Today, I want to talk about the Army 19D MOS, aka the CAV Scout. Although I never personally served in this MOS myself, I was assigned to some mechanized/armor units and have served alongside Soldiers in this MOS most of my career. I’ve always thought this would be a very fun and challenging MOS to have.
I believe the CAV Scout MOS would be great for someone who likes an adventure and risk. It would be great for someone who is sneaky and sly and likes spying on people and being secretive.
First and foremost, a 19D is a CAV Scout. The CAV Scout is simply the commander’s ears and eyes on the battlefield. They are the Soldiers that head out in ADVANCE and spy on the enemy, report information and collect data for reports. Some of their primary duties include:
- Manning Observation Posts
- Gathers and Reports Information about the Enemy
- Performs Dismounted Patrols
- Operates Vehicles and Crew Served Weapons
- Performs Mounted and Dismounted Navigation
- Report Information on Terrain, Weather and the Enemy
Soldiers serving in this MOS would almost always be assigned to a combat arms unit, either in an Infantry or Armor Battalion/Brigade. They could perform their duties in up armored HMMWVs, Stryker’s or tracked vehicles. Their equipment would be determined the type of unit they serve in.
Here are five reasons to serve as a 19D CAV Scout as I see it.
# 1 First Out
Some people might not like this reason, but I think being the first out on the battlefield is pretty exciting. As a CAV SCOUT, you will go out on the Advance Party and man an Observation Post, or you’ll be spying on the enemy. You won’t be in the rear sitting with the gear.
# 2 Work Closely with Other Combat Arms Soldiers
As a 19D Soldier, you will work closely with your Infantry, Armor and Field Artillery counterparts. You will be relaying information to them and communicating frequently.
# 3 Important Role on the Battle Field
As a CAV Scout, you have an important role on the battlefield. You really are the commander’s eyes and ears on the battlefield. It’s your job to keep them informed as to what is going on in the front lines so they can make critical command decisions.
# 4 Great Career Advancement Opportunities
There are plenty of career advancement opportunities as a 19D. You will have ample opportunity to work your way up through the ranks and get promoted. You will also have opportunities to be a Recruiter, trainer, instructor, and a variety of other things.
# 5 Serve in Awesome Units
As a CAV Scout, you will get the opportunity to serve in some of the Army’s best units: the combat arms units. You could serve in any Division and within most combat arms battalions or brigades. These are the primary war fighting units in the Army.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it folks. You should now have a better understanding about what an Army CAV Scout is and what they do! What are your thoughts about serving as a 19D CAV Scout? What do you like or dislike about the MOS? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you.
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- 7th Cavalry Regiment: Top 12 Facts
- The U.S. Army Cavalry: 20 Amazing Facts
- 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) TNARNG
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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So did I in Desert Storm at the time ours was 7 minutes with the greater chance of being killed by our own people coming back. It’s not glory and they never mention targets of opportunity you might have to remove
This is a job with a ton of responsibility. The commander and his team are relying heavily on the scouts to give them accurate, reliable and timely information. If you are the type of person who loves adventure and a challenge this is an interesting and rewarding job.
As always, make sure this is a job that really speaks to your interests and abilities.
I think serving as a 19D Cav Scout would be really awesome. Like you said, it’s not for everyone. But if you like adventure, a fast TEMPO, and something really challenging, this might be the perfect MOS for you.
I was a 19D, please don’t make it sound so glamorous, life expectancie for a scout in a war is 19 seconds