Re-class after basic

[the jones kid]

I was talking to my recruiter about switching my MOS, he told me that if i was dead set on changing it then he would help me in september because the MOS i want opens then (11B). im curious if this is true? im From oklahoma if that helps answer the question.

[Explosive Hazard]

There might be a spot open for 11B but reclassing is not that easy. The NG doesn't reclass soldiers just because that soldier doesn't like their current MOS or is bored at drill. Typically reclassing happens when the MOS that individual has goes away in that state or they are re-enlisting and get a reclass as an incentive. Your chances of reclassing to 11B right after you get back from AIT are slim to none.

[the jones kid]

I was hoping to Reclass after i get back from BCT SGT. he told me that would be easier. I get Back early august.

[SteveLord]

What did your recruiter say about changing MOS now? I changed mine with 1-2 months shy of shipping to Fort Knox for 19D. Your mileage may vary. This was back in 2002 and I wrote an untruthful letter about how I wanted to play baseball and needed a later ship date (my recruiter gave me the idea). Next best ship date was 4 months later was for 11C.

[the jones kid]

Im a Split-op. I cannot change my BCT ship date due to that (not that i would, im very excited). He said that in my state it would be more likely that i would get my chosen MOS in september because the slots for 11B are higher(plus i ship in may).

[Explosive Hazard]

Your chances might be better as a split OP but its still not a walk in the park to change your MOS. Don't get your hopes up too high for 11B. I hope you still like your first choice, especially since you signed the dotted line for it.

[the jones kid]

Ill do what it takes to achieve 11B and as for my first choice im not to fond of it. the reason i chose it is because i was going to go through the SMP program once in college. Things have changed and college is no longer a priority right now.

[SteveLord]

Ah, interesting. Now let it be known that recruiters give misleading information like this (and at this particular moment with you about to be gone in a month) all the time. Are many of the things like this that they say possible? Yes. Does it often require perfect circumstances that they have no control over for it to happen? Yes.

Good luck to you.

[the jones kid]

I understand. Thank you both for your replies. I will do my best to make it a perfect circumstance lol. even if that means waiting six years to re enlist as one but i will be an 11B.

[Explosive Hazard]

Things have changed and college is no longer a priority right now.

I encourage you to re-examine this priority. This day and age you have to have a degree just to be considered for a good position, and having a degree no longer puts you ahead of your peers, just on the same playing field. Not having a degree can put you pretty far behind the curve.

[Chris36]

In my civilian job I work for my State's Veteran's Services and we are flooded with veterans looking for work.

I am not at ALL discouraging 11B, but we have many infantry that come back from deployment or out of the services without a lot of 'transferrable" skills. Meaning, if you are a mechanic, we can pursue those avenues for employment, same with aviation, etc.

That's not to say that all of our US Military does not come with an incredibly strong set of employable attributes which make them very desireable to employer, but in this economy you MUST have an education to compete for anything better than a minimum wage job.

Every soldier hopes for the best in their military career, but if you don't make a career out of it or you are seperated due to injury, then what?

When it comes to finding civilian employment, either during or after your time in the Guard, it is crucial to have as strong as a skill set as possible. You will be competing for jobs, (even if they have veterans' preference offered), against veterans WITH degrees.

Who do you think an employer is going to pick?

[SteveLord]

As a fellow state slave and former grunt, I have to agree with Chris36. I had those preference points for this job, but I also had the right experience (I work in IT) my agency was looking for. I brought no actual skills with me from the military.


Infantry is still an unforgettable experience.

[the jones kid]

thank you both very much. my cause for saying that college is no longer a priority right now is that i wish to be deployed. it may sound odd but i joined the military in hopes to serve my cause. i figured it would be easier to come back then do college rather then leave in the middle of the semester. call it thinking ahead but its thinking none the less. again thank you all for the replies. i will go to college but i think fresh out of high school isn't the way for me.

[Chief Kemosabe]

Your chances might be better as a split OP but its still not a walk in the park to change your MOS. Don't get your hopes up too high for 11B. I hope you still like your first choice, especially since you signed the dotted line for it.

