What advice would you give to help someone further their career if they are in an MOS they do not like?

2022-02-12T07:32:14-05:00

Hello, so I feel like I'm stuck in a rut. I am a 92Y SGT(P) with 8years of service Active. And I am not a fan of this MOS, and recently, I have retested for the ASVAB again and scored a 119 to become a 35N(Signals Intelligence Analyst) as I always wanted to become part of the INSCOM world. But because the in and outcalls are N/N(92Y) and N/N(35N), and because I was told when I finish ALC and pick up SSG that reclassing would be almost impossible, this plan does not look very affordable to me. I am writing this message because I am asking anyone if they can give me any suggestion on what other option or give me any contact information of someone who can help.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 12:43 PM

2022-02-12T12:43:34-05:00

The unit Career Counselor is your best resource. That is the only way to find out what options are available. There might be other MOS that would also interest you, other than 35N if it isn’t available.

You would probably have to drop your P status to reclassify, but it might be worth it to switch to something you really want to do.

Response by SFC William Linnell made Feb 12 at 2022 12:53 PM

2022-02-12T12:53:31-05:00

When did they bring back the Specialist ranks above E-4?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 1:48 PM

2022-02-12T13:48:15-05:00

SP6? I think you clicked on the wrong rank. Especially if you're a SGT promotable. May want to look at that.

It sounds like you're not likely going to be able to reclass. Maybe unless you give up your promotable status...but I don't think even that.

I wanted to reclass to public affairs several years ago since that's what my Bachelor's is in and what I initially wanted. But I was SSG (P) and was told I could if I gave up the P. I said nope that's ok I'll just stay 35F I guess since I got picked up for SFC at first look in the secondary zone at 8 1/2 years and pinned a year later.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 1:58 PM

2022-02-12T13:58:12-05:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member here is information on changing your rank:

https://rallypoint.force.com/Support/s/article/how-to-change-rank-within-pay-grade-2020-03-13-10-21-35

RallyPoint Support Center

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 7:24 PM

2022-02-12T19:24:38-05:00

One thing I noticed is that your post says you're a SGT(P) but your profile says SP6. Which WAS an E-6 back in the day before they got rid of all the SPC rank above E-4

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 7:26 PM

2022-02-12T19:26:01-05:00

Go Ranger and reclass to 11B

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2022 9:48 PM

2022-02-12T21:48:38-05:00

Soooo.....now you're misrepresenting yourself in a different way. SGT(P) is NOT a SSG yet. You haven't picked up SSG yet so why say you're a SSG. That's like me saying I'm a MSG now even though I haven't completed MLC yet. So, I guess my career advice for you is to STOP misrepresenting yourself with rank you don't have yet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2022 5:17 AM

2022-02-13T05:17:23-05:00

Even if the strengths supported the reclass you probably would not get a class seat, plus you need to already have a TS clearance to reclass to anything CMF35.

However, with your scores you can reclass to 25E. It's not MI and you probably will not ever switch into MI at your rank, but it does give you the opportunity to work in both strategic and tactical environments in your career

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 13 at 2022 10:58 AM

2022-02-13T10:58:43-05:00

Let’s try something different from quibbling over your profile, which isn’t helpful anyway. I say, grow where you’re planted. Be the very best supply person you can be. A great supply person can make their senior leadership look very good and really help the Soldiers by having the equipment and supplies needed for the mission. Take advantage of training and education in logistics. Learn about supply chain management Get your bachelors degree. Do all the leadership training and prepare to move up to Senior NCO.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2022 11:54 AM

2022-02-13T11:54:10-05:00

Sometimes one has to look at their life and decide if they are motivated enough to force a HARD STOP, get off the path they are on, and change directions entirely. You can become a brain surgeon if you want. There is no physical or legal hurdle preventing that. Just time (education), focus, money, ect.....

What I want to point out that on the surface and from the outside not all jobs or careers are any better than anything else you might desire. A great MOS with a crap chain of command and working environment is still a crap job. What one perceives as a lame MOS can still have a great working life set up.

So be aware of where you are trying to stick your foot in.

Of the high speed SF soldiers I worked with as an Intel Analyst most of them were counting their days. WO's with long careers in Intel were just plugging along day after day making product that gets put on a shelf and never read.

I turned my back on Finance of 20 years, joined the Army Reserves as an E4 in Intel (the best job of my life I might add), then only could get the officer path in Logistics (92A) such as yourself. Yes, I miss Intel, but honestly, to try and force that change again would detract from the inertia I've currently built up.

All in all, I now see folks around me who started their careers in the military when they were young (the time I started in Banking) and everyone has the same burnt out mentality.

What I'm saying is you'll probably not find that dream job. You need to find what you want in life as your place of contentment.

I've said nothing useful here. I highly recommend you make moves in life to keep your options open, and try and be aware when you have a good thing going and if you're willing to disrupt that.

*****
Depending on your age it isn't out of the realm of possibility to simply let your contract expire (HARD STOP) and then go to recruiting offices across all branches (from the position of being a civilian) and see what they have to offer. You might even have to take a reduced rank.

