Anyone know any info for this MOS? I am a prior service E5, am returning from a medical hold and want to get into this as my MOS. I am hoping to finish quick as this MOS is only 4 weeks and get downrange as fast as possible.

My main question is wondering if 13M really get to do their job when deployed? What does an NCO in this MOS do? I just don't want to be that guy doing details, as I have deployed a couple times and have seen other stuck on these duties (luckily I was a medic and did not have to do this).

Also, any advice on good duty stations? I hear some things about Bragg, although when I was with the 82nd I loved it. I hear there deployments are 6 on 1yr off, which is great.

Thanks for the help ahead of time.
Josh

"BUMP"

Sorry I didn't see this.

I was a 13M from 2001-2004. I really don't see an overall purpose for this MOS except at the beginning of conflicts. Since all 13M are qualified to drive the HEMTT then you can figure out what they do in Iraq.

A lot of the guys I used to work with were forced to reclass into radar after I left my unit because of the down-sizing of the MOS.

I suppose HIMARS could be effective in Afghanistan but MLRS will never set foot there. Too mountainous. And in Iraq, one of those rockets is too unspecific to really be used, IMO (although someone can chime in differently). The public is not interested in collateral damage.

I was in Iraq during OIF1 (pictures on my MySpace) and basically 2-4 FA fired a few rockets but 99% of our BDE ended up using HEMTTs to empty Saddam's palaces and the surrounding areas of munitions while getting shot at. It was getting to the point where our BDE commander tried to get us paid for EOD pay since the EOD folks never showed up (they were too short staffed) and we always ended up doing their work for them on site.

This is not an MOS I would choose to make a career out of. What are you going to do in the civilian world with that qualification? You aren't going to see any more combat than anyone else in the Army, and you have no real skills. You are going to get out and have your typical military skills that translate into being some sort of security guard or police officer, and you could go to Ft. Sill as a civilian and be a mechanic, but it's not like some private company is going to hire you to drive a SPLL.

Exactly what I was looking for 35M3L00PF. Honestly, I just want an MOS with a purpose when deployed.
I also want to be back on the front lines like I was as an Infantry Medic, but don't want to do medicine again. Loved it when I was deployed, but have started getting sour over it due to an issue I had.

35M3L00PF, you have a PM from me about 35M.

I responded to your PM.

As for the being on the front lines, why not just pick something like 11B or 13F or something?

I'm all for those MOS when you first start out, kinda like the Marines (you can't just become a CI agent in the Marines)...but seriously, they are worthless in the civilian world.

I know everyone loves their airborne status and to be able to say they are armor/infantry/ranger blah blah but at the end of the day they have no use aside from your typical security positions in the civilian world.

I think everyone should "grow up" in some combat arms MOS and then transition to intel or computers or whatever.

Just my suggestion for you. You dedicate a lot of time to Uncle Sam, you should have something to show for it skill wise when you get out. Just my opinion though, which doesn't really matter.

I actually lost a lot of friends and had NCOs that refused to talk to me because I left arty and joined intel.

I used to tell them, what on Earth will I do when I get out besides the basic jobs that all military service help with (like being a cop or a marshal or something)? I could be this guy, and that's about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZWhQDEMH4Y

I can tell you 35M has a purpose when deployed. I'm not saying we never pull gate guard but if you are anything better than a complete idiot and dirtbag you are doing your job in some fashion.

I know some 35Ms that were MWR NCOs and stuff but that's because they were so effing retarded the commander was afraid to let them out of the gate.

I am currently in an MLRS unit, and we are currently deployed to Iraq and we are shooting Guided MLRS munitions. However, we are the only unit that does this in Iraq. We have been here for 3 years, and will be here for another 2. We rotate the personnel out of country, and we come right back a year later.

The only other MLRS/HIMARS unit that does this is the unit deployed to Afghanistan. They are in the same boat. So out of the 19 units in the Army, only 2 of them are really doing there combat mission!

Thanks Top_Dog, I sent you a PM.