Austin Maier 4343019 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;m trying to figure out what jobs interest me but I&#39;m all over the place. I&#39;m looking for something challenging, intriguing, travels well (I know that all MOSs move around but something with the potential for good duty stations and good amount of deployments) and something with good civilian skills. The MOSs I tagged are just a few that have interested me. If anyone can share the typical day to day for these I&#39;d really appreciate it! Also, what are the chances for promotion? I&#39;ve heard 88K are a small group that don&#39;t promote a lot.. 2019-02-05T11:20:23-05:00 Austin Maier 4343019

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;m trying to figure out what jobs interest me but I&#39;m all over the place. I&#39;m looking for something challenging, intriguing, travels well (I know that all MOSs move around but something with the potential for good duty stations and good amount of deployments) and something with good civilian skills. The MOSs I tagged are just a few that have interested me. If anyone can share the typical day to day for these I&#39;d really appreciate it! Also, what are the chances for promotion? I&#39;ve heard 88K are a small group that don&#39;t promote a lot..

2019-02-05T11:20:23-05:00 2019-02-05T11:20:23-05:00 CSM Richard StCyr 4343036

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Any of the Engineer MOS, Combat, Bridging, Construction, Diving, Map Making, all transfer into some pretty good job opportunities in the civilian sector. All have opportunities for Airborne and Air Assault assignments, good duty stations and are deployable.

2019-02-05T11:25:23-05:00 2019-02-05T11:25:23-05:00 PFC Private RallyPoint Member 4343050

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Hey I’m a 88k at the moment and The job is being removed from the reserve side... this tells me that they don’t need the reserves and therefore don’t need anyone so the job might not open for very long. And day to day if your not sailing your doing maintenance on your vessel so a lot of what seems like busy work but it’s not

2019-02-05T11:30:34-05:00 2019-02-05T11:30:34-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 4343101

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Try to get as much information from your recruiter about all your proposed paths now. You can always apply to change MOSs later in your career if you decide that the job you opted for is not for you, but it is a little trickier. <br />As of this month, 88K is currently a STAR MOS leading to quick promotion if you meet the rest of the requirements (NCOES and SSD/DLC). That could change next month. Also, any one of these could open or close at any time for how many the Army says they need at the next level. Some MOSs do not promote fast because the careers funnel into 1 or 2 jobs at senior levels, leading to less spots. Finding that information now can help lay your foundation to build your career in the direction you want it to take. Extra schools, PT, weapons qual and awards also build into raising your points.<br />As for stationing, some jobs offer greater flexibility. Your 15 series will normally be co-located with a larger base or joint stations. Your 88M could end up at a Brigade Support Battalion on a large base or as far strung as a small detachment base geographically separated from your higher headquarters. Specialty schools like airborne will open different doors for stationing than just the MOS by itself. <br />If you aren&#39;t planning on sticking for more than one enlistment, aim your path towards what you want to do when you get out. A large portion of MOSs offer civilian certification to help you in that path, such as HVAC and CDLs

2019-02-05T11:53:29-05:00 2019-02-05T11:53:29-05:00 SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member 4343140

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>11B of course. But Air Traffic controller or Avionic Mechanic would be a great MOS that would translate into the civilian side. I have friends who were ATC in the military and now work the civilian side and love it.

2019-02-05T12:04:42-05:00 2019-02-05T12:04:42-05:00 SPC Angela Burnham 4343275

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Look for MOS&#39;s that translate well to civilian paths. 11B is fun and prestigious, but you&#39;re going to have a really hard time directly translating the skills you learn there into a corporate structure. Leadership? Maybe, but the same general leadership can also be gained from other jobs as well. IT is booming these days, and nearly every branch has a MOS or two dedicated to IT stuff. Legal is good if you can get into it, and medical fields definitely love seeing medic related experience on a DD214. You have some good ideas with 15Q and 15N. Go on indeed and see how many civilian jobs you can find directly relating to MOS&#39;s like those, they may require special experience you can only obtain in the military.

