Why did you choose your specific military specialty? What do/did you do in the service?

SGT Robert R. — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 10:12:51 -0400

I was a 33 in the Army. I maintained/repaired electronic systems in the Military Intelligence community. I chose this job for future employment outside of the Army.

How about you?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 17 at 2013 10:40 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 22:40:55 -0500

I had a family background in military and law enforcement, so it was a no-brainer for me, legacy and career choice from childhood. Great-Grandfather, Grandfather, Father and 3 of his brothers military and law enforcement in 2nd careers, Grandfather on Mothers side and MP during Korean War. I was a 95B for most of my career and then they made us 31B during the last 7 years of my career.

Loved it, and wouldn't have even considered anything else.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 19 at 2013 7:41 AM

CSM Mike Maynard — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 07:41:43 -0500

Shooting down Helicopters with a shoulder-fired missile looked cool.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Dec 19 at 2013 8:09 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 08:09:58 -0500

I was a tanker for 26 years, started as a 19E M60A3 crewman and ended (my actual tank time) as a 19K PSG. I knew when I was 5 that I wanted to be a Soldier, and the only job I ever wanted, as I got older, was to be a tanker. It was a wild ride or as the Grateful Dead sang "....what a long, strange trip it's been!"

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Dec 19 at 2013 9:29 AM

SPC Christopher Morehouse — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:29:13 -0500

So I did a lot of research going in (well I thought I did). I was pretty sure I wanted to be in one of the combat arms, and they I read about 'Combat Engineers'. How they "Lead the Advance" and "Sculpt the battlefield". Fight alongside infantry but get to carry explosives and stuff. Sounded pretty awesome to 17 year old me, so that’s what I did.

Then in 2004 they were looking for bodies to fill in an Infantry unit that was going to be deploying, and I figured what the hell why not? So I transferred over and was issued my 11B ego.

Coming back from that deployment I decided I wanted to get my degree, something with aviation hopefully. So I requested a transfer to an aviation unit (I had the scores for it), and got a slot as a UH-60 mechanic. I already had some college, and my scores where high enough to qualify me, and they had slots open, so I was getting my package ready to get sent to WO and flight school when I got out. My wife (fiancée at the time) wasn't to pleased with the idea of me going off to school for a couple years, and I was just getting introduced to my new, freshly deploy battered body, so when I discovered I would never pass the flight physical I let my contract run out.

So I guess it all boils down to "It seemed like a good idea at the time" for me.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 9:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 09:32:23 -0500

38 series - Civil Affairs; I chose this career field because I love cultures and people in general. I love solving problems and facing adversity. To me, CA is the best job in the military - you get to work with every facet of the military and government.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 19 at 2013 10:34 AM

CMC Robert Young — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 10:34:51 -0500

The recruiter told me the Coast Guard was looking for people with law enforcement backgrounds, and that having that civilian training would accelerate my possibilities for advancement.......boy was he wrong. The Clinton years didn't do much for the Coast Guard. That said, once I got off the bottom, it's been nothing but steady progress since, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 5:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 17:56:25 -0500

I chose Finance because that's my expertise in my civilian career. Finance Management Technicians deal with military pay, disbursing operations, contracting.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 7:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:58:42 -0500

Airborne Infantry. The video at MEPs was very convincing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 9:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 21:09:08 -0500

I'm a shutterbug, so combat camera was the best decision for me...though my recruiter left out the part about the involvement of video as a 25V.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 12:41 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 00:41:54 -0500

I was both a weather observer and forecaster and am a Meteorologist now and have been for some thirty years.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 10:29 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:29:40 -0500

As a Marine, I'm making history. As a Combat Camera Marine, I'm capturing it too.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 10:43 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:43:22 -0500

25S SATCOM. Best career choice I've ever made. Now if only I had joined the Air Force instead.....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2013 1:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 13:39:05 -0500

I'm a 19D and holy lord was the scout video awesome at the recruiting station. I'm reclassing over to 51C next month so I have something I can do outside the Army.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 22 at 2013 2:35 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:35:49 -0500

I initially joined the Army to run track. I was a track star in college and my recruiter convinced me that I could run track for the Army and get paid for it at the same time. I was premed biology in college so when the recruiter asked me what job I wanted I said something medical. So here I am.

