What are the pros and cons of the 92G MOS?

2019-12-19T19:32:27-05:00

I’m going to be doing 92G (culinary specialist/ food service) for the U.S army and wanted to hear some different opinions on the MOS. Especially if you also had or have this MOS i would definitely love to hear what you feel about it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2019 8:36 PM

2019-12-19T20:36:52-05:00

From what I’ve heard the hours can be crazy, but if your interest is cooking, then the hours would be crazy anywhere.... personally I think it is a great job seeing as how I love cooking

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 19 at 2019 8:59 PM

2019-12-19T20:59:11-05:00

You and your team mates have IMMENSE impact on soldier morale, good and bad. Lots of shift work. It really depends on what you want to do. There are competitions (I've led a Connelly Award team, field feeding category, won FORSCOM level) where if you win at Army level you could get a scholarship to Johnson and Wales. Some of the most impressive food and decorating displays I have ever seen, including in house ice sculptures border on the five star professional, especially at a thanks giving. As a more senior 92G, you are managing dining facilities, forecasting supplies, managing menus, creative rearrangement of standard rations to create variety, and making decisions on workload to support multiple missions. I've met good and I've met bad, but the good ones, were the Best. SFC Lloyd, SFC Jim Denett, MSG Ricky Morris are just a few of the greats.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-12-19T22:29:25-05:00

Cons: shift work, working in the kitchen all the time (kitchens all look the same), carpal tunnel, smelling like onions

Pros: shift work, advanced culinary opportunities, lots of room for promotion, generals aide, can work at any location and organization, your time in the field is pretty clean and well fed, offers a pathway into logistics

Basically, it's a fairly normal job, and it offers lots of good opportunities if you want to work a bit harder than your peers to stand out. The shift work can make it hard to stay in shape, but the steady schedule can also make it easier to plan for completing college courses.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Dec 19 at 2019 10:36 PM

2019-12-19T22:36:00-05:00

I give them credit; it's an important, but unsung task. They work crazy hours sometimes, and out in the field, I have to believe it's hotter than hell in their mobile kitchens, but if "an army moves on it's stomach", then it's the cooks you can thank for that.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Dec 19 at 2019 10:38 PM

2019-12-19T22:38:35-05:00

Pro: it’s not 11b Con: it’s not 11b
Seriously though. It’s a good start for culinary arts, kitchen management and other jobs where health and sanitation are essential. It’s a tough MOS as far as garrison is concerned. Long hours and shifts compared to rest of us.
As an outsider looking in, it looks layer back in the field while the rest of us are conducting battle drills.
I’ve also seen cooks do a lot of guard and other details during deployments.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2019 11:15 PM

2019-12-19T23:15:04-05:00

I'm not a cook, do this is just what I've seen. If you just sit and do the basics, you'll likely hate it and get sick of just boiling food and having the other Soldiers complain. If you embrace it, you can be a very respected person - i.e. field chow go above and beyond and you will cheer up and entire company. Many 92Gs dont realize the potential and different assignments like advanced schools and high level staff support.

Also, they can be tasked out for guard duty as sometimes food service is contracted to civilians and third country nationals.
I had a former soux chef in my office a few months ago who hated being a 92G because he wasnt cooking, he was boiling already prepared stuff.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 19 at 2019 11:43 PM

2019-12-19T23:43:01-05:00

It's cook... not the BS name of culinary specialist. It can be easy or it can be real hard... anyway the Military is moving toward..pre made and using contractors such as Goodwill. I have done this MOS from time to time..they used to make people do this type of work for punishment...KP... Go visit a mess hall and see for your self...

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 19 at 2019 11:49 PM

2019-12-19T23:49:26-05:00

PS: I cooked in the Marines and National Guard... Marines was open or no mos contract.. 2 years.. NG.. injured 19D.. I only met 3 SM who actually signed up for the MOS... many flunked out of technology schools....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2019 2:53 PM

2019-12-20T14:53:37-05:00

How passionate are you about cooking? This is the main question you need to answer to yourself. If this is just a job you will not be happy. This MOS is not for the weak hearted, it is a MOS of service to your brothers and sisters at arms. You can continue with school in the Culinary Arts become a chef. There are competitions as the LTC. mentioned. Study this MOS with every fiber of you, because just like anything else, you get out of it what you invest in it. So, answer your main question first. If your answer is a resounding YES, then hard charge to learn all and everything that is instructed and given the chance to perform on your own. Test your knowledge every single day. Cook every time you get a chance. Above all, have fun in the kitchen! Time constraints are always a consideration, so learn to back plan early in your career.
If you ever need me feel free to contact me on here or Facebook. I'll do my very best to answer any and all questions you may have

Response by SPC Dwight Turner made Dec 22 at 2019 3:30 PM

2019-12-22T15:30:34-05:00

onething good you dont have to worry about being hungry !! aside that serving troops that alone brought joy also not having any guard duty or barracks duty !!!
but you still have to qualify for PT and common tasks !!! its part of any line of work !!! as soldier respects earned !!! when i enlised i wanted to go into communications but wasnt lucky enough to scoring that high !!
i asks reception " what job do others not like but anyone can do ?? " he smiled " well cook !!!! seems alot dont think it takes much but try it !!!!!"
well then 94b which was changed !!!! i look back glad i was a cook long hours but worth it !!!! we made time to having fun and did PT after working mornings !! yes old days so much work and fun but you make your own time advance on cooking is fun with those whom put more into it
rewards are earned not given onething you'll be glad you did
oh MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2019 3:08 PM

2019-12-31T15:08:07-05:00

Where you going for the school?

Response by CPL William Harper made Jun 26 at 2020 8:17 PM

2020-06-26T20:17:57-04:00

I was 92G in the Army and the equivalent in the USAF. Do your job ,study hard, learn your craft. The job is what you make it. I have always LIVED TO COOK AND LOVED TO COOK!!! PASSION FOR THIS JOB IS KEY!!! I was BLESSED to be in places where we could be CREATIVE while staying within REGULATIONS. Always have the menu cards on the workstation but allowed to adjust as needed!!!! BLESSINGS

Response by SPC John Averill made Aug 26 at 2021 12:26 PM

2021-08-26T12:26:28-04:00

Pros- learn to cook for thousands, Bonus money
Cons- they were phasing cooks out 15 years ago, so I honestly don’t know where we stand as far as working our MOS, be prepared for another AIT Because you will want to reclassify of your unit may ask you to.

But if someone can fill in the blanks of recent years I would like to hear as welll because I was handed a SAW, a humvee, and a direct request from the CO to be his personal gunner/security.
Remember this- no matter what the mos is you hold YOU ARE A SOLDIER FIRST! Be ready for Anything they need you to do otherwise it will be a nightmare