2019-02-05T12:48:30-05:00 2019-02-05T12:48:30-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 4343412

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Your question is as wide as the sea is deep.<br />First, I&#39;m a Career Counselor in the Army, so this is actually what I do for a living. There are a lot of things Soldiers don&#39;t take into consideration when picking their job and there are a lot of red herrings, and I&#39;ll share those with you. <br />To answer your question best, you need to identify where you want to be in 10 or 20 years, from there we work backward. <br /><br />There are a few misconceptions that are common with first term Soldiers:<br />Civilian skills - the majority of Soldiers will not do their job once they leave the Army. If they like their job they stay in the Army. Most Soldiers who leave, even if it&#39;s with a valuable skill set, will pursue something else. Unless your goal is to come into the Army to have them pay for a specific training that you want, don&#39;t fall into the &quot;civilian skills&quot; thought trap. It&#39;s a red herring. Also those skills that you earn a certification for are entry level jobs in the civilian market. If that&#39;s a job you want, then great. Otherwise, after a few years in the Army your leadership skills are more valuable to a company as a leader or manager than your certification as a worker bee. <br />The smaller, more technical or civilian oriented the job, the slower the promotion. There is a direct correlation for most jobs between civilian certification and promotion potential. Also, between size of the MOS Nad promotion potential. The best promoting MOSs are combat MOSs. The fastest promoting MOS in the Army is Infantry. <br />As for challenging, that comes down to how hard you&#39;re willing to work. Diver, Special Forces, Prime Power, Electronic Warfare, and EOD are all challenging and intriguing in different ways. Some have limited duty stations but travel often, others have a wide variety of duty stations. <br />Deployment and travel are largely a matter of what duty position you are filling at the time. It&#39;s less based on your MOS and more on what unit you&#39;re at. You could be Infantry working as a Defense Attache in an embassy somewhere in the world. I have a friend who was an 88M who worked as a driver to a General in Belgium. He also worked at a combat brigade driving trucks, worked at an SF unit in an office coordinating travel arrangements, worked in Egypt driving a bus, and other assignments as well.

2019-02-05T13:27:36-05:00 2019-02-05T13:27:36-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 4343627

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Good afternoon Austin....... I would pick a job that will make you the most money in the civilian world after service....... I wouldn&#39;t focus on good duty station right now, for the fact the military will send where they have shortages. If you stay in long enough, deployments are guaranteed to come..... I understand you are excited, but I will say it&#39;s no fun when heat rounds start dropping and bullets start flying.... On to the jobs you selected... 88M was a cool job until deployments. If you like to be a rolling target, see combat and play Russian roulette with IEDS, that&#39;s the job to have......... In the civilian world, truck drivers can make up to 250k a year being owner/operator. Traveling hundreds or thousands a miles across country, being gone days at a time will take a toll on body and family.......... I don&#39;t know anything about 88K. I don&#39;t know where you can use job in civilian world...... 15N seems like it could make you money on the outside...... If you do 25 series, I would recommend the IT side of it....... get those different certificates like security + plus years of military experience, you are guaranteed to make money anywhere in the civilian world...... 15Q is a damn good job to have in the civilian world, but I hear that its a demanding and stressful job to have................ Before you select your job, think about how it would benefit you after the military........

2019-02-05T15:06:18-05:00 2019-02-05T15:06:18-05:00 CW5 Sam R. Baker 4344054

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>153A - Helicopter Pilot - street to seat if you seriously want a challenge, one even for your recruiter!

2019-02-05T18:10:45-05:00 2019-02-05T18:10:45-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 4344822

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you want to make money on the civilian side consider 14 series (air defense artillery) which can set you up with raytheon, 25 or 35 series for IT purposes. Also 88K can land you a badass career afterwards with seafaring jobs such as a tug, pilot or other type of boat captain. Big bucks on the water. I was an 88k in the reserves up until last year when I had to switch to be able to come on active duty. Would have loved to be able to keep it but that job was not open.

2019-02-05T23:26:06-05:00 2019-02-05T23:26:06-05:00 PFC Private RallyPoint Member 4349303

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>i’ve graduated my AIT a little under a year ago as a 15q and i’ve loved every second of it. just in these past 9 or so months i’ve traveled to california for NTC and got to experience that while also in the comfort of AC while everyone else was sweating their asses off lol, the civilian side is also great once you get a rating which i’ve already acquired it opens up many doors with great pay as a controller(:

2019-02-07T15:38:25-05:00 2019-02-07T15:38:25-05:00 SSgt Dwight Deatherage 4351900

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>15Q Air Traffiv Control. If you pass the school and the OJT you will never be sorry

2019-02-08T15:37:38-05:00 2019-02-08T15:37:38-05:00 1SG Bill Farmerie 4356133

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you are not already in, then you will have to see what is available when you go to MEPS. I have known people in quite a few MOSs that loved their jobs while others hated them. It depends on what you like.

