Posted on Jan 1, 2020
I ship in exactly 2 weeks on January 14th. Is it too late to change my MOS to Infantry before basic?
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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?
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 18
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.
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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?
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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.
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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
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To be blunt... your subconscious made the decision regarding your MOS... it was no mistake..
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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
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
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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.
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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.
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