What led you to pick your MOS?

Because there's none so fair that can compare to the Airborne Infantry!

I started life in the Army as an 11B. Reup time came around, and I was tired of walking everywhere, so I went Field Artillery, 13N. President Bush (41 not 43) took our missile system out of service, so I had to reclass. I asked for 13B, 13M or 55B. The Army had other plans and they picked my new MOS. 73D. I asked well what the fuck is that? They said Accounting Specialist. After I stopped laughing, I said They want me to ba a what? Turns out, it was kind of nice going to the field once or twice a year, and it gave me a very marketable skill in the civilian world. Think about that when you decide what MOS you want. Not much call on the outside for riggers or grunts or missile maggots.

I wanted to be 1800 Tanks I was in tanks for about 8 months then the Marine corp said you will be a 2311 Ammo Tech. So I had to go to Ammo school at Quantico. I got discharged and enlisted in the army I was 2311 made SP/5 as a 2311. I never worked in my MOS.They needed an Armorer so I was an Armorer. Then they needed a supply clerk I was it, then the Supply Sgt. went AWOL so I became Supply Sgt. I Had three months left in Vietnam when Our Ammo Dump got blown up by the VC. I was offered a battlefield comission as a 2/LT. if I would stay another year in Vietnam. Since I had only been married 8 months I chose my wife and went back to the states. They should have had a specialist rating for jack of all trades master of none cause thats what I become. In the Marine corp you are trained to become a leader if your next in line. I got on the job training. Semper Fi.

I scored a 99 AFQT on the ASVAB. Basically, I had my pick of any job the Army had to offer. I chose to be a cook. It was a good choice. By the time I enlisted I realized I have a type B personality and I understood I am happiest working behind the scenes. It wasn't my hope and dream to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill, although I wasn't afraid to do that kind of thing. I just wanted to serve where I could be useful, in a job that mattered each and every day, and I loved culinary arts. So, it was the right pick for me. I did reclass and earned a 13B MOS as well, but went back to 92G because I was happier as a cook. I made a difference throughout my career and I am proud of what I accomplished. I look back on my periods of service with satisfaction and pride. I say, it is far better to know yourself and make choices that fit with who you are. It worked for me.

SGT (Join to see) There is a reason 12B is not on the list. Everyone wants to be a Combat Engineer.

Jokes aside, I chose 12B because the queen of the battle can't get to her objective if there is something in the way without a breacher. Most operations plans involve engineers and many key battles in the history of warfare have been won because of combat engineering. It seemed like a no-brainer for me to be involved in such an important role.

In 1993, I chose medic because nothing else was available for the timeframe I was looking at for Basic Training. I was a junior in high school so time was a factor.

In 1996 when going Active Duty, I chose Combat Engineer because there were no Medic slots available. Looking back, methinks MEPS lied to me.

2008, I chose initially Interior Electrician because it's a great skill and it would get me back in the 12 series MOS. Turns out, I didn't meet the pre-reqs at the time, so I went with Preventive Medicine because there just happened to be an open slot in the Reserve unit.

And the rest is history.

Waaaay back in 66 I first tried draftsman as I had taken drafting all through Jr. & Sr. high and had wanted to be an architect. Since there wasn't any slots open I went with one of my hobbies of Shortwave Radio Listening and enlisted for 32A10 Fixed Station Radio Operator. After a short stint as an operator at Kyong San Receiver Station outside of Taegu, Korea, I was moved into the commcenter where I OJT'ed as a 32E20 Fixed Carrier (multiplexers) Repairman. Several years later 32E was combined with 26V Strategic Microwave Repairman and i retired as a 26V30.

After the Army I worked in various electronics before retiring. Now i'm a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and joke that my blood is Signal Corps Orange. I've gotten my CADD Certificate (Computer Aided Drawing & Design) at a local college but I don't think I would have enjoyed my careers as much if I had stayed in drafting as I have electronics. And I wouldn't have had the intresting assignments and places that I had.

SGT (Join to see) I chose 35H, which is now 94H. The print out pictured shows it to be available. The first time I heard the description at Mepps the word torque wrench was in it. With My background up to that point, I was thinking greasy hands in a motor pool. I went home with out choosing that day. Home is right outside Ft Bragg, so I went and found out what the MOS was really about, then went back to Mepps and said I'll take it. Calibration is a technical field that boils down to; If the ARMY uses something to measure something else, Calibrators make sure it measures correctly. AC DC Length Pressure Flow Torque Flatness. The folks that are in charge of it at Redstone Arsenal AL, are the people I served with while active. I didn't go the Federal Job route after being active, I went to the private sector so I could choose somewhere other than around a military installation to live. It's worth a journeymans card from the Department of Labor. Many go in to IT, and Computer fields after ETS'ing I went back to industrial maintenance(fixing broke machines in a factory). The school is tough. I've never had to worry about employment possibilities since.

..AND Cartoonist wasn't an option..tho I did work for Battalion newsletter a bit.
Sideline job in the 5-52 Ada.

As soon as I made E-4 I started checking. The odds of making E-5 were small in my MOS. So I got myself sent to school in another MOS where there were a lot of openings up to E-6.