Is requesting to be moved from a current platoon and or position ever ok?

SSG Greg Smith — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 05:35:20 -0400

I am new to my unit. I find little to no satisfaction in my current MOS which I never had any plans to stay in. My goal from the moment I enlisted was to put in a packet for a VERY different MOS as soon as possible. Which I’m working on. I had no choice but to choose my current job. I’m not getting along with my leadership, there is a lot of tension there, and very different personalities. I’m not excelling in my current position and I honestly don’t enjoy it. (Not to say I won’t still work hard). So, is asking to be moved a bad idea? And if not is there a good way to ask without coming off as rude or unprofessional?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 6 at 2020 8:34 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:34:53 -0400

SSG Greg Smith I'll give you several reasons its not the best idea.
-The grass is almost never greener on the other side
-I can think of almost no way the command team will take your request well, and taking that request to higher means the company command team is unable to do their job..make the company work, regardless of the obstacles... your request is asking them to tell the BN CDR, they have failed in company leadership.
-the gaining unit, specifically every privet to senior sergeant will know why you're there...and no matter what is said about it in public it will be yours to prove to them, you were not the problem the other company dumped.
- and I place this last, but it is the most compelling reason in my book against it.... YOU..your a SGT now, imply you want to stay in the military a bit longer... so maybe a SSG, SFC, CSM one day. It is by definition of a leader, your job to figure out how to work with others..No matter the reasons why its tough...If you have an SM that is being investigated for Arson, you still have to be professional and work with him till he is convicted or cleared. If you have the loudmouth, the braggart, known cheater, the truly gifted infantrymen in uniform..yet drunk alcoholic when not in uniform, and all the ones that are not an issue.....you have to find a way to work with all, build a team with your assigned SM.
If you can't or don't want to do that, moving to a new unit will not solve your problems.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 6 at 2020 8:41 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:41:44 -0400

Unless the Army has changed a lot since when I was in, your next opportunity to change MOS will be at Re-enlistment. Last time I looked 11B was understrength (as normal), so I wouldn't hold out any hope for changing before that time. As far as moving, doesn't take much paperwork to move you to another position within the Company, so if you are having person conflict with your immediate chain of command, talk to the 1Sgt about moving you. It generally isn't a big deal to shuffle people around in the Battalion. Just remember that you will still most likely land in another 11B E5 slot.
I don't understand the comment about no choice.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Oct 6 at 2020 8:58 AM

SFC Michael D. — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:58:35 -0400

I went to m the CSM who had had all the tabs and badges I wanted. I was a Morse code intercept operator. I just simply told him that the job wasn't for me. And that I wanted the opportunity to get some of the badges he wore. He asked what I wanted to be. And I told him Medic. Six months later I was at Ft. Sam Houston. If can be done but do it right. You don't want to be that guy with the bad attitude. I don't regret the choice.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 9:47 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 09:47:01 -0400

I'm honestly having the same issue with the MOS I'm in. I use to be an 11B went 91H and have been regretting it ever since. I ended up getting a grade waiver to reclass to 15R but the milper changed because of COVID-19 so I'm stuck right now. I wonder if it would be a good idea to finish my contract and then reenlist to reclass through a recruiting station if my unit retention cant reclass me to another MOS. I love being in the Army but I seriously need to change my job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 11:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:03:58 -0400

You’re going to have issues with leadership in any job you go to, beliefs, leadership style, all of that. End of the day it comes down to taking charge of your dudes and learning to Navigate the command. That being said, yeah go talk to other PSG’s make sure they have a spot for you and see if you can request a trade. As far as getting out of the infantry, especially as an NCO good luck. Try and drop a packet MOS because that’s all that is really available for us

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 12:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:24:01 -0400

The way to ask is to ask in a way that benefits the organization. Nobody cares that you don’t like your job or your team, they still expect you to work hard and be a team player till it’s time for you to move on.

The best way to ask in a way that supports the organization is to ask to fill another position outside your platoon. Training room, schools, DTS, Commander driver, or S3 are all good spots that always need filling with competent Soldiers and NCOs.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Oct 6 at 2020 6:10 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:10:36 -0400

Reading the Army responses other than Captain Cable's I say transfer to the Air Force. The Captain's response is reasonable and accurate to what I went through in the AF. I hated my initial AFSC (MOS). The Army should view this as retain a valued soldier and retrain them in something that will provide more personal rewards. Or lose them because they hate what they are doing.