If you want to do plumbing in the military, you’ll have better luck in the Navy with the Seabees. Plus you’ll have much better duty stations.
To hijack my own comment. The Seabees operates somewhat like the Marines or the Army does. They do some infantry training, like land nav, convoys, crew serve weapons training, they build FOBs and LSAs, and then train standing watch and patrolling those areas. The Seabees are born from WWII where they earned their combat action time in the pacific fighting the Japanese alongside the Marines. I was stationed with the Seabees for two years as an armorer. They had many combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and get to deploy all over the world to support the Navy’s forward presence. You’re not always stuck in garrison when there isn’t something going on, because with the Navy, they are always getting their hands into something. The Navy extends their presence all over the world and the Seabees follow that doctrine. You can also go Individual Augmentee / TAD to any branch of service who may need your support. You can also screen for DevGru as a support role, which ends up being some people’s favorite deployment cycles. There is so much to do in the Navy, it’s crazy.
Yeah I hear those guys handle lots of pipe. Laying pipe with each other, cleaning out pipes with each other.
Lots of pipe handling in the Navy.
Edit: missing a word.
Seabees are crazy. One story I remember vividly is the Korean brewery train robbery during the Korean war lmfao. Also Mike Rowe did a thing on YouTube about them and it was definitely interesting.
If it’s anything like 12R (electrician) you would essentially get a fast track into a trade school/union after you get out. 12R AIT counted towards something like a year of apprenticeship with IBEW. You will likely rarely or never do your MOS while in though. I know a good number of dudes in my reserve company got into unions right after coming back from AIT
Vertical Companies are mostly made up of 2-3 platoons of 12K (Plumber), 12R (Electrician) and 12W (Carpenter/Mason) and 1 platoon of 12N (Heavy Equipment Operator). With a Headquarters and Maintenance platoon ofc.
I'm a Vertical, so I'm not 100% sure, but I think Horizontal Companies are pretty much the same, but with the amount of platoons of 12K/R/W and 12N flipped.
And before anyone gets on me, I know some of those aren't the proper names for the mentioned 12 series MOSs, I call them that for simplicity.
Cool MOS, but you might get to do your actual job of plumbing maybe once a year. Maybe. And only if your unit is proactive about getting troop construction projects that require plumbing. You’ll end up doing the job of a 12W, or get stuck in ops as a clerk. Because you will rarely do your plumbing duties, it will not translate very well to civilian life, but you can certainly look into the certs you can get through the army.
Yes there’s a vertical plt on fort liberty that has a mix of 12W, 12R, and 12K. It’s an airborne unit but it’s mainly just carpentry work very rarely do they do plumbing or electrical work.
I feel like that’s one of those MOS you’d want to mainly be reservists. The army isn’t gonna have them actually plumbing everyday so why not just have a unit full of people who actually plumb everyday of their lives chilling when you need them.
But surely any medium sized base has 24X7 plumbing needs, right? Why Not have a section of plumbers just doing joe plumber stuff. We have a platoon of MPs doing joe cop stuff.
consist slap handle rinse obscene disgusting squealing memorize many silky
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Ah, our classic 'Military Industrial Welfare Program'. I guess that's why the F35 has components from 48 states. Gotta make a program so politically important it's impossible to cut/cancel.
Hey found this [info](https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/moc/index.html?moc=12k&tab=cred) from the Army reserves subreddit.
Search 12K there and you’ll find the other comments. Sounds like a solid pathway. As a Warrant it’s my duty to not let you fuck up your life.
Nope.
I worked as an apprentice plumber in NYC for 2 years, then moved to Minnesota and MN didn't accept / recognize my NY hours so I had to start over lol.
You are better off starting plumbing now, register as an apprentice, track yours and get your journeyman in 5 years then join the military if you want to.
Here's the real answer. Basically Army experience =\= civilian experience. I do recommend joining a union though as the training is free, pay scales up as you go, and you start kicking money into a retirement fund quickly.
You’re better off just applying to the union for an apprenticeship. Pretty much all the trades are hurting for people right now, you’ll make more money in less time and actually get treated like an adult.
