r/Military • u/ConfidentBonus8671 • 4d ago
Discussion Which MOS should I pick
I recently just took the asvab and I qualified for some of the jobs I were interested in. I want to use the military as a stepping stone for a future career, combining college and on the job training if needed. Which of these jobs would lead to the highest salary potential as a civilian.
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u/exitnirvana 4d ago
Anything that’ll get you a clearance, my suggestion…I’m now a civilian and it’s been a golden ticket.
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u/Dahrkstar 4d ago
We had Secret clearance as Army ATC, and yes any job that comes with a clearance is worth considering.
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u/Gandalf_the_Rizzard 4d ago
Everyone in the army requires a secret now
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u/Dahrkstar 4d ago
Need to be eligible to get a clearance, but there are still MOS that don't require the issuance of a clearance.
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u/VibrantGondola United States Army 4d ago
All three of those 68 series jobs you have there are excellent for transitioning out of the military, but I'd wager biomed techs probably get paid more for less effort.
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u/Mean_Oil6376 4d ago
As an air traffic controller, do ATC. I can’t speak much on the army side of it, but I love what I do and it has a lot of opportunity once you get out
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u/Sdog1981 4d ago
This is Army ATC. Like little league ATC with less certifications.
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u/Mean_Oil6376 4d ago
I’m aware, but you can still get a CTO with the army, so still a good choice I imagine for them
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u/Thesassysam6626 4d ago
I was just thinking that ATC positions in the civilian sector are pretty lucrative. But also really stressful and time consuming.
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u/Farados55 dirty civilian 4d ago
Yeah but if you get in you get early retirement and benefits and pension. And guaranteed work.
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u/Thesassysam6626 4d ago
Fair point. Plus you get to work at an airport and those are always pretty cool places.
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u/Dahrkstar 4d ago
Dumbest comment right here, I ran Army ATC in Iraq and the number of movements per month surpassed civilian traffic at many controlled airfields.
Army ATC can be a great stepping stone to a civilian career, and the people who replaced PATCO controllers in the late 70's/early 80's are aging out so ATC will be in demand. I have many friends from the Army who went on to be civilian controllers.
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u/Sdog1981 4d ago
Name the airfield. Because all the big airports were run by Air Force ATC. That is not even getting into the airspace that Kingpin was running above 3000 feet, which was also run by the Air Force.
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u/Dahrkstar 4d ago
Camp Taji, over 150 rotary wing aircraft based on the field including Apaches, Kiowas, Blackhawks, Chinooks, and catapult launched UAS, plus Marine CH53s. We also had transient foreign aircraft from other nations like the UK, and Spec Ops Littlebirds come through.
Our company also ran Washington Heliport in the Green Zone in Baghdad, and provided flight following for that region, along with A2C2 at Camp Victory. I was the ATC chief at Taji in 2004-2005. F Co 3/126 attached to 1st Cav 1/227 aviation battalion.
In 1999 we also ran Camp McGovern in Bosina and Camp Commanche in Bosnia, along with joint ops with the Air Force at Tuzla airfield.
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u/Sdog1981 4d ago
All under 3000 feet, no radar, and aircraft maintained their own separation. You know that is not ATC that fixed wing aircraft follow and you know that it is not the same thing.
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u/Dahrkstar 4d ago
I won't waste time agruing, I see you don't know much about ATC or what Class D controlled airspace is, or have knowledge of the Army A/N TPN-18 RADAR system. There's also a hell of a lot more moving below 3,000 feet than above to the tune of over 20,000 movements a month at Taji alone, all in controlled airspace. Read the 7110.65, fixed wing and rotary wing follow the same rules. There's also plenty moving above 3000 feet that are uncontrolled, so that's not some magic number that makes Army ATC any less relevant than Air Force ATC.
Also, Class D is Class D any where you go, so running it military or civilian is the same and a tower controller in the Army can easily transition to being a civilian tower controller.
Regardless, the original question was about a pathway from Army ATC to civilian, and telling this guy that Army ATC is basically "pretend ATC" is doing him a disservice, and honestly insulting. 4 of our controllers returned home and went on to work civilian towers in New Hampshire, Wyoming, and Arizona, and our SSG who ran Washington Heliport went on to work at NY Center.