2019-02-10T11:25:14-05:00 2019-02-10T11:25:14-05:00 SPC Todd Everetts 4379624

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Honestly, if you want something that transfers into the civilian sector, hang those up IMHO. Even aviation mech you will have to get certified once a civilian. My cousin was an F-16 wrench for 6 years and still had to go to aviation school for a few years and get certified for the good jobs. Best bud (retired air guard after regular Army) when I served and my father in law (retired AF) were ground radar technicians. THOSE jobs, after retirement, they were able to get into with DOD and make great money. FIL went between Pensacola and Alaska.<br />I was a Combat Signaler. Wasn&#39;t anything I couldn&#39;t do with paired wire. Got out and promptly went to the local phone company for a job. Got walked into the main hub and I started off what everything was and how to fix it. Manager smiles, asks me what I know about fiber optic. Uhhh, nothing. Too bad, this is all getting ripped out next week and fiber optic put in. I ran Viet Nam era radio equipment and old tech. The future left me behind. My training was worthless.

2019-02-18T19:11:34-05:00 2019-02-18T19:11:34-05:00 SGM Earlie Graham 4386088

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>AMMO SPECIAL SGT MAJOR GRAHAM

2019-02-20T20:16:52-05:00 2019-02-20T20:16:52-05:00 SSG Ken Schiffner 4402575

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was an 11B. I had good duty stations and traveled a lot but that is a crap shoot. My son is a 15U, Chinook crew chief. He travels all of the time. He&#39;s been in 2.5 yrs and has been all over the US, and has been deployed once. He will deploying at least twice this year. He has excellent job skills that translate to the civilian world. I will say, this is probably not typical for all of the 15 series MOS&#39;. He&#39;s in a special ops unit so he has a different mission. However, regardless of the deployments and additional training, it is a great job. Unlike the infantry you aren&#39;t painting rocks while in garrison, or pulling duty in the field. Because some of the 15U jobs are on the flight crew, you get the same required rest as the pilots.<br /><br />I did a lot of research when my son was joining (a lot more than I did when I went in, but I WANTED to be a grunt). 15W (drone pilot) is a great job for civilian transition. Drones are becoming huge in commerce and intel so pilots are needed. We looked into air traffic controller and there are a few drawbacks. I was told by a 1SG that when you get out you are qualified to work at private airports. I asked where these private airports were and was given a lot of locations in the middle east. Not sure if there are any in the US. Maybe a 15Q can answer that. The 1SG told me there was a 2 year program you could complete that would make you a qualified air traffic controller after ETS. <br /><br />If aviation is a route you are considering, and multiple deployments are your thing, at AIT, when the 160th SOAR comes sniffing around, get their attention, or if you can, volunteer. All of this is based on my son&#39;s experience, and my research. If I have misspoken, my apologies to the 15 series folks. Please correct me. I hope this is helpful.

2019-02-26T10:32:58-05:00 2019-02-26T10:32:58-05:00 SGT John Steiner 4412026

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>88 Kilos are an exclusive group. Promotions only open up when their are slots open. I was with the reserves when I acheived my 88K designation. Most of the time, at the duty station we pulled maintenance, Common Task Training or qualifications. But we kept busy.<br />As far as the active duty folks, I cannot answer what their days are like. <br />You must look at yourself. What are your interest. Working on a engine, getting your hands dirty. Then look at being a mechanic. There are wheeled vehicle, track, aircraft and watercraft. All of these transfer to a civilian job. Something more technical, the lastest (sort of) Drone Operator, Youll have to read the description. <br />Another helpful tool is your ASVAB scores. But its all up to you. Choose wisely. And good luck.<br />Thank you for joining our ranks...

2019-03-01T16:56:24-05:00 2019-03-01T16:56:24-05:00 SPC Steven Nihipali 4440704

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I hear underwater basketweaving is the new goal... you&#39;ll get like 5 million bucks as a sign on bonus and you&#39;ll automatically obtain CMS 5 Star Gen. of the Open Water Swimmers of the Shallow End command... of just yourself.

2019-03-12T02:16:30-04:00 2019-03-12T02:16:30-04:00 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 4515400

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>IF you&#39;re considering 15N then go 15F. We do the exact same job except they are stuck at Eustice for much longer. 15N are required to have a security clearance, but we are not. But most 15F&#39;s i know have their clearance as well. I am in the Texas Guard and lot of the people in my unit either work at Lockheed or something in aviation on the civilian side.

2019-04-04T23:36:39-04:00 2019-04-04T23:36:39-04:00 CW4 Craig Colean 4517293

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>35L or 35M. Also anything that can get you a language or TopSecret Clearance

2019-04-05T15:39:55-04:00 2019-04-05T15:39:55-04:00 CW3 Dan Mackey 4548199

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Keep in mind the military tends to break what the civilian world calls a job into three or four MOS positions and that means you need to progress in the MOS often for years before you are able to take the skills directly into a position on the free market. Driving a truck or being a mechanic would seem to be the exceptions.

