Posted on Jan 22, 2020
How can I change my MOS before shipping for basic training?
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I enlisted as 68W but really wanted 68K b/c my degrees & civilian jobs have been laboratory based. The only reason why I could not get 68K is b/c my transcripts did not say the word algebra so HRC wasn't sure if I took basic math in college - I have a STEM BS & MS, of course I took algebra & calculus even. I ship out Feb 11, is there a way to make this change still?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Posted in these groups: 
MOS
68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
68K: Medical Laboratory Specialist
MOS 68W: Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic) 68K: Medical Laboratory Specialist
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 6
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I've read everything here so far, and this is my advice - keep your 68W class seat and apply for an AMEDD commissioning program once you have your citizenship. 68K absolutely will not make you any more competitive for any other commissioning program. Your job performance, letters of recommendation, and civilian education will do that. People commission into AMEDD programs all the time coming from non-medical MOS's.
There is no benefit to you waiting, and if you renegotiate your contract for a different MOS and class seat, there is a very good chance you get delayed for up to a year. While there are nine classes a year, they are very small classes with limited class seats. I'm pretty certain, from the last time I looked at open seats, that all seats were filed into next Fiscal Year.
If you keep your current class date you will be working in an MOS that is a good launch pad for every other AMEDD commissioning program. You can use that time to learn about Army, get your citizenship, get your required secret clearance to commission, and get your letters of recommendation. I just don't think the potential gain that you get out of waiting and renegotiating outweighs the potential negatives. Plus, 68K has terrible promotions. If it does take you a few years, you will be stuck at E4 and E5 a lot longer than you would as a 68W. As for making E6, it could be years later than your 68W peers, even with your MS.
There is no benefit to you waiting, and if you renegotiate your contract for a different MOS and class seat, there is a very good chance you get delayed for up to a year. While there are nine classes a year, they are very small classes with limited class seats. I'm pretty certain, from the last time I looked at open seats, that all seats were filed into next Fiscal Year.
If you keep your current class date you will be working in an MOS that is a good launch pad for every other AMEDD commissioning program. You can use that time to learn about Army, get your citizenship, get your required secret clearance to commission, and get your letters of recommendation. I just don't think the potential gain that you get out of waiting and renegotiating outweighs the potential negatives. Plus, 68K has terrible promotions. If it does take you a few years, you will be stuck at E4 and E5 a lot longer than you would as a 68W. As for making E6, it could be years later than your 68W peers, even with your MS.
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SFC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) 68K is what you want now, not what you want overall or even long term. Your real goal is to commission and whatever you do between now and when you commission is a filler. I wouldn't lend too much weight to a temporary job. On top of that, 68K is a year long AIT, while 68W is less than a third of that. You would probably be at your unit and practicing for a year as a 68W before you even finished your 68K AIT.
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SPC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Yes that is true. Say I am put with a platoon that is getting ready to deploy soon after I join them, then will I still be able to put in AMEDD packet when I am out on a tour with them and my citizenship comes through? Or will I have to wait till I get back to the US? Thank you.
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SFC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) for most commissioning processes you can apply while deployed and without any minimum time on station requirements. I think the only exceptions are the PA program and the nursing program because you stay enlisted while you go to those courses. In the Army, commissioning trumps everything, even deployment.
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SPC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Great! I want to make the most efficent use of my time so glad I can apply for commission while deployed.
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maybe this is a dumb question, but if you have BS and MS in STEM field why in the hell are you enlisting instead of going OCS?
edit: Just saw the part about citizenship. best COA, stick with 68W, take advantage of the military accelerated path to citizenship (can be accomplished in as little as 10 months) and then apply for OCS.
edit: Just saw the part about citizenship. best COA, stick with 68W, take advantage of the military accelerated path to citizenship (can be accomplished in as little as 10 months) and then apply for OCS.
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Hi Tasha, contact your recruiter immediately and inform them of your intentions, hopefully you have a good recruiter that cares about your career vs. there quota numbers, it should be something that can be done, if they sound shady about the issue, call the MEPPS Station, and get some insight, you want to speak with someone of high rank, not a peon that don't know there left from there right :-) . Good Luck!
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you Sgt Hamilton. I got approval from the 68K course instructor to join the MOS. I took the email to my recruiter and although at first they said that how I was approved for the MOS sounded shady, they said they would get back to me tomorrow with an update. I will wait and see what I find out from them tomorrow. I will have to go to MEPS or find someone high up the chain of command if my recruiters cannot or are unwilling to help. Really appreciate your advice : )
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SGT Lenise Hamilton
Hi Tasha, I'm keeping my fingers cross and praying for you that all will work in your favor, I reviewed you info. once again, I do have some concerns as to if they will come back with some nonsense, referring to the recruiting office. I see that you need to become a US Citizen from your notes. I'm just hoping that you do not fall through the cracks in a negative way, due-to, the idiot-in-chief in the W/H, I'm sure that your aware that he's trying to activate more rules as far as citizen-ship is concern. I pray that your military
career goes off the ground without any further glitches and that you get in writing what your heart desires because you deserve nothing but the best :-). Please promise me that you will keep me abreast with your outcome. "All The Best To You".
career goes off the ground without any further glitches and that you get in writing what your heart desires because you deserve nothing but the best :-). Please promise me that you will keep me abreast with your outcome. "All The Best To You".
