Go green to gold or reclass?

I'm currently an E-4 in the Army, Ordnance Corps. My MOS is a dead end. The only E-6 I've ever seen in my MOS was at AIT. I've seen a few E-5's in my MOS in the 3 years I've been in and they were retiring, compared to the many newly promoted E-5s and crusty E-6s in other 91 series. So basically, even if I get my E-5, I would probably be stuck there and hit my RCP and get nothing. Another option is waiting until reenlistment window and reclassing, two more years and hoping I get into a good MOS, without being told I don't qualify to reclass. But where should I go? Maybe I look at a packet MOS and jump ship before my window into a high speed MOS. Too bad Im not very high speed. My knees are going out slowly, feet hurt almost constantly so maybe a cush type packet MOS? CID? Last option is go Green to Gold, throw deuces to my enlisted peeps and come back a butter bar. However, it seems this is easier said than done. Paperwork requirements are enough to turn people away. I have enough college to finish in two years if I work my ass off. I'm 28, so I'm nearing age limit and my PT score can be improved if I am to be looked competitive against all the young bucks gunning for commission. Not to ask for special treatment, but I hope prior service does give me an advantage because (not to sound like a good idea fairy) I see day in and day out what I think could be done better. I want to stay in and make the military a career but it seems I'm running toward a dead end and have to adjust course before crashing into it. Stay where I'm at, change MOS or become an officer?

 

Go to SFAS. Problem solved

 

Problem is my physical shape and my legs already hurt (lots of running before army and mountain bike crashes). I would do it if I was a hard charging 19 year old but now I'm thinking of building a family and not getting burnt out.

 

Yeah it's not easy. But you'll be a hell of a lot happier then becoming an officer or reclassing

 

that or you could go big blue man. If family life and sitting behind a desk 9 to 5 'ish is your thing..
But all jokes aside about the chair force, have you considered going green to blue? That might be a thing again, the air force in their infinite wisdom kicked out a lot of people during the reshaping period...at least the air force times says so. I've met some army dudes that went through OTS from the army and are now butterbars in the AF.

Really, just keep your options open if you are trying to hit that 20 mark. Sounds like you are doing your research though so best of luck.

 

Could always jump services if you're good. I went Army to CG.

 

Have you thought of flight school? Knew a few guys who went that route. Had 60 credit hours, passed flight school, and got their warrant. Granted, that was 20 years ago so it might be different, but seems like a plan. Personally, I got out, went to college and grad school and don't regret it. Army was really good for me for six years and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

Any update? Let us know how you do. Best of luck regardless!

 

I heard that the Air Force didn't accept prior service army, maybe they have relaxed on that recently? I am not loyal to any branch, I just like the military lifestyle. I have friends that were and still in the air force and they love it, but the same can't be said to most in the Army.

Sounds cool, but I don't like how your tied down to the states. I like moving around and seeing the world, even if it wasn't a part of the world I don't care to see. Also, I am not a great swimmer, so it would take some extra work to become a seaman.

Nothing yet, I've got to talk to more people in different services before I decide on my course. I missed this years application to schools for next year. Seems like in order to go to school in fall, you have to start in the spring. Also, the green to gold scholarships are competitive and I think I can get one if I raise my PT score. It also boosts acceptance if I don't get a scholarship.

 

Cutter life isn't so bad in that regards, especially on the big white boats. In three years, I saw a ton of the Western edge of the Americas, from Dutch to Columbia and parts between. And then there's the polar boats.

 

1. Leave the Army
2. Use your GI bill
3. Get a degree in electrical engineering
4. Get a job making $80k right out of college

 

If you're already in pain, adding a couple of years is going to make it tough. I am an OCS guy and saw a lot of people who were not in good shape get recycled and then end up not making it through the school because of simple injuries caused by them coming to OCS out of shape. I have no idea if green to gold requires you to do ROTC or something, but being an out of shape officer is not something I'd recommend for any sort of career longevity..

Could try a reclass to MI if you're okay with staying enlisted, and maybe going warrant, eventually. That's what I did on the enlisted side and it is an awesome branch, and probably one of the most airforce-esque of the Army branches. Anddd you'll get a very valuable clearance for the civilian side of things.

 

My pain isn't chronic, actually it all of my current pain is from the Army. Usually long runs or repeated sprints. I always give all I can but it just seems I'm not a naturally adapted long distance pavement runner. Maybe if I had the body type of a marathon runner, but I don't so. I have maxed out the run not long ago but after PCSing I'm working to get it back, everything including upperbody and abdominal. But I do better when I have a goal that requires me to be fit, so I'm saying I'm not going to fall out at the first sign of struggle. I could never let myself be the type of officer that can't lead his company on a run or fall out of a larger formation. May not beat the young guys at the run but can max out the run in my age group.

Green to gold is a ROTC program. All it is fastracking enlisted soldiers with college to get through the ROTC and college coursework to gain commission. Definitely considering MI, was what I wanted to go in as when I enlisted but wasn't open to me. GT score ain't a problem, but maybe my foreign national spouse is.

 

Hmm, I've never heard of anyone being denied because of their spouse BEFORE a clearance investigation was initiated. Maybe just talk to retention. Good luck!

 

That's what the clearance investigation is for.

 

When I was in back in the 90's there were plenty of guys who didn't qualify for top secret clearances because they married a foreign national.

 

You have many options but yes your time is running out quickly since some are time sensitive (Air Force, OCS), some are only open periodically (certain packets/boards), and the fact that your are coming up on reenlistment. Here are some options that I would recommend (some may have already been mentioned) in OML:
1. SFAS
2. WOCS (technical i.e. Ordnance or UAS)
3. WOCS (flight)
4. OCS
5. G to G
6. Reclassify (anything with upward mobility)
7. ETS and use your GI Bill

The accessions rate hasn't declined as much as you would think during this drawdown since every organization in the Army will still need to find the right guy willing to do what needs to be done. As long as you are willing to "get after it" and push yourself then you will be fine pending your body will cooperate.

I was in your shoes a long time ago and my MOS was over strength so they made me reclassify as an E-2. Shortly thereafter they needed me back for my previous MOS to deploy to Bosnia and I was promoted very quickly and mentored well. But all this doesn't matter when you're in an over strength MOS and promotion points were always maxed out (798) for E-6. This lead me to submit an SFAS packet as well as a flight warrant packet. Needless to say the Warrant board convened prior to the SFAS board and I was on my way to the next chapter in my career.

Many of the packets are designed to be intensive for multiple reasons and yes it keeps the undetermined out of the running. Bottom line is just do the leg work and submit the packet then hope for the best. Here is the steps I would take:
1. Talk to your reenlistment folks/counsellors
2. Visit the HRC page https://www.hrc.army.mil to see what the prerequisites are for each of the fields you desire to transition to
3. Then give that branch a call to see if they are open (based on MOS strength) to accepting new accessions
4. If it sounds like they are willing to accept you (based on your file) then submit your packet

Easy as that! FYI I work at HRC...