Should I reclass or stay an 11B for another contract?

2018-11-22T11:53:02-05:00

My re-enlistment window is opening up soon and I can’t decide if I want to stay an 11B or reclass.. if I do remain an 11B where are some great places to PCS to? Also, is doing 20 yrs as an 11B feasible and sensible or should I reclass and try to gain as much experience as I can by learning more? I love being a grunt! I need advice from you guys so I can make a sound decision.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Nov 22 at 2018 12:04 PM

2018-11-22T12:04:52-05:00

Stay 11B as long as your body holds up. If you start having any issues, reclass.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Nov 22 at 2018 12:05 PM

2018-11-22T12:05:55-05:00

Also, don’t do 20yrs 11B.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2018 12:35 PM

2018-11-22T12:35:22-05:00

Everyone says how they couldn't be 11B a whole career. These are the same people who don't realize that 11B feed HALF of the Force Generating assignments. That means the Recruiter, Drill, ROTC Instructor, Ranger Instructor, Airborne Instructor, Defense Attaché, IG, EO, etc. That means that once you hit SSG you will start looking at broadening positions off the line. An ideal career path has you moving back and forth between the line and other positions. You will move off and do recruiting or drill, then you bring the knowledge you learned back to the line as a platoon Sergeant. Then you move over to an instructor position and bring that line experience to a school house to teach, then you go back to the line to bring that institutional knowledge back to the line....and so on...
Infantry has the best promotion rate, even better than SF. When you leave the Army you'll be more qualified for positions because you held higher levels of responsibility than other MOS's.
You should get your airborne physical and go to Airborne School when you reenlist. You can go to Alaska, 82nd, or Italy after. All three have great opportunities. Airborne - and later, Jumpmaster - will set you far ahead of your peers. Also, go to Ranger School at your first opportunity.
While you're in those units you will also get opportunities for:Sniper section, Sniper school, RSLC, Ranger, Pathfinder, Air Assault, foreign jump wings, Master Fitness, and a few others down the road. You just have to get over that initial hump and become an NCO.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2018 2:15 PM

2018-11-22T14:15:11-05:00

If you enjoy being a grunt so much then why change? Sounds like you know what you want so go for it. There are so many options for 11B that you wont find anywhere else. Plus, we are the entire reason all the other MOSs exist!
Here's my advice though- continue in infantry if that's what you like. You can do 20 years, just take care of yourself along the way. Also along the way, set yourself up for future success. Get some college so you have something to do when you retire.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Nov 22 at 2018 2:22 PM

2018-11-22T14:22:45-05:00

I was given a dream sheet with, with three blank lines... career field choices. When we were given a half pencil with no eraser, I thought that was odd. Our papers came back with all three choices erased and had Infantry typed in. I loved the Infantry. Keep in mind, your body will be pushed to the limit and older age will remind you daily you were an 11b. But, you got Infantry and those that want to be.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 22 at 2018 6:51 PM

2018-11-22T18:51:37-05:00

Best place to PCS to as an 11B is Fort Campbell, KY. Now you will run into folks that say there is nothing to do around that post and that is pretty true if you do not have a car. With a car though, your driving distance from Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville,KY (Kentucky Derby - Thunder over Louisville), Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN Land between the Lakes recreational area, Loretta Lynns Ranch (yeah she is old but can still sing), National Corvette Museum, Burbon Trail and Bardstown, KY, Mammoth Cave, etc, etc. Add to all that and once a year Ft Campbell has their one week Week of Eagles celebration (Air show, Airport Equipment display, AAS demos, etc). I was never bored when I was stationed there.

They also have a Special Forces Group there and the NightStalkers which is an aviation unit that flies for SOCOM units.

If your looking at college courses, here are three I took that were Infantry compatible that dove tailed with what you already know and were really easy to score a high grade in. Geography (2 courses - 1 semester each, 5 Natural Science credits each.........one is concentrated on topo map reading, and the other is focused on rocks.......your outdoors most of your life as 11 Series and you encountered a lot of the subject matter). 3rd course, Meterology 101, 3 college credits based also in part on topo map reading but in this case it is in the atmosphere and the terrain lines are isobars of atmosphreic pressure. Awesome course and once again, if you've been in all kinds of weather outdoors and know a topo map you should do fine in this course.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 7:57 AM

2018-11-23T07:57:09-05:00

I would if I were you because it makes going to and through a combat arms school easier. That’s a goal of mine as a 92f; I.e. ranger school. But you need to have a job you won’t mind doing for the rest of your time in the army and research that one.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 9:35 AM

2018-11-23T09:35:16-05:00

Don't reclassify to a Pog

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 10:10 AM

2018-11-23T10:10:30-05:00

Is it feasible? Is it feasible? Yea. People do it all the time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 4:54 PM

2018-11-23T16:54:00-05:00

If you plan to stay on for 20 an 11B is a great place to be. So many options will be available for you. Once you hit E5 they are really endless as an 11B. I was 19D when I left active and when I decided to come back in I went National Guard due to my civilian career. My first choice was 11B but at 36, I was talked out of it, I went 12B instead, pretty sure I got hit by the big green one. I carry more shit around than I thought was possible! However, I am in a Sapper unit and we work side by side with 11B's all the time, best group of professionals in the Army. I say stay 11B and take advantage of the low promotion points scale and all those badass courses!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 9:01 PM