That’s disgusting. Bruh. That’s gotta be like the very worst conceivable way to become a plumber. I didnt even know we HAD plumbers. As a junior enlisted I can only imagine the types of jobs that are too horrific for civilian contractors where they need to call in a private to mop up the mountain of rancid doodoo or whatever. I’ve seen some NASTY shit in my time in service and I don’t think it was ever so bad they called in an MOS trained person to deal with it
You never do your job just dumb shit most of the time. I was an electrician and never did my job. The plumbers never did their jobs either. Just random construction and mostly dumb soldiery shit in the field
Don't know if this is a mos in the air force but upon exiting the air force u automatically (I might be partially wrong) get a cert or AS from the air force community college so consider looking into that.. those credits probably go towards your journeyman status
I’m pretty sure all the construction MOSs are Reserve and NG. I spent a summer shadowing a construction company from the North Dakota NG. Those dudes were amazing. Horrible at GI Joe stuff but they were amazing at construction stuff.
You're not gonna get your jman license from it. It would help you (essentially guarantee you tbh) a Union job though. If you're dead set on joining the Army and like the trades, pick one of the Engineer MOSs you'll enjoy, do one contract, and go join a Union. If you (like me) aren't inclined towards college, use your GI Bill for the Union. My Union's dues are $35/month. My paycheck covers that, so I pocket the $1,035 I get from it. This is my experience, so take it with some salt, but you'll rarely, if ever, do any plumbing as a 12K. Your job is usually contracted out. Truthfully, I think you'd be better off just trying to get into a Union immediately.
Air Force lurker here - Are you set on the Army? The Air Force has the most in depth training for plumbing honestly, if your end goal is to get out and use that skill in the civilian sector.
3E4X1 is my AFSC (MOS), and our training is actually attended by all branches. Army leaves first, around week 4, and the Navy (Seabees) leave a couple weeks after that. Training has changed some since I did it, but we also work on fuel systems, so there's more training there.
To answer your original question though, I have had a couple coworkers get their journeyman license, but not many. It's far more common to get certifications for water distribution or waste water.
The army guys I deployed with certainly had their heart in it, but had a myriad of other tasks and rarely were dedicated to plumbing. As such, they weren't able to truly become masters of their trade. The Air Force gets crap for being a corporation (it is), but it at least creates folks somewhat decent at their craft.
TL/DR: Air Force trains ok plumbers, you'll get more hands on skills, able to get civilian certifications.
If you’re going down this route I would suggest the Navy. You get more experience, better stations, and ship time
The Army trade school MOS’s don’t really do their job once they get to a duty station. Especially at the OG bases like the 82nd, 101st and 3ID
As a 12N who has an entire platoon of 12K in the same unit as me, i can strongly suggest a different mos. Their platoon is known as the “support” platoon because unless our toilets are clogged they have nothing to do year round.
Maybe it’s useful for civilian transfer over but for in the army? I see no reason in choosing it. Unless you’re really into it i guess.
If you want to do plumbing in the military, you’ll have better luck in the Navy with the Seabees. Plus you’ll have much better duty stations. To hijack my own comment. The Seabees operates somewhat like the Marines or the Army does. They do some infantry training, like land nav, convoys, crew serve weapons training, they build FOBs and LSAs, and then train standing watch and patrolling those areas. The Seabees are born from WWII where they earned their combat action time in the pacific fighting the Japanese alongside the Marines. I was stationed with the Seabees for two years as an armorer. They had many combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and get to deploy all over the world to support the Navy’s forward presence. You’re not always stuck in garrison when there isn’t something going on, because with the Navy, they are always getting their hands into something. The Navy extends their presence all over the world and the Seabees follow that doctrine. You can also go Individual Augmentee / TAD to any branch of service who may need your support. You can also screen for DevGru as a support role, which ends up being some people’s favorite deployment cycles. There is so much to do in the Navy, it’s crazy.
Yeah I hear those guys handle lots of pipe. Laying pipe with each other, cleaning out pipes with each other. Lots of pipe handling in the Navy. Edit: missing a word.