+1. But you know the mindset of young kids now and days. It sounds much better to be an infantryman re-enacting your night time hobbies and telling your family and friends than a truck driver bringing needed supplies to the fight. I am working with logisticians for the first time and I truly have to say; without them, the grunt cannot get it done. These guys work around the clock setting up convoys; airlifts; fuel, ammo (most the classes of supply) and do mortuary affairs. I see the stresses and the bags of remains these soldiers are transporting around and it shows on their faces.

Believe me 88M is very honorable for what you signed up for. What is the honest and real reason you want to switch? The military is not musical jobs and yes; I have had five MOSes in my 22 years of service but at least I served my initial MOS for 4 years before switching and served in it again later on. Give it a chance.

[Chief Kemosabe]

thank you both very much. my cause for saying that college is no longer a priority right now is that i wish to be deployed. it may sound odd but i joined the military in hopes to serve my cause. i figured it would be easier to come back then do college rather then leave in the middle of the semester. call it thinking ahead but its thinking none the less. again thank you all for the replies. i will go to college but i think fresh out of high school isn't the way for me.

Well you do know that being in the Guard; your time frame for deploying might not be as fast as you like. If that is your real intention; then why not go active? I served in the combat arms as my first MOS in the military but my other MOSes have given me the marketable skills to succeed if I wanted to return back to civilian life.

[the jones kid]

well as stated before. my priorities changed. college was my main priority and i planned on going active through the SMP program but now college isnt first. i probably will go active as soon as im done with AIT but im going to stay with the NG until ive completely decided on active. i do understand that its unlikely for me to deploy but i still have a bit of time.

[SteveLord]

well as stated before. my priorities changed. college was my main priority and i planned on going active through the SMP program but now college isnt first. i probably will go active as soon as im done with AIT but im going to stay with the NG until ive completely decided on active. i do understand that its unlikely for me to deploy but i still have a bit of time.

Just an FYI...a Guard member doesn't suddenly walk up to his commander one day, share his goal of joining Big Army and sign the paperwork over a Root Beer with him. Although things can change, it is generally recommended to enlist Active Duty now if that's what one really wants to do.

[Explosive Hazard]

Just an FYI...a Guard member doesn't suddenly walk up to his commander one day, share his goal of joining Big Army and sign the paperwork over a Root Beer with him. Although things can change, it is generally recommended to enlist Active Duty now if that's what one really wants to do.

+1

Getting a conditional release is not a right, and even if your commander apporves it that doesn't mean it wont get knocked down at the next level. During my initial contract I tried to get a conditional release to go active and I was denied because the NG wanted to get the most out of their investment. If you want to go active then do it RIGHT NOW. Now is the time since you have not shipped out to basic training yet. You could do active duty infantry and most likely deploy once in a 3 year enlistment. This would be your best shot at getting a guaranteed infantry slot.

I still recommend college overall though. You could do the SMP program and at the end go active duty upon recieving a commision. Now, getting commisioned on active duty is competetive, as well as getting the branch(MOS) you want. Infantry for officers is among the most sought after.

[iambrian90]

I am infantry, I am also a senior in college studying Strategic Intelligence. I am ISTing to PA from VA and asked the IST coordinator if I could go to an MI unit near the 11B unit I am going to, and he said no since there are open slots in my MOS.. now, for you.. what you might want to look into if you really want to be Infantry, and also want to do college (which i would recommend 1000%), look into going to a college in an area that does not have a close unit of whatever MOS you hold. say you are an 88M, and there is a unit 200 miles from your college, when there is an 11B unit 10 miles from it. If you change your address to the college, and then initiate an IST to that address, you MIGHT be able to talk with the coordinator about putting you into the 11B slot since driving 200 miles is unreasonable. It is in no way a guarantee, but it will most likely work out better than trying to switch without a new home of record in September. This way, you will be able to start working on college, and some qualifications on what you want to do in the civilian world, all while being an 11b or 11c (If it's an HHC unit). Also, don't worry about deployments. A bunch of my buddies in college got deployed this last year and just took a year off school, then got right back to it when they got back. Most schools will be willing to work with military, just find their military affairs office, or talk to the ROTC program who might be able to point you to the right people to talk to about it.

[the jones kid]

thank you all for the replies. i will definetly take all that was said into consideration. You all have more knowledge on this subject then me, its why i asked.