2018-11-23T21:01:40-05:00

It will all depend on your priorities as a Soldier. Physical fitness, leadership skills, and upmost discipline and attention to detail stay an Infantryman. If your priorities include a steadier family life, college degree and your body almost intact once you transition from the Army then reclass, and use your talents already learned, on the Infantry to make other MOS great again. If your ASBAV scores allows you to reclass then go for it, the Army has plenty of jobs to choose from but all depends on your future plans as a Soldier, and one day as a civilian. Locate the career counselor in your unit and don't be blinded by bonuses, think 5-10 yrs down the road. Eventually you won't be able to reclass the higher you go in rank. Again just my opinion, which has been an Infantryman for almost 20yrs between the Marine Corps and the Army.

Response by SPC Craig Smith made Nov 24 at 2018 4:58 AM

2018-11-24T04:58:36-05:00

There is no other career field that offers the schools and promotions than 11B . E-9 can be attained under 20 giving you a 20 year max retirement plan. Also once you get to the E-6 rank there are many other opportunities other than Line duty. Instructors, Drill. Range NCOIC, you wont spend your entire career in a line company as long as you are squared away.

Response by PFC David Woodall made Nov 25 at 2018 2:48 AM

2018-11-25T02:48:44-05:00

Reclass. Take on a civilian compatible MOS.
Even after retiring from the military you may want to do something to take up time.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 26 at 2018 11:49 AM

2018-11-26T11:49:34-05:00

If you love being a grunt, you won't love anything else as much. It's a mindset that you just won't find anywhere else. You can absolutely be an Infantryman for a 20 year career.

Response by PFC Mike B. made Nov 29 at 2018 5:56 PM

2018-11-29T17:56:14-05:00

11B For sure

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 7:12 PM

2018-11-29T19:12:57-05:00

Good afternoon PFC, how are you doing today? I was a former 11C 120 bang bang back in the day. I was just reading some of the comments below where people said some valid points about quick promotion rate, airborne ranger pathfinder schools, endless opportunities etc etc. I understand that you love the infantry which is cool, but don't get caught in the GRUNT/POG hype...... Besides being a police officer, working in a DoD government job or being a mercenary for a contracting security firm, what other jobs in the real civilian world outside of the things mentioned above does infantry translate to? You have to understand, you will not be in the army forever. I tell young Soldiers all the time, reclass to a job that translates well in the civilian world that will make them good money for example Information Technology. If Soldiers are not able to reclass, then take advantage of some of the courses the Army offer like UPL, SHARP/SARC etc once you reach the rank. I will tell you, damn near every job in the civilian world now days do drug test (UPL) and companies to include the NFL now have Sexual Assault Reps (SHARP/SARC) that go around teaching classes. I also tell Soldiers, don't be one dimensional and limit yourself to one skill set, diversify yourself with different job skills and make yourself appealing to the civilian sector once you get out or retire. Another reason to consider reclass is to think about the impact being in the infantry will have on family life or future family life due to continuous deployments every other year or so or not being able to play or enjoy time with kids due to bad knees and back etc etc......... This is something to think about. You have 2 options right now. 1. Stay infantry or 2. Think about your future beyond the Army and diversify yourself with additional job set to make you marketable in the civilian world.

Response by 2LT Earl Dean made Dec 3 at 2018 12:30 AM

2018-12-03T00:30:13-05:00

I can't make your decision for you but I can tell you that after twenty years I was discharged medical under honorable condition, trying to find a job after was hard. No one needed or wanted a long range specialist. I look back now and think if I would have changed most could have prepared for a better life and living for my family and me. I was a grunt and loved it. I only wish I knew then what I know now. Other than that I warn men and women to get all their medical.records and make sure everything that ever happens to you is listed in those records. Save everything

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2018 6:13 PM

2018-12-06T18:13:33-05:00

I have been an 11B for 16 years. I always told my soldiers that even though Infantry has the best promotion rate at the end, whether you are a 4 years soldier or a 30 CSM, infantry will translate to not a whole lot of good and rewarding civilian jobs, mainly law enforcement. This is your life, you do what your heart desires and ignore the chest pounding, egotistic ideologies that encamp the infantry. Be human about your decision, it’s yours. See, I love the infantry but I never took my own advice, but when I finally did, I realized that all my options were now limited. I am working on my Bachelors in cyber security which encompasses cyber forensics, ethical hacking and computer forensics. Why a degree that has nothing to do with my MOS? Because the Army isn’t going to be part of my nor any of our lives for ever, and when I retire I want to make sure that I make the same amount or more money to continue to bless my family. It not just about a degree, the Army has a multitude of certifications that a lot of NCOs take for granted, e.g. SHARP, EO and EEO, hazmat, MRT, etc. Those programs give us training that would cost thousands of dollars to any company, but when they see a veteran with them, and the experience and expertise, you’ll become a diamond in the rough. Get out the infantry, reclass into something technical. Look at Army pay history, in the past they paid more money to technical skilled soldiers than infantryman cause the civilian sector would paid pay them more for those skills than the Army would. Think about that. Be human. Don’t think with a programmed infantry mind-chip and make you own path.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2018 9:14 PM

2018-12-09T21:14:21-05:00

do you like walking?

