If I reclassify from 12B to 12W, will I actually get to do my job?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:44:20 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2019 5:46 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:46:08 -0400

I know the 12Ws at LRMC did their actual MOS job.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Apr 29 at 2019 7:55 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:55:07 -0400

That’s the MOs I first enlisted back in 1989. Well, it was 51B then.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Apr 29 at 2019 8:14 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 20:14:56 -0400

Depends upon the unit as well as if you are Active or Guard/Reserve. I re-classed to 12W when I went in to the Reserves for a short while, and we only actually did MOS training once or twice outside of AT.

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made Apr 30 at 2019 12:20 AM

1LT Kevin Chapman — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:20:25 -0400

I was formally a 12W. We rarely did our job unless we came up on a project.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2019 2:15 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 02:15:35 -0400

You can't Reclass into 12W, its over strength. It's also listed on the precision retention message meaning that if you were a 12W right now you would probably be forced to change your MOS.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Apr 30 at 2019 10:17 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 10:17:54 -0400

Depends on the unit, and if they seek construction missions or not, also look at the MOS manual there are a lot of tasks in the 12W MOS that are not what folks think of when they think or Carpenters and Masons. Here's my experience and everything listed is an actual 12W task.:

- In the ESC unit the focus was experimentation support and we were constantly doing construction, lots of concrete.

-11th HMS and 124th the focus was on combat engineering and mobility assurance (bridge and airfield repair) and counter mobility (obstacles) so we did recon and timber bents and airfield matting, minefields, wire and timber obstacles.

-The 43rd was a balanced unit and we did tons of construction CMU buildings, bridges, wooden structures and combat engineer missions you name it we built it,

-802nd was mobility assurance and counter mobility again,

-864th was construction focused and we stayed busy,

-The Special Weapons and Nuclear Agency Engineers focused on large scale construction and explosives in support of weapons development and counter proliferation,

-The 62nd was a balanced unit lots of construction and lots of combat engineering missions supporting both the 1st Cav and 4th ID, high op-tempo.

So based on my 30 years as a Carpentry and Masonry guy you stand a very good chance of doing your MOS, just remember YOUR MOS entails a lot more than swinging a hammer or placing concrete.

Response by SPC Manny Managuit made May 1 at 2019 2:47 PM

SPC Manny Managuit — Wed, 01 May 2019 14:47:46 -0400

from my experiences coming from 19k to 12W( reserves MOS). It depends on the UNIT. It took me 1 1/2 years to re-class. Once MOS qualified when it is drill time.. not allot of MOS actions but the typically army life. but AT, some units go to peace missions. We went to Elsalvador to build small clinics and classrooms. I would recommend doing something you want under your belt or something you would like to do in civilian world. 12w Has not paid me much after getting out.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2019 6:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 18:36:48 -0500

If/when that goes through; it will depend on the needs of the units mission set. Expect a construction "honey-do's" list float your way from higher...e.g. concrete slabs for vehicle displays or statues and flagpoles in front of HQ's. If your fortunate enough to be at JRTC, there is a slew of projects that will come your way. Either way, short answer-yes.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 6:57 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 18:57:13 -0500

Intermittently just like any other MOS. I guess it depends on where you are stationed. While I was at Schofield Barracks, we build many structures for the Marines and the Navy, as well as the Jungle Warfare school and built wooden choppers for the Air Assault School. We also had rotations to go all over the Pacific to build schools or water treatment plants while working alongside the Seabees and Foreign Army Engineers.

That being said, while serving at Fort Knox we did as the Sappers did. A lot of dismounted training and warrior tasks and battle drills. I wish you luck on your future endeavors whatever you decide to do. If I was you though, try your hardest to get into Prime Power.