Posted on Jan 23, 2018
I will be submitting my voluntary reclassify packet this week. Which path is best, 12B Combat Engineer or 19D Cavalry scout?
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12B and 19D are currently short and taking E5 sergeants for voluntary reclass. My goal has always been to reclass to 11B but was told I couldn't twice. The above MOS's are the closest to it so i'd like to take advantage of this opportunity and finally make this career change that I should've made after my first term. I am highly interested in the above two MOS's but I would like to know from leaders which MOS is the better choice and who spends more time training on their craft. A little insight on the day to day operations would be much appreciated as well. Thank you in advance.
Posted in these groups: 
12B: Combat Engineer
Combat Engineer OSUT (12B)
19D: Cavalry Scout
Cavalry Scout OSUT (19D)
Reclass
12B: Combat Engineer Combat Engineer OSUT (12B) 19D: Cavalry Scout Cavalry Scout OSUT (19D) Reclass
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 45
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SSG (Join to see), depends what you want to do. Those are two totally different MOS's you are talking about there. There are a lot of different kinds of engineer units too, which provide a lot of different jobs for SGT's. If you are a 12B, you could be anything from a light sapper team leader or section leader, pounding pickets, laying wire, digging fighting positions, blowing stuff up or you could be a heavy engineer...doing the same thing with heavy equipment. You could also end up swinging a hammer in a construction unit or power and light. Depends where you go. As a 19D, you have one job...reconnaissance. You'd end up as a team leader or vehicle commander in a light, Stryker or armored cavalry squadron. Same job, different platforms. Engineers are supposed to fight as infantry when they aren't doing engineer tasks, but that's about 2% of their time. If engineers aren't being used in their primary job, something has gone wrong. Scouts are focused on reconnaissance. All the time. They aren't supposed to engage the enemy directly unless the mission calls for it...usually in the heavy units. I'd become a scout, but I'm biased.
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COL (Join to see)
Yeah...I get it. I disagree that an engineer squad isn't a big loss though. Can the infantry dig and pound? Sure. They are doing that in a Brigade level defense, on their tactical positions. Engineers are supposed to be working on BDE level stuff, and the infantry is too busy preparing to fight. Definite possibility to send a squad out when on the offense though in an area or zone recon though.
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SSG (Join to see)
COL (Join to see) - Well, sir, you've convinced me. That was excellent info and I like what I read. I've submitted my packet to my retention for reclass to 19D and I'm very motivated. Let's hope HRC releases me from my current MOS so I can really start serving our great military in the way that I want. I will keep you updated, Sir. Thank you again for all the information.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
COL (Join to see) - Most of the major defensive work outside of wire is done with equipment. A SEE operator can dig in the grunts in a Mechanized Task Force pretty quick while the D7 knocks out the defilade positions for the tanks and APC's. Even short a squad, a 12B Platoon can lay a lot of wire and even put in a minefield if needed. You never will see the look of joy in a man's face until you see the look on a m60 gunners face when the guy with the backhoe ask him where he wants a hole.
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SPC Austin Ackers
Does anyone know how long reclass school is for 19d? Possibly reclassing to that mos.
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Well, as a former 12B I'm a little biased. You'll do a lot of things similar to infantry. Nearly every post has engineer units so you can go anywhere. There are also engineer battalions in the middle of nowhere. My last year on active duty was at WSMR, NM. Training is hard and if you deploy to Afghanistan you'll be doing route clearance. Downside for NCOs in engineer units is that you will be dealing with a lot of arrests. Engineer battalions tend to top the blotter. Also, it a small MOS for combat arms, so points for promotion can be really high. I left active as a SGT, because I was waiting on points to drop from 798 for over a year. The positive side, you will eventually know a guy nearly everywhere you get sent. When I left Lewis for Korea, half of the squad I was given I served with in the 14th at one time or another. Same at WSMR, he'll even in the CANG I worked with soldiers I served with on active duty. So there will be a lot of continuity. Also, you're likely to be a squadleader immediately, because engineer units regularly have soldiers in positions above their pay grade.
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SGT Tony Clifford
Yes lots of your soldiers will most likely get arrested. Usually DUI, but drunken brawls and drugs will probably be a close second and third.
I would probably say the best part is being in a line platoon. After a few months together, they become family to you. Everyone knows everything there is to know about each other.
I would probably say the best part is being in a line platoon. After a few months together, they become family to you. Everyone knows everything there is to know about each other.
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SSG (Join to see)
Aside from soldiers getting arrested, I’m looking forward to that special camaraderie you can only find in a combat MOS.
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LTC (Join to see)
It was "back in the day". Well in the 1990s there was a lot of land mine training but my favorite thing was demolition training. C4 and cratering charges. There's something about seeing a mushroom cloud and chunks of mud the size of a Volkswagen flying through the air that just makes your day.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - Awesome. Sounds great, sir. I'm looking forward to the training. Thanks for your input. *salute*
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LTC (Join to see)
When I was commissioned staying engineer was my first choice. I switched to regular Army and got reassessed...MP was their choice. I think I would enjoy any job though.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - Commissioning as 12A is my backup plan if I don't choose 12B now. MP is a cool MOS, too. That might just be my plan C.
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