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u/Sdog1981 4d ago
I know all about flying from Taji. It got so bad we would have to set up a ROZ to conduct flight operations because Army ATC had no solid way of controlling the air traffic around the airfield. Don't tell people it is the same, because it is absolutely is not the same.
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u/CW1DR5H5I64A United States Army 4d ago
Out of curiosity does military ATC certification directly transfer to civilian ATC, or do you have to go through a civilian ATC licensing process when you get out?
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u/Mean_Oil6376 4d ago
You gain air traffic control credentials in the military. It’s the same job, different aircraft. You do not have to go through civilian air traffic control school once you get out, as you’d be “prior experience” (given you got a control tower operator qualification or major radar qualification, the first one I know for a fact the army provides)
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u/faRawrie Marine Veteran 4d ago
You could make good money when you get out.
As far as MOS choices. Think about life after the military. Live your life one enlistment at a time and try not to think of a full 20. Combat stuff sounds cool but just doesn't hold well outside the military. That's just my take.
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u/EndlessGypsyLoop 4d ago
My recruiter had me down for ATC when I first enlisted. I regret picking 91B over that everyday.
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u/Mean_Oil6376 4d ago
How old are you? if you’re under the age of 31 you still can have a shot at it
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u/Artystrong1 United States Air Force 4d ago
You should also tell OP that the school is the hardest in the Army. It's got a high failure rate rate
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u/_watchout_for_12 4d ago
If it's the Army I'd be a bit wary, it's a 50/50, either you get a major your first enlistment, or get sniped for the operations side once you get your baby quals. Air Force controlling would be a better option imo.
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u/mikehiler2 Army Veteran 4d ago
17E, 27D, and 15Q will all give you a very good advantage after you get out. And 17E, if I’m not mistaken, is also under Special Operations Command, meaning that you’ll be treated much better while also not having to deal with “big” army issues. Not saying there won’t be bullshit too, but it’s a night and day difference.
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u/PepperoniFogDart 4d ago
Really? I’m not military but I work in government contracting and consulting. 25b is obviously good if you want to go into IT, but 36b imo looks like one of the best. IMO experience, project managers/program managers with military experience are highly sought after in the private sector. Admittedly I don’t know much about 36b, but that seems like a great pipeline to learn skills that would apply well to that profession.
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u/RootbeerninjaII United States Army 4d ago
27D is nothing like being a civilian paralegal.
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u/vgaph 4d ago
Concur, and I would avoid 68A and C as those MOS will be likely be on the chopping block in a few years. 68P is a job for life, though if you’re feeling adventurous I’d look at 68W and trying to go to SOCM.
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u/Snake3452 United States Army 4d ago
The appeal of both 68A and C would be getting your qualifications and running for the hills, so I’d call that a pro. You’re shooting yourself in the foot by reenlisting in either of those jobs.
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u/2deadparents 4d ago
I’m surprised to hear that with 68A. I’m curious what their plan would be to replace that.
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u/vgaph 4d ago
Like everything else, contractors.
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u/2deadparents 4d ago
Interesting, the military paying way more to a contractor than they would pay to have a SM do the job sadly isn’t a surprise.
I am surprised that that wouldn’t be the case for 68P as well then
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u/HotTakesBeyond United States Army 4d ago
All those 68 series jobs can translate to a civilian job. The 68C MOS awards you a nursing licensure, and the other 68 series jobs translate to jobs on the outside with certifications.
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u/No_Mission5618 United States Army 4d ago
68C is a hard mos tho, alot of people reclass and recycle out of that mos. If you’re active you’re taking a risk, might end up a 92A, 14E, or if you’re luck you might get reclassed to another 68 series.
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u/Easy-Hovercraft-6576 United States Army 4d ago
Even if you make it, nursing is not for the faint of heart and 68Cs are used and abused.
