SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 – Representatives from 16 Army branches provided members of the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets a glimpse into what they may encounter after graduation and commissioning during Branch Week, Aug. 24-28 at West Point, New York.
The annual knowledge-gathering event allows cadet candidates from the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School and the West Point community to enjoy static displays and informational booths presented by each branch representing functions across the Army.
The five-day event culminated with a Capability Exercise, bringing those capabilities to life as soldiers and cadets demonstrated Army power and lethality before spectators.
Upper-class cadets took a deeper look at their top two branch choices through engagement sessions with officers and noncommissioned officers, helping them make more informed decisions about their future Army careers.
Among the officers who came to West Point for Branch Week was Army Capt. Wilson Catoe, a 2022 USMA graduate and former Army West Point football player. Catoe works for the U.S. Army Infantry School and the Office of the Chief of the Infantry as an Infantry branch proponent officer.
“Ultimately, I am the decision maker as to which cadets, either USMA or ROTC, and [Officer Candidate School] will branch in the Infantry, and who does not,” said Catoe, who formerly served as a platoon leader and executive officer assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, at Fort Bliss, Texas.
In speaking with cadets about the Infantry Branch, Catoe emphasized its central role in the Army, describing it as “the heart and soul of the Army” and “the main effort of the Army force.”
“If you want an opportunity to challenge yourself physically and mentally in any demand of any environment, then the Infantry is for you,” Catoe said. “The opportunity to lead America’s sons and daughters against any adversary, it paints a picture of the high standards that the Infantry holds.”
Catoe said being in the Infantry was a chance to see himself grow exponentially.
“It’s a humbling opportunity to come back to West Point and see people share the same experience you did, and leading them into such a highly demanding branch,” Catoe said.
To have a positive influence on a cadet’s career choice, Catoe describes it as “the responsibility of a lifetime” with the goal of welcoming new blood into the branch.
As a cadet, Catoe had a tunnel-vision focus on what USMA expected, going to class and making sure his grades were up to par to stay on the football team. However, Branch Week offered an experience to meet with U.S. Army Forces Command units and understand all the opportunities afforded to them throughout the Army.
“When everybody comes out and hears the pitches of each branch, cadets are able to grow and understand,” Catoe said. “Those who serve in the branch share their experiences, so the cadets can understand what they’re getting into in the Army.”
Another officer who helped cadets find perspective on their future branches was Army 1st Lt. Sam Hanson, assigned to the Field Artillery Proponent Office stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where they handle accessions for cadets from across the country.
The most important thing Hanson wanted to convey to cadets was that every branch, not specifically Field Artillery, is “important to the fight that we’re trying to win.”
He talked about three unique jobs offered in Field Artillery where “each of those jobs requires a completely different skill set. “Hanson said most cadets wanted to hear what a typical day is like for a Field Artillery lieutenant and how the branch will change over time.
“In the next five years, we expect to field two new weapon systems that are going to completely change the way we fight the close fight,” Hanson said. “They’re really interested in that transition and being a part of that monumental change.”
The Wake Forest University ROTC graduate talked about recruiting talent to their unique branch, but first and foremost said the Army is a people’s business.
“This is what you are going to do for however long you’re in the military, and so it’s really important that you identify with the people you’re talking to,” Hanson said. “I always tell cadets, pick what feels right to you.”
Class of 2027 Cadet Samuel Eppler believes Branch Week is a remarkable experience for all cadets.
“I remember coming in plebe year after finishing Beast, and thinking the Army was the whole branch and there was just an infantry,” Eppler said. “Coming here and seeing all the different branches, it gave me a unique perspective of how interwoven all the branches in the Army are, and how they rely on each other for supply or whether it be combat arms or maneuver elements.”
“It really opened my eyes to all the possibilities that the Army offers,” he added. “Then, in the future, the possible career paths I can choose.”
The American Politics major from Ionia, Michigan, is hoping to branch into Aviation and potentially fly the UH-60 Black Hawk.
As part of Branch Week, senior class cadets participated in engagement sessions with their top two branch choices. Eppler attended sessions for Aviation and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
His interest in EOD grew after spending part of the summer at Cadet Troop Leader Training with an EOD unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“EOD has really technical skills that you learn through that branch,” Eppler said. “I thought it was extraordinary.”
Regardless of which path he ultimately chooses, the best piece of advice he received from Army officers that stuck with him was “there are no bad branches in the Army.”
“With anything you do, it’s always about service to your country,” Eppler said. “So, there’s always a fulfillment that you can get within each branch.”
Branch Week allows cadets to see how each branch achieves the Army’s mission. Eppler said the experience of seeing each branch and some of the Army’s equipment was “amazing.”
“This experience not only shows where the Army is at now, but talking with different officers and enlisted people, you can see the future direction of the Army with the technology that we’re producing for combat with lessons learned in Ukraine and other areas around the globe,” he said.
For Eppler, bringing the branches together at West Point allows cadets to learn about parts of the Army they may not experience during summer training.
“It’s perfect how West Point does it and puts [branches] all together,” he said. “You walk down the strip and talk to different people from different branches, and it’s very educational for each cadet. During summer training, you don’t get the hands-on with some of these different branches, but for this environment to provide you with a lot more insight into the daily job and the mission set of each branch — it’s incredible.”
By Eric Bartelt
United States Military Academy at West Point