Posted on Sep 26, 2022
Should I wait or take the quick ship bonus? Will there be a bonus of some sort after the new fiscal year?
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So last Tuesday I sat down with my recruiter and we
checked the system I was looking to be a 25B but only
option was 25U. So it was 25U with quick ship bonus of
40K and option 19. Well I wanted to get more info on 25U
MOS. Well I got the needed info and went back Friday to
sign up and they had removed option 19. Well my wife
really wants to go to Germany or Hawaii. So question is
being a week away from army fiscal year should I just wait
for the new year to see if option 19 comes back but my
recruiter says the 40K will be gone. Any words of advice
would be appreciated?
checked the system I was looking to be a 25B but only
option was 25U. So it was 25U with quick ship bonus of
40K and option 19. Well I wanted to get more info on 25U
MOS. Well I got the needed info and went back Friday to
sign up and they had removed option 19. Well my wife
really wants to go to Germany or Hawaii. So question is
being a week away from army fiscal year should I just wait
for the new year to see if option 19 comes back but my
recruiter says the 40K will be gone. Any words of advice
would be appreciated?
Posted in these groups: 
Enlisted
Enlisted
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Michael Clark, choosing your first career field is a pretty big decision. While you can change your MOS later, it can be difficult and there is an effective window between when your contract obligation ends and when it may be too late based on grade/experience to be competitive.
I suggest you revisit why you chose 25B, and the Army, in the first place. 25B translates to industry far more effectively than 25U. If you plan on getting credentials or certifications while on AD, 25B will help you add experience to your resume. No matter if you are a 4 and out or a careerist, both top out pretty quickly when it comes to broadening and leadership opportunities. I have seen quite a few leave the Army between E-5 and E-7 to take their skills to industry. 25U is a critical MOS, but 25B is becoming important in its own way and the Army is investing in the capability.
Knowing that there is an incentive to choose one over the other, you have to decide if the juice ($40K +option 19) is worth the squeeze in the long run. A career counselor, aka SFC (Join to see), can help you navigate what options you have and the impact of the decisions.
I suggest you revisit why you chose 25B, and the Army, in the first place. 25B translates to industry far more effectively than 25U. If you plan on getting credentials or certifications while on AD, 25B will help you add experience to your resume. No matter if you are a 4 and out or a careerist, both top out pretty quickly when it comes to broadening and leadership opportunities. I have seen quite a few leave the Army between E-5 and E-7 to take their skills to industry. 25U is a critical MOS, but 25B is becoming important in its own way and the Army is investing in the capability.
Knowing that there is an incentive to choose one over the other, you have to decide if the juice ($40K +option 19) is worth the squeeze in the long run. A career counselor, aka SFC (Join to see), can help you navigate what options you have and the impact of the decisions.
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Michael Clark
I appreciate your details and knowledge. Yes I originally choose 25B in the case of I want to exit in four years to my understanding 25B can transfer into civilian IT pretty easily. But I was told so does 25U. Was I misinformed or does 25B just open a wider spectrum of IT jobs? Thanks again.
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CSM William Everroad
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-are-the-main-differences-between-25b-and-25u
Yes. 25U is more tactical communications. You typically maintain, setup, and troubleshoot unit level field communication equipment. Handhelds, vehicle communications, and command post communications. These include radios, force tracking hardware (Blue Force Tracker), digital command post setups for the HQ all working on encrytped high frequency and satellite communication bands. You will work with some computers, but depending on the unit you are assigned to it is very limited in how much you actually "design" a communication strategy. For example you won't design the encryption, or choose which bands or equipment types for a given mission set. A 25U, early in their career, will simply set everything up and make sure it works and keeps working.
A 25B is more server side and making sure all the communications equipment can talk to each other on the larger NET.
Yes. 25U is more tactical communications. You typically maintain, setup, and troubleshoot unit level field communication equipment. Handhelds, vehicle communications, and command post communications. These include radios, force tracking hardware (Blue Force Tracker), digital command post setups for the HQ all working on encrytped high frequency and satellite communication bands. You will work with some computers, but depending on the unit you are assigned to it is very limited in how much you actually "design" a communication strategy. For example you won't design the encryption, or choose which bands or equipment types for a given mission set. A 25U, early in their career, will simply set everything up and make sure it works and keeps working.
A 25B is more server side and making sure all the communications equipment can talk to each other on the larger NET.
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SGM (Join to see)
Michael Clark - 25B would prepare you for an IT job in the private sector.
As a 25U, you might get the opportunity to help the 25Bs enough to prepare you for an entry level help desk job, or you might just spend 4 years with a radio on your back, and teaching the people around you how to use a radio.
As a 25U, you might get the opportunity to help the 25Bs enough to prepare you for an entry level help desk job, or you might just spend 4 years with a radio on your back, and teaching the people around you how to use a radio.
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Look bonuses change like governments in 3rd world countries, even hour by hr. You snooze you lose the bonus. Keep in mind fiscal year runs out Oct.
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The bonus could go away at the end of the fiscal year (the current one runs out at the end of the FY), however it is VERY likely that the Army will continue and increase the bonuses.
The Army is only at about 52% of its recruiting goal for the fiscal year - odds are very good that they will throw a lot of incentives to get people to sign up. According to the FY23 budget, the Army is actually looking to decrease the size of the force by about 12k because they are having such a hard time meeting numbers (however, that 12k decrease is about 2.5%, so don't worry that 'the job isn't going to be there').
If I were in your shoes, I'd toss the dice and wait.
The Army is only at about 52% of its recruiting goal for the fiscal year - odds are very good that they will throw a lot of incentives to get people to sign up. According to the FY23 budget, the Army is actually looking to decrease the size of the force by about 12k because they are having such a hard time meeting numbers (however, that 12k decrease is about 2.5%, so don't worry that 'the job isn't going to be there').
If I were in your shoes, I'd toss the dice and wait.
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