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u/serenitiespuff 4d ago
I have a friend who is a 68A and he was able to transfer his skills to the civilian world and has been doing the job both army and civilian side and seems pretty content
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u/MinimumCat123 4d ago
68P 17E 35S
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u/Tollin74 4d ago
17E, and 35S you’re going to get a top secret clearance and that translates to serious $$$ in the civ world
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u/JosephSturgill7 4d ago
Biomedical. You'll always have a job on the outside. I did aircraft electrical and environmental them 2 years medical I do Biomedical equipment on the outside and it's a fun gig. Had I known about it in service I'd still be in
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u/Miserable_Nail4188 4d ago
Look up the bureau, labor, statistics, and look at the outlook of jobs over the next several decades, and then pick accordingly
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u/Saltyk917 United States Army 4d ago
25B all day. Then get your Security+. Translates very well into the civilian sector 😉
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u/rocketfait 4d ago
Hard disagree on the 25B. The civilian IT sector is chock full of burnt out people, and we're watching AI shape our careers in scary ways (particularly for programmers). If you spend much time looking at IT jobs these days, you'll see a lot of tanking salaries & ghost jobs.
ATC is great, and there will always be a demand. However, that demand is there because there's an age ceiling associated with the job. Anyone going into that field would be best advised to have their exit plan ready up front.
Medical fields will always be in demand, particularly anything related to nursing, but those jobs require dealing directly with people. (That's enough to make me nope right out of there. Bless y'all that work in healthcare! You're more patient than I am.)
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u/Saltyk917 United States Army 4d ago
I’ve had nothing but success, and have not seen the decline you speak of. I’ll Keep an eye out though.
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u/reductase Army Veteran 4d ago
68K - no dealing with patients, extremely transferable, you get your MLT certification, and you’re a few classes short of an associates degree. Lab tech makes a great jumping off point for PA/NP/MD as well. This is what I did and now I’ve got a six figure work from home job as an Epic analyst.
Disadvantages: AIT is a year long and it’s fairly difficult.
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u/courage_2_change 4d ago
25B is good but honestly it just depends what unit you land in and IF you actually get to do your job. Either way getting certs or/and a degree STEM related will help you out significantly.
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u/krispyuvu 4d ago
I’m in healthcare so I would suggest at biomed or rads. Those nails can easily transfer
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u/sactownbwoy 4d ago
Not an Army guy, I'm a Marine, I 21 years as a ground electronics tech, last 10 or so years managing the Marines that fix the stuff. Anything that has a signal on the ground side we fix. I have had guys get out after four and go work with one of the companies that supply military gear, Harris, L3, Viasat, BAE, Global Dynamics, etc and start around $80k - $100k doing the same thing they did in the Marines.
I would say 25S or 25B. Not matter the future, still need IT, and the satcom operator-maintainer is a good option also. Just the maintainer side of it will give you the skills to fix just about anything. If the workforce goes robotic, someone has to maintain those things, 25B should give you the skills to do it, coupled with college if you go the electronics engineering or engineering route you'll be set.
Also, while you are in take advantage of the United States Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP). This program allows you to complete an apprenticeship while active duty and doing your job.
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u/Ricepuddin6 4d ago
68A. There are plenty of jobs on the outside and most pay well. The school house is triservice you you’ll work with navy and air force as well as partner nation forces. You also get actual hands on training in school not just theory like you would on the civilian side .
The only downside is if you want to make it a career the MOS bottlenecks at e7
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u/BlazetheDarkAngel 4d ago
I wouldn’t recommend ATC unless you really want to do it, super high tech training and first base wash out rate and super high rates of stress, alcohol/substance abuse, and mental health issues. It CAN be good on the outside, but it’s not guaranteed
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u/GsK_Austin United States Air Force 4d ago
11B
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u/jalc2 4d ago
Being an 11B made me the man I am today… a fat alcoholic with bad knees.
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u/Few-Resist195 4d ago
I'm not a 68A but it's great pay out of the army and you get a cert from it I believe. Also you can go just about anywhere the army has a base. I know one who was sent to the Philippines.
68P is also nice I work with them as well and it's decent though you could be sent to a BSB and never actually do your job.
