How do you explain to civilians what you do or did in the military?

2017-11-18T01:04:32-05:00

First, what is or was your MOS? Next, how do you explain what you do or did while performing in the MOS?

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Nov 18 at 2017 9:58 AM

2017-11-18T09:58:17-05:00

as an 11B2P being my primary, when asked, I usually say either I was the thing in the night that went bump against those who would do us harm, or that I specialized in organized chaos. I usually get a good laugh out of it from people.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 18 at 2017 11:15 AM

2017-11-18T11:15:28-05:00

AFSC 1055B. My job was fairly easy to explain for the first 16 years of my career. I was a pilot. People thought that was cool or glamorous and seldom asked a lot more questions. "What do you fly?" was a little more difficult. Think about explaining a C-130 to a person who maybe has flown on civilian an airliner once or twice Often I said, "I fly cargo aircraft." That made people think of big UPS for FEDEX aircraft, but what the heck.

After I moved to full-time staff work on a unified command staff, it got a lot harder to explain what I did. How to put "allocate air component forces to supported commander joint operations and exercise requirements" into civilian terms? Mostly I told people it was an "office job working with people from all of the military Services."

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Nov 18 at 2017 11:41 AM

2017-11-18T11:41:58-05:00

I just say i was a grunt & let it drop...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2017 12:16 PM

2017-11-18T12:16:23-05:00

Instead of saying "Preventive Medicine NCO" and getting that confused look, I tell people I'm a Health Inspector for the Army.

Response by SGT Steven Hines made Nov 18 at 2017 1:19 PM

2017-11-18T13:19:46-05:00

I tell them i was military intelligence, then hear every joke and pun on that topic. I tell them my job was to screw with the Soviets, then i leave it at that.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Nov 18 at 2017 1:19 PM

2017-11-18T13:19:47-05:00

You speak very slowly and succinctly because many of them won't understand a single thing you are saying. Generalize what you did and explain it in the simplest form you can imagine. Don't use acronyms to describe a post, a position or an object as they won't be familiar with them and they will end up shaking their heads yes and not understand most of what you just told them. For example I was a 13E Fire Direction Control Specialist, I took the fire missions from a forward observer, processed them for a fire command solution, determined the direction the cannon barrel would point, the elevation of that barrel and what shell and how much powder it would take to push it out of the cannon barrel to the target. After my Fire Direction Sergeant and Fire Direction Officer approved my mission calculations the round was fired. Keep it simple and enjoy sharing your career with them.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Nov 18 at 2017 2:34 PM

2017-11-18T14:34:57-05:00

For Combat Engineer, "construction and explosives" works well enough most times

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Nov 18 at 2017 3:16 PM

2017-11-18T15:16:51-05:00

Cryptologic Technician Communications. I'd say "I help keep track of the enemy and play with some cool electronics."
Wife and kids never really knew what i did. My wife knew i had a security clearance, but that's it. My kids thought i just let people on the ship or buzzed them in the front door (on shore) when i was standing Quarterdeck watch as OOD.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Nov 18 at 2017 5:14 PM

2017-11-18T17:14:11-05:00

I just tell them heavy artillery. If I get the dear in the headlights look I say "cannons". Usually then they have the idea. Slaying bodies or or keeping heaven stocked with fresh soles never went over so well.

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Nov 18 at 2017 5:59 PM

2017-11-18T17:59:36-05:00

AFSC 316X0G, then W443XOA – an ICBM missile guy. I simply tell folks I was always “below grade” looking for the North Star with a theodolite. Gets ‘em every time.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 18 at 2017 7:56 PM

2017-11-18T19:56:53-05:00

82B20 Construction Surveyor - easy to explain.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Nov 18 at 2017 9:46 PM

2017-11-18T21:46:01-05:00

In my early years " I fix broke stuff".

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Nov 19 at 2017 7:21 AM

2017-11-19T07:21:20-05:00

68W. I just tell them I was a medic, and then I flit away.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Nov 19 at 2017 8:03 AM

2017-11-19T08:03:46-05:00

920A; I tell them “I’m a property accountability technician. I keep track of the toys.”

Seems to work.

Response by SSG James Behnke made Nov 19 at 2017 8:19 AM

2017-11-19T08:19:17-05:00

Not a civilian yet... but my MOS is 35L... so basically I just tell them I'm a poor man's James Bond. lmao

Not really, I tell them my job is to protect against attempts by other countries to gain intelligence on our country. pretty straightforward.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Nov 19 at 2017 7:00 PM

2017-11-19T19:00:27-05:00

Well, back in the 70's, my MOS was 71R20 (Broadcast Specialist). What I did was produce voice-over announcements and set up daily programming for the only American TV station located in East Germany, AFN-TV, Berlin. After those duties for the day were done, I did an afternoon radio shift on AFN Radio. It was incredible luck to do something I liked while in the Army!

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 20 at 2017 7:58 AM

2017-11-20T07:58:45-05:00

Context is king. It really depends on who I am talking to. If I am talking to a vet I'll use my MOS codes. If I am applying for a job, I don't assume the hiring official has military experience. That causes me to usually avoid mentioning my first MOS of 11B as it isn't relevant to the jobs I apply for. When talk about 92F, I do it in generalized conceptual terms focusing on logistics as opposed to the specifics of fuel handling. Most of the time I don't say anything either way though. I don't normally advertise that I served because, I prefer not to have any additional attention. Of course, going to Lowes is an exception...I am getting my 10% off lol.