I am about to join the Army and was wondering what are the best and worst MOS I can choose from?

Question

Prior military (E5), ASVAB score of 112 and have a BA in criminal justice.
P.S. I don`t want to make the same mistake as before and go as "open contract" and get screwed with a cook MOS. Therefore, I need feed-back from past and present Soldiers! Thanks.

Answer 1

MY BS meter is pegged.
(1)if you made E5 you probably did more than 4 years, you should know that you can (as proir service)get a guantee of your choice of MOS(if qualified)

(2)ASVAB scores go to 240 with 200 being the average if you have a BA in Criminal Justice, I would think you would have scored better . As you should know the test is based on a 9th- 11th grade level.

as far as the choices with that score:

11X Infantry Enlistment Option CO:90
11Z Infantry Senior Sergeant N/A
13B Cannon Crewmember FA:95
13C Tactical Automated Fire Control Systems Specialist FA:95
13D Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems Specialist FA:100
13E Cannon Fire Direction Specialist FA:95
13F Fire Support Specialist FA:100
13M Multiple Launch Rocket System Crewmember OF:105
13P Multiple Launch Rocket System Operations / Fire Direction Specialist FA:100
13R Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator SC:100
13S Field Artillery Surveyor ST:95
13W Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember EL:95
13Z Field Artillery Senior Sergeant N/A
14E PATRIOT Missile System Enhanced Operator/Maintainer MM:105
14J Early Warning System Operator MM:100 & GT:100
14M Man Portable Air Defense System Crewmember (R) OF:90
14R Bradley Linebacker Crewmember OF:100
14S AVENGER Crewmember OF:90
14T PATRIOT Launching Station Enhanced Operator/Maintainer OF:100
14Z Air Defense Artillery Senior Sergeant N/A
15B Aircraft Powerplant Repairer MM:105
15D Aircraft Powertrain Repairer MM:105
15F Aircraft Electrician MM:105
15G Aircraft Structural Repairer MM:105
15H Aircraft Pneudraulics Repairer MM:105
15J OH-58D Armament / Electrical / Avionics Systems Repairer MM:105 & EL:100
15K Aircraft Components Repair Supervisor N/A
15M Utility Helicopter Repairer MM:105
15N Avionic Mechanic EL:95
15P Aviation Operations Specialist ST:95
15Q Air Traffic Control Operator ST:100
15R AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer MM:100
15S OH-58D Helicopter Repairer MM:100
15T UH-60 Helicopter Repairer MM:105
15U Medium Helicopter Repairer MM:105
15V Unknown -
15X AH-64A Armament / Electrical Systems Repairer MM:100 & EL:105
15Y AH-64D Armament / Electrical / Avionics Repairer MM:105 & EL:100
15Z Aircraft Maintenance Senior Sergeant N/A
18B Special Forces Weapons Sergeant GT:110 & CO:100
18C Special Forces Engineer Sergeant GT:110 & CO:100
18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant GT:110 & ST:100
18E Special Forces Communications Sergeant GT:110 & SC:100

Answer 2

Well "grunt" traditionally applies only to the infantry. There are no other "grunts". But a lot of MOS's work pretty closely with the infantry and do a lot of the same things. Such as artillery forward observer 13F, combat engineer 12B, cavalry scout 19D, and of course medics. Never bored? LOL, welcome to the Army kid. Most of your day to day life in the Army will be pretty damn boring. Even in the infantry you don't train 24/7, and you're certainly not in combat 24/7. Most of your time will be spent sitting around. Or pulling crappy details, cutting grass, cleaning junk, Etc. You will learn to become a master at looking busy, while actually doing nothing. Personally I used to volunteer for details to have something to do. Which jobs aren't boring? Uh, kinda depends on what you're interested in don't ya think? There are plenty of MOS's that would keep you pretty busy, that I would find very boring. No matter how busy I was. ALL will be boring at times, regardless. I remember reading a book when I was a kid by a special forces guy from Vietnam. He said 99% of all combat missions are complete boredom, broken up by moments of sheer terror. That's about right. How are the living conditions? Good enough. More than good enough if your primary concern is not being bored....

Answer 3

The MOS system has changed completely since I was in the Army but I would stay away from MP. The rank is frozen there because there are a lot of people in that MOS and rank is so very slow. Choose a field you can use in the private sector and one where you will make your rank as soon as you have time in grade. Let the Army send you to school and learn a new and useful occupation. Don't go in as a foot soldier. They make rank alright but big deal. Don't listen to the recruiter. He's not there for your benefit...

Answer 4

I have to agree with the first person. How did you score a 112? There is no such score, unless you are talking about your GT.

According to AR 601-210, the Army will try to put you in your old MOS unless it is filled. If it's filled, then you will have your choice of MOS.

The BEST MOS is one that you will enjoy doing. Since you have your BA, check with your recruiter about going in as an officer. You could, possibly, get into SJA.

The worst MOS is one that you will hate doing. Since you mentioned getting "screwed with a cook MOS", that would be one of the worse ones. *L*

Answer 5

With a BA in Criminal Justice, why not try something like MP with the option to move into CID or MPI Customs. Both of those would compliment the education you already have. I know with CID you have to have a GT score of 120+. Look into things that will interest you so you can have a rewarding career that can benefit you in the future.

Answer 6

I has the MOS 91L. They phased it out of my reserve unit so we had to choose another one. We chose 91C, but they are both in the medical field. I believe that no matter what MOS you choose you will have to other jobs. I was on the Dolly Team which had nothing to do with either MOS. It was where you put together Meal Vans and such with huge wheels to get ready to go out as a portable hospital unit. As a civilian, I work as a 91L, never a 91C so when we did our Annual Trainings, they would expect me to be a 91C with no additional training to keep up the skills. I was in for 8 years.

I would make sure you really want to be in that field and expect to do other jobs that they may ask of you. Best wishes to you.

Answer 7

Well I am a mechanic and I can tell you that it wont matter what MOS you are, YOU WILL DEPLOY! Your score is good, but I dont think its good enough for military intelligence. I suggest being either a desk junkie 42L, or a Chaplains assistant. They get deployed rarely and have really fun jobs. If you want to get into the actual fighting, be an 11B, infantryman, 13F Foward Observer, or 13M MLRS Specialist.

Answer 8

No one MOS is the golden goose so to speak. In the army, the 91W or C are good for medical minded people. Otherwise, consider MP or even supply MOS's.

In any one of them, combat is a real possibility so dont think you can find one that is a sure fire MOS to keep you out of harms way.

Answer 9

Im assuming 112 is your GT score.

Be a 21 D, underwater engineer/combat diver

or be a linguist.

Linguist would be tight, AIT in monterey, ca. Learn a new language.

They will only offer you what they need though

dont be:

88M (truck driver)

or that refueler one.

Im a 91W (combat medic) and its not that bad

Answer 10

If you've spent that much time in you should know what's good. I will always feel combat arms is the only way to go, everyone else is just support. No offense, but nothing made us laugh harder than the "hardcore" cook or clerk.

And someone needs to explain the scoring of the ASVAB to Nick. He is referring to his GTscore (a sub-score on the test). 110 is the goal for most advanced training, mine was 127.