Posted on Aug 5, 2017
How common is it to change your MOS in the Army?
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I see on Rallypoint a lot of questions regarding changing MOSs, usually to improve promotion opportunities. How common is it to change your MOS in the Army? How do you think this affects job expertise at the senior enlisted level?
In the Navy while it is not uncommon for Sailors to change to a different rating, it is definitely not the norm, and changing twice is very rare.
In the Navy while it is not uncommon for Sailors to change to a different rating, it is definitely not the norm, and changing twice is very rare.
Soldiers
MOS
Reclass
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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It is actually quite common in the army. There are numerous reasons for the change. A lot of combat arms cats usually get the experience of being a grunt and the quick promotions and then often venture into more specialized jobs that offer the opportunity for civilian employment for when they leave. On the flip side, I've had soldiers who were bored with working desks and came over to combat arms because they weren't getting promoted and they wanted something more exciting. Usually you only see it happen with E5 and below. Many spc types will debate reclassing. But usually around E6 it is difficult to reclass because they just can't toss you in a slot because you won't have the experience. After E6 it is sort of either enjoy your chosen profession or get out.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson Thank you for the explanation. Most cross-rating (that's what we call it) happens when a Sailor is re-enlisting based on performance and their rating manning. There are restrictions as to what you can, if you can, cross rate into as well, i.e. If your rating is undermanned you can't cross rate, and you can't cross into an overmanned one.
Some ratings you can't enlist as too, such as legalman (paralegal). Sailors have to apply and cross rate into this field. The Navy also has apprentices, where a Sailor enlists without a specialty into one of the 4 apprenticeship fields: Aviation, Seamanship, Engineering, Construction. They have to chose and 'strike' for a rating before they can advance to E-4.
Some ratings you can't enlist as too, such as legalman (paralegal). Sailors have to apply and cross rate into this field. The Navy also has apprentices, where a Sailor enlists without a specialty into one of the 4 apprenticeship fields: Aviation, Seamanship, Engineering, Construction. They have to chose and 'strike' for a rating before they can advance to E-4.
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All depends on the needs of the Army. If that soldier wants wto continue in that job field after the army is a big factor for most reclass.
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It is common in the Army to see one reclass (2 MOSs) , but more so in the Army Reserve National Guard. People move or switch their drill location to get closer to home and change unit and MOS. Many times, the ARNG changes and reflags units. I have seen one unit in my home town go from Infantry to Signal to Field Artillery. That means a unit reclassified en masse.
Additionally, there is a career ladder. As people advance as NCOs, MOSs merge a couple times. Calibrators used to start as 94H, then merge at E8 into 27E which is a TOW missile repairer. The 91A,B,E,S, F, series all eventually merge into 91X then into 91Z.
Additionally, there is a career ladder. As people advance as NCOs, MOSs merge a couple times. Calibrators used to start as 94H, then merge at E8 into 27E which is a TOW missile repairer. The 91A,B,E,S, F, series all eventually merge into 91X then into 91Z.
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LTC Jason Mackay Whew! Thats a lot of letters and numbers! We merge some ratings too, usually at eh E-9 level, For example: Aviation Electronics Technicians (AT) and Aviation Electricians Mates (AE) merge into Avionics Technicians (AV) at E-9.
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I know in the reserves, obviously there are no combat MOS's, plus the area you live in may only have a hand full of units limiting the number of MOS's available, so soldiers have to re class to fit the needs of the unit when coming in. I re-classed twice in the Reserves.
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