The Army is facing a surplus in some small military occupational specialties and some gaping holes for in-demand combat jobs like armor and artillery, so the Army is rolling out a “precision retention” initiative in hopes of shifting things around.

Some soldiers in overstrength jobs will have to be approved by Human Resources Command in order to stay in, according to a MILPER message released May 15.

And to entice people into jobs with shortages, the Army is offering promotion and bonus opportunities.

Restricted MOSs include:

  • 12W carpentry and masonry specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 68B orthopedic specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 68H optical laboratory specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 92L petroleum laboratory specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 92M mortuary affairs specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 92S shower/laundry and clothing repair specialists, E-1 to E-4.
  • 35P cryptologist language specialists in Hebrew, Serbo-Croatian and Thai.

In order to re-enlist into one of those jobs, soldiers must submit a request to HRC. Their career counselors will process the packet in HRC’s RETAIN system.

“HRC will evaluate the soldier’s record and compare his/her accomplishments to other soldiers of the same MOS/skill level throughout the Army,” according to the message.

Army Spc. Matthew Williams, a cavalry scout assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires a Stinger missile using Man-Portable Air Defense Systems during Artemis Strike, a live fire exercise at the NATO Missile Firing Installation at Crete, Greece. (Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson/Army)

HRC can then approve or deny re-enlistment, offer to extend the soldier’s enlistment or direct that the soldier reclassify to a new MOS.

“Soldiers will be notified of HRC’s decision by their servicing career counselor, and, if applicable, any restriction to the number of years/months the soldier may reenlist/extend,” the message said.

They then have seven calendar days to extend or re-enlist, if approved. After those seven days, the offer is revoked and the soldier will separate from the Army.

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Soldiers who are not in their re-enlistment window are “highly encouraged” to reclassify, and, per the message, there’s a handful of career fields that would be more than happy to take them.

Understrength MOSs include:

  • 12B combat engineer.
  • 12C bridge crewmember.
  • 12P prime power production specialist.
  • 13B cannon crewmember.
  • 13F fire support specialist.
  • 13M multiple rocket launch system/high-mobility artillery rocket system crewmember.
  • 13R field artillery firefinder radar operator.
  • 14E Patriot fire control enhanced operator/maintainer.
  • 14T Patriot launching station enhanced operator/maintainer.
  • 19D cavalry scout.
  • 19K M1 armor crewman.
  • 25D cyber network defender.
  • 25E electromagentic spectrum manager.
  • 31D Criminal Investigation Command special agent.
  • 35L counterintelligence agent.
  • 46s public affairs broadcast specialists.

The Army is offering a handful of incentives to move into these jobs, including a retention bonus after completing training or automatic promotion to sergeant or staff sergeant.

Training spaces were available for those jobs as of the message’s release. Beyond the listed MOSs, the message said, there are other open career fields with good opportunities for promotion.

“Your unit career counselor is the subject matter expert who can explain opportunities for reclassification, promotion, or SRB entitlement,” the message said.

Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

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