Posted on Jan 7, 2024
What should I expect as an Army Reserve 88N assigned to a Transportation Detachment/Movement Control Team?
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I recently enlisted into the Army Reserve as an 88N Transportation Management Coordinator and am looking for any insight or advice for this MOS.
I scored a 75 on my ASVAB with my line scores all being over 100, I was initially most interested in various 68 series MOSs but due to being an international student at a university in the United Kingdom, and thus being limited to vacancies under the 7th Mission Support Command in Germany, and requiring the Alternate Training Program/Split Option Training in order to keep my student visa, I was offered either 88N or 42A at MEPS. It seemed a little sketchy but I could not afford to wait for other vacancies for various reasons and so I ended up with 88N.
I say all this not to complain but moreso to express that as I was initially fairly uninterested in logistics/transportation roles and thus am quite ignorant about them. Ultimately it is more important to me that I serve in some way rather than how exactly I serve if that makes sense. So I am hoping to learn as much as I can.
I scored a 75 on my ASVAB with my line scores all being over 100, I was initially most interested in various 68 series MOSs but due to being an international student at a university in the United Kingdom, and thus being limited to vacancies under the 7th Mission Support Command in Germany, and requiring the Alternate Training Program/Split Option Training in order to keep my student visa, I was offered either 88N or 42A at MEPS. It seemed a little sketchy but I could not afford to wait for other vacancies for various reasons and so I ended up with 88N.
I say all this not to complain but moreso to express that as I was initially fairly uninterested in logistics/transportation roles and thus am quite ignorant about them. Ultimately it is more important to me that I serve in some way rather than how exactly I serve if that makes sense. So I am hoping to learn as much as I can.
Posted in these groups: 
Army Reserve Elements
88N: Transportation Management Coordinator
Army Reserve Elements 88N: Transportation Management Coordinator
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 5
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I Was An 88M , A Driver And Everything We Transported Was Made Possible By 88Ns .
They Planned The Loads, Routes And Fuel Stops.
Without 88Ns Nothing Would Have Moved Efficiently And On Time, It’s A Very Important Job.
They Planned The Loads, Routes And Fuel Stops.
Without 88Ns Nothing Would Have Moved Efficiently And On Time, It’s A Very Important Job.
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I retired as a SGM from the 7th ARCOM, now the 7th MSC. The Movement Control Units we had were vitally important to the Army as a whole. During OIF the MCT the 7th ARCOM had did vital movement control functions. Without them the movement forward from Kuwait north would have been screwed up.
What you have to do is keep your eye on the prize. I was a Combat Arms soldier when I moved to Denmark, but there were no Combat Arms units in the 7th ARCOM, so I took the slots I got and drove on. My prize was a retirement and to get to the highest rank I could. I achieved both at the 7th ARCOM. You got a goal in mind. Keep your eye on the goal, march forward and do what ever it takes to achieve that goal.
What you have to do is keep your eye on the prize. I was a Combat Arms soldier when I moved to Denmark, but there were no Combat Arms units in the 7th ARCOM, so I took the slots I got and drove on. My prize was a retirement and to get to the highest rank I could. I achieved both at the 7th ARCOM. You got a goal in mind. Keep your eye on the goal, march forward and do what ever it takes to achieve that goal.
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Aaron Steele
Thank you for your response! I think that your second paragraph is a great way to look at it.
Apologies as I now have a couple more questions if you don't mind.
I know things may have changed a bit from when you retired, but do you have any advice for how to perform my best in this MOS?
Also if I may ask, how was commuting from Denmark to Germany each month?
I am more than willing to make the trip (roughly 8 hours each way for me) as I am just happy that I can have the opportunity to serve while also having the amazing international student experience, and being able to use at least some of the benefits towards postgraduate education potentially, but I also have no doubts that the travel will still be at least a bit annoying regardless.
Apologies as I now have a couple more questions if you don't mind.
I know things may have changed a bit from when you retired, but do you have any advice for how to perform my best in this MOS?
Also if I may ask, how was commuting from Denmark to Germany each month?
I am more than willing to make the trip (roughly 8 hours each way for me) as I am just happy that I can have the opportunity to serve while also having the amazing international student experience, and being able to use at least some of the benefits towards postgraduate education potentially, but I also have no doubts that the travel will still be at least a bit annoying regardless.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
How to perform your best - follow the lead of your NCOs, pay attention to detail, don't be a slacker.
The commute was ok. I spent lots of time on the train. Worst part was the border. Most of the time after drill, by the time I got a train north, there was no connection to Denmark, so would end up spending the night in a train station util first train north about 0600. I was luck as far as work, I was self employed. I juggled the time getting down, usually getting there Friday evening, spending the night at the unit. It worked out.
The commute was ok. I spent lots of time on the train. Worst part was the border. Most of the time after drill, by the time I got a train north, there was no connection to Denmark, so would end up spending the night in a train station util first train north about 0600. I was luck as far as work, I was self employed. I juggled the time getting down, usually getting there Friday evening, spending the night at the unit. It worked out.
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I was an 88N in the USAR assigned to 599th Trans Det (MCT). Being only a 5 man unit, including the LT, we often trained with a larger unit that drilled on the same weekend as us. Usually there were scenarios made up where we would have to plan and execute the movement of supplies to a forward deployed combat unit. Other times it was general Army training, going on an FTX, or going to the range to requalify.
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