Today, I’m going to take a few moments to educate you about the 21V MOS in the Army: the Concrete and Asphalt Equipment Operator. I think this is a really cool MOS for anyone who wants a skilled trade that can almost guarantee them a job after the Army.
Soldiers in this MOS build roads and runways for the Army. They do a very similar job to their civilian counterpart.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Produces runways and roads that keep the Army moving
- Operate concrete producing equipment and asphalt pavers
- Operate mobile concrete mixer
- Load sand, water, cement, and gravel
- Operate controls that mix materials
- Assist in operations and maintenance of asphalt nozzle, kettles and aggregate spreaders
- Apply tack and prime coats
- Assists with asphalt surfacing and paving equipment
- Combat engineer training, such as setting up barbed wire, minefields and building shelters
- Lifting heavy supplies and equipment
- Assist with combat engineer missions
Prerequisites for MOS
To qualify for this MOS you must score a 90 or higher on the GM portion of your ASVAB test. I couldn’t find any other specific requirements.
Attributes to Succeed in this MOS
Here are some personal attributes that might help you be successful in this MOS:
- Enjoy working outdoors
- Hands on type of person
- Enjoy working in small teams
- Ability to work long hours in the heat
- Good work ethic
- Ability to lift heavy objects
Life After the Army
This is a great MOS for anyone who wants a career in the contracting, asphalt or concrete industry. You could work at a cement plant, on an asphalt crew, with a road crew or a variety of other jobs that are in demand. There are also plenty of opportunities to advance your way up through the enlisted ranks.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the 21V MOS is a great MOS for anyone looking for a career in the cement or asphalt industry. It’s tough, challenging and very important. To learn more about the MOS contact your local Army recruiter.
On a side note, if you have experience in this MOS I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to tell us about your experience. Where were you assigned? What did you do on a daily basis? What did you dislike and like about the MOS? I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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Yes, you are right Josh. Knowing asphalt is a beneficial career choice. Thanks for your comment.
Chuck, the responsibilities that you mentioned in the application sure must be a big task to do. Just reading this article sure reminds me of several friends who are looking to do asphalt paving. Especially working with roads and sidewalks that they’ve done before.
I do have a question about this MOS. Is the military slowly phasing some of these out?
The reason I ask is: I notice the Army, along with other branches have been outsourcing these type of jobs to civilian companies. Is it because they just do not have enough military personnel to cover these jobs, or is their thought process in cutting some of these jobs.
Back in the late 1990’s, I worked for a company and we did much of the asphalt work at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. I was surprised that military didn’t do it.
That’s a great question. I wouldn’t be surprised if this MOS eventually got phased out for the exact reasons you mention.
I don’t have experience with the Army with this type of job, but I do have experience with it in the civilian world. I agree that this would be an excellent choice of an MOS that would provide huge advantages of a job after Army service. There are an abundance of job opportunities in both concrete and asphalt construction. It is hard work and there is a lot of lifting and manual labor, but it is a great job.
Definitely not for the feint at heart, but it does offer a stable employment outside of the military.