What's the best way to join the Army as a 17C?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 21:30:51 -0500

My brother in law is interested in the MOS 17C, but the local recruiter tells him that it's not open for entry level. They offered him 35Q as a gateway to 17C, but as a 13B I can't say if that will help as a feeder MOS for his end state goal. Does anyone out there have any information about these MOS's?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2015 10:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 22:26:35 -0500

That sounds right according to this article.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/08/26/applications-17c-cyber-transfers-due-aug-31/32397689/

Applications for 17C cyber transfers due by Aug. 31

The Army is about to close the fiscal 2015 application window for enlisted soldiers who want to reclassify into 17C, the new military occupational specialty for cyber operations specialists.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 26 at 2015 12:22 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 00:22:44 -0500

Being out for a long time and not in the know, unless you're some kind of super hacker/programmer already the recruiter is right. And even then, I'm guessing the Army wants some stick time before getting them into the MOS. Because of the downsizing the Army can pretty much do what it want's to do now.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2015 10:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 10:09:32 -0500

I would recommend 35Q since there is no 17C school... yet. Most of the 17c were switched from 35Q, so they will pretty much have the same knowledge/skill set coming out. Both will do some type of cyber related job either way.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2015 12:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 12:05:32 -0500

Interesting -- as a career recruiter, former recruiter, now staff NCO, I will state the following -- it seems the local recruiter may not be aware of current USAREC messages or MILPER messages which state "specific" instructions for MOS applications --- I have done this before in the past with certain recruits who were interested in CID, or Linguist in which the Army was looking for. It seems the Army is currently looking for MOS 17C candidates but I believe you have to be a PVT to SGT currently on active duty. Of course the appropriate messages will specify a check list to follow -- Good luck!
ATTENTION:
MILPER MESSAGE 15-384 *EFFECTIVE 02 DEC 15*
-THERE ARE NO WAIVERS FOR THE RANK REQUIREMENT. ONLY SGTs AND SPCs CAN APPLY FOR MOS 17C.
-THE 17C POSTURE SHEET WILL BE POSTED MONTHLY. THE CURRENT POSTURE SHEET IS VALID AS OF 01 DEC 15.
-WHEN APPLYING, USE THE UPDATED 17C PACKET. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE OLD PACKET DOCUMENTS.

Response by SSG Daniel Poulin (Retired) made Dec 28 at 2015 11:01 PM

SSG Daniel Poulin (Retired) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 23:01:30 -0500

The 35Qs coming out of the school house are being assigned at the Cyber Protection Brigade in 17C slots .. if that helps. I got one last month, and he is a PFC; brand new to the Army.

He could start by reading the cyber training advice from "CYBER Trail Blazer" (4 pages of it)

http://community.armystudyguide.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/ [login to see] /m/ [login to see] /p/1

25D CYBER NETWORK DEFENDER - Topic

Response by SFC Charles Kolker made Jan 19 at 2016 12:02 PM

SFC Charles Kolker — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:02:00 -0500

Up until recently the Army was transitioning Soldiers from 35Q to 17C. It was mostly random with little rhyme or reason. Since then you have to put in a 4187 with additional documents to request transitioning to 17C. If your brother-in-law is still considering it, he will be best to go 35Q and put in a 4187 after a year in Fort Meade/Gordon (likely initial assignments). He MAY possibly get either Schofield Barracks or Joint Base San Antonio, but those are smaller detachments and not as likely for him to go there.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2016 7:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 07:39:10 -0400

Here's the issue that I think will arise, being someone who just transitioned into MOS 17C from 35Q. If he joins as a 35Q, by the time he's completed required training and made it to a permanent duty station they may no longer be accepting transitions to 17C. They have started 17C ALC, and the Cyber Center of Excellence is running, so there's no telling really how much longer the transitions will be possible. He may be better off either waiting for initial entry acceptance, or choosing to be a 35Q.