How can someone reclassify while still in AIT?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:29:12 -0400

My brother is in 56M (Chaplain Assistant) AIT now and he doesn't like the work he do and plan to reclass to something else MOS is and the thing is that he don't Know will Drill Sergeant let him pick a reclass MOS or not and if DS don't let him pick ,he don't want to reclass In some combat MOS that would be more worst then 56M, what suggestion can you guys give to him.what should he do to not regret in the future , I'm sure he don't want stay in this AIT.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 4:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:32:51 -0400

Unless he fails the AIT, he can’t reclass in AIT

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Aug 5 at 2020 4:35 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:35:05 -0400

Pretty sure the only way for him to change his MOS now would be to flunk out of his current AIT, which would then mean he'd end up as "needs of the Army" and end up in one of those "more worst" combat arms jobs. Your brother signed a contract, he's going to be expected to uphold his end of it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 4:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:41:26 -0400

if he gets the opportunity to reclass they're usually given 3 options from whatever the needs of the army is at the time. (they're not usually top of the line jobs). However, he will not get to know what those options are until he's officially failed from his AIT. Which means if he doesn't like the options then thats too bad, he has to choose one.

56M is a pretty cool job, unless theres something about it that he really can't stand, then I'd suggest sticking to it. Now AIT's suck, no matter what job they are. Are you sure he doesn't want the job? Or maybe he's just complaining because hes in tradoc.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 4:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:44:32 -0400

I don't think it works like that. He's going to have to talk to his drill sergeants and find out his options but if he hasn't failed anything or doesn't have a really good reason to reclass, I don't think he will in the middle of AIT.

Sorry he doesn't like the MOS he picked but...yeah. Also he hasn't even done his MOS yet. He needs to realize AIT is not reality. My AIT didn't teach me how to do my MOS. I had to learn on the job S2/security manager stuff. He probably isn't going to be able to reclass and might want to wait until he gets into actually doing his job.

Response by Sgt(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 5:09 PM

Sgt(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:09:28 -0400

I would suggest that he just sticks it out. If he's re-classed due to him failing a section or something he'll be re-classed to an MOS that meets the needs of the Army. 15 months before his contract ends he can talk to his retention NCO about reclassing to an open MOS of his choice.

Response by SSG Benjamin C. made Aug 5 at 2020 5:21 PM

SSG Benjamin C. — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:21:52 -0400

There is nothing he can do. He needs to wait to see how the MOS is in the Army. He signed his contract and swore in twice, he needs to suck it up.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Aug 5 at 2020 5:28 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:28:05 -0400

SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" This is a duplicate post. Can this be merged or deleted from the same question he posted.

Response by SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield made Aug 5 at 2020 7:12 PM

SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:12:53 -0400

The only way he could reclass is when it is time to reenlist or fails ait.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 5 at 2020 7:42 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:42:13 -0400

He has 0 choices. The service can reclass you if the MOS is eliminated, or you fail AIT, in which class its for whatever the service needs. Or if you are normally within your last 12 months of service- you can request an MOS school. He is stuck for at least 3 yrs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 7:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 19:47:44 -0400

They cannot. Tell your friend it’s a job and it puts food on the table, pays the medical, and offers a pension after 20 years, at a time when other people can’t guarantee when their next meal is. Picking a career path is not like walking into Baskin Robbins and trying all 42 flavors of ice cream while someone pays their full pay and wages to train them. It will help him buy time till he figures out what he wants to be when he grows up.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 5 at 2020 8:14 PM

SSG Brian G. — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:14:16 -0400

You cannot reclass while in AIT unless he fails some critical element of his MOS training that he cannot be recycled for. There is no letter he can write, no form he can fill out.

Of course once he fails his AIT he then gets new orders cut for an AIT that is at the needs of the Army and not what he wants. Best thing to do is suck it up, complete the AIT for the MOS he chose and then later, request to reclassify.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2020 8:30 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:30:55 -0400

They only way he can reclass to a different MOS while still in AIT is to fail his current AIT. If he does that, he will not get a choice in the new MOS. It will Needs of the Army and what he quals for. So, your brother is going to have to suck it up until it's time to either ETS or reenlist and try for a new MOS.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2020 2:31 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 02:31:55 -0400

It's been said a dozen times. Only if he fails. When I was in Intel School folks who funked out of EOD were sent our way because the Army didn't want to waste the TS clearance.

If a young soldier doesn't like the Army I can think of a zillion worse MOS's than to be a Chaplain Assistant. I know nothing of the job, but I doubt they are stuck burning classified documents in a burn pile out back on deployment, or cleaning the gross cooking surfaces in the DFAC.

Where ever he goes it's going to be worse than where he is.