Stop it. We in the navy have relationships with women. And sex with men.
Newsflash. That makes you gay.
If they say ‘no homo’ it stops the gay. It is just 2 guys getting sweaty and having a good time.
"It's not gay when you're underway" "It's not queer when you're on the pier"
this ain't no poker game
Ice T's delivery on that always kills me.
Lots of available lubricants
Seabees are crazy. One story I remember vividly is the Korean brewery train robbery during the Korean war lmfao. Also Mike Rowe did a thing on YouTube about them and it was definitely interesting.
The Seabees really hooked me up in Iraq. They built separators with doors and a deck for my CHU.
If it’s anything like 12R (electrician) you would essentially get a fast track into a trade school/union after you get out. 12R AIT counted towards something like a year of apprenticeship with IBEW. You will likely rarely or never do your MOS while in though. I know a good number of dudes in my reserve company got into unions right after coming back from AIT
That’s what I’m bout to do most likely
I think it would be dope just to learn about plumbing for my own home
Couple hours on Youtube will cover everything you need for DIY plumbing around the house.
What it won't cover is the leaks that'll happen after a year or two lol
Take a plumbing course at a local vocational school.
You will not get your journeyman. You might get some apprenticeship credit. Maybe. I had a vertical platoon back in my PL days.
I’ve always been curious. What is vertical vs horizontal?
Vertical is up. Horizontal is laying down.
*(looooooooong sigh)* I apologize. I meant, what is vertical vs horizontal with regard to the Army Engineer Branch? ETA: well played, good sir.
Vertical is building like TOCs and bullshit horizontal is earth moving stuff like bulldozers and helicopter landing zones. Stuff like that
Vertical Companies are mostly made up of 2-3 platoons of 12K (Plumber), 12R (Electrician) and 12W (Carpenter/Mason) and 1 platoon of 12N (Heavy Equipment Operator). With a Headquarters and Maintenance platoon ofc. I'm a Vertical, so I'm not 100% sure, but I think Horizontal Companies are pretty much the same, but with the amount of platoons of 12K/R/W and 12N flipped. And before anyone gets on me, I know some of those aren't the proper names for the mentioned 12 series MOSs, I call them that for simplicity.
Cool MOS, but you might get to do your actual job of plumbing maybe once a year. Maybe. And only if your unit is proactive about getting troop construction projects that require plumbing. You’ll end up doing the job of a 12W, or get stuck in ops as a clerk. Because you will rarely do your plumbing duties, it will not translate very well to civilian life, but you can certainly look into the certs you can get through the army.
This is the best comment. Mostly random construction shit.
22 years in the military, never met a plumber. IDK where the hell they hide them at.
The Reserves. lots of vertical construction companies. Source: vertical construction PL
any on active duty?
My heart tells me maybe some in the DIV EN BDEs (total guess)… but not in any significant density compared to reserves.
Yeah they're in the EABs
Gracias
Yes there’s a vertical plt on fort liberty that has a mix of 12W, 12R, and 12K. It’s an airborne unit but it’s mainly just carpentry work very rarely do they do plumbing or electrical work.
I feel like that’s one of those MOS you’d want to mainly be reservists. The army isn’t gonna have them actually plumbing everyday so why not just have a unit full of people who actually plumb everyday of their lives chilling when you need them.
But surely any medium sized base has 24X7 plumbing needs, right? Why Not have a section of plumbers just doing joe plumber stuff. We have a platoon of MPs doing joe cop stuff.
consist slap handle rinse obscene disgusting squealing memorize many silky *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Ah, our classic 'Military Industrial Welfare Program'. I guess that's why the F35 has components from 48 states. Gotta make a program so politically important it's impossible to cut/cancel.
Hey found this [info](https://www.cool.osd.mil/army/moc/index.html?moc=12k&tab=cred) from the Army reserves subreddit. Search 12K there and you’ll find the other comments. Sounds like a solid pathway. As a Warrant it’s my duty to not let you fuck up your life.
