What MOS do you think is Obsolete?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:16:42 -0400

There are a lot of MOS's out there that we, collectively, either are making or have made obsolete. An obvious one off the bat, for the Army at least, is 88M (Motor Transport Operator).

Most units, if not all, license as many Soldiers as possible on whatever vehicles their MTOE authorizes. Do we really still need 88Ms?

Particularly with the drawdown coming into fruition, what other MOS' come to mind when you think "why does the military still have these guys?"

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2014 2:34 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:34:08 -0400

Grave digger and General Duty Soldier. Used to have them during the draft.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2014 3:58 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 15:58:41 -0400

25C--Radio-Operator Maintainer.

They don't do anything that a 25U doesn't do, and the 25U does a heck of a lot more. Ultimately, they end up doing it all anyway--might as well get the MOS that has the far more wide open career progression.

Response by SSG Jason Cherry made Oct 31 at 2014 5:51 AM

SSG Jason Cherry — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 05:51:45 -0400

I think every 25 series MOS is obsolete, individually, and should be consolidated. In a BCT, as a 25S, I did server management(25b), Jnn(25n), satellite terminal ops and planning(25s), sincgars and TACSAT radios(25u), eplrs(25c), LOS radios(25q), helpdesk and network management(25b/n/u). Most combat arms folks just see signal as one and the same anyway... The only hurdle is training

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 3:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 15:44:27 -0400

74Ds. Who needs those guys anymore?

Response by SP5 James Hoover made Feb 2 at 2018 4:13 PM

SP5 James Hoover — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:13:51 -0500

34D20G3

Response by SGT Alan Simmons made Feb 2 at 2018 4:38 PM

SGT Alan Simmons — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:38:07 -0500

I am not sure what the MOS is, but I am a huge rail fan. I found out ten years ago that there are Reserve transportation battalions which still have railroad engineers as an MOS slot. Man, had I known that when I got out of the service, I would have gladly joined the Reserves for a chance to become an Army railroad engineer...

Edited: The MOS is 88U Railway Operations Crewmember and here's the official description:

"The Railway Operations Crewmember supervises and/or operates diesel-electric locomotives and related equipment; serves as crewmember or brakeman in makeup and movement of railway cars/trains; and dispatches trains or operates railway stations, railway signals and switches, and controls train movements. "

And it is STILL ON THE BOOKS: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/transportation-and-aviation/railway-operations-crewmember.html

Railway Operations Crewmember (88U)

Supervise and operate diesel-electric locomotives and related equipment as a Railway Operations Crewmember. Explore railway operations crew jobs at goarmy.com.