I ship in exactly 2 weeks on January 14th. Is it too late to change my MOS to Infantry before basic?

Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:09:27 -0500

I'm 25P w/ option 40 but I want to change to 11B w/ option 40. Or even 18X. I regret not taking 18X when my recruiter initially offered it. I also want to keep my student loan repayment in my contract. What should I do?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 2:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:24:53 -0500

Maybe. You could also be very happy as a Communications Soldier, the military is what you make of it. Good Luck whatever you decide.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 2:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 02:46:16 -0500

Stick with what you have. Graduate Ranger School, you can reclass without training to 11B and still be in Ranger Regiment

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 3:01 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 03:01:45 -0500

You can talk to the recruiter and you *might* be able to reclass. On the other hand, you can also go to regiment (if you get selected) and I believe they let you reclass to 11B without going to school for it. If you joined the army to be the guy "kicking doors down" and "shooting the shit" then you will probably be surprised when you end up not doing either of those. A 25P's job (at least on the strategical side) consists of sitting around waiting for shit to break, then you troubleshoot, hopefully fix it, then wait again. Expect a lot of "free time" browsing youtube. If you want to do cool shit, either reclass or join the regiment. Also I can only speak from my own experience, so if there's any other Papa's contradicting anything I said, well they were probably luckier than me and ended up in some Tactical site.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jan 1 at 2020 8:59 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 08:59:37 -0500

Once you get a signed contract, you won't get it changed. As SFC Private RallyPoint Member stated, go with what you got and once in the Ranger Regiment you might be able to reclass.

Response by SGT Richard Gocio made Jan 1 at 2020 1:37 PM

SGT Richard Gocio — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 13:37:36 -0500

Your enlistment contract is an agreement that you will serve, and that the Service will train you in the occupational specialty that you agreed to. It is not written in blood, and can be modified or changed. Don't sweat it. Suggestion, go with it as it is now. Complete all of the training, Excell at it, then request reclassification into the MOS you truly want, keeping this initial training as a secondary MOS. It's a good career move to have more than one MOS, and it gives you time to mature as a soldier so that you can make good career decisions in the future.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 3:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:12:20 -0500

Also, I should point out that you probably won't make it through RASP, but when you get to your unit you can still go to Ranger school. Once you have your tab you can still reclass. Or, you might be like me and once you have your tab, realize that infantry stuff is fun, but not the full time job you want.
As for 18X, it's a recruiting tool, just like Option 40. You can volunteer any time in the Army for Special Forces or 75th Ranger Regiment to go to their selection. There's no need for a "guaranteed" slot at selection. 3/4 of people fail selections, so they are always recruiting. At least with what you have, you currently have a student loan repayment.

As for that SLRP, here's some info you need to know walking into it. It is considered income, so it will be taxed at 22%. So, if your loan is 60k, you'll end up receiving about 47k in the end. It will not completely pay off your loans. Also, you have to serve three years for your SLRP and then an additional three years to be eligible for the GI Bill. Maybe you don't care about your GI Bill, after all there is tuition assistance. Well, your TA will only cover $250 per SH for your Masters and you can use your GI Bill to cover the rest. You can also transfer it to your dependents after six years if you agree to four more years

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Jan 1 at 2020 3:12 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:12:47 -0500

Learn a marketable skill.... forget the RAMBO stuff... most of my 11B friends are crippled... bad knees.. back..diabetes.. psych...including myself.. yeah everybody and their brother was gonna be Ranger or SF.. the only ones who made it were the esteemed PX Rangers... who bought the patches.. devices and berets... thus saving the Army tons of money as they skipped all of the qualifacations courses. Saw a PFC cook..I knew in 1980 walking down Main Street wearing his Rangers t shirt.. Another would wear complete SF regalia.. got caught twice...

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Jan 1 at 2020 3:16 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 15:16:12 -0500

To be blunt... your subconscious made the decision regarding your MOS... it was no mistake..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 6:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 18:11:49 -0500

At this point it may be too late but stick with your current mos of choice as option are available afterwards; never know you may actually like it

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 6:52 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 18:52:10 -0500

The only person that is going to be able to answer your question is you. What do you want to do. After all this will be your life for the next 3-20 years. I will tell you I know a lot of friends that attempted to go Special Forces and I can't tell you by name one of them that made it. It is a long process that I only got a taste of with 3 weeks of SERE training. Me personally I wish I had became a pilot from the beginning. But it worked out in the long run. Moral of the story, don’t get on that plane unless you are 100 percent happy with your decision. Otherwise it may be a very very long 3 years. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2020 7:21 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 19:21:20 -0500

I am curious as of why you decided on 11B at the last minute when you have had all of the time to pick your MOS. Was it not an option when you signed?

Response by SGT Jason Lee made Jan 1 at 2020 9:30 PM

SGT Jason Lee — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 21:30:04 -0500

Until you go back to MEPS you can change everything or even cancel your contract the swear in at MEPS for Delayed entry is not binding at all until you actually leave and swear in the day you leave.. Discuss with your recruiter

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2020 3:59 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 03:59:33 -0500

Mmmm not likely I guess you could ask for a reclass at bct; I know a couple of guys who requested a reclass when I went through infantry OSUT and were sent somewhere I don’t know what exactly happened with them my suggestion is talk to your recruiter most likely won’t happen but like I say “the answer is always until you ask”

Response by SFC Bennie Davis made Jan 2 at 2020 5:33 PM

SFC Bennie Davis — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 17:33:19 -0500

It's to late to change anything now, stay with what you have and when you get back talk with your unit about changing your MOS.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2020 3:01 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 03:01:55 -0500

Just talk to your recruiter. You haven’t signed a contract yet, typically you do that right as you ship to basic at meps. (That first contract means nothing but “intent”.) They should be able to find you a slot, we’re (11B) under strength. Keep if mind if you go 18x and wash out, you’re needs of the army at that point and that shit sucks. Good luck.

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Jan 12 at 2020 11:17 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 23:17:22 -0500

Dude!
You are going where The Army needs you.
That's why they gave you that contract.
PS: It's easier for them to ASVAB score Infantry recruits than Commo.
Start out by thinking of The Army 1st, be the guy every recruit really should be. G-d bless.

Response by PFC(P) Victor F. made Jan 13 at 2020 12:05 PM

PFC(P) Victor F. — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 12:05:16 -0500

Good Luck at Basic!

Response by LCpl Ron A made Feb 17 at 2020 7:29 AM

LCpl Ron A — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:29:58 -0500

I'm former Infantry. You go into the military and they teach you a trade that you learn to perform better than any civilian school could ever teach. But when you get out the military...what do you put on yoir resume and what job is transferable with Infantry skills you learned besides law enforcement. Think about what you want for your future before deciding upon deciding an MOS. If you're good with having limited transferable skills in the civillian job market then go for it.