.

Visit the VBO Signal Corps page

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Force Sustainment

Every mission depends on momentum, and force sustainment keeps that momentum alive. This group powers the Army from within, ensuring soldiers are equipped, supplied, and ready to fight. Sustainment is the lifeline of every operation; combining logistics, transportation, human resources, and financial management to keep the force strong and mission-ready.

These professionals make the impossible possible. They move fuel, food, ammunition, and equipment across challenging terrain, manage the flow of resources in real time, and ensure every soldier is cared for, paid, and supported. Even though they often work behind the scenes, they are embedded within operational units, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those on the front lines.

If you’re someone who thrives on problem-solving, efficiency, and impact—someone who wants to make sure the Army never stops moving—force sustainment is where you’ll lead the mission from the inside out.

Adjutant General

The Adjutant General’s (AG) Corps manages the Army’s most important resource: its people. AG officers ensure soldiers and their families receive the administrative, personnel and human-resources support they need to stay ready, resilient and mission-focused. They help commanders build and maintain effective organizations by managing personnel systems, awards and promotions, strength reporting, casualty operations and soldier services across the force.

Visit the VBO Adjutant General Corps page

Finance

The Finance Corps manages the Army’s financial operations to keep units ready and missions moving. Finance officers oversee purchasing, contracting support, pay operations, auditing and accounting functions that ensure soldiers and organizations receive timely financial support. They work with military and commercial banking systems, manage vendor payments and operate financial-management systems that enable commanders to resource and sustain operations around the world.

Visit the VBO Finance page

Logistics

The U.S. Army Logistics Branch is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the sustainment of Army forces, ensuring that they are equipped, supplied, and maintained for operations both in peacetime and during wartime. It encompasses various functions like supply, maintenance, transportation, and field services, all working together to provide the necessary support for mission accomplishment. 

Visit the VBO Logistics page

Medical Services

The Medical Service Corps supports the Army’s medical mission by leading and managing health care operations across the force. Medical Service Corps officers plan, direct and oversee medical logistics, administration, patient movement, health services support and medical readiness programs. They help run clinics, hospitals and field medical units, and they advise commanders on medical planning, health care delivery and force health protection from garrison to the battlefield.

Visit the VBO Medical Services page

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Information Dominance

In today’s fast-moving world, information is as powerful as any weapon. The Army’s information dominance group leads the charge in securing, shaping, and winning the digital battlespace. These experts control the invisible domain, protecting networks, countering cyber threats, and turning streams of data into real-time tactical advantage. Their mission is about speed, precision, and outthinking the enemy before the first move is made.

This is where the Army’s high-tech warriors thrive. They combine computer science, intelligence analysis, and strategic creativity to outpace adversaries across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. When the Army has the information edge, it owns the fight.

Cyber

The Cyber branch conducts defensive and offensive operations in cyberspace to protect Army networks, disrupt enemy systems and defend national interests. Cyber officers lead teams that identify and counter digital threats, secure critical infrastructure and execute operations that target adversary networks and capabilities. They work across the Army and with joint and interagency partners to deliver effects in the information and cyber domains.

Visit the VBO Cyber page

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Virtual Branch Outreach

To support branch education, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command created Virtual Branch Outreach (VBO), a public-facing virtual platform that provides branching guidance and resources to West Point cadets.

Visit the Virtual Branch Outreach website

Contact the Accessions Division

The Accessions Division, part of the Department of Military Instruction, oversees Branch Week, Branch Night, and Post Night and guides cadets’ transition to lieutenants, with officers representing each Army branch’s culture and character.

Contact an Accessions representative

The Journey Continues

West Point graduates serve as leaders of character in and out of uniform and belong to one of the most highly connected alumni networks in the world.

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