2019-04-15T19:44:14-04:00 2019-04-15T19:44:14-04:00 SFC Casey O'Mally 4566904

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>*Busts down door, even though it was actually open*<br />THERE IS ONLY INFANTRY AND POGs. RAWR.<br /><br />Just kidding. Lots of options. <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="148812" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/148812-79s-career-counselor-usaraf-hq-usaraf-setaf">SFC Private RallyPoint Member</a> is a PHENOMENAL resource. I can only really speak for MI stuff, but if you have any inkling towards doing Intel work, hit me up and I can give you SOME insight on most of that world - some MOS more than others.

2019-04-21T20:06:20-04:00 2019-04-21T20:06:20-04:00 MSG Private RallyPoint Member 4572454

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As a 88M MSG I can tell you the Job is what you make it. I have many other MOS&#39; ,some which no longer exist as the identity I got them as. . I started as a 12C Combat Engineer, then 62B - Engineer equipment Repair, 63B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, 52D Power generation Mechanic and now 88M Motor Vehicle Operator. They all had good points and bad points. The most memorable and exciting jobs for me were those I did out side the scope of normal MOS duties. If I had had a chance to change from 88M to 88K I think I would do that as those soldiers that I know in that MOS seem to have a lot travel time and interesting stories about their time there. 25C seems like its would be a very small dead end job I have never seen many out side of one or 2 per unit and one NCO at battalion level. 15Q could be a good job that might lead directly to civilian employment when you decide the military is no longer what you want.

2019-04-23T13:51:20-04:00 2019-04-23T13:51:20-04:00 CW4 Private RallyPoint Member 4572561

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you go into a Signal MOS (CMF 25) you will definitely travel worldwide, deploy and gain marketable skills that you can use after you leave the military. Most of your training is industry based (Microsoft, Cisco, etc.) so if you like computers, go 25B!

2019-04-23T14:35:54-04:00 2019-04-23T14:35:54-04:00 CW4 Private RallyPoint Member 4572562

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you go into a Signal MOS (CMF 25) you will definitely travel worldwide, deploy and gain marketable skills that you can use after you leave the military. Most of your training is industry based (Microsoft, Cisco, etc.) so if you like computers, go 25B!

2019-04-23T14:36:15-04:00 2019-04-23T14:36:15-04:00 CW4 Private RallyPoint Member 4572563

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you go into a Signal MOS (CMF 25) you will definitely travel worldwide, deploy and gain marketable skills that you can use after you leave the military. Most of your training is industry based (Microsoft, Cisco, etc.) so if you like computers, go 25B!

2019-04-23T14:36:16-04:00 2019-04-23T14:36:16-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 4572636

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I’ll tell ya what I’ve seen over my almost 10 years and what I would have done differently. While the combat jobs are cool and that’s what a lot of people seem to think is the best, think in terms of skill and civilian application. I’m a scout and it’s been great and I love it but if done differently I would have went into the medical field, outside of just a medic. I would also look into intelligence type jobs as they routinely offer easy transition to civilian careers with high pay... Ultimately it’s whatever you will be happy doing, that’s the most important thing.

2019-04-23T15:06:18-04:00 2019-04-23T15:06:18-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 5235755

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>15q air traffic control specialist is a great job I enjoy it very much, however, I have been in almost 7 years and have not deployed yet. This is partly due to aviation deployments being cut down during my first few years and mostly due to the fact that my pcs schedule hasn’t worked with any deployment schedule. I got to fort drum right after they returned from Afghanistan and left 2 weeks after they started a Europe deployment. On the flip side of that there are a lot of duty stations both in the states and overseas you can be assigned to, I am in Hawaii now and have been to Thailand, Korea, and the Philippines since I’ve been here I’m also looking at going back Thailand for a month in the spring.<br /><br />Deployments are a tricky thing cause it depends on your unit not your mos. 15q has many different areas for you to train and qualify you will most likely see three or four of these areas over your career. You can work in a company or brigade, division, Corp or even the pentagon (very rare). <br /><br />Promotions up to e5 sergeant are really based on you, how well you shoot, your pt score, awards, education all plays a factor into getting promoted to e5 and e6. E6 has been an easy process for the last 4-5 years due to points being so low, you will have to attend your leader development course and a promo board still

2019-11-14T13:28:03-05:00 2019-11-14T13:28:03-05:00 2019-02-05T11:20:23-05:00