Should I choose 11B as my MOS? Is it worth it?

Ezequiel Jimenez — Fri, 08 May 2020 21:26:40 -0400

I want to serve in the US Army and also receive the financial benefits that they offer. However, the MOSs I wanted to do, all of the 35 MOS series and 19k, I cannot do because I have red-green color blind deficiency. Currently my only other option, and only option that I am remotely interested in, is 11B. Should I just do it for the first two years and switch to another MOS after two years? Is it worth it? Any help with this dilemma is appreciated

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2020 10:21 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2020 22:21:24 -0400

If you choose 11B just expect your going to stay an 11Bravo unless magically the army meets its numbers for infantrymen needed. Reclassify from an infantryman to something else is most likely not going to happen.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2020 10:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2020 22:21:46 -0400

If you are medically disqualified from an MOS at MEPS, you will not be eligible to reclass to the jobs you’re disqualified from

Response by SFC James Cameron made May 8 at 2020 10:23 PM

SFC James Cameron — Fri, 08 May 2020 22:23:39 -0400

The best bet is to pick what you’re most interested in and start there. 11 and 19 series aren’t occupations your go into without being all in on.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2020 10:53 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2020 22:53:50 -0400

Depends on what you want out of the army.
You will get some of the best and worst times of your life. Meet some of the best and worst people around. You will have experience that others don't. The skills you gain will have some use in the "real world" but not as much so as some other. Over all though it's what you make of it.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 8 at 2020 11:06 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 08 May 2020 23:06:38 -0400

Is it worth it? It is not a life style, it is a way of life, the way of the warrior. It isn't easy, it isn't fair- you work harder & longer than mos MOS's. Field duty, exercises, deployments, conflict, humanitarian missions, etc. Promotions can be quick and you can stay in the MOS till you max out. But it takes a special breed, able to live anywhere, with little or no support nor help. Only jobs harder are branch offs- Rangers, SF, SOCOM.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made May 8 at 2020 11:15 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Fri, 08 May 2020 23:15:55 -0400

I’m sure to be followed by current Service members and people of higher rank who can help you with this problem with their knowledge and experiences,mine come from a let’s say different slant ,(one of being former Infantry,)if it’s as you state your only other option ,maybe you should remain a civilian,because I feel you have already treated by your post my former profession with disrespect and disgrace,you have a good day now young man,good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2020 11:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2020 23:19:19 -0400

If you're not qualified for the other MOS's you won't be qualified for them after two years.

The Army is still a job, no matter what MOS you have. It's a job with great benefits, solid promotion potential, job security and great tuition assistance. If you were looking at jobs on the civilian side and found one shoveling horse shit with the same benefits, you would jump at it. But, when you see another job you "could" have you get a serious case of FOMO.

It's a job. It's a good job, with great benefits working with the best people you'll ever meet in your entire life. If you have something better going for you, then stick with that. If not, I'd say it's worth it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2020 7:12 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2020 07:12:43 -0400

Yes, you should. Infantry is the backbone of the Army. You will never be more proud of being anything else than being an Infantryman.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made May 9 at 2020 8:05 AM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 09 May 2020 08:05:28 -0400

You would be a good 19D Army Scout. I have the same issue but right at the orange-red color line. I could spot camo-cloth at a glance and camouflaged vehicles through binoculars without effort. Not sure what's the bonus, but the 'superpower' works w/Infantry Recon Platoon too.
You should check it out...

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made May 9 at 2020 10:57 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sat, 09 May 2020 10:57:31 -0400

OK, so here is what I did. I first encountered the MOS in high school. One of my Friends was a mechanic in a local Army National Guard Infantry unit. I asked with interest what he did and then what he did during 2 months Annual Training. So prior to High School my Parents would take us out as a family camping in tents and pop-up campers and being outdoors really, really appealed to me. Getting paid for it.....even more. I had no real clue what an Infantryman did beyond the WWII Movies on TV. So my next step is I asked my friend how I could find out more about the NG without going through the Recruiter as I heard all sorts of stories prior about how Recruiters lie or mislead you and basically were no better than used car sales people (False rumor in most cases, BTW). So he suggested I ask to attend one of their upcomming NG Unit Drills. I said I would do that but I did not want it to turn into someone following me around like one of those timeshare from hell deals my Father told me about. He said no they pretty much would leave me along but there would be short periods where they would try and convince me to join. So I said OK to that and set it up. Spent a full Saturday and Sunday with the unit in Civilian Clothes, checking out what everyone did (they had Medics, Mechanics, Scouts, Infantry, Cooks, Recruiters, Administratation and of course Officers..........all seperate MOS' and Careers. I first went with the Scouts.....too arrogant and full of themselves and complaining all the time of having being attached to an Infantry unit. OK, cross them off the list, Cooks.....never interested me, cross off list, Mechanics, not really interested. Medics, never interested me.

So onto Infantry, tried on their equipment, did a PMCS on a Jeep, Checked out the arms room, talked to them about OSUT (scary at the time, always thinking what if I fail OSUT and the massive humiliation it would bring as I was not a very physical person at the time but had a fair set of legs from all the bike riding I did sooooo.....maybe OK there). So I liked the NG Drill and found it interesting enought to sit down with a Recruiter and see what benefits I could get. Got an enlistment bonus plus college assitance. After about a year or two started to feel I wanted more but at same time did not want to say in NG for 6 years. So I enlisted Regular Army, dropped a year off NG contract for a year IRR and got three years Active Duty and my college benefits upgraded to full college fund or $40,000.00. So that is how I did the research prior to Internet and got enlisted Infantry originally. Now you will run into all sorts of people that state they did it for patriotic reasons and the money or benefits had nothing to do with it. After you enlist you can spent time asking them questions and find out that probably 80-90% are fooling themselves and they really did join to get a job at the time or pay for college costs. Too controversial to get into that all here though.

Just research the MOS and make sure it is something you would like or can hack for the enlistment period and then make your decision to enlist. Also, during that NG test drill you will hear input from the other Soldiers if they think your Infantry material or not. They are not going to keep their opinions to themselves most of them. Some will tell you it sucks, others it is great, still others it is just OK. So you can take their input, look them over and decide who you should listen too as well..........your first exposure to what crowd to hang around with once your in. Good Luck!

Don't just ask people on the Internet though when you have a local NG unit which might have your MOS that you could sample for a day or two in real life before signing the contract. Best way to test drive is to actually go and see it in person.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2020 1:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2020 13:16:36 -0400

You should absolutely choose infantry however, don't go into it as if you will leave. There is nothing wrong with having a plan but you need to be all in there is nothing worse than someone who is checked out way too early. Go to schools and try to become the best infantryman you can be.

Response by SGT David Priode made May 16 at 2020 5:11 PM

SGT David Priode — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:11:55 -0400

If you want to sleep in the mud, sand, snow, jungles, under the night sky’s Go Infantry. If you want to eat cold rations, be hungry be hungry cause of the mission Go Infantry. If you want to be cold, wet and miserable or sweat your ass off in the desert Go Infantry! If you wanna carry your house in your ruck sack on long road marches Go Infantry!!! If you wanna be a Ranger, Special Forces etc Go Infantry! If you want to meet some of the toughest, rough edged, hardest working individuals, Go Infantry! If you want a lifetime of brothers and sisters that will always have your back Go Infantry! To be a part of this brotherhood you will need to go all in and give it your all everyday. Like any job you will have days that suck and days that will make you so proud that are an Infantryman. Good luck on any mos that you choose but some of the finest US soldiers are in the US Army Infantry.