-This is not the official web site for the North Carolina National Guard -
www.NCGuard.net is solely owned and maintained by
SFC Jimmy Smith, North Carolina National Guard
COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS
Commissioned Officers are the managers,
problem-solvers, key influencers and planners who lead
Enlisted Soldiers in all situations.  To achieve the honor
of Officership, you must possess strong leadership
qualities along with the desire to improve yourself and
your country.  A Commissioned Officer can claim
renowned leadership training including management and
communication expertise, loads of hands-on experience,
problem-solving, and strategic skills.  People both in and
outside of the military recognize the abilities and
accomplishments that come with being a Commissioned
Officer.
Unlike most civilian jobs, Commissioned Officers enjoy a prearranged
advancement system.  Basically, a qualified person is assured a promotion
after a certain amount of time.  Your performance is reviewed regularly,
you are informed when this is going on and you will know what is
expected of you.  
Second Lieutenant - This is your
rank when you begin your career.  
During this phase you will develop your
skills in your primary branch.
First Lieutenant - Here is where you
apply your training.  The main
objective of this portion of your career
is to learn how to lead other troops.
Captain - You will advance your career and education a great
deal as a Captain.  You will acquire command experience and
become qualified in a functional area.  By attending the Officer
Advance Course, then later the Combined Arms and Services
Staff School, you will obtain an education that qualifies you for
positions of greater responsibility.
Major - At the Major level, you're a key staff officer.  Here, you'll
develop further in your branch and your specialization, and you
may be selected to attend Command or General Staff College.
Lieutenant Colonel - Welcome to upper management.  You
might command your own battalion or be a General Staff Officer.  
Some of the more desirable and challenging positions will now
become available to you, and some of these officers will be
selected to attend the Army War College.
Colonel - By now, you will have gotten used to responsibility.
So, brigade command or a high-level staff position in one of
your functional areas should be no problem.
General - When you wear one or more stars on your uniform,
people know who you are.  Of course, it's a great honor and
responsibility.  From Division Commanders to Post
Commanders, Generals do nothing less than run the Army.
The challenges and rewards offered to Commissioned Officers are abundant.  You will work
within a "branch", specializing in a general field of interest, taking on different assignments
every few years.  You have the opportunity to concentrate in one branch while expanding your
specialization as your career progresses.  Each new assignment brings with it new challenges
and the chance to advance your career, education and experience.
OFFICER BRANCHES
Infantry                                    Armor
Field Artillery                          Air Defense Artillery
Aviation                                   Corps of Engineers  
Military Police Corps              Military Intelligence
Signal Corps                           Chemical Corps
Adjutant Generals Corps       Transportation Corps
Finance Corps                        Judge Advocate Generals Corps
Health Care                             Quartermaster Corps
Ordinance Corps                     Chaplain Corps
Special Forces