Changing My Mos

[clayton86]

So I'm thinking of changing my MOS in the army I'm currently 11B(infantry). I've been in 6.5 years I was supposed to get out last February but I extended for a year and now I'm scheduled to get out in February again.

I have a APFT test in a week and which point I'll be asked what my plans are for getting out or staying in. I'm seriously considering either A) staying in the infantry for an additional 6 years B ) jumping over to aviation and being a mechanic for the black hawks and trying to work my way up to crew chief C) bust my arse bust my arse bust my arse go warrent officer and try and fly Blackhawks.

Either way I'm making a career of the military I just don't know what to do. Part of me wants to stay infantry till I get a "real" deployment in my last which was also my first was only to Kuwait I did get to go into Afghanistan a few times but it was just as an escort for the commander or sergeant major and we only were there for a day or two. The wars are over though deployments are pretty much done so chances of going as a grunt are slim. The aviation unit I want to transfer to if there are slots open deploys all over and all the time usually for 6months sometimes a year.

Been talking it over with my chain of command and they want me to stay in and stay in the company I'm high on the list for getting my E5/Sgt and they want to keep there numbers and promote within.

I got some time to think it over I may just stick infantry well working towards being a warrent officer I have 5 years before the age cut off.

[J Francho]

After today's events, you may end up in the Ukraine.

[clayton86]

I'm in the field at drum guess I should get off the fishing site and check the news

[clayton86]

Never mind I knew bout the "terrible tragedy"

[Mike2841]

If you do switch mos I would go for something technical, anything to help you out in the long run. I was a rf communications tech and it took me 6 months just to get someone to give me an interview after I got out of the Marines. Unless you plan on going law enforcement when you get out infantry isn't gonna be that huge on a resume. Even if you do go civil service (ie cop, fireman, emt) all they really care about is service.

If I were you I would shoot for warrant officer. Officer pay + flight pay is pretty nice. Not to mention officers get a lot more respect. On the down side being a black hawk pilot is probably pretty dangerous if we get majorly involved in any conflict.

[SirSnookalot]

After today's events, you may end up in the Ukraine.

I hope not.  Don't know what the reason would be for a terrorist attack on a Malaysian plane or American passengers. What may have happened was hitting the wrong plane, the real target could have been Putin's plane coming back from Brazil.  The 2 planes have similar profiles, time and altitude were similar too.  This is my gut feeling.

[J Francho]

Why would pro Russian insurgents attack Putin's plane?

Anyway, if I was to give my life to my country, it would be in a Blackhawk.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Blackhawk pilot. I always wanted to be either a jet pilot or Apachie pilot, but that's just me. Lol my brother used to laugh at the grunts because they would say they're a grunt without even knowing the meaning (Ground Replacement Usually Not Trained).

[SirSnookalot]

Why would pro Russian insurgents attack Putin's plane?

Anyway, if I was to give my life to my country, it would be in a Blackhawk.

http://www.silverdoctors.com/putin-may-have-been-target-of-plane-shot-down-presidential-jet-mh17-intersected-at-same-point-echelon-minutes-apart/

I've seen a few other articles just like this.  Another theory the plane may have thought to be a Ukranian military transport.  Whatever the target was, hard to believe the Malaysian plane was the intended.

[clayton86]

Blackhawk pilot. I always wanted to be either a jet pilot or Apachie pilot, but that's just me. Lol my brother used to laugh at the grunts because they would say they're a grunt without even knowing the meaning (Ground Replacement Usually Not Trained).

We only have chinooks and Blackhawks in the national guard at least in NY no apaches otherwise I'd want the apache gig.

[Jigfishn10]

Sounds like the sure bet is staying in your own outfit, sounds like more upside potential, but the other 2 ops are worth exploring.

 

Good luck on a hard decision.

[clayton86]

Doesn't help I've been flying around in black hawks for the last week. I talked to my PSG about it yesterday about switching to the aviation unit he said he will see if there's slots open.