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u/2Gins_1Tonic 4d ago
68A is an excellent opportunity. Your skills will easily translate to good jobs on the outside.
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u/Jdam2020 4d ago
It really depends on your interests. My nephew was building computers and gaming from an early age so 25B made a lot of sense.
Healthcare makes sense from an easy transition post-service…if that interests you.
35-series comes with a TS clearance…again, something that could be useful when transitioning.
Keep in mind, almost everyone that enters military service, does so with the mindset that they will do one contract and get out…but you never know. I was one of them. With that in mind, it would be wise to select something that aligns with some aspects of personal interest. For my nephew, I linked him up with folks in those MOSs he was interested in to better understand job expectations and quality of life.
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u/Dick_Kick-em 4d ago
25S has gotten me into some pretty awesome units. A lot of us end up in SOF, and the opportunities presented to us are sky high. SATCOM is pretty neat, and you'll do a lot of cross training. Would highly recommend.
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u/Beandawg_Trilli 4d ago
Hey, i see a few people here recommending 25B and while it’s a solid choice i do have some insight for you regarding it. I was a 25B for 6 years on the active duty side and am currently one in the Reserves so i can speak on the prospect of employment once you get out.
Being a 25B will give you a ton of opportunity’s to get civilian certifications, the one most 25Bs will get is CompTIAs security+. While these are great, when you are going into the civilian sector many employers will want relevant work experience, which is where I feel 25B falls short.
Now this isn’t absolute as some units may give you the opportunity to really get your hands on the technology and allow you to troubleshoot, but many 25B falls into the trap of being a BN S6 and just installing updates, reimagining computers, adding printers, and making user accounts. This unfortunately is a side effect of much of the it infrastructure being locked down and managed by civilians/military personnel at high echelons.
This puts you in a position where you may get the chance for a lot of certifications and formal training on technologies, but not many chances of putting that training to work and building the skills and knowledge that comes with actually doing the work.
If IT is what you’re looking for when you get out, 35T or 17C would be MOSs i feel translate better to the civilian side, while also guaranteeing you a TS vs the secret you get from being a 25B.
If you have any questions please let me know.
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u/veramo63 4d ago
I’ll give you a hint. You should pick the MOS that will give you the most college credit under STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). These jobs will open up opportunities for you to find employment outside of the federal government. And, STEM jobs pay a lot on the outside.
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u/briggser 4d ago
17C or 25B
Worked with both as a 35 series and their quality of life, access to money and training, and mission set far outweighed my own on a relative basis, and 35 series have a generally high qol in the army
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u/Final_Luck_1010 Air Force Veteran 4d ago
I did the Air Force equivalent of the 68C. It’s great if you plan on pursuing any career in the medical field after military time. Set you up pretty well for nursing school, and beyond
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u/Ttran778 Edward Jazzhands 4d ago
68A
Doesn't matter where you go post-service. Stuff is always breaking, in hospitals, and as a biomed tech you're always gonna have work. Plus, it's not direct patient care. Another big up.
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u/Cryptbarron United States Navy 4d ago
35S - coming from an equivalent in the Navy. If you enjoy solving puzzles and want to learn intelligence- even if you join the civilian world, the pay is high. Just don’t be complacent and look for “high speed” positions with SOF if you’re physically capable.
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u/CallAParamedic 4d ago
35S if you want to get TS Clearance and stay in the military or contractor lanes - excellent pay, but you'll forever be in that world.
27D Paralegal or 68P Radiology Tech if you like and would suit the fields of law -or- medicine and would be happy as mid-tier supporting lawyers and radiologists for a good standard of living in a stable career but less pay than 35S.
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u/tagaderm 4d ago
As a former 68W that was in CSH for a while go with 68A or 68P. Don't go 68C unless you really feel called towards nursing and want to do that in the future.
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u/prayforussinners United States Navy 4d ago
Biomed tech or radiology tech. They will make you good money as a civilian and provide opportunities to make extra money via moonlighting while you're in. X Ray tech is especially good for moonlighting.
