Army combat MOS refers to a job specialty within the Army that is directly involved in combat operations.
If you’re interested in what MOS is most likely to see some combat action in a combat zone, stick around.
In today’s post, we will discuss MOSs that may be more likely but are not guaranteed to see combat in a combat zone.
A common question that I receive is what MOS deploys the most. It doesn’t matter what your MOS is; any MOS can potentially deploy to a combat zone.
But your MOS will determine if you are more susceptible to seeing combat action once deployed to a combat zone.
Technically, any MOS could see some combat if they’re in the right situation. But these specific MOSs are more likely to see combat action.
MOS 11 Bravo: Infantryman
11 Bravo Infantryman: These soldiers are given the mission to secure an objective and to do specific tasks that can put them in direct combat.
So if we have a situation where there is intel that our enemies are creating IEDs for ambushes, then 11 Bravos, platoons, or squads may be sent to secure the area.
These soldiers may go on a mission to kick in doors and secure buildings. Going into those buildings could result in running into the enemy and engaging in gunfire.
So an 11 Bravo is definitely a soldier in an MOS that is most likely but not guaranteed to see combat in a combat zone.
MOS 11 Charlies: Indirect Fire Infantryman
Since I mentioned 11 Bravo, some of you are thinking, shouldn’t 11 Charlies be in that realm too? Not really.
They’re further back, away from the combat situation’s direct fire or main area. They may be called upon to fire some mortar rounds into the objective or into this area to take out an enemy.
But they’re not directly face-to-face with the enemy and engaging them like an 11 Bravo would.
They’re less likely to be in those situations than an 11 Bravo. MOSs that could be in a similar situation could be an 18 Series MOS, special forces.
MOS 18 Series: Special Forces
If you’re in the special forces and you’re an 18 Series MOS, you could be in the same situation where you’re kicking in doors and securing objectives.
18 Series MOS also does other things, like advising, training, etc. But in that MOS, you could be in a situation that puts you in direct combat.
MOS 19 Delta: Cavalry Scout
Another MOS that is more likely to be in a combat situation is a scout or a 19 Delta.
These soldiers are typically farther away, but they can still be in situations where they engage the enemy and do more direct combat.
A 19 Delta Scout is supposed to be on a hillside, scouting out an area, trying to collect intel, maybe calling for fire, and not trying to be detected.
However, there are a lot of situations where those 19 Deltas are also kicking in doors and taking their Bradley fighting vehicles into areas that require them to engage the enemy.
So don’t think that because you’re a scout, you’re just always trying to be on a hilltop observing the enemy.
No, there are also situations where these scouts directly engage with the enemy and enter hostile environments.
MOS 19K: Army Tanker
Another MOS likely or commonly involved with combat is your 19 kilos or tankers.
Current combat situations differ from World War I and World War II, where you had tank-on-tank battles.
Maybe we could be in this situation if a conflict arises with Russia or certain other countries. But with our current conflicts with Iraq or Afghanistan and those kinds of environments, the tanks are just in there to conduct patrols.
But if tank-on-tank action was to happen, then 19 kilos could be more likely to see combat compared to other MOSs.
MOS 13F: Fire Support Specialist
Another combat MOS is your 13 Fox. These soldiers may be embedded with some of the Scouts or 11 Bravos and engage in firing artillery into an objective or onto a target.
Often, they are with 11 Bravo or other MOSs in the heat of that battle. So they, too, could be involved in a combat situation.
MOS 68 Whiskeys: Healthcare Specialist/Combat Medic
Another one that people may not realize could be involved in combat situations is 68 Whiskey.
They are medics who may have to attend to injured soldiers, such as the 11 Bravos.
68 Whiskeys are commonly tasked and assigned to many MOSs to be with them on missions.
That can be on a convoy, that can be on raids, or that could be on some combat-related mission that they need to secure an objective.
If something happens and a soldier gets wounded, they have someone on-site to treat the wounds and save that soldier’s life.
Some 68 Whiskeys will also be attached to an infantry platoon or squad in combat zones.
MOS 12B: Combat Engineer
Some of you may be thinking, Well, what about a combat engineer, a 12 Bravo?
Even though they have combat in their name, they’re more geared towards creating obstacles, destroying obstacles, route clearance, etc. They’re not mainly assigned to tasks involving an assault on the enemy.
New Army Combat MOS List 2024
Below is a list of some common combat Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) in the US Army:
| MOS Code | Role Description | General Likelihood of Combat |
|---|---|---|
| 11B | Infantryman | High |
| 11C | Indirect Fire Infantryman | Moderate |
| 11Z | Infantry Senior Sergeant | High |
| 13B | Cannon Crewmember | Moderate |
| 13F | Fire Support Specialist | High |
| 13Z | Field Artillery Senior Sergeant | Moderate |
| 19A | Armor, General | Moderate |
| 19D | Cavalry Scout | High |
| 19K | M1 Armor Crewman | Moderate |
| 19Z | Armor Senior Sergeant | Moderate |
| 18B | Special Forces Weapons Sergeant | High |
| 18C | Special Forces Engineer Sergeant | High |
| 18D | Special Forces Medical Sergeant | High |
| 18E | Special Forces Communications Sergeant | High |
| 18F | Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant | High |
| 18Z | Special Forces Senior Sergeant | High |
| 18 Series | Special Forces | High |
| 31B | Military Police | Moderate |
| 31E | Internment/Resettlement Specialist | Low |
| 68W | Healthcare Specialist/Combat Medic | High |
| 12B | Combat Engineer | Moderate |
Army Combat MOS: Conclusion
So could they see combat? Sure, any MOS could be in a situation that could see combat action.
But the ones I mentioned are the ones that are more likely to see combat, but really, any MOS could be in a situation that could see combat action.
If you are specifically looking for an MOS that is likely to see combat, then yes, being in those MOSs will help, but you also have to be in a unit that happens to deploy. You don’t have any control over that.
A lot of people always ask, Can I volunteer for deployment? In some cases, yes, but it’s rare.
For example, sometimes you have a unit scheduled to deploy to a combat zone and they’re short of some specific MOSs, so they may put the word out to other units to get those MOSs; then this is a good opportunity to volunteer.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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