[TheBig1]

I served 4yrs active duty in the infantry until getting injured and wouldn't change it for the world.  If I am hearing things correctly, you're in the National Guard which changes things a little.  At first I would tell most certainly tell you to move on to something more marketable.  You've done your time, you've done more than enough to be proud of, you have nothing more to prove, get something technical for the rest of your life.  But since you're limited in your choices, at least that's how it sounds, perhaps your best bet is to stay or to at least go into the aviation unit. 

 

I know you're staying regardless, but be warned, do not stay just because of the "We're going to promote you" game.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this game played on good men only to have PLDC slots disappear due to cuts or some other BS. 

 

As for me, like someone else said, I had to go into law enforcement.  Not that I don't enjoy it, but not that I enjoy it either.  When I sat in front of my Ltc. and told him of my future plans of college which is why I was not reenlisting, which was funny because I was so screwed up only to have the VA completely denying my claim until this day while I pay for my own rehab, he simply stood up and shook my hand and wished me luck.  Another offer of advice, if you do go into law enforcement, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a college education to do so.  Civil service tests are free and entry level positions such as corrections officer do not require college degrees.  If you want to be an officer, simply just get your ACT 120 and be done with it or be a CO and moonlight as a part time officer double dipping until you become a state trooper or something awesome like that. 

 

Anyways, I've rambled too much, good luck to you.  You'll always have done your basic training at Ft. Benning, GA and will always have worn that blue cord.  If you need to move on now, then you do so.

[clayton86]

I served 4yrs active duty in the infantry until getting injured and wouldn't change it for the world. If I am hearing things correctly, you're in the National Guard which changes things a little. At first I would tell most certainly tell you to move on to something more marketable. You've done your time, you've done more than enough to be proud of, you have nothing more to prove, get something technical for the rest of your life. But since you're limited in your choices, at least that's how it sounds, perhaps your best bet is to stay or to at least go into the aviation unit.

I know you're staying regardless, but be warned, do not stay just because of the "We're going to promote you" game. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this game played on good men only to have PLDC slots disappear due to cuts or some other BS.

As for me, like someone else said, I had to go into law enforcement. Not that I don't enjoy it, but not that I enjoy it either. When I sat in front of my Ltc. and told him of my future plans of college which is why I was not reenlisting, which was funny because I was so screwed up only to have the VA completely denying my claim until this day while I pay for my own rehab, he simply stood up and shook my hand and wished me luck. Another offer of advice, if you do go into law enforcement, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a college education to do so. Civil service tests are free and entry level positions such as corrections officer do not require college degrees. If you want to be an officer, simply just get your ACT 120 and be done with it or be a CO and moonlight as a part time officer double dipping until you become a state trooper or something awesome like that.

Anyways, I've rambled too much, good luck to you. You'll always have done your basic training at Ft. Benning, GA and will always have worn that blue cord. If you need to move on now, then you do so.

I did some talking with my PL yesterday about it during weapons maintance. He said I had a few options. Stay in my company get my 5 and then go warrent and fly. Or transfer over as E4 and wait for a 5 slot to open there and then go warrant. Another big big perk of switching to aviation is there are always AGR jobs it can hold me back promotion wise in some ways because if the slot is for E4 I can't take my E5 promotion because I would loose my Monday - Friday job or any other rank unless there is a slot open above it. Plus the way they transfer military skills now I can get a job working on helicopters outside of the army also.

It just makes sense to me I went to college for auto tech and am a ASE master tech then I thought diesel and heavy mechanics in a vocational school. I've worked on boats, trucks, race cars, you name it but nothing that flies so why not knock that off the list I'm sure I'll pick it up quick with the background I have.

Also I could become a crew chief if not warrant officer to fly I could be a crew chief and be a door gunner. I already know the weapons systems like the back of my hand being in weapons squad now plus my first two years in I was a 240 gunner then 249. I've been every role in a line squad but a grenadier.