As mentioned, it's a job. Folks get stuck flipping burgers or breaking their back digging ditches. A clerical position is going to allow him the ability to learn things on the side during dead time behind the desk. 3 years is not a long time. I know it's relative because he's probably young, but it will be gone in an instant and remember part of the 3 years is spent in TRADOC. So really it's only like 2.5 years.

If he got any sort of bonus or incentive to sign the contract for his MOS chances are he'll lose those as well.

What to the Drill SGT's say????? The fastest way out is through....................

Response by PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2020 6:27 AM

PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 06:27:39 -0400

I don't believe you can just reclassify after while in AIT unless you fail AIT and I don't believe it is guaranteed.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2020 10:32 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:32:39 -0400

Through my years of Active Duty, I've either known, observed, or had Chaplains Assistants as my Soldiers. In garrison, they are basically the Executive Assistant and "Chief of Staff" for the Chaplain. That means the Chaplain's Assistant manages the Chaplain's schedule, controls access to the Chaplain, manages religious programs, etc. Chaplain's Assistants also prepare religious services, control religious service accessories, the chapel, etc. It keeps one busy, but is hardly a "sucky" job.

Deployed, Chaplain's Assistants do all the garrison stuff, but are also the Chaplain's bodyguards, as Chaplains are not allowed, by Geneva Convention, to be armed. So 56Ms are "combat" personnel downrange.

I have known several Army Chaplains, and they have all been really great people to know, to be around, and have access to. One in particular for whom I have enormous respect and awe, is a former police SWAT officer, as well as a former Navy Sailor.

Tell your brother that AIT sucks, no matter what the MOS. It will get better once he graduates and gets to his first duty station. He may even come to like his job. If he doesn't, well he can reclass to a MOS that he feels he may like better at the end of his enlistment. There is also a voluntary reclass request, but he has to be in his current MOS for a certain amount of time (1 year seems to come to mind, but it could be different). But that's another whole discussion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2020 5:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:44:24 -0400

He cannot reclass. He could fail out (which is horrible recommendation) and then he would go before some type of Academic Deficiency Panel where they would make a determination of recycling him to a different class, reclass, or kicking him out. I would say he needs to figure his life out and talk to his unit's MFLC (Military & Family Life Counselor) or maybe a Chaplain and get some good counseling to help him sort out these emotions and make a determination on if he truly doesn't want this job or if there is something else going on that is a temporary issue that can be addressed to alleviate his frustrations and allow him see that its not as bad as he currently believes it to be.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2020 7:04 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 19:04:34 -0400

For one AIT is nothing like doing your actual job. I was no where near a chaplain assistant but all the ones I know how a pretty sweet gig sitting at Squadron HQ. I’d tell him try it out once he gets to his duty station do his initial enlistment and if he doesn’t enjoy it then start off of an MOS he would like then go from there. He can always re-enlist for another MOS after time requirements are met.

Response by PFC Lois Crawl made Sep 15 at 2020 8:35 AM

PFC Lois Crawl — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:35:07 -0400

Has he spoken with his company commander about reclassification of his MOS?

Response by SPC David Giffen made Oct 13 at 2020 11:59 PM

SPC David Giffen — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:59:27 -0400

The only other way is if the solider in AIT somehow no longer has the prerequisites. For instance a 92R Parachute Rigger does not pass Airborne school. Someone in a Military Intelligence MOS could not pass the background check for the necessary clearance.

Response by CPL Martin Alig made Oct 15 at 2020 1:58 AM

CPL Martin Alig — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 01:58:45 -0400

Do his contract then when his re enlistment becomes available reclass then lol that’s about his only option

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2020 5:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 17:50:50 -0500

As a 56M, his AIT is easy. Tell him to push through, get stationed and start doing the job he signed up for. As a 56M he will have the rare chance to see what most MOS' are like when he conducts ministry support with different units. I would highly suggest he check out other MOS options through the eyes of other soldiers before he is given the green light from his command to change MOS'. Also tell him to stay physically fit, thats really the only thing that can keep him from progressing to another MOS.

Response by LTC Ray Buenteo made Apr 28 at 2022 9:33 PM

LTC Ray Buenteo — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:33:25 -0400

You cannot reclas in AIT!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2022 2:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:49:40 -0400

Suck it up and drive on... no way you can reclassify,

Response by PFC Edgar Mosier made Jun 23 at 2022 4:48 PM

PFC Edgar Mosier — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:48:18 -0400

Brother, I know you asked about a year ago, but answers from "ranking" Brothers not withstanding aren't totally correct.
I gained my secondary MOS via OJT.
I was assigned to Ft. Belvior as an instructor (52C Gas Turbine Generator Specialist), but they had too many and I got asked to handle supply and distribution for the course, aka a USPS driver (complete with a Top Secret Clearance, as I carried Orders and other Personnel files). After a year, I requested the Secondary MOS, but didn't stay precise. I wanted a Courier MOS, but got 64C10...
In other words, ask - the worst they can say is "No!".