Response by PO1 Thomas B. made Dec 22 at 2013 2:38 PM

PO1 Thomas B. — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:38:26 -0500

I went in as a Gunner's Mate, not knowing of the sub-specialties at that time and ended up a Gunner's Mate Missiles, which in my mind was the best choice anyway. I worked with Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface missiles, both conventional and Nuclear, on the MK-10 Guided Missile Launching System.

Response by LCpl Cruz Morin made Dec 22 at 2013 2:38 PM

LCpl Cruz Morin — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 14:38:54 -0500

I joined to follow the footsteps of the family. When I joined I was just the second to join the Corps. My dad and brother were in the Navy, I had a couple of uncles who were in the Army, a couple of uncles that were in the Air Force, and one uncle who was a Marine.

Response by TSgt Candace Becker made Dec 23 at 2013 3:17 PM

TSgt Candace Becker — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:17:46 -0500

I'm a MC-12 Sensor Operator. I honestly had no idea what my job was when I picked it; I was called by MEPs and they gave me five minutes to pick between Airborne Operations and Surgical Tech, so I went with the first. It can be a tough job, but its very rewarding.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 3:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:25:20 -0500

I chose Combat Engineer enlisted because I wanted to be Combat Arms but the nearest National Guard Infantry unit was an hour away and I didn’t have a car.

When I became an officer I wanted to stay Engineer because of the mission and the men I had worked with in the Guard. The Army decided I should be an MP.

I later went to Functional Area 51 Acquisitions because I wanted to do something different that could shape the future of the Army and help me transition in the future.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 4:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 16:39:15 -0500

I was initially a 42A (71L), AG Corps, then the Army chose to combine all of the AG MOSs, so I had to reclassify. I chose Signal, I'm now a 25B but still find myself helping my Soldiers with actions and memos like I still work in the S-1. Some things never leave you.

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Dec 23 at 2013 5:40 PM

SSgt James Stanley — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 17:40:58 -0500

I didn't get what I chose and I'm glad I didn't. The Air Force made a better choice and put me into communications. I worked with cryptographic cypher machines until they became obsolete.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Dec 23 at 2013 6:03 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 18:03:50 -0500

After I took the ASVAB I pretty much qualified for any MOS. Looking at bonuses the Data Comm Repair option had a whopping bonus of $3,000. I always liked electronics so I took the deal. Unfortunately my recruiter screwed up the paperwork which after looking back on how he did things, it was no surprise. He would miss appointments to meet with my family, and would refuse to apologize claiming Marines don't apologize.

I did get a measure of revenge on my first deployment to Kuwait in 1998. He returned to the fleet, and he was with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance riding in the back of an LAV-25 doing assaults in the middle of the 130 degree heat, while I was in a hummer in relative comfort.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 8:57 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:57:53 -0500

I am currently in Fire Protection (Air Force Firefighter). I joined my local fire department while I was heading into my sophmore year in high school. I fell in love with it and decided that is what I wanted to do. I ventured around to the different services and the Air Force had the best career and training for Firefighting. I told my recruiter I didn't want any other career and actually denied 2 jobs offered to me. I love every minute of my job but because of a medical injury I may be forced to cross-train in the near future.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 9:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 21:08:10 -0500

I enlisted as an 88H (Cargo Specialist). I liked the fact that you played a big part in the movement aspect of the Army....working ports, railheads, marshalling yards and the like. I then reclassed to 25B (Info Tech Systems Specialist) because I needed a job that would tranfer to the civilian world and would provide a never ending service.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2013 11:52 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 11:52:42 -0500

Once upon a time I was Combat Medic when the MOS was 91B. I joined to be a 19D Cav Scout, but it didn't take the Army long to put me in a medical slot because there was a shortage. When I came to the Air Force I enlisted to be Pararescue, but an unfortunate leg injury in training got me reclassed again into what I do now. So I spend my days talking on a radio telling pilots where to go and who to shoot. Actually I'm pretty happy with my job now, I'm a 1C571D.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2013 12:00 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 12:00:10 -0500

Choice A was Infantry choice B was Cook and I couldn't boil water to make top ramen as a teenager to save my life so Infantry it was. Some years later I understood the importance of having a GT score over 100 and raised it to 110.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Dec 24 at 2013 7:30 PM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 19:30:01 -0500

I was a Marine "Devil Pup" from birth, and after my dad retired, he went into operating heavy machinery for a while. My first memories were of sitting on my Dad's lap, operating a Grader, or a D9 Bulldozer, when we took him lunch sometimes.

