Posted on Dec 9, 2018
Is it common for soldiers to change their MOS when re-enlisting?
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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.
Posted in these groups: 
MOS
Job/Skill Training
MOS Job/Skill Training
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 7
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SPC (Join to see) 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.
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.
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SGT (Join to see)
68W came from 91B Medic + 91C (Practical Nurse?). Then I guess (from your post) they then made 91B refer to mechanics. 12B became 21B for a couple of years, and then went back to being 12B. I'm cannot determine what benefit there is to moving these things around, but anyhow...
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT (Join to see) - they tried to get all the MOSs in a career field under one number. 91series are all maintainers now, sucked up what used to be 63, 35, 45, and 44 among others. 68W came from medic and LPN. It required all medics to be EMT B certified if I remember correctly. They started the transition in 2001 and required a horrific transition program on all installations, conducted by MEDDAC and tactical units until those 91B and 91C were "trained" then they were awarded 91W which then begot 68W.
The 2000s MOS migration is the Army's OPSEC like the Navy Rates.
The 2000s MOS migration is the Army's OPSEC like the Navy Rates.
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SGT (Join to see)
I was a 91B in the FLARNG when they changed our MOS to either 91W or 68W (without any additional training). The only time that we did the EMT national registry test was at AIT. (That test was laughably bad; furthermore, in terms of hands-on treatment, Army medics exceed scope of training given to EMT-Bs. The comparison is incongruent - apples and bricks. But I see the motivation for the test.) In the early 1990s 91C had been a BEAR program MOS in which they had been attempting to motivate junior enlisted 91Bs to reclass to 91C in return for promotion to E-5. I was afraid of bed-pans, so I skipped that opportunity. What would have a greater usefulness than playing Bingo with MOS stuff would be to further expand the Combat Lifesaver program for non-medical personnel.
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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.
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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...
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...
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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.
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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.
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.
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Yes. Very common. I was the logistics chief as a cw3 at Cameron station va. Inspected exhibitors.
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