diff --git a/checkout-branch.sh b/checkout-branch.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdb9ab4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/checkout-branch.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+#checks out the given branch
+
+if [ "$1" = "" ] ; then
+        echo "please provide one of the branch names:"
+        git branch -a
+        exit
+fi
+
+git checkout -b $1 origin/$1
+git config branch.$1.remote origin
+git config branch.$1.merge refs/heads/$1
+