If a 38 y/o can leave a 20 year banking career, join with the intent to be a Logistical Officer, be denied and given a window to enlist as an Intel SPC, only to end up now as a Logistical CPT your objective is not impossible.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 13 at 2022 7:16 PM

2022-02-13T19:16:26-05:00

One possibility is the CSM might help. He/she might have a long reach which I call deep fighters.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Feb 13 at 2022 10:06 PM

2022-02-13T22:06:55-05:00

If you reclass you my lose your (P) status since you earned that letter while in a different PMOS. If that's unacceptable to you then go for the 35N as a SMOS. I worked a 1/4 of my career in my secondary of 11B. It didn't hurt even a little bit.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2022 10:13 PM

2022-02-13T22:13:38-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if I like my MOS, and if I would be happier with regular Soldiers doing regular Army anything.

That said, taking care of the guys under me is really important to me. Don't know why, just want them to do better, learn more, and be better than I was and am. Doubt I'll be the best NCO, but so long as my guys are taken care of that's good enough for me.

So if you're having an issue with your MOS and you can't change it, make it about more than the MOS. You have Soldiers I'm sure, invest in them to the best of your ability. Whether that's Soldier tasks, MOS, or even just recognizing them with an award, make the next group of boots your purpose.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Feb 14 at 2022 11:30 PM

2022-02-14T23:30:27-05:00

This journey in life is yours and yours alone. If you do not like the path you are on, full stop and do something else. May not be the Army but if government is what you want then there are plenty of options. College is a great way to change paths and maybe even commission. Examine your short and long term goals in not just the Army but life.

Response by PO1 Sam Deel made Feb 16 at 2022 1:42 AM

2022-02-16T01:42:06-05:00

Plenty of options. My experience is skewed by how the Navy does things, but it should be of some help.
1) Talk to your Detailer or Career Counselor.
2) Put in a request with your CO. Commands in all Branches are looking for Service Members to fill the voids.
4) Volunteer for Collateral Duty. For example, when I was in, my Rate (MOS) was an AM-Structural Mechanic. I volunteered to become a C-130T Loadmaster. I was still in the AM Rate, filling that Billet when I was not on Missions. That has since changed (2010?) to a dedicated Aviation Billet.
3) If you have a particular high skill that another Branch is undermanned, you could parley that to inter-Branch transitioning.
4) If your Stint is up, you could convert to the Army Reserves. If they are like the Navy Reserves, Reservists usually have some leeway on their Duty Station and their Rate (MOS). Not sure if the National Guard operates this way, either.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2022 10:53 AM

2022-02-24T10:53:41-05:00

You have two options, reclass or stay a 92Y. If you plan to reclass you need to move definitively towards doing so. If you remain a 92Y, you should look at special duty assignments outside of the typical 92Y field. There's training within the industry, working at the white house, old guard, recruiter, drill sergeant, etc.

Response by SGT Reginald Tyler made Mar 26 at 2022 7:37 AM

2022-03-26T07:37:30-04:00

Don’t worry about the rank, find you a MOS you like and able to get into, that way you will do the best job possible and the rank will come eventually.

Response by CPO Kurt Baschab made Apr 4 at 2022 1:19 PM

2022-04-04T13:19:24-04:00

I am not sure if my advice would apply to you, I normally give this to the new kid, who just finished school , who did not score high enough on there ASVAB, to get there dream job.
but it might help , so here it goes,
we do not always get what we want in life, FOR EXAMPLE, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a ROCKSTAR, a ASTRONAUT, SADLY I DO NOT HAVE THE TALENT TO SING, OR PLAY A INSTRUMENT WELL ENOUGH, NOR DO I HAVE THE BRAINS OR TALENT TO BE A ASTRONAUNT, NEURAL SURGEON, ETC .
SO I put all my effort in becoming the best ELECTRICAIN THE MILITARY SERVICE HAD, I STUDY HARD, TOOK CLASSES, AND ADVANCED, AND I ENCOUGED EVERY SINGLE SERVICE MEMBER UNDER ME TO DO THE SAME. the better you become at your job, the more you enjoy your job, HAPPER YOU ARE AT YOUR JOB, AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS HAPPER.

the saddest day for me was when I realized I was Training my Replacements, as I was approaching retirement. no longer would I be mentoring teaching, these young men and women.

I realized early on, it always easy to mentor the go getter, everyone wants to mentor the Go Getters , and dump or get rid of the trouble maker, not me, I would Grab my Top two or three Go Getters and have them bring me the Problem Child, then the 3 or 4 of us would attempt to straighten him or her, out .

So my Advice is to become the Best in your Field .
Keep advancing as you become the expert, as you become the expert , you will find you enjoy your job more and more.

YOU ALSO FIND THAT most Individuals hate there current job for one of 3 reasons.

FIRST- they do not Know How to do there JOB,
I FOUND THIS TO BE SO TRUE WITH SO MANY SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO CHANGE THERE MOS, OR RATE, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO DO THE JOB. they did not put there best foot forward to become the best at there job, so they hated there job, because they didn't really know there job, or
how or who to ask for help, what they Need is a Mentor to help them learn there Job, and how not to be afraid to ask for help.

2nd Reason, they are having a PERSONALITY CONFLICK with a SUPERVISOR

3rd reason, they are being SEXUALLY HARASSED, INTIMADATED BULLIED, OR BEING PICKED ON BY A RACISET, THIS LAST ONE IS RARE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN. WHEN IT DOES IT MUST BE DEALT WITH SWIFTLY AND HARSHLY. THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO THIS MUST BE PUNSHED.
I hope this was helpful, if not sorry.

Response by SPC Trevor Geoffroy made Jun 20 at 2022 5:18 PM

2022-06-20T17:18:13-04:00

Their are other options I’m sure. Where there’s a Will there is a way.