WEST POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 21, 2011) -- There was a lot to see and learn Sept. 15-17 during the Junior Leader Panel and Combined Arms Tailgate.
For many, it was an opportunity to sit with junior officers representing all the Army branches and discuss the things cadets will most likely experience at their first duty station. For others, it was a chance to see some of the equipment they use in the field parked right on Thayer Walk.
During a discussion about the expectations of a platoon leader, seven captains representing Infantry, Aviation, Signal, Transportation and the Adjutant General branches described the challenges cadets will face after graduating from West Point.
"It's a combined arms fight now," Capt. Brandon Thomas told the group at Arnold Auditorium. "No matter which branch you go, you will be a valuable asset to the Army."
Thomas, an Armor officer, said he has seen the joint fight in operations while deployed to Iraq.
"I've worked with aviators, engineers, transportation and EOD--the full spectrum and it's been a great experience," he said.
Capt. Carson Shrode, a field artillery officer, told the cadets he didn't get his first branch choice after graduating from West Point in 2007.
"Don't sweat it if you don't get your first choice; I didn't get mine and it has completely worked out for me," Shrode said. "I've been in field artillery for 4 1/2 years and I love it. I wouldn't trade it for any other branch now."
Capt. Zachary Keefer, a Class of 2005 graduate, currently serves as a BOLC instructor at Fort Rucker, Ala. As an aviation officer and Black Hawk pilot, Keefer said he knew all along he wanted to branch aviation, but seeing the Black Hawk during summer training at Camp Buckner solidified his choice.
Capt. Thang Tran, a Class of 2007 graduate who served as a rifle platoon leader in Afghanistan, advised the cadets to go beyond familiarization and master every weapon in the armor room before graduation.
"You need to be on par with your Soldiers from the start. You can prepare by mastering all Level I skills now," he said.
Cadets may experience live fire exercises during summer training, but Tran said within a month after being assigned to his unit he was planning one for his Soldiers. Knowing how to plan and coordinate training exercises would be advantageous for cadets to learn ahead of time.
Among the various leadership forums and branch open houses scheduled, the West Point Negotiation Project hosted a leader's panel where officers focused on how negotiation skills and relationship building on an international level factored into their missions.
Class of 2013 Cadet Bryan Robbins took some time out of a typically busy schedule to pay a visit to the LCU2000, the Army's large landing craft used to transport vehicles, containers and cargo, anchored at South Dock Sept. 16.
His father had served on such a craft during his time in service, so Robbins wanted a closer look on board. Although he is looking to branch one of the combat arms, the Transportation Corps is still in his top five. After all, he said, the Army can't move without them.
Following the Army Football game Sept. 17, the Combined Arms Tailgate was another opportunity for cadets to socialize with branch officers and learn more about their jobs with several branch booths lining the field behind the Foley Center.
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