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I was a grunt that went ground cav and then air cav. Should it be mandatory to spend time in other specialties to gain appreciation and understanding of the bigger picture? Please share your views and experiences.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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My only concern is that we will only create folks, who while having a smidge of knowledge in a wide variety of areas, will be a master of none.
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SFC Mark Merino
I don't mean to the point of flip flopping. More like the carrot they dangle the officers. We'll train you infantry and let you do an assignment, but then you are civil affairs kind of thing.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Sir, in my career I had 4 MOS and knew just about every piece of equipment in our unit, that dealt with shoot, move and communicate skills. It was called CTT during the 90's and early 2000's. It would enhance Soldier capabilities on the battlefield.
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I would say yes, I had 3 MOS(s) 11D, 11E, 16S during my career. In my experience it was beneificial to the Organization (1/11th ACR, Fulda Germany). There was a time period in the 70s when we did not have enough personnel to have complete 4 man crews on our Tanks or Sheridans. However, for annual Tank Gunnery, the requirement was for every one of those vehicles to go down Table VIII & X ( I seem to recall from back then) even though we did not have the personnel assigned to do so. The Squadron Cdr asked for Volunteers to go from the HQs Troop to one of the Line Troops, train on a crew and try to qualify during gunnery at Graf/Vilseck. By holding the 11D MOS, I jumped at the chance to go. 2 of us had 11D/E background, however the other 6 worked in the Motor Pool, Supply and S1. We were spread out among 8 vehicles/crews, moved into the unita for 2 months, trained and became qualified crew members in either driving, or loading. When Tank Gunnery was over, all 8 M60 and M551 Crews qualified. So I have to give it a definite "YES" that holding more than one MOS is beneficial, both personally and to the organization. But that was ...damn...40 yrs ago...seems like yesterday to me!
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SFC Mark Merino
You rock, Top! What was it like to pony up to a 152mm inside that tiny turret? I spent 3 years in one when I was OPFOR at NTC but they were neutered. They modified them to look like BMPs. No motorized turrets! I had Popeye forearms!!!!!
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC Mark Merino I can still see the road wheels lift off the ground...especially when firing over the side! Inside the turrent....like bouncing around inside of a cloths dryer!
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I could go either way on holding more than one MOS. I see value in it, but wouldn't consider it crucial. What I DO consider crucial is knowing every function within your MOS.
Example: If you are an Infantryman, don't be just a SAW gunner, be an expert Infantryman. By the time you have hard stripes (CPL or above) this is a must, in my book.
Example: If you are an Infantryman, don't be just a SAW gunner, be an expert Infantryman. By the time you have hard stripes (CPL or above) this is a must, in my book.
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SFC Mark Merino
Great point. I'm talking more than just another ASI though. What if you wanted to be a grunt to join the Army, but you had to do a 2 yr stint as an 88M for example? That way, you aren't going to be a master driver, but the Army gets what it needs for the quick fix and you get to be abused at Benning.
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SGT Richard H.
SFC Mark Merino I definitely do see the value in that. Another fine example might be a grunt who did a couple of years as a 12B.....or maybe even better, a 13F. Those would both bring an experience base that could be very valuable to the platoon. For the sake of discussion, though, another angle of thought might be a lack of lower-tier experience in a leader level guy. Let's say a guy did the 2 years or so as a combat engineer, and then joined the infantry platoon as an E-4 (p). Is he really ready to be thrust into a leadership role over a bunch of guys who are very possibly more experienced as infantrymen?
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SGT Richard H.
Just to qualify this, I base it on a specific experience. I was a team leader, and a new SGT joined the squad. Worst damn Infantry team leader I ever saw. I later learned that he spent 6 years as a 71L, and about 3 of those as an E4 (p) and re-enlisted Infantry for the lower promotion point requirement. Essentially, as soon as he finished AIT and earned the MOS, he made the points and was promoted to SGT......with the exact same Infantry experience as the average Private, with the added benefit of PLDC.
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