When he got tired of that, he took to truck driving, and yes, I learned to drive in a Peterbilt, with 24 forward, 12 reverse gears, and two gear shifts.

I went into the Army first, and I gravitated towards the Engineers, but at that time they didn't have slots open for women and I ended up at a desk for a while... which was one of the reasons I moved over to the Marines. They still didn't let WM's into the engineers, so I went into Motor T. For me, it was a perfect fit, because I'm really not the "Reminton Raider" sort!

Response by SrA Michael Harden made Dec 25 at 2013 12:37 AM

SrA Michael Harden — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 00:37:28 -0500

Sorry man.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2013 3:27 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 03:27:43 -0500

I picked for the wrong reason. Luckily it was a great decision. I sat at MEPs in front of the computer and one MOS 25L was only 7 weeks. I figured 9 at basic, 7 at AIT then PCS with my family to our new life. 1 week prior to AIT graduation I got orders to Korea without command sponsorship. Boy was my face red. Still best choice for a very uneducated guess.

Response by TSgt Abe Bowman made Dec 25 at 2013 8:49 AM

TSgt Abe Bowman — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 08:49:51 -0500

It took me 3 changes to get what I wanted to get into. I was always wanted to be in the computer field and I finally got it on the 3rd try. Thanks to my friend, who was a Tech Sgt, who told me about cross-training. If it wasn't for that information I would've left the service a lot earlier....

Response by SFC Daniel Marthers made Dec 25 at 2013 12:54 PM

SFC Daniel Marthers — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 12:54:41 -0500

I was an 11BP20 and a Ranger because My older Brother was Special Forces. I tried to get into the SF but they would not allow two Brothers in the Same Combat Unit. I was Still in Vietnam with Him in 1965 at the Battle of Doings Xoi! I was flying support as a Doorgunner with the 118th and he was going in with an A-Team with nungs for support on the ground and I was told no friendlies on the ground at his coordinates open fire, and I did! Killed 4 Nungs and wounded 6, nearly killed my Brother missed by 4 inchs.

Response by SSG Sean Barber made Dec 26 at 2013 7:30 PM

SSG Sean Barber — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 19:30:50 -0500

my dad had joined the navy in 1941 to come to the united states he went threw wwII Korea and Nam then retired then did another 20 years for the dod I grew up with it in my blood my sister joined the navy to fallow in his footsteps and I being a smart ass joined the Army took the asvab scored high went into the 2nd75th ranger bat from there went in to first group sf white nights like all of us it was just a calling to me it was something I had to do, after I did a lot of tours from just cause all the way threw to the last and a few we cant talk about

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Dec 26 at 2013 7:51 PM

CPO Jon Campbell — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 19:51:34 -0500

I became a Port Securityman (later it was changed to Port Security Specialist) but since the Coast Guard doesn't ever have enough people and no one knew what a PS was supposed to do anyway, I promptly volunteered to do whatever job happened to be vacant. I was a SAR crewman, explosive handling supervisor, boarding officer, trainer, and commercial fishing vessel inspector. I even got to be on the first official intelligence team after the CG was admitted to the intelligence community after 9/11. The CG tends to use the Reserve like a temp staffing service and they don't care what your rating is as long as you are breathing and willing to work.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2013 11:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 23:37:45 -0500

I retrained into weather after my scores skyrocketed. I had a scheduled altitude chamber test for Air Traffic Control, and had applied for the OSI and Linguistics. But when weather opened, I was gone. I had an opportunity to work as an observer before the school and enjoyed that. Very motivated and even had done some forecast work.

Response by SSgt Terry Potthoff made Dec 29 at 2013 5:13 AM

SSgt Terry Potthoff — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:13:07 -0500

I joined the Air Force to get close to flying. I started in operations and later retrained into air traffic control.

