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Hi all. I'm trying to join the Army, and really want to make a career of it. Just took my asvab (results included). Ive been told I have my choice of whatever I want to do in the army. Enlisted only. (No degree). I'm married and expecting, and I want to make a great life for my family, but I need some guidance. I would prefer a job that allows my family to stay in one place, at least one gives a high chance that we won't be relocated often, if ever. Second, preferred duty stations include Bragg, Detrick, Meade, and Aberdeen. Third, I would prefer to be a warfighter of some persuasion, whether I'm hacking into an enemys powerplant, calculating firing angles for howitzers, sniping an enemy HVT, or persuading local populations to our side. All these things considered, I've been previously advised that 37F, 17C, 14E, 13P, and 18X are all things that I should look into. Can anybody offer me some advise on what I should pursue or avoid? I'm happy to answer any clarifying questions you may have.
Posted in these groups: 
Cyber
Duty Stations
37F: Psychological Operations Specialist
Artillery
Special Operations
Cyber Duty Stations 37F: Psychological Operations Specialist Artillery Special Operations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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Consider the Army National Guard. If you wanted to do the 18 series route, you could pursue the REP 63 enlistment (ARNG’s enlistment option that 18X was built on). The training alone is going to be 2 years on Active Duty, and you and your wife can get a feel for it. After graduation, you know where you are going, and you could pursue Active Duty positions in your home State (AGR). You will have achieved everything you wanted. Active Duty, SF Qualification, and Geographic Stability. But now that you are on SF in the Guard, forget about “one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer.” You will be gone quite a bit, even if you stayed a part-time M-Day Soldier.
I saw a CMF 18 series MOS in your list of options. There’s a right way and a wrong way to join the Army. I had a few buddies enlist for Hawaii. Yes... I said that right... their only enlistment criteria was Hawaii. Other than the one who went AWOL in Basic (IET Separation), the others did their 3 years and got out as fast as they could. Do what you are going to love, aim high, and know that everything that is cool, fun, sexy, or impressive in the military is going to ask for the most sacrifice from you. The coolest jobs have the longest schools and will be the hardest on your mind, body, soul, and family. With that said, they are often more kinder in the paycheck department when you start addding special pays, incentives, etc.
I would boldly tell you that you aren’t going to get your way, but as a Guardsman, I got everything I wanted. I picked my original MOS, Language, unit. After 10 years I got to pick a career change to Aviation, got to pick my Aircraft. I got “offered” the Fixed-Wing and the Direct Commission thing, but it’s what I wanted to do. Beyond training and deployment, I have spent the last 19 years with the same Home of Record State (address has changed a few times).
Long Story Short... your mil career is a chess game. If you win our lose will be judged by you at the end, but consider all options in your research. As I review my own career, I wouldn’t change a thing. Good Luck!
I saw a CMF 18 series MOS in your list of options. There’s a right way and a wrong way to join the Army. I had a few buddies enlist for Hawaii. Yes... I said that right... their only enlistment criteria was Hawaii. Other than the one who went AWOL in Basic (IET Separation), the others did their 3 years and got out as fast as they could. Do what you are going to love, aim high, and know that everything that is cool, fun, sexy, or impressive in the military is going to ask for the most sacrifice from you. The coolest jobs have the longest schools and will be the hardest on your mind, body, soul, and family. With that said, they are often more kinder in the paycheck department when you start addding special pays, incentives, etc.
I would boldly tell you that you aren’t going to get your way, but as a Guardsman, I got everything I wanted. I picked my original MOS, Language, unit. After 10 years I got to pick a career change to Aviation, got to pick my Aircraft. I got “offered” the Fixed-Wing and the Direct Commission thing, but it’s what I wanted to do. Beyond training and deployment, I have spent the last 19 years with the same Home of Record State (address has changed a few times).
Long Story Short... your mil career is a chess game. If you win our lose will be judged by you at the end, but consider all options in your research. As I review my own career, I wouldn’t change a thing. Good Luck!
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You will not get to stay in one place. 12 moves, 22 years. Conus assignments are 3-4 years. Long tours overseas are three. Short tours overseas are 12 months.
Planting yourself can sometimes be done, but with risk. Homesteading can end a career.
Planting yourself can sometimes be done, but with risk. Homesteading can end a career.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you for your response. It's good to know that being willing to volunteer for relocation can help further my career. Thank you for your service.
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