How did everyone choose which MOS to serve as?

PVT Leighton Bader — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 16:59:39 -0400

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 5:01 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:01:47 -0400

I was duped, but it is the best decision i never made.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 29 at 2018 5:03 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:03:30 -0400

I looked at the available list of MOSs and chose the one that appeared most interesting.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jul 29 at 2018 5:18 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:18:22 -0400

I chose being a medical specialist (91A at the time, now a 68W) because I wanted to eventually go to veterinary school after serving for three years. I figured being a medic would give me a foundation upon which to build later on in vet school. Well, I went a completely different path and subsequently earned a PhD in Finance. Now, I can only treat someone for their financial health.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 5:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:19:25 -0400

I chose Infantry and Paratrooper even before I ever heard of MOS, and it was the right choice. What ever you do choose, do the best you can, and learn everything that has to do with that MOS.

Response by MAJ Richard Cheek made Jul 29 at 2018 5:54 PM

MAJ Richard Cheek — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:54:43 -0400

I wanted to be an infantryman since I was 4. Nothing else entered my mind. I did not want to be clerk Ora trchnician or a pilot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 6:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 18:11:06 -0400

Flip of a coin. I just told me recruiter to get into basic as fast as possible.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jul 29 at 2018 6:18 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 18:18:56 -0400

I got high enough scores where I could do anything. The career NCO at MEPs pulled out a list of MOSs and when I asked what a scout did he said "I don't know much about scouts. I know that thy wear a funny hat." And I told him to sign me up. I'm a sucker for a funny hat LOL no BS. This is how it happened lol. I turned down an extra $40k and a deskjob for a funny hat lol

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 29 at 2018 6:43 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 18:43:19 -0400

It is my duty to express this cautionary tale. I did very well on the ASVAB, however, my recruiters lied to me about the available jobs: Armor mechanic and Infantry. I was passed from an E-6 recruiter to an E-7 one who furthered pressured me for a decision. The E-8 who told me earlier that I was a good American for enlisting now told me I was a jackass for not making a decision. I still held my ground as now I was meeting the recruiting CPT. He finally gave me a list of 31 jobs that were available to me and to make a life altering decision. I took the list home and slept on it. I was completely appalled by the lack of honor exhibited by recruiters.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Jul 29 at 2018 7:03 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 19:03:01 -0400

Knowing I had a rather low draft number, I'd heard about military broadcasting while in junior college for communications. I went to the Army recruiter and asked about Armed Forces Radio and TV. He looked up the MOS(71R20), found the school was full at the time I would be finished with basic, so he signed me up instead for Military Journalism (71Q20) because it was in the same building as the broadcasting school. He said, "Maybe when you get out there you can work your way into the broadcasting school." Which is exactly what happened. I went on to enjoy three years of radio and TV work in West Berlin.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 7:44 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 19:44:47 -0400

When I enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011, my ASVAB score allowed me to pick nearly anything I wanted. Unfortunately, credit was an issue at the time so I couldn't get a clearance for what I really wanted (MI or MP). I went in as a cook because they had a nice bonus at the time and it was the best option of the available choices at MEPS. 6 years later, I decided I REALLY wanted nothing else but to be an MP. Long story short, I switched from Big Green to AF Blue and enlisted in the Air National Guard (it's a long story). Currently an E-5 SSgt slated for Security Forces Tech School.

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Jul 29 at 2018 7:45 PM

CH (COL) Geoff Bailey — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 19:45:25 -0400

They offered me 2 and the one I chose offered better education benefits.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 29 at 2018 7:50 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 19:50:48 -0400

I used to do a lot of volunteer work. Talking to homeless vets, the one common theme is they were almost all combat arms.. Decided to listen to the universe and not follow that path...I don't think a blue cord is worth having to make up for having no relevant job skills.

Response by SN Jay Perry made Jul 29 at 2018 8:05 PM

SN Jay Perry — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 20:05:40 -0400

Sad to say, my recruiter help me choose mine then when I washed out of electronics school, I ended up as a bosun mate

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 9:29 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 21:29:08 -0400

I didn't choose the thug life. The thug life chose me. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Each MOS (all three) that I have, I had chosen because those were the ones available at the time and I had to choose quickly as time was running out for certain things......like bonuses....departure dates, etc.

Response by SPC Michael Dillon made Jul 29 at 2018 9:58 PM

SPC Michael Dillon — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 21:58:22 -0400

I was given a list and chose to be an Army cook. I figured I'd continue in the food service industry since I have only worked restaurants prior to enlisting and had 1 yr. culinary school. (Never finished).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 10:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 22:27:04 -0400

I saw a video of the Army Rangers and I was hooked.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jul 29 at 2018 10:32 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 22:32:30 -0400

In my case it chose me ,guess it was in my stars to be a 11 Bravo,unlikeliest candidate ever ,under weight, four eyed, street corner punk from the city but with the guidance of some memorable Training NCOs and plain old dumb luck actually made a pretty good soldier after all.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jul 30 at 2018 12:25 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 00:25:32 -0400

Knew I wanted to be the Police when I was old enough, Marines offered me that opportunity at 19 to gain useful experience and, as a bonus the discipline to get where I wanted to go.
No regrets.

