The Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is the classification system the U.S. Army uses to identify and categorize a soldier’s specific job and functional expertise. This designation is assigned to every enlisted soldier and officer, serving as the foundation for their daily duties, training requirements, and career progression. The MOS determines a soldier’s role in the organization and shapes the experience and skills they develop throughout their time in service.
Defining the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
The MOS is represented by an alphanumeric code that precisely identifies a soldier’s job. For enlisted personnel, the code consists of a three-character designation followed by a skill level number, such as 11B10 or 92Y20. The first two characters represent the Career Management Field (CMF), which is a broader grouping of related jobs, like 11 for Infantry. The third character, a letter, specifies the exact job within that field, such as the Infantryman (11B) or the Unit Supply Specialist (92Y).
This three-character combination serves as the soldier’s occupational designation and dictates their primary function and technical tasks. The number that follows the three-character code indicates the soldier’s skill level and corresponding grade, signifying their training and experience. The MOS code ensures soldiers are assigned to duty positions that match their specific qualifications and technical competencies.
The Structure of the MOS System
The thousands of individual MOS codes are grouped into broader categories to organize the Army’s workforce. These groupings are managed through Career Management Fields (CMFs), which establish clear progression routes for soldiers within related specialties. The Army organizes its enlisted jobs into three overarching functional areas that define their role in operations.
The Combat Arms category includes specialties whose primary mission involves closing with and destroying the enemy, such as Infantry (CMF 11) and Armor (CMF 19). Combat Support roles provide direct assistance to the fighting forces, including Field Artillery (CMF 13), Engineers (CMF 12), and Military Intelligence (CMF 35). These roles often operate in tandem with maneuver units, offering specialized capabilities like fires, mobility assistance, or reconnaissance.
The third major grouping is Combat Service Support, which encompasses the logistical, administrative, and medical backbone of the force. This includes fields like Quartermaster (CMF 92), Signal Corps (CMF 25), and Medical (CMF 68). Soldiers in these roles ensure the force is sustained, healthy, and able to communicate for successful, long-term operations.
How an MOS is Assigned
Securing a particular job in the Army begins with a recruit’s performance on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The ASVAB is a battery of subtests that measure aptitude in various academic and technical areas. Performance on these subtests is aggregated into ten different “line scores,” which the Army uses to determine a recruit’s eligibility for specific MOS fields.
Each individual MOS has its own minimum score requirement for one or more line scores, establishing a baseline for technical competency. For example, a job in the electronics field requires high scores in the relevant subtests to qualify for the Electronics (EL) line score. While a minimum Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score of 31 is required for enlistment, specialized fields like Cyber or Medical often require significantly higher scores to qualify.
Recruiters use the ASVAB results to counsel prospective soldiers on the jobs for which they are eligible. The Army offers an enlistment contract that guarantees the recruit a specific MOS before they sign their commitment, providing certainty regarding their future role and ensuring the Army fills its technical needs.
Training and Skill Progression
Once a recruit is assigned an MOS, their initial training path differentiates between foundational military discipline and job-specific technical skills. The first phase is Basic Combat Training (BCT), which focuses on general soldier skills, physical fitness, and military customs. Following BCT, soldiers proceed to Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where they learn the specific technical tasks associated with their assigned MOS.
AIT varies widely in length, ranging from a few weeks for some roles to over a year for highly technical specialties like intelligence or specialized maintenance. During a soldier’s career, their skill level within the MOS progresses in five increments, typically numbered 10 through 50 for enlisted personnel. Skill Level 10 identifies the entry-level soldier who performs tasks under direct supervision. Skill Level 20 is generally reached upon promotion to Sergeant (E-5), signifying greater proficiency and the beginning of supervisory duties.
Progression to Skill Level 30 and 40 corresponds with promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-6) and Sergeant First Class (E-7), involving increasing responsibility in managing personnel and resources. A soldier at Skill Level 50, typically a Master Sergeant (E-8) or Sergeant Major (E-9), holds a senior managerial position. This position requires extensive technical knowledge and the ability to coordinate across multiple related specialties.
Different Types of MOS
The Army’s diverse mission set requires a wide range of specialties spanning nearly every civilian industry, from technical trades to medical and finance.
Combat Arms
The Infantryman (11B) engages in ground combat operations. The Armor Crewman (19K) operates and maintains armored fighting vehicles like the M1 Abrams tank.
Combat Support
The Field Artillery Cannon Crewmember (13B) operates and maintains howitzers and other firing systems to provide indirect fire support. The Geospatial Engineer (12Y) collects, analyzes, and distributes topographical data and maps.
Combat Service Support
The Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (91B) performs maintenance and repairs on the Army’s fleet of tactical and non-tactical vehicles. A Unit Supply Specialist (92Y) manages and maintains the supply and equipment for a specific unit.
Translating Military Experience to Civilian Careers
The technical and managerial skills developed through a soldier’s MOS are highly valued in the civilian workforce following their service. The primary challenge for veterans is translating military-specific jargon and acronyms into relatable civilian terminology. An Infantry squad leader, for example, translates their role as a project manager who “led and supervised a team of 12 personnel, managing operational readiness and equipment valued at over $1 million.”
Many MOS designations lead directly to civilian professional certifications or licenses, particularly in technical, medical, and administrative fields. An Army medic (68W) may be prepared to test for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, while a mechanic (91-series) often has the experience needed for various automotive certifications. Resources like the Department of Labor’s O\NET OnLine and the Army’s Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) program exist to formally bridge the gap between military skills and civilian requirements.