In the Army, can a person be forced into another MOS without being presented options?

PO1 Austin Hubbard — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:30:42 -0400

My sister is currently at EOD school, though fractured her ankle, and is being told she will be sent instead to cook school. Her impression is that she is eligible to be given three different options based on her ASVAB/GT scores. Is she mistaken, or is she eligible to consider different alternatives?

Response by PO1 Austin Hubbard made Apr 29 at 2021 10:31 PM

PO1 Austin Hubbard — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:31:32 -0400

*In the Army

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2021 10:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:33:25 -0400

PO1 Austin Hubbard I'm surprised they didn't discharge her on medical.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2021 10:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:56:42 -0400

It's called a Mandatory Reclass. She was given the benefit of training when she enlisted as EOD. EOD actually has about a 2/3rd attrition rate. If there are other MOS training seats available on short notice an IET Soldier who is dropped may sometimes be offered several options. Nothing is guaranteed and anyone who says they are entitled to any choices are just reciting urban legend

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Apr 30 at 2021 1:14 AM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 01:14:21 -0400

Needs of the service. It's unfortunate, but that happens. I chose to be a cook, and it was a good choice for me. Advancements and promotions are fairly rapid for 92G if she pounds out civilian education and does her job well. I always tell people to have a positive attitude in spite of circumstances because if a person learns to do that well when times are easy, when the enemy throws the suck at us, a positive attitude is a game changer.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2021 7:22 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:22:14 -0400

I always thought high attrition rate enlistment were a shady thing the Navy did (Other than 11X where you still end up Infantry) but I haven't joined the army since the 1990s.

Response by SPC Cathy Goessman made Apr 30 at 2021 7:58 AM

SPC Cathy Goessman — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:58:27 -0400

She is mistaken. If you get kicked from your contracted MOS you get reclassed on needs of the Army. Sometimes there's choices and sometimes not. When I was in IET Cook or 88M is what most people got tossed to. Sucks but that's the risk you take when you go for something like EOD with a high failure rate. If she's really desperate to not be a cook(wouldn't blame her!) she might be able to take it up with her command but odds are good the decision was already made based on school openings.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Apr 30 at 2021 7:58 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:58:58 -0400

If you sign for an MOS and can’t complete that training pipeline they can reclass as needs of the military present themselves.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 30 at 2021 8:48 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 08:48:59 -0400

When you fail AIT, your next assignment is wherever the Army wants you to go.
That's why the Army so casually allows people to enlist for EOD, SF, etc...
Because they know statistically you will fail, and then they have a body they can plug anywhere.

Response by CPT Richard Trione made Apr 30 at 2021 6:00 PM

CPT Richard Trione — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 18:00:14 -0400

Yes, unfortunately the needs of the Army to achieve its missions might require military personnel to change to another MOS.

Response by MSG Terry Lingle made May 1 at 2021 10:27 AM

MSG Terry Lingle — Sat, 01 May 2021 10:27:58 -0400

Somewhere in her contract I’m sure it says that if she is unable to complete her training she will “be reassigned in accordance with the needs of the United States Army,” or words to that effect. Sometimes soldiers in this situation are offered alternatives, but not always. Full disclosure: I retired from the US Army in 1989 as a MSG personnel NCO. But...some things never change. In the end it’s always about the “Big Green Machine.”

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made May 1 at 2021 8:50 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sat, 01 May 2021 20:50:01 -0400

I’m certainly no expert , but they fulfilled their obligation of giving her a slot, if your hurt and there’s no room or time to recycle you, then they certainly can. Needs of the Army and such, and over taxed slots I’d guess, I imagine the sign on bonuses make it competitive. Could be worse than cook school, 0341 would be worse, I’d certainly hate to spend my life humping baseplates to a mortar.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2021 12:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 12:27:18 -0400

I find it hard to believe they would send an EOD recycle with a TS clearance to Food Services.

When I was a Intel Analyst my class had three EOD recycles in it for 35F.

The cadre are probably playing mind games with her. I'd like to think the Army is going to try and recover it's investment on the TS clearance.