Graduated Basic Training (Army) and found out there is a waiting list for AIT of possible 10 weeks???

Question

I met a woman tonight who (ironically) her husband just graduated from BCT and was going to Fort Eustis, Virginia, for his AIT, where my husband is also going, and for the same MOS as my husband (15T UH-60 Black Hawk Repairer). He found out when he got there that there was like a 10 week waiting list to start, so he had to stay there and do random jobs until then. Has anyone ever heard of this?? Also, is there a way my husband can change his MOS before he goes through the same thing???

HELP!

I'm not sure if I really worded it well, but my husband is still in Basic. Can he do something about it right now? Is an MOS change even possible?

Answer 1

This is not that unusual. I've read some of the other answers and they jive with my experiences. As one of the others said, military training of any kind is expensive to conduct, so what the services do is wait until they have enough people to fill all the training seats before they start a class. From a business sense, this is wise use of taxpayer dollars. The military might waste money in other areas, but this is one area where little waste takes place. Training dollars are tight and hard to come by. When I went to Basic Airborne training (Jump School) at Fort Benning, Georgia, the same thing happened to me and some others. There, they called it "Zero Week" and we were required to do very much the same things. Odd jobs to earn our paychecks. Stuff that just needs to get done. Don't sweat it. Tell your husband not to sweat it. Stuff happens. It's just part of Army life. I agree with what one of the other ladies said about supporting your husband. It's good advice. I couldn't have done my time in the military without my wife and family's love and support. Don't worry. Your husband will get his training.

Answer 2

More than likely the husband of the women you talked to, had a unexpected delay somewhere along the way.

IE:

He got hurt or sick in boot and didn't graduate with the Platoon he entered boot with.

The military is pretty good at getting people into boot at the right time, to get them to AIT right before thier AIT class starts.

Holds of a few days to couple of weeks aren't unexpected, but with a 10 week hold, it had to be for other reasons.

Getting people into boot at the right time, to graduate in time for thier AIT, is the biggest reason for the DEP program.

That way they won't have those long holds before thier AIT starts.

I wouldn't worry about it, the chances of it happening to your husband are slim.

Plus, why would he want to change his MOS, just based on having to wait several weeks to start AIT ?

He is training for a job he will be doing for years, whats several weeks in the long view of things ?

Answer 3

This is standard procedure. The classes cost a considerable chunk of change to present, so they wait until there are the required number of candidates on hand before they begin. As far as changing his MOS, your husband is stuck with it, unless he can get into WOCS or one of the other specialty training programs the Army has. Most of the specialty programs require an MOS qualified soldier, however. Also, unfortunately, the 10 week delay isn't long enough to qualify for a PCS move, so he can't even have the government pay to move you to where he is. I feel sorry for you in your situation, but it happens fairly often in the more technical MOS's.

Answer 4

It's not unheard of. When I went through AIT I had a period of about 3 weeks where I was in a "hold-under" status like your husband. No, he won't be able to change his MOS until 6 months after he is MOS-qualified. his contract, is his contract. Just send him lots of letters and support. He'll be home soon enough. Hooah.

Answer 5

My answerer as a veteran Navy wife:
Training school starting dates are scheduled at set intervals to achieve optimal class size (not too small and not too large). Sometimes that means individual students must wait to begin and sometimes students don't. As an old hand at military scheduling oddities my advice to you and your husband is to enjoy whatever wait time you can get. Once his training starts in earnest he'll have to devote all of his energy to his studies and after he completes training it'll be off to a new duty assignment. You'll wish for the days when he had less stress and more time to spend with you. If he chafes under the feeling that the duties he's assigned while awaiting the start of training are unimportant, remind him that support positions are the backbone of the military and that you're proud of him for filling the void with meaningful service until his training starts.
Personnel advice to you:
Love him NOW with everything you've got. The men and women serving in the military today are more likely to face combat then any other time in this country's history. They deserve our unconditional support and appreciation. I know all too well what you have to look forward to, the worry and the pride. THANK YOU for your sacrifices as the wife of a service member and please pass my thanks along to your husband for his service to our country.

Answer 6

He might be able to but it is very doubtful. yes they can do whatever they want, place him wherever he is qualified whether he wants to or not. He signed a contract. He only requested MOS preferences. They state that you get placed in whichever MOS the military needs you in. If there is a waiting period they can have him on work detail or duty details or something. or do odds and ends on and around base. Its not a bad thing. Hes still getting paid. so yea. nothing to really worry about.

Answer 7

No, you cannot change your MOS, and yes, you have to wait until there is an opening in that particular AIT program.

Answer 8

it must be a desirable MOS ..so wait for it if that's what you want ..if not go to your CO

Answer 9

Go thru the chain of command.