Interior Electrician
Interior Electrician
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12B or 12R?
Hello RallyPoint, hope everyone is well still. As some of you may know, I plan to go active duty soon and most likely EAS into the Guards/reserves. My career after service would be in the film industry and some of you may know that breaking into that industry is hard. With that said, I thought about retraining after active duty as a 12R (interior electrician) for the ARNG engineer battalion just over county lines next door. Reason being is that in the film industry, lighting is crucial, and the Gaffer is head of the lighting department, who is in turn an experienced electrician themself.
I see this as a great opportunity to help me better secure a foothold in the film industry, so if my original plan is struggling a bit, I can still have a hold in the industry. A Gaffer is also somewhat higher up in the chain as he is the one the lead camera department person consults with for filming. Worst case scenario, even outside of the film industry, electricians are highly sought after, so the worries of job security would be almost irrelevant.
All this sounds good on paper, but the only issue is that although electrical work doesn’t bore me, there are a few trades in the Army that catches my eye more - such as a 12B combat engineer (what guy doesn’t like building and blowing stuff up?), not to mention the reputation that combat engineers have had for the past two and a half centuries from since the birth of our nation.
My question to you guys is mostly, what are your thoughts on my predicament at the moment? At the end of the day, I’m looking to EAS into a trade-specific MOS in the Guards/reserves to help ensure better prospects of job placement in the future after service. I already know of many of the MOS in the 12-series and of course, 12B seems quite attractive (again, who doesn’t love building and demo-ing things), but from what I see, 12R would probably help give me a better leg up in the film industry. I know that 12B’s barely touch and dabble in electricity whereas 12R’s specifically deal with it, but what are your guys’ thoughts on it?
Once again, I appreciate the wisdom that you guys offer, thanks and again, hope everyone is well.
Hello RallyPoint, hope everyone is well still. As some of you may know, I plan to go active duty soon and most likely EAS into the Guards/reserves. My career after service would be in the film industry and some of you may know that breaking into that industry is hard. With that said, I thought about retraining after active duty as a 12R (interior electrician) for the ARNG engineer battalion just over county lines next door. Reason being is that in the film industry, lighting is crucial, and the Gaffer is head of the lighting department, who is in turn an experienced electrician themself.
I see this as a great opportunity to help me better secure a foothold in the film industry, so if my original plan is struggling a bit, I can still have a hold in the industry. A Gaffer is also somewhat higher up in the chain as he is the one the lead camera department person consults with for filming. Worst case scenario, even outside of the film industry, electricians are highly sought after, so the worries of job security would be almost irrelevant.
All this sounds good on paper, but the only issue is that although electrical work doesn’t bore me, there are a few trades in the Army that catches my eye more - such as a 12B combat engineer (what guy doesn’t like building and blowing stuff up?), not to mention the reputation that combat engineers have had for the past two and a half centuries from since the birth of our nation.
My question to you guys is mostly, what are your thoughts on my predicament at the moment? At the end of the day, I’m looking to EAS into a trade-specific MOS in the Guards/reserves to help ensure better prospects of job placement in the future after service. I already know of many of the MOS in the 12-series and of course, 12B seems quite attractive (again, who doesn’t love building and demo-ing things), but from what I see, 12R would probably help give me a better leg up in the film industry. I know that 12B’s barely touch and dabble in electricity whereas 12R’s specifically deal with it, but what are your guys’ thoughts on it?
Once again, I appreciate the wisdom that you guys offer, thanks and again, hope everyone is well.
12B: Combat Engineer
12R: Interior Electrician
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 7
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I'm a 12N in a 12H slot. I personally know quite a few 12Bs and Rs. Based off of working with them in training and on deployment, I'd recommend you go R. Yes you can have fun as a 12B. Especially if you were active and attached to an infantry unit (our 12Bs in the 173rd were great). But looking to leverage skills from the army into the civilian world, R would be best, IMO. Also, not all 12Bs blow shit up. Most I know spent most of their deployment running route clearance, and essentially blowing shit up by running it over in a vehicle. Exaggerated yes, but you get the point.
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SPC Christopher Anderson
12b equates to only two things in the civilian world depending on your experience as a 12b, being a cop or construction. Took me a while to get my footing getting out and switch careers from construction to IT. 20 years later I'm pretty happy with the choice.
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SPC Christopher Anderson
And yea 12b when attached to a light fighter unit is an absolute blast. You get to be infantry with a shit ton of demo......
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12R will not get you the certs or hours to be a journeyman electrician outside of the military, so as long you understand that going in you will be good. It will allow you to step into and apprenticeship that will help.
12B is a great MOS, but I may be a little bias on that one...but know it prepares you for nothing outside of the military, it will help if you want to pursue overall construction, but not much.
I would just pick something that you enjoy doing.
12B is a great MOS, but I may be a little bias on that one...but know it prepares you for nothing outside of the military, it will help if you want to pursue overall construction, but not much.
I would just pick something that you enjoy doing.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - I am a certified EC, and you are right that they will give you credit for the hours, but you will still have to take and pass any certification that are required of those specific cities/counties/states; and most likely will not be given as many hours credit as you will need to be a journeyman. I was referring to what the unions and most cities consider a journeyman status for being an EC. That is also why I mentioned that it would help with an apprenticeship program. The experience in the military will most surely reduce the time needed in the program. So, I guess my answer was a little misleading as there are benefits, but there are not military certs that will, by themselves, transfer to a civilian cert. On another side of that same coin though, I guess, is that fact that not all places require you to have a licensee to be an electrician...
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) ah okay gotcha. Thank you for clarifying. You taught me something new. And I'm currently talking to my buddy that got out. At the time we were both 11Cs now he's out of the military and an electrician apprentice so basically whole new field for him. I think I will go the trades route as I finish my AS in carpentry this fall then want to either become a licensed GC or electrician after I find a decent apprenticeship
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - EC is the way to go. I was an EC in the Pittsburgh market for years and now I am in construction management. The EC are the highest paying subs when I build out locations. I currently work in 49 out of 50 states and they are by far the heavy hitters on my budgets. They are also very undermanned right now and looking for good help. I tell everyone I know to learn a trade so you have a solid skill that will pay out well.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) hell yeah. Between taking over an engineer platoon as their PSG an E5 infantryman and having to learn carpentry, electrical and plumbing, to going to school for carpentry I have a growing interest in the trades. Just need to find a good apprenticeship with all this rona stuff going on
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If you’re going to transition to another job in the Guard after AD then it doesn’t matter what you do on Active Duty, just pick something you’ll have fun doing
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