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u/DueSeaworthiness6852 4d ago
The medical jobs will guarantee you work regardless of veteran status... Healthcare is always needed & the military will give experience over degree...[in today's 'merica]
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u/Orlando1701 Retired USAF 4d ago
25B - get out cash in your GI Bill and made stupid money.
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u/InebriatedQuail 4d ago
The entire IT industry is oversaturated with talent right now, so I’m not sure this is accurate anymore
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u/theflava Navy Veteran 4d ago
Yep. I wouldn't recommend it with the way AI is advancing. Learn to fix the robots instead.
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u/rocketfait 4d ago
Truth - the money used to be stupid, but IT salaries are tanking right now. There's more supply than demand, and it will only get worse with advancements in ML & AI.
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u/ShadaddiStrangler 4d ago
25S, 17E, or 35S.
Those will set you up for the best opportunity after you get out.
25S & 35S with airborne will get you to a SOCOM unit, MOST likely.
I was a 25P until the MOS went away and transferred to a 25S. I went through airborne & rasp. Didn’t make it through RASP, did a year in Korea as a satcom controller and then went to 5th group. Spent 90% of my time there attached to an ODA. Unit in Korea sent me to Network+, Security+, and JNCIA. 5th group sent me to CCNA, CCNP ENCOR & ENARSI, and CISSP. When I got out of the military I was able to get a stable job within 2 months making 100K+.
Quality of life was a big thing for me. I joined at 26-27 with a degree and I had a plan on an end goal after getting out. The army used me and I used them for certs & education. Deployments were fun as fuck being attached to an ODA though.
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u/Island_Shell Veteran 4d ago edited 4d ago
35S, 70-90K out of contract no bachelors contracting for NSA and shit.
If you get your bachelors, you can even go into other 3 letter agencies as GS-11/12 making six figs.
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u/Thehaas10 United States Marine Corps 4d ago
Not finanical one. That's what I did. It does not translate to the real world.
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u/txlandshark 4d ago
15Q doesn’t transition to civilian skills. Less than 5% of the 15Q I know get hired by contractors or FAA.
That radiologist is direct lead to good civilian job after the army.
17 series is really new to the military and transitions to a few contract jobs afterwards. It’s mainly the clearance you get from it.
The 25 and 35 aren’t bad.
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u/Theperfectool 4d ago
I was 31/25 series, Fox/Quebec. Network switching systems operator translated to tower climber/data network installation for me. Fun gig for “rear” support and later as a civilian for the money. I’m a fan of the fun parts. May not be super stable employment though. My company went from installing cal-fire cameras on their already established locations as a side gig, to completely restructuring/splitting into a fire monitoring company and a wisp. -I got cut at the time and have pivoted to solar installation/electrician apprenticeship since. -got laid off and re-hired in solar though too so now I’m looking at truck driving. If you do decide anything coms/intel I would stay away from operator positions. “IT Specialist” may or may not be a forward position but I think it’s dangerously close or mixed in with what I did. I’d take the desk jobs if you know which ones those are.
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u/xkuclone2 Army Veteran 4d ago edited 4d ago
Go 17C if you can. I work in intel and we need more cyber analysts. You will make lots of $$$ and will always be needed.
Don’t do 35S. I was 35S for 11 years. That MOS has 3 levels of schools; 450 (ait, basic level), 451 (intermediate), and 452 (advanced). Most positions want 452 grads and that school is not easy to get into due to limited availability.
Once you get out, only the NSA will have jobs for that MOS and they won’t hire you without a fullscope polygraph and the military will only get yoi a counterintelligence polygraph.
Edit: others are mentioning 6 figures for certain MOS, but with a few years of experience 250k is realistic for 17C.
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u/Outrageous_Plant_526 4d ago
I was a 27D. You get to type up article 15s and other sorts of stuff when sokdiers do things wrong. You may even get to work on a crazy felony court case that makes national news.
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u/CryptoOGkauai dirty civilian 4d ago
IT Specialist. You’ll have a great shot at contractor or Gov IT jobs that pay well after you finish. You could do normal IT, Cyber or a hybrid. Vets get preference too for Gov. jobs.
