As a 35s do you go to the field?

PFC Gerald Dudley — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 21:46:14 -0500

Is it the perfect Army career for those who are not fans of the field and want an actual desk job /job experience as reddit makes it out to be?

I'm looking to get back into serving as a reservist and am really interested in this MOS. As a prior 35F I have never meet any 35s so I'm assuming they're rare and limited to certain locations.

Thank you all in advance.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2019 9:50 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 21:50:39 -0500

From what I know, most 35S stick to strategic locations but the USAICOE SGM said they are pushing for more 35S to go to tactical units in the future. But if you are looking to get back into the military, I would always expect to go to the field at some point.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2019 10:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:51:57 -0500

I can tell you from my experience that we are barely deployed, and mostly strategic. I’m currently stationed a at Buckley AFB, if that says anything. I have even asked for airborne many times only to be denied

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2019 1:24 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 01:24:23 -0500

35S’s are quite the unicorn. They’re rare, but sought after for their technical skills. So fair warning here, be open to any assignment. You’ll never know what experience it may bring. It’s all a matter of how you adapt to it. Know that there’s always the chance that Big Army needs you with a TAC unit whether it’s with the Infantry, the Combat Engineers, or at a MICO in Airborne land to include the SOF community. If you haven’t already, have that conversation with your Squad Leader, Retention NCO, and/or Career Manager. If anything, call your Branch Manager up at HRC and seek advice. You gotta let someone know before they make that decision for you. Good luck and glad to see your will to serve is alive and well.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2019 1:35 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 01:35:23 -0500

I commented but failed to answer your initial question. As a Reservist, you’ll see the “field” during your one weekend a month if you’re lucky. It’s usually saved for your annual two weeks of ADT with the rest of your unit where you will perform tasks related to your MOS.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2019 9:22 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 21:22:38 -0500

For active duty, it really depends on the assignment. If a 35S is assigned to a MIB-T, then they will go to the field. Otherwise, probably not. As a reservist 35S, you'd most likely be assigned to a BN that is aligned under one of the MIB-Ts. From what I've seen, their weekends are mostly full of the normal required Army training that is expected from all Soldiers. Maintaining the skillset is extremely difficult if you aren't engaged in it day-to-day and exasperated by commands that don't understand the MOS.

So if you don't want to go the field during reservist training, this is probably a good choice. If you actually want to understand and use the skillset as a green-suiter, go active duty.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2019 12:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:42:44 -0500

Yes, you will go to the field depending where you are stationed. Maybe not at Meade or Buckley, but Germany and Korea or SOF, yes. You’ll likely only deploy if you go to a SOF assignment. It’s a desk job. But there is no guarantee you will ever actually do your job wherever you go. The overwhelming majority of 35S never do their jobs. I was a 35F in the reserves And reclassed to Sierra when I went active.