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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/MOS Change
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Question
I'm a split opper, shipping for basic in 9 days. I'm doing AIT next year, and I'd like to try to switch my job before that. Is it possible? If not, can I decide to go active duty before AIT? I did read your article on switching from reserves to active duty, and understand the requirements. Thanks.
Hi Robert,
The only way to change your MOS in the Guard or Reserves is through your United Training NCO, and it's not very easy to get approved. First of all, your company isn't going to want to lose you, so unless the MOS you want to retrain into has a vacancy in the same Reserve company, your company commander is not likely to approve the request.
I don't know of any approved way one can go from Reserves to active duty after basic training, but before AIT. There may be of a way, but I can't find it in any regulation, and I've not ever heard of it happening. Reserve commanders generally will not approve a "Conditional Release," until at least six months after a member has completed IET (Initial Entry Training which consists of basic and AIT).
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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