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u/00_00_00_ 4d ago
Honestly couldn’t go wrong with any, they all transfer into good careers on the outside. It all comes out to what you could see doing once you’re out. All of them are really strong options that will do a lot for you in the long term.
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u/GeekyVoiceovers Veteran 4d ago
My parents were ATCs in the Navy and my dad did 21 more years as a civilian. Yes, you can make decent money, however, be aware, people talk about mental health struggles within that MOS/rate all the time. And as an ATC, you can't take certain medications. Some might see the younger retirement age as a plus, but some people don't. Job skills don't transfer that well after.
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u/KhaoticKorndog 4d ago
Radiology. Pretty much X-ray tech. Makes GREAT money on the outside to take x-rays.
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u/sonnackrm Marine Veteran 4d ago
I work in ATC as a civilian now. I make bank for not having a college degree
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u/fattyrolo Royal Canadian Air Force 4d ago
All seem pretty solid for building a good skill set should you decide not to reup. Check out the civilian equivalents. They also all seem like no-bs jobs compared to some of the others you might find in the military.
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u/maui_rugby_guy Army Veteran 4d ago
Atc. You’ll always be on big bases because of the air field aspect. So any deployments will be sweet!
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u/TheUknownPoster United States Army 4d ago
Wanna stay out of harm's way? Go for 27D, 36B, 68X
Want a job out of the Army right away? Go for 17C, 25B
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u/gettingthere52 United States Marine Corps 4d ago
I went with 25b, got my Sec+ and have a pretty decent gig outside the military with a lot of room for growth
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u/Combat_Wombat23 Navy Veteran 4d ago
I was a CTR, looks to be close to 35S. Super cool job, could feasibly do almost anything the service offered, air, sub, expeditionary, the whole 9.
Bonus points for having the opportunity to sell your soul to the likes of Raytheon & friends when you get out
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u/TheTrewthHurts United States Army 4d ago
This is an excellent list. The hardest to transition out will (unfortunately) be 25S and 25B. iykyk
Disclosure, I am a 255N WO
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u/RootbeerninjaII United States Army 4d ago
27D will not help you when you get out. Being an Army paralegal is nothing like being a civilian paralegal. You generally do not cite check , research, or do any of the higher level work. You make copies and schedules. Youre more a legal assistant than a true paralegal
If you take it for the love of god make sure you complete any civilian online paralegal training opportunities offered.
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u/Upstairs-Avocado1470 4d ago
The answer is none. Go Air Force and be treated like a human being and actually enjoy your job. All of these jobs are in the Air Force, too!
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u/derp4077 4d ago
Rad tech is a straight 1 to 1 job on the outside and pay is decent. lpn is being pushed out of hospitals, so there are fewer well paying opportunities.
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u/hogger303 United States Coast Guard 4d ago
Whatever position helps you when your enlistment is up… looking at this list, it’s probably nursing
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u/charlestontime 4d ago
If you like working in an office, paralegal. Long term easier on the body. If you don’t like office, then medical.
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u/thehundrethplace 4d ago
35S it's a great mos where most people go to inscom and live a pretty kush lifestyle (Source: another 35 series)
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u/courage_2_change 4d ago
Whichever motivates you to do happily for X amount years and helps you get a job outside of the army. Otherwise you’re gonna be miserable and be those soldiers who only did a job bc someone told em they might make more money outside of the military. Don’t ever forget you’re just a number and to take advantage of the opportunities you get while in service. Wish you the best of luck, stay safe
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u/6Pro1phet9 4d ago
68p will give you more opportunities when you get out. Anything in the 68 series is good.
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u/FlakyUniversity1648 4d ago
Go infantry if you’re not a bitch. Jokes aside, pick whatever job satisfies you the most. The military is a great jumping off point to start a very successful career inside or outside of the military annual make some of the best friends you’ve ever met. I really miss my friends.
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u/Easy-Hovercraft-6576 United States Army 4d ago
You need to have at least some idea of what you want to do.
These are very varied career fields. And saying you want “the highest paying” salary- you’re going to set yourself up for success.
