Posted on Jan 4, 2020
Can you change MOS if going from Army Reserve to Active Army?
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I'm curious if a soldier can change their MOS if they transfer from Army Reserve to the active Army?
I am a former Army Recruiter (over 25 years ago) and I know back then that if a soldier wanted to go from Reserve/Guard to active duty...they were not allowed to change their MOS. The logic being that Uncle Sam already paid thousands to train you once and they are not going to spend thousands more to train you again for a different job.
The reason I'm asking is because a friend of mine has a son who's planning to join the Army Reserve in the next couple of weeks (has apparently already reserved his MOS slot). However, his ultimate goal is to go active duty as a tanker. My fear is that he hasn't mentioned this to his reserve recruiter. And if he did...the recruiter is probably lying to him or blowing smoke up his rear end by telling him it's no problem switching MOS's.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Like I said...it's been 25 years since I my dark days of recruiting and I'm sure some things have probably changed.
I am a former Army Recruiter (over 25 years ago) and I know back then that if a soldier wanted to go from Reserve/Guard to active duty...they were not allowed to change their MOS. The logic being that Uncle Sam already paid thousands to train you once and they are not going to spend thousands more to train you again for a different job.
The reason I'm asking is because a friend of mine has a son who's planning to join the Army Reserve in the next couple of weeks (has apparently already reserved his MOS slot). However, his ultimate goal is to go active duty as a tanker. My fear is that he hasn't mentioned this to his reserve recruiter. And if he did...the recruiter is probably lying to him or blowing smoke up his rear end by telling him it's no problem switching MOS's.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Like I said...it's been 25 years since I my dark days of recruiting and I'm sure some things have probably changed.
Army Reserve Elements
MOS
79R: Recruiter
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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Yes they can switch their MOS when going active, if the Army has a need for the MOS they want.
A better question is why doesn't the kid join the NG as a tanker and then he has the MOS once he goes Active?
A better question is why doesn't the kid join the NG as a tanker and then he has the MOS once he goes Active?
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SFC John Peters CWDP: BES, JSS
He's actually planning to join the Army Reserve and go into an MOS in the medical field (can't remember the exact MOS). But is ultimate goal is to go active duty and be a tank crewman.
I was thinking the same thing...why the heck would you want to join the reserves when your goal is to go active duty?
Unfortunately, I saw a lot of this while I was on recruiting duty. NG & Reserve recruiters giving sales pitches to high school kids encouraging them to go part-time to "try it out" to see if you like it first. Then telling then they can always go active duty anytime and go Airborne Ranger, SF, Delta and play Rambo, etc.
I was thinking the same thing...why the heck would you want to join the reserves when your goal is to go active duty?
Unfortunately, I saw a lot of this while I was on recruiting duty. NG & Reserve recruiters giving sales pitches to high school kids encouraging them to go part-time to "try it out" to see if you like it first. Then telling then they can always go active duty anytime and go Airborne Ranger, SF, Delta and play Rambo, etc.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC John Peters CWDP: BES, JSS it sounds like the kid in the candy store problem. Kids walk into my office and want to be John Rambo, but also want to go into nursing and MI so their plan is to switch MOS's six times so they can get experience as a dog handler so they can get out and join the fire department.
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SFC John Peters CWDP: BES, JSS
I can't tell you the number of times I would have a person with 1 or 2 years in the NG or Reserve come up to me as a recruiter and tell me they were ready to go active duty. My first question would be..."what's your MOS in the NG/Reserve?". The answer would usually be something like generator mechanic, etc. I would then be forced to dash the kid's hopes by saying..."well guess what you're going to be in the Active Army?". That's right...a generator mechanic! :(
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He should be a guest at a NG Armored unit and shadow them.. for the weekend.. therefore he can see if he likes tanks... I worked a lot with tanks as a CAV Scout, but only as a standing up TC to move them from Farm to training areas as I was too big to fit inside..I also had problems when they fired... and got hurt and suffered deafness in a firing accident HE round back blast. It take a special person to be a tanker.
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SFC (Join to see) didn't I see a post from you a while back that RC soldiers transitioning to AD could only select current MOS or a short list of high demand MOSs that they otherwise qualified for?
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SFC (Join to see)
Something like that, they are called "will train" spots. Basically, it's whatever slots the USAR unit or NG units close to you have openings for at the time
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SFC (Join to see)
Sorry I read that backwards as Active duty going reserves.
Yes, there is usually a short list of high demand jobs published in the Prior Service Business rules to pick from
Yes, there is usually a short list of high demand jobs published in the Prior Service Business rules to pick from
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Last rules I had reflected that under 36months TAS, allows some mos changes. May have changed but check with your local RA recruiter. You will be told to come back with a signed 368 from 1st star in line( local garrison cdr for NG). without one, you are just getting info.
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Sometimes you can change your MOS when switching to active based on needs of the Army. However getting a particular MOS is unlikely. HRC business rules come into play as well.
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In '96 when I was going Reserves to Active, I had changed my MOS. In fact, I had to change my MOS because apparently there were no open Medic slots at that time so I went in as 12B.
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