I knew from the moment that I joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) that I wanted to branch Armor. I can vividly remember the branch counseling session with my Professor of Military Science (PMS). He counseled the assessing cadets on filling out the branch and duty station preference sheets. He asked me for my first choice and I told him Armor, without hesitation. I was competitive across the branches and my PMS encouraged me to consider all options, including Aviation. He was trying to ensure I thought through all my options, but I was undeterred. In my mind, as a young and brash 22-year-old Cadet, my mentality was set. There was no other choice but Armor Branch.
Since the day I filled out my branch preference worksheet, I have faced many choices. Some had provided me the opportunity to pursue positions outside the Armor Branch or the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) structure. Some opportunities I have accepted and others I have turned down, but one thing has never changed. I am, and love being, an Armor Officer. I know this because of some fundamental principles that remind me that I made the right choice selecting Armor Branch.
The Challenge
Armor Branch places young leaders face to face with the challenge of incredible expectations. The moment you arrive to your first unit, you are expected to be an expert on a vast array of friendly and enemy weapons capabilities, vehicle identification, maintenance, etc. As a lieutenant in the Armor Branch, you can be assigned to a plethora of organizations that all require a different, yet wildly varied, skill-set. Armor lieutenants are assigned to combined arms battalions, cavalry squadrons, and even – occasionally – infantry battalions.
Armor lieutenants report to all three of the various BCT structures (Armor, Infantry, Stryker). They have seven different types of platoons they can take charge of as Platoon Leaders. And, that is only when considering combat arms organizations. Very few other branches offer such a diverse array of organizations and platforms.
Due to the vast array of potential assignments, an armor officer must be able to learn quickly and master multiple fields rapidly to succeed, which is a unique aspect of the learning experience that all armor lieutenants experience.
The People
I could write an entire piece on the people who make up an Armor organization, but I want to focus on two groups: Soldiers and leaders. These two groups vary and can blur into one another at times, but I consider them distinct enough that they should be discussed on their own.
The Soldiers
A Cavalry Scout in the mountains of the National Training Center – Scouts are the eyes and ears of the Brigade Commander.
I have truly enjoyed my time as an armor officer, not only because I have been given the opportunity and responsibility to lead Soldiers, but also because of the nature of the people who volunteer to be “19-series” (armor/cavalry) Soldiers. It takes a special type of individual to volunteer to serve as a cavalry scout or an armor crewman. These are difficult, dirty, and often painful jobs that are unquestionably dangerous. They require extensive field training time while at home, and usually involve long maintenance hours working on some of the heaviest platforms in the Army.
And yet, for all the negatives you could assign to the job of the 19-series Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), the Soldiers are among the most eager. They are willing to learn, professional, and dedicated individuals. 19-series Soldiers are fiercely competitive, and form deep bonds with one another. This mentality breeds loyal teams, from crews to platoons. I love seeing young Soldiers who are willing to go through almost anything for those next to them. It is one of the reasons that I continue to find myself drawn to the armor and cavalry community. These Soldiers embody and exude the standard, and they do it because their leaders hold them accountable.
The Leaders
The leaders with whom I have served continued to shape and evolve my opinion of Armor Branch. The adaptability and flexibility of leaders in the Armor Branch is one of the major reasons I enjoy the people. Another important factor is the culture, bred within the branch, that this is a “team sport”. The armor and cavalry community is an extremely proud group with a long-standing history and traditions that date back hundreds of years. Leaders understand that their organizations are important, but more often then not the armor and cavalry community contributes to critical shaping operations on the battlefield.
Armor and cavalry formations provide reconnaissance, security, support, mobile protected firepower, and a myriad of other tasks that complement the other branches in maneuver warfare. The leaders I have spent my career working with understand the fact that we are a piece of the whole. These leaders are brash and confident individuals at times, but the clear majority are team players. Maneuver warfare is a team sport and we all must win together.
This is an interesting concept that is acknowledged by every branch, but is emphasized by armor and cavalry leaders due to the nature of their arena. The cavalry “screen line” is the definition of interconnected-ness. If one fails, the whole line crumbles. And, armor formations live in a combined arms world. The completion of their mission hinges on the success of their engineers, mechanics, etc..
The Opportunities
I have had many opportunities in the early stages of my career that other branches could not have offered me. In an era of draw downs and the initial withdrawal from Iraq, I had the opportunity to deploy and lead a platoon in Iraq and a troop in Afghanistan. This is partially due to luck, as I and branch have zero control on which units deploy. But, I was provided unique opportunities off the linear beaten path. This was because of the skill sets and versatility trained into me as an armor officer.
These characteristics are hallmarks of armor officers. They created an environment where talented leaders seek demanding opportunities overseas. Beyond combat tours, I have also conducted an overseas operational deployment to the Sinai, Egypt and served as a commander for a One Station Unit Training company where I had the opportunity to help shape the future of the force through teaching young 19K armor crewmen.Many of these opportunities are not unique to armor branch alone, but in my case the decision to serve as an armor officer placed me in the right position with the right education to be able to grab the opportunities that were available.
On Leadership
The last three questions Col. Lopez asks his #BranchSeries interviewees are:
1. If you could go back in time to when you were a cadet, what would you tell yourself
2. What do you expect from your Junior Leaders? From your Superiors?
3. Every branch is different. What do you expect from Armor Lieutenants?
My “letter to me” would be simple: Find your work/life balance quickly. Even to this day, I struggle with trying to manage my career and my family. But, as I got married and had children, my family felt the effects of my failures in this arena.
From any junior leader – or any leader for that matter – I expect the humility to understand that they don’t know everything. Be ready to learn from the leaders around them, especially the NCOs. Conversely, I expect a supervisor to develop their junior leaders.
Finally, I expect armor lieutenants to possess a baseline understanding of the platform and doctrine. Armor officers are experts in maneuver warfare. Seek opportunities to attend the Army Reconnaissance Course, Ranger School, and any other applicable courses you can. In developing a baseline understanding through schools and education, lieutenants need to learn to manage an aggressive OPTEMPO. Remember, being a passive armor lieutenant is not a good thing.
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In conclusion, for the new and future armor lieutenants, congratulations on making a great choice. Armor is a great branch with a long history and great traditions. Enjoy the opportunity to learn and grow from the leaders around you. And, have fun on your first spur ride.
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