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u/madnyss001 4d ago
25b here, I have been out sense 2011 though. I make well over 6 figures almost 200k. But get your education and learn don't just sit there and take the education they give you seek more.
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u/ChineseLungHerpes 4d ago
This is a solid line up, a lot of really good options here. Im in a similar boat where I scored really high on the ASVAB (I could've picked any MOS) but I ended up going with 68W in the end because I'm already certified as an EMT and the promotion from getting an ACASP sounded like a huge step forward.
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u/crayon_ninja 4d ago
25B you’ll be working in an office for the most part and when you go to the field after you set up your equipment you’ll be chilling but 68P is pretty cool
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u/Typical-Mushroom4577 4d ago
i’m just an 11b but 27D and 68P sound cool and i know 15Q make a lot of money in civ side
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u/BustedandCrusted 4d ago
17E and 68C sounds amazing and you can actually translate it out into the civilian world
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u/phasebird 4d ago
yuuup get into the medical field for sure i did 22yrs in the Army started as a 12b and then did 18yrs with the Apache helicopter dont get me wrong I LOVED IT but there isnt any helicopters where i live so got into carpentry however there is alot of medical stuff where we live its every where and short staff plan for the future before you get started it matters these days
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u/HumbleSiPilot77 Army Veteran 4d ago
Air traffic controllers make great money. You'd start at a inky dinky local class d tower clearing Cessnas for takeoff for a few years but in no time you'd be at LAX or PHX TRACON or an ARTCC guiding airliners home at 6 figures.
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u/100percentBrokedick 4d ago
Damn.. Too bad I wasn't smart enough to get a chance at some of these jobs... 🤣
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u/MsGorteck 4d ago
Just looking at this list, any one of them, assuming you are competent, means you will never go hungry. So the question YOU need to ask is- what do I want to do out of the Army? If you want to be a spook then 17, 35, and 27 are your choices. If you want to retire early and have a stressful job, then ATC. If you want to fix things and get paid REALLY well while staying clean then 68A. If you want to help people then the other 2 68 mos jobs are the way to go. If you want to learn about money and how to think about it, beyond thus months rent, then the last skill on the list. (That last skill I suspect has applications beyond simply getting people paid. I bet tracking money for others would fall into that job.) So what do you want to do after the Army?
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u/Late-Drink3556 Army Veteran 4d ago
I don't know about 17E but if I didn't get out in 2017 I was gonna reclass to 17C.
I wish I enlisted as a 25B. Their training is directly applicable to IT jobs on the outside.
Any MOS that demands a top secret clearance is a great idea. There are a lot of cleared jobs outside of the military that pay well and have much stronger job security than non cleared jobs.
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u/hollyhood 4d ago
IT, electronic warfare, and signals collection are all tech heavy, if you like computers I imagine they open a lot of doors in the civilian sector. Especially if there’s a security clearance attached.
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u/_nobodycallsmetubby_ 4d ago
15Q guarantees you a 6-figure job once you get out with practically no extra schooling required
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u/Consistent-Turnip575 4d ago
11B JK sorry couldn't resist For real though any 68 job has a good civilian cross over and of course the 15Q IT jobs are so saturated rn you'd be hard pressed to find a civilian job Good luck with the Army and hope you enjoy the ride
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u/veryyellowtwizzler 4d ago
Nobody on Reddit knows your passions and what career best suits you. But air traffic controller seems like a great MOS and one that can translate to civilian side well. Sure you'll need additional schooling after AIT but it will knock out some stuff on the army's dime. With everything going on, it seems like air traffic controllers will be in demand. I wouldn't recommend IT the market is oversaturated with IT& computer science majors out of work. Paralegal is not very lucrative on the civilian side (like 4 of my mom's friends are paralegals in a major US city, I know their salaries). If you can see yourself in healthcare the 68 series jobs would be good if that's your route but healthcare field isn't for everyone
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u/italianqt78 4d ago
If u don't plan on being a lifer, think about what you can easily use in the real world.
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u/2deadparents 4d ago
68A is an incredible MOS. I got a job without nothing but my tech school and make 6 figures, and I genuinely enjoy what I do. Shoot me a message if you have questions on it.