I'm switching branches from Army to Air Force. What is the AFSC for MOS 25B?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 10:25:22 -0400

I am looking into switching to Air Force after my 20 years in the army, which is April 2020. My current MOS in the army is 25B: Information Systems Operator-Analyst. What is the equivalent Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) for 25B?
I have 3.5 years of 25B2O experience, and have attended Primary Leadership Development Course (now called BLC). I have CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CCENT (ICND1), and MCSA Server 2012 certification.
What are the procedure in switching Armed Forces Branch?
What do I need to do to prepare for the school or courses I will be sent to?

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Jun 22 at 2018 12:29 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:29:38 -0400

The Air Force wouldn't take me with an early release from the Army. Not gonna take you with major grade reductions.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2018 4:03 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 16:03:45 -0400

There's nothing that's directly comparable.

1B4 is a network operator. Defensive and offensive operations, but it's not a first time position. It requires Airmen to cross train into it so I'm not sure how that would work for you.

1N4A is a Network Analyst. They do a wide range of stuff from Malware analysis to network traffic analysis.

However if you already have 20 years in the army my guess is that you'd be put into a middle management position and not a hands on keyboard person.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2018 6:36 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 18:36:04 -0400

I’m not 100% but I know it will start with a 3.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:46 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:46:45 -0400

https://news.usni.org/2018/06/13/navy-implements-warrant-officer-1-rank-for-cyber-specialists

There was a thread on this a cpl of was back, I follow you want to intersvc to USAF, I get that, I merely didn't know if you'd seen his for Navy...with about two decades Hus far for Army, I don't know what the rules are about a switch here, it just strikes me as rather a waste of an opportunity for you to not at least just call them to ask about it...Navy also has that whole limited duty officer (LDO) thing, that often is allowed for senior enlisted and/or warrants, we had a family friend who did something similar for flight rotary wing, he was Army enlisted, god Army WOCS for rotary wing, spent yes in that got his Bach in aviation from Embryo Riddle, then USCG picked him up, though it might've been as direct commission through an OIS not an OCS, since he'd been Army warrant at that point, let me send this....

Navy Brings Back Warrant Officer-1 Rank for Cyber Sailors - USNI News

Navy pay can't keep up with private sector cyber jobs, so the service now offers a quick path to management as a way to keep talent.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:47 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:47:09 -0400

This tablet tends to conk out a lot, I have to send stuff frequently or I lose it....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:48 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:48:52 -0400

My point is, if you want to still do I tersvc USAF, fine, I fathom your reason, certainly, I merely suggest the Navy WO1 as an alternative, at higher level than USAF can give you, only as they no longer have warrants, obviously...I realize you might want senior enlisted, I didn't know from your description what level USAF was going to give you, were you to switch....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:50 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:50:14 -0400

When I was in, a C MSgt at my installation was made head of a system program off (SPO), ephe first such instance in the USAF, which, since warrants were being phased out, was deemed unique at that time, novel, if you will, though certainly well deserved....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:53 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:53:08 -0400

http://www.goarmy.com/army-cyber/cyber-direct-commissioning-program.html

You probably also knew about this, being Army cyber, still, I thought I should mention it, I didn't know, you hadn't said, anything about college you might've dome, now, I don't know what the Army WO1 cyber would need, I'm unsure if college would be reqd, still, I did find that Army went commissioned for cyber whereas Navy went warrant, was interesting, if nothing else, you know? Both are good, certainly, just an interesting comparison.....

Cyber Direct Commissioning Program

System admin, web developer, programmer. Put your civilian experience to work and become an officer in the Army through the Cyber Direct Commissioning Program.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:57 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:57:36 -0400

Watch "NCO earns PhD from AFIT" on YouTube - https://youtu.be/-iBvq0LMLQQ

Since you'd said you'd wanted USAF, I thought you'd find this of interest, AFIT apparently allows senior USAF NCOs access for PhDs, I have no idea since when or how it'd work, I'd expect if you'd go Navy WO1 you might he allowed something similar for Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), I'd read yrs agothey had a program to let senior enlisted finish their bachelors, I don't know how or if it'd be allowed, for Bach, masters, or PhD with the new Navy WO1 cyber warrants, also, it'd obv depend on how much college you might've done thus far, if you could possibly elaborate at all, I'd certainly find that of interest, obv....

NCO earns PhD from AFIT

For the first time ever since the Air Force Institute of Technology opened it's doors 95 years ago, a Non-Commissioned Officer has earned a PhD. The kicker? ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 3:59 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:59:25 -0400

https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-engineer-dce

I thought this might he of similar interest, I don't know how USCG does cyber stuff in that regard, though you could ask, of course....

Direct Commission Engineer (DCE)

The DCE Program provides engineers and technologists with leadership opportunities; implementing systems that enable and support CG missions.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 4:02 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:02:00 -0400

https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-programs

Here's another USCG page, I didn't know if it might also have anything good....

Direct Commission Programs

The Direct Commission Officer programs represent one of the primary ways that the Coast Guard meets critical specialty needs. These programs are designed for highly motivated individuals with specialized education and experience ranging from engineering, law, and aviation, among other areas. Explore our Direct Commission programs below.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 4:08 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:08:45 -0400

I only thought to explain about all that, as such career/education staff genuinely interests me, I was, as listed for !e, elected engrg (EE) originally, though I obv did a good deal of quite heavy comp sci (CS), pre-IT, though I obv also absorbed a good deal of it in the course of what I did before my total perm disability...if you might ever care to chat further about whatever I might also possibly suggest of any other value, I'd of course be most eager to do so, if I could be of any use to try to aid you in your efforts...pls realize, I quite understand your object, I think, you'd want to continue, and if you can go beyond 20 yrs by going USAF, all to the good, certainly...USPHS Commissioned Corps, if you want to look at that as well, does direct commission health info mgmt (HIM), as well as engrg, I'll send you the link, I realize it might not be your object, however, once again, if you don't know about it, you can't at least even just consider it, you know? Interestingly, USPHS also is allowed warrants by statute, they never had them, I guess they were never needed, though I've read stuff on their poswible use, for, say, paramedics, I never understood why hey were never implemented, I only read the statute with for the!, I never could folw why USAF got rid of warrants also, though, of course, they were gonna do whatever they wanted, I suppose, just more food for thought, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 10 at 2018 4:12 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:12:04 -0400

http://www.usphs.gov

Look at as I'd said health info mgmt (HIM), which is pure clinical EMR/EHR coin record cyber, as well as engrg, also, look at the Jr and Sr FOSTEP, their analogue to ROTC, now, interestingly, they'll direct commission up through 44, well above other svcs, I'm not saying you want it, as I'd said, and I'm unsure if COSTEP is allowed or needed in your case, I don't know the age limits for it, I merely suggest it as worth perusing, also, as I'd said, you'd said nothing about college for you, so if you've done assocs or Bach or higher, it wouldn't apply, I merely thought you should see it, that:s all, honest, very interesting scenario, honest....

www.usphs.gov

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Jul 13 at 2018 6:21 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 18:21:02 -0400

I doubt it will happen, I was to old for one. And when I talked to the Air Force recruiters in 2017 they were not taking prior service. Good, luck but I don't think it will happen.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2020 5:48 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 17:48:42 -0400

If you are even taken in, you will need to still do tech school and start as an apprentice. I guarantee that there are E3s with higher levels of training than a sgt in the army. Is it even worth it at this point for you? I only know of firefighters and and jobs that aren't very technical getting accepted the way you want.