Can I deploy in the reserves if I’m not MOS qualified?

SPC Cordel St.amant — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:08:42 -0500

Not that it matters. A question only to curiosity. I’ve had some people say no and others say yes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2019 5:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:56:40 -0500

You can't deploy if you're not MOSQ, but since you have an MOS the Reserves can deploy you.
I actually fell into the same situation in OIF2 I joined the NG after active duty. I signed up for an MOS but was immediately deployed before I ever went to AIT.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2019 6:27 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:27:56 -0500

Yes!! I just experienced this. It literally took over 2 years for me to get a security clearance. While on the deployment I became MOSQ.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Nov 12 at 2019 6:56 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:56:01 -0500

Are you MOS Q cause as long as you have a MOS you can deploy

Response by LTC Warren Miller made Nov 12 at 2019 10:09 PM

LTC Warren Miller — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:09:51 -0500

I had been a by-name request to fill a slot in 2003 with my former unit but a 2-star shut it down because of a branch mismatch and being one grade over the slot. As I had recently been promoted out of the unit, the one-over wasn’t the issue, but the general felt I was unqualified by branch, in spite of having successfully and extremely competently performing the job for the three years prior to my promotion.

A commander can often get a non-MOSQ person on their deployment, but needs to be ready to fully justify exactly what skills the person brings to the table to meet their deployment mission. On my last deployment , my mission analysis “disagreed” with the slots they told me to fill, so I successfully argued for two people I felt I needed, giving up two positions that I thought were redundant or otherwise covered. In the end, I was right and was glad my chain gave me that latitude.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Nov 12 at 2019 11:17 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 23:17:01 -0500

Yes, in the reserves you can deploy if you are not MOSQ. In terms of AIT schools the Reserves do not operate the same as the regular Army. A recruit enlists with the reserves say under the DEP Split training option. What this means is that you go to BCT one year and the following year you go to AIT. You graduate BCT and are that MOS, you are not MOSQ yet so you can deploy if your unit gets called up.

You have to remember that an actual school is not needed to become MOSQ but rather blocks of instruction that culminate in the person becoming qualified.

This was the situation with a reserve unit where two soldiers were supposed to attend 77F AIT but the unit got deployed, those two along with it.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 13 at 2019 10:01 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 10:01:24 -0500

Can you? Yes. That's the Commanders call..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2019 3:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 15:17:35 -0500

The doctrinal answer is no you can not. As an OC/T we see lots of units try to pull this on the reserve said and it is the wrong answer that can get the whole chain of command cut loose.