Can you change MOS after basic to 18x/11b?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 23:21:06 -0500

Just wondering is it easy and or fast to switch MOS to 18x/11b after basic since they are a high demand MOS?

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 14 at 2020 11:39 PM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 23:39:27 -0500

It's not going to happen. Not until you have at least completed your AIT and graduated. You can then put in a 4187 to go to 11B school. The problem is you are a reservist by your profile and while not impossible, your chances are slimmer, a lot slimmer. Your best bet is to finish your current MOS AIT and then go to your home unit and request to go active duty. Then from there request to go 11B, then Airborne. Then get yourself in serious shape and research going SF.

Response by MSG Andrew White made Feb 15 at 2020 12:25 AM

MSG Andrew White — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 00:25:31 -0500

GOOD LUCK!! THAT'S A ROUGH ROAD!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2020 12:29 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 00:29:17 -0500

The Reserves do not have 11B positions or Special Forces units. There are a few prior service NG or AD 11B soldiers in the Reserves that are filling 00F (MOS immaterial) slots, but other than maybe a staff position or liaison-type position, they just don't exist in the Reserves (and definitely are not SPC or below positions). The National Guard has 19th and 20th Group Special Forces and a ton of Infantry units if you are looking to stay part-time.

Either way, you'll likely have to finish AIT before you can request a conditional release then re-enlist in either the NG or AD. However, your best bet is to talk to an NG or AD recruiter as soon as possible and see if they have another avenue for your to pursue.

Response by SGT Frederick S. Mitchell made Feb 15 at 2020 1:47 AM

SGT Frederick S. Mitchell — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 01:47:53 -0500

18x is an infantry fill slot for 11b. 3 out of 100 pass 18x training. Good luck! Best of the best there buddy. 20th SF is in Massachusetts so unless you live there....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2020 9:28 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 09:28:37 -0500

No. You have to reenlist for that

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2020 12:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:47:34 -0500

First, you'll have to figure out which you want to do because they're nothing alike.

There's no such thing as 18X, it's an enlistment program, not an MOS. It's only available to initial enlisting applicants. You can apply to SF, go to the selection, and if you're selected you go to the Qualification Course. It takes a year or two depending upon the 18 series MOS you're given.

If you want to be 11B there are two ways. First one, you get to your unit, go to Ranger School and pass. Come back, and it's a quick request through your Career Counselor. Second way, after you've been on station a year, you see your Career Counselor, get an 11B class date, and ship out to OSUT whenever the class date is. That could be anywhere from 3 months to 15 months away.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2020 12:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:54:18 -0500

Probably wouldn't happen until you re-enlist onto a second contract, and you enlist for that mos.

Response by SFC Joseph McCausland made Feb 16 at 2020 11:43 AM

SFC Joseph McCausland — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 11:43:47 -0500

Perhaps it would be easier to list the quals for 18X and see if you qualify:
The requirements to become a U.S. Army Special Forces Recruit (18X) are that you must possess at a minimum... HS Diploma, have U.S. Citizenship, the ability to obtain a Secret Security Clearance, meet or exceed the required ASVAB scores and complete Language testing -DLAB, (which does not test you on a language you already know but measures and determines whether you have the ability to learn a language that would be taught to you) with a min score of 100 out of 176, and finally, qualify for and pass Infantry & Airborne training.
Once you have met all the above requirements then and only then will you be qualified to move further on to fulfilling the 18X Option you enlisted under.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2020 9:15 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:15:35 -0500

All 18 series I’ve met have gone through OSUT and already have their blue cord, since infantry is understaffed and assuming you fail selection chance are good you’ll be sent to a infantry unit and onto a line platoon, however since you don’t yet posses a 11 series identifier you will be at the needs of the army