Advice for Son's entry to the military

SSG Christopher Parrish — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:54:58 -0500

My oldest Boy wants to join the military, and I would like some advice from the RP group on how I should steer him.

He wants to eventually become a weapons designer, so he can "develop weapons that will give our guys more of an advantage and bring more home". He doesn't want to work on large ship or plane based systems, he is interested in small arms (rifles, Striker, etc).

My question is this, which branch and MOS should I steer him towards. A LTC friend of mine said to look in to the Marines to become an armorer. Obviously my selfish choice would be the Army. What are your thoughts?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2014 10:59 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:59:31 -0500

SSG Christopher Parrish, this MOS (91F) - if it still exists - sounds like just the thing for your son. See what you think:

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/45b.htm

What Do 91F - Small Arms/Artillery Repairers Do?

Job descriptions and qualification factors for United States Army Enlisted Jobs (Military Occupation Specialties). On this page, all about 91F - Small Arms/Artillery Repairer

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 14 at 2014 11:53 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 11:53:23 -0500

Army Infantry...that was my answer, so I am biased? Nothing wrong with being selfish, he is your son and I am sure you are very proud of him and would still be regardless of the details of his choice to serve.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Nov 14 at 2014 1:36 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:36:58 -0500

If he wants to design better weapons, you should steer him toward an engineering degree.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 14 at 2014 7:15 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:15:01 -0500

SSG Christopher Parrish I have to go with Marine Armorer as well. Every Marine is a rifleman, so he gets the hands-on tactical experience he would by going infantry in the army (or at least close to it.) Further he gets the maintenance and care side for some very well used but very well cared for weapons to inform his design ideas. He may even get lucky and be assigned to Quantico to build custom sniper rifles.

In the Corps the MOS is 2511, there are 369 on RP if you do an advanced search for the MOS by number, lots of Marines that I'm sure would be happy to talk about their experience. One example that may be particularly well suited to reach out to is GySgt Private RallyPoint Member since he's an armorer AND a recruiter. He can give you the odds on whether or not your son could get the MOS he wanted.

I'll bet with a little digging you could find equivalent lists for the army and other services.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2014 7:22 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:22:20 -0500

In the Marines a Armorer can gain the MOS of 2112 (precision weapons repair/technician). Here they lead how to build precision weapons like sniper rifles, marksmanship rifles, and competition rifles and pistols. They spend their training building the weapons that first enter the Marine Corps, then after training they inspect, repair and modify the weapons in the operating forces.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 18 at 2014 5:51 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:51:36 -0500

How well does he shoot? Dream scenario would be he gets picked to join the AMU where he can be an armorer.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 18 at 2014 6:00 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:00:06 -0500

Advice to child who is interested in serving in the military:
- Help your child in how to think in terms of career planning and career selection, not what to think. Your child will have to live with the decision they make, not you and you should not try to live vicariously through your child.
- Gather more than one point of view. More data points generally leads to a more robust and confident decision.
- Have more than one plan. A person with only one plan will be successful 50% of the time. A person with a primary and a backup plan will be successful about 80% of the time. A person with a primary, back up, and tertiary plan will be successful about 95% of the time.
- Seek out quality advice. Do not seek or take advice from anyone who is incompetent. Everyone has an opinion these days but most of these opinions are worthless.
- Help your child to play chess rather than checkers. This is short hand for thinking 3-5 moves ahead rather than thinking only one move ahead at a time.
- Lead the receiver. Too many people give advice based upon what worked for them in the past regardless of how conditions have changed. The best is to anticipate what conditions will be in 5-10 years and make decisions based upon those conditions and a person's druthers.
- Use MDMP. Start with personal and professional goals at 1, 5, 10 years; conduct mission analysis, develop COAs, compare COAs, wargame COAs, then pick and violently execute the chosen COA.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 6:11 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:11:08 -0500

For the Army my best advise would be MOS 91F. He will have the chance to work on all small arms as well as mortar tubes and howitzers (depending on where he is assigned). 91F is more then just an armorer. They are what we used to call the "3rd shop" repair for small arms. Google the MOS for a better explanation. I have worked with 91F that have now become gun smith one had even designed a weapon and awaiting manufacturing

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 18 at 2014 6:19 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:19:37 -0500

First thing I would tell him, " the recruiter lies!"
You might try getting a jump on his choice of fields by taking a gunsmithing course and working with a gunsmith before joining any branch of the military. But that would be my advice.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Aug 27 at 2015 10:07 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:07:10 -0400

I would tell anyone, regardless of the job they are looking for, to read between the lines and listen during the pauses. I did not join my current AFSC by choice, I was reclassed. But many of the people I have spoken to from A1C all the way to MSgt, have told me that they joined this job because they thought they were going to get to "work with NASA", "test nukes", or "launch nukes". Although the job description does mention these things the connotation is not as accurate as the real deal. Each quoted phrase has their own fine print. Yes, the space shred out may have the chance to work with NASA, we had a SSgt who was about to get orders to Cape Canaveral. But how often does that chance open? Not very. Testing nukes...well haha lets say its not what you think. Launching them? again not what you think. So while we do actually accomplish what the description says, someone who has been in should be able to weed through and be able to ask the right questions of "Tell me what they mean by..." when it is time to talk to the recruiter. Or better yet, find the job code your kiddo wants to join, and use your networking to talk to someone in that career field.

Recruiters need numbers and not all of them will be upfront and honest. My recruiter wasn't always on the up and up with his people but one that I did RAP for was very honest with his recruits. If someone came in and told him that he wanted to join "to see the world", he would tell him that he "might want to try the Navy, they tend to go more places".

Best of luck if you are still searching.