What combat arms MOS has the most job satisfaction?

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:51:42 -0500

I'm and active duty Marine so I am no stranger to the lifestyle but which combat arms MOS in the Army enjoys life the most? Asking about 11x,12b,13f, and 19d specifically. I know "the suck" is present in all of these and I joined to live the suck but which of these is a "Good outweighs the bad" kinda job?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 5:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:57:15 -0500

I'm pretty partial to Combat Engineers - technically Combat Support, but we get to blow stuff up.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 6:08 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 18:08:28 -0500

12 Boom Boom

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 9:34 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:34:09 -0500

18 series, If you want job satisfaction stay out of the big army.

Response by SPC Richard Skeen made Feb 29 at 2020 1:35 AM

SPC Richard Skeen — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 01:35:06 -0500

I loved 12 Bravo. Until I blew out my knee in 1986

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 3:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 03:00:04 -0500

I'm partial to the Infantry and I would say that Rangers have the most job satisfaction of all, while the scouts I've worked with seemed to hate their life. Not all scouts, but overall the ones I've worked with have always had a very low retention rate.

Response by CPL John C. Lynch made Feb 29 at 2020 12:29 PM

CPL John C. Lynch — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:29:17 -0500

13F gave me the chance to blow things up from afar--sadly it didn't translate well in the private sector. Have yet to be offered steady work dropping explosives on things. At least legally ;-P

Response by SSG Steven Chirco made Feb 29 at 2020 12:34 PM

SSG Steven Chirco — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:34:44 -0500

IIBangbang of course! We all love carrying our house on our back for days!

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Feb 29 at 2020 1:04 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 13:04:39 -0500

What you probably need to be asking is which is the best of these and how to still have a functioning back and knees in your 40s. Being able to say you were combat arms is pretty damn respectable but being in your 40s and walking without pain is pretty damn nice as well.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 29 at 2020 4:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 16:07:50 -0500

The answer depends on what you find important in a MOS.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2020 12:20 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:20:54 -0500

Like life- you get out what you put in.

Response by SPC Andrew K. made Mar 1 at 2020 1:35 PM

SPC Andrew K. — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 13:35:07 -0500

19D/E Huh, wha did ya say?

Response by CPT William Jones made Jul 20 at 2020 2:02 AM

CPT William Jones — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 02:02:58 -0400

Since they are all volunteer as are all service branches I would say the one you selected and received.

Response by CPT William Jones made Jul 20 at 2020 2:03 AM

CPT William Jones — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 02:03:51 -0400

Since all services are volunteer I would say the job you chose and are doing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2020 1:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:27:04 -0400

I'm going to say 11 series because I grew up in the army as an 11C. Worked with guys from all the other MOSs you listed. Guess it depends on what units you're trying to get assigned. As a Chuck I had a hell of time.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 20 at 2020 4:24 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:24:04 -0400

Job satisfaction for an MOS is totally personal. Someone else's job satisfaction will have no bearing on yours. Figure out what you like. I like being outdoors and I don't like internal combustion engines. When your a Marine rifle platoon commander, there aren't many intenal combustion engines cluding up your day. I would have hated armor. I know motor head armor officers who love everything about tanks, and think I'm off my rocker because I don't like rolling around in the ultimate "muscle" car. To each his own.