35M or 15W? What do you recommend and why? Also, are we (my kids and I) able to join my spouse on either of these AIT locations?

Laura Dombrowski — Sat, 15 May 2021 16:43:20 -0400

My husband is switching from Marines to Army. He’s torn on which MOS to pick. 35M and 15W have caught his eye. He wants something that’ll have lots of opportunities after he retires from the Army.
Anyone been either MOS and have some insight?

He mentioned how if AIT is longer than 20 weeks we can go with. We saw 15W had a pretty long AIT and 35M didn’t have a long AIT but DLI was long.
Especially with COVID, is it realistic that we’re able to join him on either adventure?

Response by SSG Brian G. made May 16 at 2021 1:22 AM

SSG Brian G. — Sun, 16 May 2021 01:22:26 -0400

Policy is that any school that is 20 weeks or longer. That is the school length, not including the quarantine time for COVID conditions. So while you could not accompany him to 35M you could accompany him to DLI or to 15W. 15W is only marginally longer being 21 weeks as compared to 19 for 35M.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2021 7:02 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 May 2021 19:02:36 -0400

I can't speak for 35M, but 15W definitely had outside application. Quite a few other government agencies fly UAS if he leaves the army, as well as contracting jobs that he would have available. Aviation also comes with certain advantages like mandatory crew rest for sleep if he's going to fly, and aviation brigades can have an overall higher quality of life. In my personnal experience, 35M has potential to be a good job, and I have a good friend in that MOS, though he also tells me most people who choose it are a bit narcissistic. Could just be his personnal experience though and not true of the rest of MI. I'd you have any questions about 15W specifically, feel free to message me anything about the job or AIT and I'll help however I can

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2021 2:20 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 May 2021 02:20:38 -0400

I’m a 15W and although I do like the job, I’m going to play devils advocate. I took over a 35 series platoon and i thought it was pretty cool that all the 35Ms learned a foreign language and also got a TS ( assuming that you pass the background check). Those are pretty big deals to me. Plus as a 35M, he has the chance to go to slot of “cool guy” units.

Response by SGT Brad Hall made Jun 12 at 2021 6:21 PM

SGT Brad Hall — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 18:21:02 -0400

10+ years as a 35M here. I can't speak on 15W but being a "Mike" is pretty alright. Like right now, I have a beard, work in more of a professional environment; Kris is an E7, George is an O5, etc, etc. and we're all first names in the office. Having said that 35M, in and of itself, is almost a useless MOS stateside. He's either going to be doing something really cool (unlikely) or will be cross trained to do analyst stuff. Also since you brought up post-military employment, I wouldn't look at either of these MOS'. I'd look at either cyber or intel analyst if you want high demand jobs.
Good luck though!