Response by 1SG James Matthews made Dec 16 at 2018 6:28 PM

2018-12-16T18:28:52-05:00

Do what you like to do. You are the one who has to live daily with the job you have. Not everyone is suited to be a 11B but some are. 20 years of doing what you like means more than doing 10 years of something you dont.

Response by SFC Roger Jones made Dec 17 at 2018 11:31 AM

2018-12-17T11:31:02-05:00

If you love being a grunt, by all means, remain so. But look to the future. In civilian life what does a grunt do? In my case I was a 13B, cannoneer. When I enlisted a second time, I decided on Aviation. As an aircraft mechanic or pilot, a civilian has great potential. A decision I don't regret. Good luck.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Dec 19 at 2018 5:54 AM

2018-12-19T05:54:51-05:00

MHO? You answered your own question in the next to last sentence. If you like what you're doing and are good at it, case closed.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2018 10:54 AM

2018-12-20T10:54:08-05:00

Hey buddy, stay 11bang bang if you're a Gong-Ho type of individual because you get to fire the latest weapons and equipments. You don't get bored because you're always constanly training. I can remember when the combat arms guys got the first BDUs, Humvees, M16-A2 rifles, Barrettas, etc. You can go to Airborne School, Air Assault School, Sniper School, Ranger School (RIPS) or try out for Special Forces or the lesser known school like Jungle Expert training, etc.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2018 2:57 PM

2018-12-20T14:57:50-05:00

Get the hell out there! Unless you plan on being a lifer (doing 20). Do 15 series or 35 series. Something that gets you ahead in life should you leave the Armed Forces.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2019 5:03 AM

2019-01-14T05:03:41-05:00

Reclass to something that will benefit you post Army. Try MI, get a clearance, believe me other MOS’s have plenty of opportunities for schools and classes. Do you want to work your mind or your body more. You might say body now because you get to be more hooah. When your 40 and can’t hardly walk because you did all the so called hooah stuff your whole career what will the correct choice have been. 11B is a young mans game. It breaks your body down. Also think about your career options post service. A lot of opportunities for people with clearances.

Response by SPC Jimmy Rooks I made Jan 14 at 2019 1:31 PM

2019-01-14T13:31:23-05:00

Up to YOU, however being qualified in more than one MOS adds points for promotion!

Response by SSG Stephen Kimball made Feb 1 at 2019 7:41 AM

2019-02-01T07:41:46-05:00

I was a 19D, Cavalry Scout, through most of my first term. Personally, I was bored of doing the same stuff over and over again. I looked into reclassifying. The QM branch had lots of options for me. Even though the job remained virtually the same daily, it changed because of the customer interaction and changes in priorities. I reclassed; learned my job and became very successful. Rank isn't always the biggest factor to move or stay. Overall job satisfaction and happiness are big decision makers for my change.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2019 8:50 PM

2019-02-03T20:50:18-05:00

Doing 20 years as an 11B is not that feasible. You also don't say how many years you currently have in and what other job fields might be on the table being offered to you? What job field you might be offered to reclass into is critical in this decision really as some have a higher retention rate than others. Your medical job fields for instance and also your technical job fields have a higher retention rate and are you single currently? Being an 11B and being single is different than if you are married. Many get worn down by trying to balance that with their job and so they get out or reclass to something that is easier on their home and family life. It's good you are thinking about this though and soliciting input rather than waiting till the last minute to do that or not given these things any thought or consideration at all. Talk to some of those who are enlisted and senior to you who are 11B as well as some in those other job fields. I am willing to bet you will find among them some who at one time were 11Bs or something else also but made the change for the purpose of staying in and making it to 20 good years and a pension.

Response by CW3 Dan Mackey made Feb 14 at 2019 10:48 PM

2019-02-14T22:48:12-05:00

11B is the road to rank for enlisted men. Learn every aspect of your field. Study and train hard. Go shooting on your off time become an expert at map reading, understand terrain. Study tactics of war. Go to advanced schools like Ranger School and sniper school and you will advance quickly in rank. When you get to E-7 or 8 you will gain skills that will help you in future /post service careers. Infantry is hard on the body and twenty years of heavy infantry rucks, road marches and runs can really break down the joints. You will know if you need to change and do it on your own terms not because others say you should. Charlie Mike...

Response by SSG Ken Steinhoff made Dec 11 at 2019 8:53 AM

2019-12-11T08:53:17-05:00

If you love being 11B then stay and enjoy life (if you can keep up) my sone just got out after 13 years and pick up a contract marking over $200k down range if you do change your MOS like most of us that had ..... so miss it and want to go back. But if you can’t keep up then change before you become an dud. Change and hold your head high