Response by PVT Toby Poole made Jul 30 at 2018 1:27 AM

PVT Toby Poole — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 01:27:33 -0400

I originally wanted to be a 31B, but decided since I didn't have my license at the time and was going to become a Police Officer on the civilian side, but I still always had an interest in Emergency and Tactical Medicine, that I would become a 68W and have the best of both worlds.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 1:36 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 01:36:03 -0400

My recruiter kept going on and on about my GT score and how I could do anything I wanted. I don’t remember the mos he kept going on about now but it had to do with Patriot missiles. Sorry recruiter, my mind was made up when I was a little boy and Infantry was all I wanted.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jul 30 at 2018 5:21 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 05:21:59 -0400

I was 17. No high school deploma. Gt of 111. Could pick any. Made ssg in 3 years 10 months. Warrant in 7 years. Went to Senior course in 1988. GS 12 Army war reserve

Response by MAJ Grant Gutkowski made Jul 30 at 2018 8:26 AM

MAJ Grant Gutkowski — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 08:26:03 -0400

While in OCS, I received some VERY good advice from a prior WO3. His whole line of thought revolved around using the systems in the Army to learn skills that are in demand "on the outside".

Following this logic, I wanted to chose an MOS that would teach me job skills that I could turn in to a career after service (at the time, I didn't know when "after service" would be). It worked. Needs-of-the-Army originally branched me AG due to my Business Management BS. I was able to branch transfer in to Transportation and never looked back. Then turned in to a "Multifunctional Logistician" at the Captains Career Course and finished off a MA in Transportation and Logistics Management.

I'm now a Supply Chain Manager for a $10B company...and I love it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 10:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 10:21:35 -0400

I graduated college before I joined. When I went to pick out my job (I was in DEP before I graduated) I wanted journalism. That's what my Bachelor's is in. The guy I talked to said I'd have to wait six months to go to basic to get that. I said I don't want to wait that long I just want to get it done. So he looks and looks and says the closest thing he had to it was intelligence analyst. I read the description - and not sure how it's like journalism. I guess the writing and researching part maybe. I said what else do you have? He said "Mechanic or cook." I said "I'll take that intel thing." My recruiter was shocked when I told him what I got (another recruiter took me). "I have people who kill to get that." (I'm a 35F, came in when it was still 96B).

Been an intel analyst my entire 14 years so far.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Jul 30 at 2018 1:55 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:55:52 -0400

when I took the ASVAB they asked me what do I want to do and I told them. I got the job that fits me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2018 7:24 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:24:23 -0400

I wanted skills that would help me succeed in my post military career, so that is why I am not combat arms.

Response by CPL Any Jim made Jul 31 at 2018 9:12 PM

CPL Any Jim — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 21:12:55 -0400

Dart board and gt score ?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2018 10:19 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:19:47 -0400

I chose 68W (medic) because I wanted to never again hold a dying friend in my arms and be powerless to help them

Response by SFC Harry H. made Aug 1 at 2018 10:54 AM

SFC Harry H. — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:54:49 -0400

The MOS choose me. I knew from the moment my Grandpa took me hunting the first time that I was destine to be an Infantryman. My Grandpa use to tell me all the time. "Someday you will be an Infantryman, until then, you are just a waste of oxygen."

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Aug 1 at 2018 10:29 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 22:29:33 -0400

I chose to be a Combat Engineer largely as my grandfather had been "an Engineer" during Korea, although he was Horizontal Construction and I later learned just how much difference there was between the two. I was told by the recruiter that I would learn construction & demolition, as well as carpentry and some forestry - which is the field I planned on going in to eventually and did get an education in. (To his credit, my recruiter did say that he wasn't really sure how they figured the forestry part).

Part of it was also that I knew I wanted to be combat-oriented and I also wanted to try to learn a trade-type skill at the same time, which was supposed to be carpentry. Even though I had a high enough ASVAB score that I could have picked about anything, I don't enjoy a job if it isn't something I can put my hands on - I can't do desk or office work.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2018 4:50 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 16:50:44 -0400

15T, UH-60

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2018 9:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 09:17:51 -0400

Mine was a plan B actually. Now don't get me wrong, I wholeheartedly love the Infantry. But when I came in, my plan was to be a medic. Then my recruiter lied to me and said it was a two year wait (there were classes available all over the place), and I wasn't prepared to wait that long. So I figured if I couldn't be patching bullet holes, I was going to deliver them

Response by CW2 Michael Bodnar made Sep 12 at 2018 10:13 AM

CW2 Michael Bodnar — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 10:13:34 -0400

I'm a prior service Marine that started off as a ground communication operator back in the early 90's. After my first enlistment, I was told I had to choose another MOS due to mine being full up. I chose 0241 (Imagery Intelligence Analyst) and have stayed with that MOS for over 20 years. I transitioned to the Maryland Army National Guard and became a Warrant. I've enjoyed many experiences over those 20 years and have held many jobs that employed those skills. By far, the best decision I ever made in my military career aside from becoming a Warrant.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 29 at 2018 5:05 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 05:05:50 -0500

I believed my recruiter's lies.....

Response by MAJ Richard Cheek made Aug 19 at 2019 9:07 PM

MAJ Richard Cheek — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:07:19 -0400

I wanted to be infantry since I was 4 easy decision for me disappointed my mom. Dec 1969

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2020 10:04 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 10:04:02 -0500

I wanted medical training to set me apart for medical school so decided that the Navy had the best enlisted training. From there I could serve with the Marines where all my friends had just joined... Basically I heard what I wanted to hear so I signed up congratulating myself that I'd done the best thing possible. It worked out!