What should I do to prevent moving around?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 23:12:28 -0400

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.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Mar 26 at 2018 12:05 AM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 00:05:50 -0400

I moved 25 times in my career. It was great and your kids get to see the world. I think you might be looking at moving as bad. It is great and fun. It is a great bonding experience, and your family will have friends worldwide.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 26 at 2018 12:21 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 00:21:31 -0400

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.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 26 at 2018 5:55 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 05:55:01 -0400

Expect to move when and where they send you.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Mar 26 at 2018 6:00 AM

CPT Nicholas D. — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 06:00:49 -0400

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!

Response by SPC Matthew Tinder made Mar 26 at 2018 9:19 AM

SPC Matthew Tinder — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 09:19:48 -0400

I like how you cut off the list at the Marines scores.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2018 9:33 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 09:33:09 -0400

Tom,

A few kindly words of advice; First, it sounds to me like you're facing the age old dilemma-opportunity vs. obligation. Every service member who has tried to balance life and career will probably tell you the same thing; expect your family to make sacrifices for your service. It may sound a little harsh, but the plain and simple truth is that the Military is not a "job" like any other. True, there are ways to reduce the impact...such as considering the National Guard...but that is not in and of itself a "guarantee" that the needs of the Services or your own career progression, won't require you to relocate, deploy, etc.

I've been following some of your other posts as well. Bear in mind that the more you limit your military opportunities for the sake of your family obligations...the fewer options you'll have over time. I believe it is a factual statement that if you enter the Service with this mentality, you may be able to chart a course to retirement, but not as a member of some of the communities you've mentioned.

Remember that there are far more individuals competing for many of these positions than there are available places at the table. No one "selects" something based solely on their scores or preferences...there are training and selection criteria to be met that stand as some of the most competitive on the planet. As with anything in life, you get out what you put in.

Finally, please remember that some questions you're asking would reveal information that should not be shared publicly. My sincere advice would be to contact the appropriate individuals in the recruiting organization and network with current active duty towards learning a broader sense of what you're considering.

Good luck and best wishes!

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 26 at 2018 12:36 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:36:28 -0400

Don't join up- maybe the USAF would let you stagnate somewhere for 20 yrs, but the other forces have no such guarantees. Needs of the service must come 1st.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2018 1:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 13:11:05 -0400

Soldiers can go to Bragg and Meade, and never leave. If you want to go to Bragg, try infantry, Meade, be a linguist, Chinese Mandarin. ( Any language really, but I feel they have a greater concentration here.)

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 26 at 2018 4:16 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:16:29 -0400

You may get lucky and stay in one place for a bit but needs of the military trump any wants of a troop.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Mar 26 at 2018 5:34 PM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 17:34:33 -0400

Tom, you are too new to understand how your desire to not move your family sounds to most service members. It shows an ignorance of the reality of the services and causes most people to dismiss your question as naive and selfish.
Selfless service is an expectation in Army leaders in the NCO, Warrant or Officer Corps.
Read this carefully: "The sacrifice you must be willing to make for soldiers, is the same sacrifice you must make for family. There is no difference." To be a great soldier and eventually a leader of soldiers you must be invested in and living the service, it is part of the process.
You and your family become part of the Army family, you, your wife and kids will spend and share time with other Army families, there will be an investment and a cost, it will be worth it.
Even if you chose to be in the Army and have your family come with you, you will still spend months or more than a year away in some cases for the mission, it is what we do.
I chose to have two passions, one with my employer and one that the Army allowed me to play my part in. It is still the same commitment, you are 100% all in for the service and you will want to be if you find the same level of calling that I did in my career.
I chose the Army National Guard and then the Army Reserve, I found employers who understood my passion is for being called as needed, not full-time service.
I was able to keep my family in the Columbus Ohio area and I have 31 years in the National Guard and Army Reserve, most was Army Reserve. I have the equivalent of 10 ten years active duty, I could have easily spent more time on active, pursued Active Guard and Reserve (AGR).
I did not stay in the same unit and had to travel for reserve and active deployments.
Based on the examples you provided, Cyber may be your best fit.
If keeping your family in one location is really important then I suggest the Guard and Reserve, you can do both, but you must be prepared and prepare your family to become part of the Army family.

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Mar 26 at 2018 6:03 PM

SGT Aric Lier — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 18:03:21 -0400

army corp of engineer will let you sit

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2018 8:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 20:35:26 -0400

I can tell you dont do 13P as they are all 13J now. You sit in a truck and compute data for Howitzers. You are the brains of artillery but that also makes you the outcast. There will be no joy, promotions are slower than that of the 13B or the 13F. If i were you and i had to choose for the series, I'd pick one of those as you would see and do a lot more as well as advance quickly through the senior ranks! But at the end of the day, do something that translates well on the outside. The Combat MOSs do nothing for and if you decide the Army is not for you, you have the skills to do something!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2018 6:48 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 06:48:15 -0400

If you’re still looking for an MOS that keeps you stable, look at 37F(Psychological Operations). Our regiment is headquartered at Bragg and you will spend 90% of your career here. Yes there are assignments as planners somewhere else, as well as OCONUS assignments, but you will spend the majority of yoyr time here. If you want anymore information just let me know.