Army Recruiter says I will become a DEP loss that will prevent me from joining for up to a year if I try to change my MOS in DEP?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:19:12 -0500

Long story short, I didn't do my research enough. I'm trying to change my MOS while in the DEP. I leave in about a month and a half. I chose 35N(Signal Intelligence Analyst) but I want to change my MOS to 35T(Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer)

The reasoning for this is I've always been good as computers. Fixing, building, troubleshooting, and problem solving is something I really enjoy and I'd love to do as a career. My recruiter states that I'm now bound to this MOS and I told him I just won't ship unless I am able to change. He brought me in to his office and had me talk to his 1SG and he stated I can cross train, request a secondary MOS, and change my MOS after a year at my unit, which I'm SURE is a lot easier said than done.

My question is: Am I able to change to this MOS after signing my 35N contract and swearing in for the first time? Is my recruiter being truthful? It seems he would be unwilling to work with me to renegotiate a contract. I am 100% certain on this MOS(35T) and would not have any second thoughts about switching.

Thanks in advance.

Response by SSG Joseph Rodrigues made Nov 24 at 2020 1:35 PM

SSG Joseph Rodrigues — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:35:42 -0500

If you refused to ship, and your ship date passes then you would receive an entry-level separation. I'm not sure how long that takes to become official though. Whether or not you can enlist again after that I'm assuming depends on the needs of the Army at that point. I can't really speak on the other parts though, so I'll let someone else answer that for you. Changing your MOS once you are in is pretty easy in the Army Reserve, but on Active Duty, it is much harder. Depending on what component you enlisted into, you should look at the requirements for changing your MOS.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 1:54 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 13:54:21 -0500

Well I wont speak on behalf of another service branch and their recruiting practices. I am hoping a savvy Army recruiter answers most of your questions.
I would first find out if you even qualify for that job you want. If you don't make the requirements, then it's a moot point. If you are qualified, are there any spaces available for that job? If there are, then go for it. You may have to change shipping dates. This puts your recruiter in a bad position because they have to fill that space that you left vacant.
I have a firm belief that you make them tell you no. I also believe in doing everything possible to help someone achieve their goals. It has to be within reason. If you don't mentally or physically qualify for that job, then it's out of the recruiters hands.
If you are not satisfied and you think hard about the pros and cons, I would move on and perhaps research other branches and see if they can meet your needs. There's no guarantee of that either. I would also ask yourself can the experiences and the commitment of selfless service set you up for future success and be a foundation for you in achieving your goal further down the road.
Alot of people who serve aren't necessarily doing their "dream job". It does however pave the way to their future success in whatever they want. Just alot to think about. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Nov 24 at 2020 2:23 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:23:54 -0500

As a former recruiter in the Marines, I am sure some rules have changed. You are in a tough spot here. Changing an MOS while in the DEP can be difficult for the recruiters and MEPS. There is not an endless number of available positions. It is based on the needs of the Army. I believe there are other tests and even a security clearance you must pass as well to get the MOS. There is also the fact that you can only be in the DEP for one year. You may need to wait for an opening and that may push you back past a year.
Cross training between those 2 fields would be difficult. As for changing your MOS, you will still be at the needs of the Army and pass all the qualifications to move. I have known several that did a lat move so it can happen.
In the end, you can refuse to ship and look into another branch. Just beware that they may not want to work with you for fear you may change your mind again.
Sorry there is no black and white answer on this.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 2:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:45:49 -0500

If I was you, I would choose and stick with 35N. 35T graduates on average 4-6 individuals per class starting with around 40 individuals. If you are DEP and refuse to ship, it is in fact an entry level separation.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 24 at 2020 2:57 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:57:19 -0500

Former Army Recruiting Company Commander here. They are not bluffing!

When you went to MEPS and choose your MOS, it was based on your ASVAB scores, needs of the Army (always needs of the Army), and your choosing. My question to you is: were you offered the 35T MOS at the time? If so, did you turned it down?

What I can tell you they are bluffing is the secondary MOS part. Not impossible, but very unlikely. You will be neck deep on your first few years working and learning your trade.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 5:05 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 17:05:45 -0500

Sorry bud but if you signed a contract you’re bound to it you have to follow through at this point do your contract reenlist as a 35T I don’t know anyone (in my very limited time in service) who’s cross trained like that. Especially with 35t being such a rough course. Most people fail or get restarted in the training.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 6:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 18:56:15 -0500

Hey you know what you want. Become a DEP loss and come back a year or two later. Even if there wasn't a policy on preventing people from switching you would probably be waiting almost a year or more to go to the next open course - assuming there are class seats available.

Here's the straight up truth of the matter-
1. It's a job, and a career. Not everyone gets to be a racecar driver or an astronaut, but you can have a good job with great promotion potential, retirement and benefits.
2. The Army and the MEPS have policies preventing people from coming back and renegotiating because an agreement has already been struck and if every person who felt like they could do better was allowed to renegotiate, work would never get done.
3. If you were not offered 35T at the time of your enlistment, it wasn't available, or you weren't qualified. MOS 35T has one of the the highest line score requirements in the Army, and an 85 ASVAB is not nearly as impressive as you may think.
4. There are a limited number class seats available for any MOS in a given year. The Army has rules and policies for how far out a class can be reserved and how long a recruit can stay in the DEP. The next available class seat may very well be over a year from now and you are ineligible for it.
5. Your recruiter is trying to work with you. Your recruiter doesn't care what job you get and would happily take you back to the MEPS to pick out a job as a rocket ship door gunner if you were eligible to go. Your recruiter has no vested interest in whether you become an infantryman, MI, or a Green Beret. They don't get extra credit for your MOS and there's no commission on the MOS you pick.
6. There are only a limited number of 35T class seats a year, think very low hundreds. That's split among active duty enlistments, in service reclass, and Reserve and National Guard. You might think this is the MOS for you, but if you aren't one of the ones lucky enough to get offered a class seat then the Army doesn't think it's the right MOS for you. Just like every other Soldier walks in and says they want to be a 31K Dog Handler, there's just only so many class seats and they go the first person to sit in the seat that day who meets the prerequisites.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 9:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 21:44:22 -0500

If I was you I would stick to 35N. I know we choose a MOS because its interesting and something we hope to like doing. However, the Army doesn't really work like that all the time. Often times you are one MOS and they might have you doing something completely different. Many soldiers complain about not doing their "job".

Response by SSG Michael Laventure made Apr 17 at 2021 10:20 PM

SSG Michael Laventure — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 22:20:30 -0400

Don't waste your time as becoming a 35T - (Mast Intelligence) - stick with Signal Intelligence - way more computer learning involved.