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Deciding on a MOS
What is the best way for me to help my new recruit decide on a MOS?
Views: 268
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lemonelephant on
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A little education is in order to start with. The Army and Marines have MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). In the Navy it is rating. He's not a new recruit until he has sworn in and is on the way to the RTC or is there. He is now your son, a possible candidate for enlistment in the Navy. Once he signs a contract at MEPS and gets a ship date, then he is a future Sailor or DEPper who is waiting to leave for boot camp. Once he swears in at MEPS the second time, then he is enlisted and is a recruit. Once he completes Battle Stations-21 (BST) near the end of boot camp, then he will be a US Navy Sailor.
As far as choosing a rating, your son will take a practice ASVAB and that will give him and the recruiter an idea of the ratings that he may be eligible for. He can go to Navy COOL and look over the ratings and decide on a few that he would feel comfortable accepting a contract for. Go to https://www.cool.navy.mil/ and then click on Enlisted Search in the middle of the page; then select a Rating in the top drop down box and click Go. It is best that he have several in mind and not just one.
Not every rating will be available when he goes to MEPS and sometimes no ratings are available by the time a candidate speaks with the career counselor. Sometimes the only option is a contract within Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks (PACT) Program--if that is the only option, your son needs to be very sure that he wants to go that route before accepting the contract because many find that to be a bad choice for them, but it is appropriate for some. It is fine for him to hold out for a contract that he is eligible for and walk away without a contract rather than to accept something that he will not be happy with. A Future Sailor who has accepted a contract for one of the PACT programs or for a rating that he is not happy with can have his recruiter put in a DEP Action requesting a change of contact, but not everyone who puts in such a request is successful in changing contracts before the ship date.
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Permalink Reply by 1 Proud Mom on
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Thank you for the info. He has a friend that joined the Marines a little over 1 year ago and he is trying to advise him, but as you said there is a difference between Navy and Marines. He took the pre ASVAB at the recruiter's office and scored pretty high. His recruiter stated he will qualify for several different positions. He is also trying to get him in early in the month so he is not limited. He goes this week for his physical and to that the real ASVAB. He plans on looking at the practice test online. But I am just trying to have him as prepared as I can for the paperwork he will have to fill out. We are trying to think of the small details, such as jobs on a base or on a ship.
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Permalink Reply by Anti M on
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A small detail, his Marine friend very likely got to come home after boot camp. Navy doesn't do that. They go straight to their A school, with perhaps a little weekend liberty if they stay in Great Lakes for school.
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You are very welcome. Yes, there are differences between the Marines and the Navy. The Marines has a Family Day prior to graduation from BT, but the first time that loved ones see their new Sailors is at PIR after completing BC. Liberty PIR weekend for the new Sailors all depends on where they go for "A" School or training and Marines have the same amount if I remember correctly. Yes, it is a good idea for your son to take some of the practice ASVAB tests.
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