Is it common for soldiers to change their MOS when re-enlisting?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 15:46:29 -0500

I have a cousin who has been in the marines for 20+ years and she's been in like 6 different MOS'. I was just curious if thats common to see/do.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Dec 9 at 2018 4:30 PM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 16:30:54 -0500

Some are by choice and some are not. As the militaries continue to restructure their needs, some MOS’s are simply changed to combine, are deleted or new are created. When this happens, some personnel may have two MOS’s at a minimum, or more if they change into different jobs for experience beyond, or simply for promotion potential.
There are many different reasons. Typically not 6, but each service has its own directives. Apply some time as a recruiter or career counselor, you just added two more. All of these are common, but the stars would need to align just right. Another could be if he became an Officer. That would add another.
I could see any number of ways to get to six quite easily to be honest...

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Dec 9 at 2018 6:41 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 18:41:17 -0500

Yes. Very common. I was the logistics chief as a cw3 at Cameron station va. Inspected exhibitors.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 9 at 2018 8:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 20:18:58 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member it Is unusual to go from being a 91B Mechanic to be a 35 series Intel person as a random example. It is normal to see someone reclass to another low density MOS. Many MOS changes are due to the career field, meaning you start as (old MOS example) 44B welder , which turns into 44E at E6, then goes to say a 63 series at E8then 63Z at E9.

If there is a career field or MOS realignment (which happened in the mid 2000s) that will shake everything up. Example, 68W Medic was the merge of two other MOSs. When a weapon system goes away, it usually takes some MOSs with it. 63N wasthe MOS to repair M60 MBTs. When they were phased out, so did the MOS. People reclassed. It doesn't happen everyday, butoften enough it's a thing. When a new field opens up, they create MOSs or realign others. Example 17C Cyber. All those that reclass had an MOS before that.

6 is unusual. ARNG you may see that many due to unit changes, force modernization, force management changes, people switching units, etc.

Response by CSM John Ryan made Dec 9 at 2018 9:42 PM

CSM John Ryan — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 21:42:58 -0500

Yes it is common if you want rank quicker. I did 28 years army had 9 mos s and got E9. Some were OJT. Good for her. I also wanted certain jobs. Like aviation rather than infantry.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2018 10:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 22:54:01 -0500

I changed MOS three times:
1st from 91B Medic (Active, Regular Army) to 95B MP (ARNG),
then again to 12B Combat Engineer (Active, Regular Army),
then I reverted back to being a 91B Medic, which they then redesignated to be 68W (which combined 91B and 91C).

But I'm a statistical outlier. Most Soldiers that I know don't do that. Really, I just kept getting bored. But I did have to meet needs-of-the-Army with each of these - I didn't get to just willy-nilly declare I was going to do this or that.

One more thing: I think it can be good thing, depending on the mix of MOSes over time. For instance, when I was a 12B, it was definitely useful to have been a medic previously. Medic is something that will be useful forever - everywhere.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2018 11:27 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:27:05 -0500

I think it is more common for a reservist. My wife has 3 MOS's due to PCSing on my orders and no current MOS slots in her gaining units.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2018 12:46 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 12:46:56 -0500

I think its pretty common and sometimes it is for the best. I reclassed due to my prior MOS being done away. I ended up getting promoted faster and now I am waiting on my promotion to CW3.