Based on your MOS(s) and experience, what career path would you advise others coming from similar backgrounds take? Why?

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:00:17 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 21 at 2021 6:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:07:33 -0400

Pick the MOS that sounds most endearing.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2021 6:36 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:36:10 -0400

It often comes down to whether they seek tangibles or intangibles. Experience never hurts. Not bragging, just adding context, but I held a half dozen enlisted and about the same officer MOSs by training and assignment. Primarily a POG in Engrs/Maint, I have limited experience with Combat Arms, other than training with and supporting the trigger pullers. Some should pursue an apprenticeship in the trades while in, if so assigned. All should use/practice self-improvement on ACDU, through programs available. Some just want to be the tip of the spear. Travel & Adventure over steady income in a garrison environment.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Jul 22 at 2021 5:22 AM

SGT Robert Wager — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:22:55 -0400

Find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2021 6:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 06:25:25 -0400

Pick an MOS that you feel will have some "outside the military" application. When I enlisted, it was between Air Defense Artillery and Combat Medic. When I joined as a young Soldier, I was convinced I wouldn't want to pursue an extremely long amount education to become a doctor. So that left me one option. While there isn't a ton of places for Missile Defense post military, there are a bunch of contracting jobs within DC/VA/AL/CO.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 22 at 2021 8:39 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 08:39:54 -0400

My background was a family history where the men in the family served, so I wanted to do my duty. The other part of that was that I was unemployed at the time and I frankly wanted to see if I was tough enough to be a grunt. So if your background is similar, 11B Infantry is the way to go. If I were looking at it as a career, Infantry promotes faster than any other MOS I can find. You can always reclass at re-enlistment.
I joined to be a soldier. You can always use your educational benefits to learn a civilian career afterwards. Even my time as an Engineer, about half my military career, does not readily convert to a civilian job.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 22 at 2021 1:56 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 13:56:14 -0400

Let me caveat that I understand Infantry ain't for everyone. That being said, I did my first 4 1/2 years in the infantry before I crossed over to MI. I honestly believe that those years in the infantry made me an infinitely better MI Soldier and leader. Not only did I have a better understanding and skill with basic Soldier tasks, but I had a far better understanding of what my intel was feeding. It made me able to ask smarter questions, focus on more important details, and consider not only how my intel would be used, but how it would be processed and considered.

For this reason, I would strongly urge anyone who wants to go into a support MOS (not necessarily as important for service support) to take a look at going infantry first, before crossing over. And yes, I understand that re-class is not always an option, especially in certain MOS which are harder to get into. But if it is a viable path, consider it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2021 10:10 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 22:10:05 -0400

I started off in Infantry. The most comparable job I found in the civilian market was homeless.
You walk everywhere, carry everything on your back, sleep anywhere you can, and you eat everything out of a can (C rations) or a bag (MRE). On cold nights, if you are lucky, you can warm your hands over a can of sterno.

Response by CPL LaForest Gray made Jul 23 at 2021 12:33 AM

CPL LaForest Gray — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:33:52 -0400

Learn to Lead by Learning to be Lead.

I had a unique military career as I was able to be trained in various Army MOS’s (8) official and a +1 … what I looked at was :

1.) I’m helping my country, military & myself.

2.) Each MOS was a cog ⚙️ in the military machine, I understood that, but I also comprehend that I was graining knowledge & gaining skills that could be used anywhere.

1st & foremost, people should understand that you’re signing up to possibly and realistically to die .. that’s what we volunteered for …. That’s the reality, while in TRADOC/GARRISON better yourself in all soldiering aspects, if there a field the soldier interested in and has the ASVAB scores for/or working towards … go for it.

Keep in mind that the need of the military supersedes personal ambitions.

I was on reassignment orders for FT. CARSON, CO from FT. BLISS, TX for a JTAGS assignment, but the orders were receded because 32nd AAMCDC reassigned 14J'S for the needs of the Army. I was considered for assignment because I applied myself to learn/absorb as much as I could about the 14J MOS as I during AIT/Permeant Party, so that when the opportunity came, I was ready.

When the opportunity came to go train at the JTAGS unit on FT. BLISS … I seized the learning opportunity so that I could be a better asset to my unit, the Army & Country.

*** I hope I said something useful ***
Thank you all for your service and sacrifices.