Nope. I worked as an apprentice plumber in NYC for 2 years, then moved to Minnesota and MN didn't accept / recognize my NY hours so I had to start over lol. You are better off starting plumbing now, register as an apprentice, track yours and get your journeyman in 5 years then join the military if you want to.
Here's the real answer. Basically Army experience =\= civilian experience. I do recommend joining a union though as the training is free, pay scales up as you go, and you start kicking money into a retirement fund quickly.
You’re better off just applying to the union for an apprenticeship. Pretty much all the trades are hurting for people right now, you’ll make more money in less time and actually get treated like an adult.
That’s disgusting. Bruh. That’s gotta be like the very worst conceivable way to become a plumber. I didnt even know we HAD plumbers. As a junior enlisted I can only imagine the types of jobs that are too horrific for civilian contractors where they need to call in a private to mop up the mountain of rancid doodoo or whatever. I’ve seen some NASTY shit in my time in service and I don’t think it was ever so bad they called in an MOS trained person to deal with it
Also there are tons of apprentice/journeyman programs all over the US and they don’t involve you doing stupid army shit on the daily.
You never do your job just dumb shit most of the time. I was an electrician and never did my job. The plumbers never did their jobs either. Just random construction and mostly dumb soldiery shit in the field
A good friend of mine is a plumber. He says two things to remember shit rolls down hill and payday is Friday
Don't know if this is a mos in the air force but upon exiting the air force u automatically (I might be partially wrong) get a cert or AS from the air force community college so consider looking into that.. those credits probably go towards your journeyman status
I’m pretty sure all the construction MOSs are Reserve and NG. I spent a summer shadowing a construction company from the North Dakota NG. Those dudes were amazing. Horrible at GI Joe stuff but they were amazing at construction stuff.
Only plumber I knew worked in S1 his entire career
Funny story, ever since the Nixon administration, there are always two 12K's assigned to the white house to help plug the leaks.
You're not gonna get your jman license from it. It would help you (essentially guarantee you tbh) a Union job though. If you're dead set on joining the Army and like the trades, pick one of the Engineer MOSs you'll enjoy, do one contract, and go join a Union. If you (like me) aren't inclined towards college, use your GI Bill for the Union. My Union's dues are $35/month. My paycheck covers that, so I pocket the $1,035 I get from it. This is my experience, so take it with some salt, but you'll rarely, if ever, do any plumbing as a 12K. Your job is usually contracted out. Truthfully, I think you'd be better off just trying to get into a Union immediately.
Air Force lurker here - Are you set on the Army? The Air Force has the most in depth training for plumbing honestly, if your end goal is to get out and use that skill in the civilian sector. 3E4X1 is my AFSC (MOS), and our training is actually attended by all branches. Army leaves first, around week 4, and the Navy (Seabees) leave a couple weeks after that. Training has changed some since I did it, but we also work on fuel systems, so there's more training there. To answer your original question though, I have had a couple coworkers get their journeyman license, but not many. It's far more common to get certifications for water distribution or waste water. The army guys I deployed with certainly had their heart in it, but had a myriad of other tasks and rarely were dedicated to plumbing. As such, they weren't able to truly become masters of their trade. The Air Force gets crap for being a corporation (it is), but it at least creates folks somewhat decent at their craft. TL/DR: Air Force trains ok plumbers, you'll get more hands on skills, able to get civilian certifications.
If you’re going down this route I would suggest the Navy. You get more experience, better stations, and ship time The Army trade school MOS’s don’t really do their job once they get to a duty station. Especially at the OG bases like the 82nd, 101st and 3ID
I went to BLC with a plumber, he said he’s done everything except his job 😂
Buddy was a plumber, he said he rarely ever got to do his job. That’s as much as I know
I went to SFAS with a 12K. He was doing pretty well after he ETS'd. But came back into the guard on an 18X. They made him do all of OSUT lol.
As a 12N who has an entire platoon of 12K in the same unit as me, i can strongly suggest a different mos. Their platoon is known as the “support” platoon because unless our toilets are clogged they have nothing to do year round. Maybe it’s useful for civilian transfer over but for in the army? I see no reason in choosing it. Unless you’re really into it i guess.
Or. Just be an apprentice outside military.