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You have a STEM BS and MS & they’re not sure if you took basic math? You’re blowing my mind lol. With an education like that, I hope you’re looking at commissioning programs as soon as you’re eligible.
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LTC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - was working in a fume hood and one of the gloves had a pinhole defect so my skin came into contact with liquid VX. fortunately we had good emergency protocols in place. I hit the panic button, everyone evacuated the lab, QRF suited up and came back in to get me. I had the presence of mind to hit myself with the 2-PAM chloride/atropine autoinjector.
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) Wow that is crazy. Though it is nice that you were able to inject yourself because from what I gathered from my course, the nerve damage can set in so quickly that you may not be able to inject yourself before the symptoms become acute.
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LTC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - auto injectors in your lab coat pocket were required. Although there is some stuff that is really bad and the antidote is unstable so the components have to be in separate vials that you have to mix if exposed. If you get some of that, you have about 30 seconds to mix the antidote and inject it before your heart stops. I decided that the risk wasn't worth what they were willing to pay and found other employment.
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) That's interesting, I had no idea about how the antidote actually worked. And I don't blame you, even if they paid great no amount of money is worth risking your life like that unless you're doing it to serve your country on the line.
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I’m a 68W and I don’t mind it, I’ll probably make a career out of it. With that said with that much schooling you are selling yourself way short to the military.
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) I gotcha. Depending on how long it will take you to get citizenship it might be worth waiting. If you think it’s going to take awhile by all means go enlisted, just don’t forget what your goals are, enlisted life can be draining at times but if you stay motivated you’ll be fine. 68W is an interesting MOS, you might end up in a hospital as an ED tech or you might go to an infantry unit. It’s a but more predictable as a lab tech, that’s your job and you’ll work in a clinic or a hospital, maybe in a Charlie Med which is a Role 2 medical facility, kind of a mobile hospital but it’s unlikely. Don’t underestimate the challenges of going green to gold either, you may end up in a command that’s supportive of your goal or a command that’s not very helpful, you need a decent amount of signatures from your chain of command to go officer from enlisted once you’re in. I would imagine your chain of command as a 68K would be more supportive than some commands you may end up in as a 68W.
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) Thank you so much for your reply. I am so glad I made this post because I'm getting just the kind of advice I have been looking for. If I get 68K I wouldn't mind going enlisted, if I have to stay 68W it will be a bit of a set back but not the worst thing in the world. I am just trying to keep my eyes on my goal of becoming AMEDD officer.
Out of curiosity though, if I decide to not ship out as enlisted and then apply for AMEDD officer once I'm a citizen, would declining to ship as enlisted in the past impact my chances of getting selected as an AMEDD officer in the future?
Out of curiosity though, if I decide to not ship out as enlisted and then apply for AMEDD officer once I'm a citizen, would declining to ship as enlisted in the past impact my chances of getting selected as an AMEDD officer in the future?
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) It would not at all and in fact you’d be working with different, AMEDD specific recruiters. They’ld most likely be happy you took your time and picked what you wanted the first time around. Your current recruiters might not be thrilled but it isn’t their life.
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) I agree current recruiters won't be happy at all. There's a promotion available for me to take up right now at my previous lab and I'm kind of going back and forth between army and going back to my civilian job because of that. Frustrated!
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With that said nothing is set in stone until you ship, your recruiters may say otherwise. You only have one shot at your initial entry into the military though, do not mess it up.
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SPC (Join to see)
May I ask what you mean when you say I only have one shot at my initial entry into the military? Does that mean that me requesting a change of MOS may negatively impact my military profile?
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) Not at all, just that before you enter the military you have time to think about what you want and the military holds nothing against you. Once you are in or get out and want to get back in as prior service your options can be more limited. Not always, but sometimes. It is much easier to work with recruiters and get it right the first time than to try to work with your chain of command because at that point the mission is the priority and not what you want. That’s not to say that you’ll be stuck once you’re in, just that it may prove to be more challenging. It really depends on who your superiors are.
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) I see what you mean now. Yes that definitely sounds like a good thing to do, especially since I do see a future for myself in the army as an officer so I would want to make sure I'm starting off setting my foundation right so I can go in the right direction when the time comes to go AMEDD. Thank you so much for your informative inputs.
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