Response by TSgt Marcial Guajardo made Dec 29 at 2013 9:52 PM

TSgt Marcial Guajardo — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 21:52:53 -0500

My ASVAB scores left me eligible for whatever I wanted. I was interested in electronics so I went in as a 326 Fire Control Specialist, flightline maintenance. Back then 326s worked F-111s, F-15s or F-16s. I wanted F-15s but got F-111s. Worked FB-111A, F-111F and F-111D then was voluntold to report to Nellis AFB where I worked F-117A for a year until I volunteered to work MAT as an Avionics instructor. Taught for 3 years then got assigned to work F-16 C/D Block 40s. Last four years I cross trained to Operational Intelligence which was not my first choice but was a great job. I would have tried to stay 30 years but health issues forced me retire at 20 years.

Response by SSG Waldo Yamada made Dec 29 at 2013 10:11 PM

SSG Waldo Yamada — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 22:11:27 -0500

I chose the 74D thinking I will have operational time with the FOX vehicle and mostly smoke operations, but when I went to my first duty station I didn't know that my primary job was an asset to the commander. Which was a cool job but I never liked the office work. I liked to research and apply what I learned in a field environment which I was happy to be in 71st Chemical Company in Schofield Barracks, HI. After that things pretty much went down hill for me. When I returned Stateside to JBLM. I got deployed and then medevac'ed back for Combat Stress which later turned out to be psychosis triggered by depression. A year later I was relapsing and the Army finally let me go due to my two times of hospitalization.

Response by SGT Dan Knispel made Dec 31 at 2013 8:25 AM

SGT Dan Knispel — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:25:11 -0500

I spent a bit of time looking through the options that my recruiter gave me, I had a pretty good ASVAB score so there were plenty for me to choose from. I finally picked the chemical field, 54E which after taking the cross over class of 54C (smoke and flame) ended up being 54B and now I believe it's 74D. I had a great career and had the privilege of working in a variety of duty positions from NBC rooms (my favorite was the 11th ACR in Germany) to dedicated chemical companies (the 91st out of Fort Stewart) and even a posting at the 24th ID divisional chemical staff.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2013 8:30 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 08:30:47 -0500

What sounded coolest had my vote. I joined at 17 so my father told the Marines and Army recruiters no; no ladies on Submarines so I didn't bother with the Navy and Air Force sold things well for the Missile and Space Systems Specialist field. Well played Air Force; the job was horribly dull and I learned nothing other than to pay a lot more attention to what I was getting myself into.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 1:27 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 01:27:54 -0500

I didn't want to go active duty when I joined, so my options were limited to the slots open at the nearby reserve units. I was poorer than dirt at the time, so I picked the only one that came with a bonus, 31U. Went through basic and AIT and reported to the civil affairs brigade, only to find that they didn't have any commo equipment. What am I there for, then??!

A few months later, I got tired of waiting tables at TGI Fridays and went back to the recruiting station to go active duty. Since I was already MOS-qualified, my options were to stay 31U or I could pick a new MOS off the priority/shortage list. One of them was 98G. I hate languages, but I grew up in Monterey where the Defense Language Institute is. I figured I'd do that and hang out with the family I hadn't seen in almost ten years, get through AIT, then submit a flight warrant packet when I got to my first duty station. Since I only did a few months in the reserves, I didn't get that enlistment bonus (it was only $2000 anyway, no big loss).

So I suffered through 63 weeks of Arabic training, 98G AIT, a follow-on tactical system course, and finally got to Ft Hood in time to get sent to Bosnia with 1st Cav. Never did get around to submitting that warrant packet...

My two regrets - not going active first (would've gotten a sweet bonus!) and not submitting that warrant packet. Ah well...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 1 at 2015 12:51 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 12:51:15 -0400

I started out enlisted in Aviation. I went to OCS to become am Armor Officer. I went to Finance then to Budget. I got a tour in CONUS with a large NG TSC. I also got a tour with DFAS.

Going combat arms was an imperative to for me. It gave me a better understanding of compassion.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2015 5:28 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:28:27 -0500

Was a 13F. Stumbled into the best job in the Army because they offered me the Student Loan Repayment Plan after I finished college. I loved every second of it.

Became an Armor Officer because I felt like it would offer me the most well rounded fighting foundation with similar opportunities for high speed schooling that the 11A's recieve. Also I'm drawn to recon as I served as an FO in a recon squadron with the 101st.