My son is in the decision making process. He scored beyond ASVAB requirements for all of the 25 MOS (130's). His drawback to not getting his first choice of 25S or B is that he had a non traffic teenage arrest and GED. He is 4 hrs short of college credit to overide the GED restriction. Recruiters said he could possibly move to those jobs after sometime of good performance in another 25 MOS. That said, which other 25's that he could be eligible for would provide the best experience for post Army career or transition to S or B if possible? 25F appears to be a good link and job. However, from assorted message boards it appears this is being phased out and replaced with 25N. He saw no mention of 25N though. Is it available for new recruits or is it still 25F for enlistment and transitioning to N in the process? Any info, ideas, or advice appreciated.

I am currently a 25F and do not recommend this MOS to anyone. I'm not saying so because it was a horrible MOS, I'm saying so because joining into an MOS that is being phased out is not a good way to start an army career. Currently the required points to be eligible for promotion from E4 (Specialist/Corporal) to E5 (Sergeant) are maxed at 798. This means you have to get maximum in pretty much every category for promotions points (awards, Physical Training, Commander's Points, Board, etc...). Not to mention that you tend to end up being excess personnel at duty stations pretty easily. I'm currently working in a maintenance company repairing electronics and communications equipment! You also end up being some of the first in line for details in this position. I'd suggest getting those four credits real quick. I also have a GED. I had to do a few quick college courses in order to meet the requirement. I did a few simple ones like keyboarding.

I did not wite in the additional factor of the current $20K QS Bonus if shipping out by 08/27. I know it is a personal decision, but from the perspective of anyone in the know about 25MOS, would you say the betterment of position of the 25S (advancement, actual duty, and post military application)would be worth forfeiting the $20K bonus?

Also- I said 25S cuz that seemed to be the best of the 25MOS for new recruits to him. Would anyone suggest other 25MOS over that. He is looking for the highest tech career path as possible, preferring more analysis.

Well I'm a 25B and unless his record gets cleared it could be a little difficult for him to get the secret clearance required for the B job. A 25U isn't too bad of a job for him to look at getting into but their job mainly relates to working with the radios and items like that which gives you a good job when you get out plus a but load of enlistment money... though I'm not too sure about what the points are off the top of my head but they normally hover around 500+ if I'm not mistaken. There are other jobs outside of the 25 series that could be interesting... I found it out a little too late but just make sure he goes through all his options and make sure he makes the right decision... Also remember it is your contract if you don't like something you have the option to say no... sometimes saying no and starting to leave will get them to work with you on getting what you want, another thing I learned too late.

If he joins as a 25F, he will likely be reclassed into a 25N eventually. If he is interested, I would suggest he mentions 25N to the recruiter personally. It is a brand new MOS and I don't think it has made its way into all of the recruiting materials yet, but a recruiter should be able to pull it up on their system right now. Depending on what his charge was, may or may not affect him getting a clearance, but in all honesty, I think every 25 series MOS requires at least a SECRET. I wouldn't worry about the clearance though, the recruiter should have said something if he thought it would be a major issue. If he wants the MOS, tell him to finish up the last tiny bit of school he needs and then join up. There will always be a bonus, especially for 25S.

thanks for the good feedback. before i could share the acquired insights he went down today and signed on as a 25Q out of nowhere. i've read plenty already where that also seems like another position being phased out. i'm feeling a little sick about it. i know he will do well and come out with nice bonus and college money. i was just hoping for him to reach the best position to challenge him and provide useful post military app experience.

all options lost now i suppose... oh well, i remember when i was so wise back in the day.

Actually all options aren't lost quite yet. He is probally in the DEP program unless he is shipping out almost immediately which means that he can change his mind still about whether he wants that MOS or to switch to another still. They will verify everything again right before he ships to basic if I'm not mistaken. It's been awhile since I joined though.

Im currently in a unit that works with 25Q and i can tell you that the job deals mostly with line of site(LOS) radios. The 25Q mos was being phased out along with the 25F about 6 months ago but it is now a star mos, meaning they are under 100% tasking for E5. Points at the moment for 25Q is 350 for E5. Depending on which duty station he is assigned too he could be working with 25F on legacy equipment(MSE) or with 25N on the new JNN equipment

update and request for any feedback-
So my son was actually signed up as 25F and not Q as I thought. He just got to Fort Gordon yesterday out of BCT. They tell him he has to reclass. S sounds like the best option out of the 25's but is not being offered. He is going for 25N as the best of the rest sounding one. Any opinions on this anyone. ASAP, thanks!

Out of the 25 series I think P is a good way to go. I was a 25P for a while, and while there's some negatives(seeing your civillian counterparts be paid twice as much as you, not doing 'army' stuff, and the silly things you'll see in any signal unit) I think its just about the best 25 series out there. I did more work than the 25S's at my site, so I got more practical knowlege in the field, and 25P is less specific than 25S, so you can work for just about anyone(comcast,general dynamics, DOD, verizon, any internet provider). In a lot of cases 25P and 25S have a combined facillity, so they'll cross train on eachothers MOS's, and the 25P has an awesome potential for promotion. I got promoted at 379 for SGT, and its 450 for SSG. Its in high demand, but there might not be any class seats available right now.

The only reason I left the job is because I wanted to blow things up. The only other reason I would have left the job is to go be a civillian and make my 80k per year.

thanx, will pass that along.

PS- It seems they just abolished DS's at Gordon last Friday. Anyone know the reasoning to this, how things might change, and what the result will be?

IF your son wants to work with electronics he should try 68A. Its what I do and I love it. The required scores are high but it definitely is in my opinion the best job in the Army.

Speaking of the 25 MOS's, can anyone relate any experience with 25R? I think I understand the basics of what they do, the question is where? and what are the civilian oppurtunities associated with it?

Well, 25R is Audio Visual Operator/Maintainer. Basically, a Broadcast Technician. In AIT we are trained to repair Monitors and recievers, Video Cameras, TV studio equipment, VTRs (professional vcr), Radio equipment (as in studio) and dabble just a little in computers. It's an 8 month long course...so after that you go to a unit where you NEVER get to do your job. You get to watch civilians open up the equipment and do your job (like highspeedlowpay said). The only time you get to do your job is at AFN.
I spent 2.5 years at Bragg doing cross training. I loved doing that, I am practically a 25V (photographer/videographer) and 46R (Broadcaster) from all the training I received. That didn't bother me one but I can see how people actually WANTING to do a 25R job would be frustrated.
An awesome thing is, if you get an 85% or better at AIT, you get free admission into the Society of Broadcast Engineers which can help greatly in getting a civilian job later on.