How does the 14G MOS effect family life?

2019-04-18T10:28:02-04:00

Mother of 3 considering 14G. I’ve read that it is a good MOS for promotion and possibly CWO, plus there is a decent bonus. How does this MOS effect family life? (Frequent deployments, work hours, trainings, etc) any insight is appreciated. My husband is a veteran so we aren’t unfamiliar with military life, just curious about this MOS in particular.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 18 at 2019 10:55 AM

2019-04-18T10:55:56-04:00

How often does 14G deploy? That isn't the question. How often do the ADA units deploy? Answer when there is a request for Forces that requires ADA capability. There have been operational deployments to Europe and the Med. you really can't game it by deployments. It's luck of the draw.

Bonuses are all well and good. Pursuing an appointment as a warrant officer is a great goal. 14G only directly feeds 140A and indirectly feeds 153 series warrants.

Promotions. Promotion to E4 is all on you. E5 and E6 are semicentralized and dependent on you passing a board, doing SSD, and accruing points.

The Army has periods where you train for upcoming missions on an accelerated pace, then other times where there is a relatively less training. You typically work set duty hours in Garrison, punctuated by mission and readiness demands that have you work extended hours. ADA typically does shift work while deployed to man key systems to provide 24/7 support.

The real question: is this what I want to do?

The Basic Warrant Officer tag is for an old MOS. Recommend deleting it and simply go with Warrant Officers.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 18 at 2019 11:58 AM

2019-04-18T11:58:28-04:00

What is 14G?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2019 2:57 PM

2019-04-18T14:57:37-04:00

As a 14G I have deployed twice, once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Doing C-RAM Missions and that was out of Ft Campbell. Now I am currently in a Division Artillery unit working in a ADAM/BAE cell in Kansas. As a 14G you could almost end up anywhere. In a ADA unit, a Brigade of in a division. I have a wife and son and I get lots of time with them when we are not in the field or on TDY. All of the training, work hrs and Deployments all depend on the Unit you are assigned to after Basic and AIT at Ft Sill, OK

Response by SFC(P) Jonathan P. made Apr 21 at 2019 10:25 AM

2019-04-21T10:25:29-04:00

I would suggest to consider other options that are more beneficial for you family. This MOS is a good MOS but you won’t get the full experience as it really changes your work flow and patterns. From a father point of view look into administrative jobs, admin, 42A, or tech jobs etc.. cyber security and stuff of that nature.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2019 3:01 AM

2019-04-23T03:01:15-04:00

Depends on your current MOS. The bonus is there for a reason. It’s hard to retain people as a 14G. I personally am done with service after I leave Korea. 14G is not an exciting job. Very technical and changes all the time. I personally went to Germany and here in Korea as a 14G. Half the time I was in Germany I was TDY or on mission. Korea, well I don’t have a choice to bring my family or not. All three kids and missed all three of their 1st year of life. If you like technical work and to potentiallly go warrant, it’s great. I don’t believe it gives any more time for families. Can always go recruiting. Work hours aren’t bad but there’s lots of field training to stay proficient in job. Like I said before, it can be very technical.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2019 7:39 PM

2019-05-01T19:39:23-04:00

I went through MOS reclass to 14G in 2012 at Ft Sill. I am ARNG so my experience may be a little different than AD but ADA is a bit of a dying MOS. As a 14G in an ADA BN the NG has a one year CONUS deployment to Washington DC to provide air defense to the Capital region. There are only about five ADA BN’s in the NG and they rotate through deployments. In my state we were part of the DIV air defense cell. In my five years there as the Sentinel Section Leader we never had an actual radar. We had the shelters and computer systems but nothing to connect to for an air picture. I left in 2016 and the 34 ID deployed to Kuwait last year and this was the first time they actually got to do their job. There’s many places a 14G can end up as most DIV and BDE level commands have a slot for a couple. I’ll never forget what we learned at Ft Sill about ADA and 14G. ADA is short for “Any Detail Anytime”. I wish I would have reclassed into something else. If I could go back I’d probably pick an MOS in the Military Intel 35 series MOS. I’d really stay away from 14G if you have the option.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2020 9:56 AM

2020-06-12T09:56:18-04:00

Just remember you going to ADA more deployments