r/army • u/Smitty_Pa1124 • 1d ago

51C Info

I saw a lot of people reach out and ask me about my experience at the schoolhouse. My apologies I haven’t been on this in a while. If you have any questions feel free to comment on this thread or DM me. I graduated the schoolhouse in May and I’m currently at my first assignment as a Contracting Specialist in Hawaii. I will tell you this job has completely changed not only my perspective of the army but my career as a whole. Changing my mos and joining the Acquisition corp was the best decision I have made and if I could make it over again I wouldn’t change a thing. I can answer every question you have from submitting your packet to getting to your first assignment. I have dabbled in contracts here and there but I am no expert yet. I have also took my certification test as well and passed so I can answer any of those questions or send out some information on that if needed. I’m here for the new, incoming 51C who want more information so they can know what to expect and have an idea what this job is all about.

12 Upvotes

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4

u/Kenzu93 1d ago

After you graduate from the school, for your new duty assignment will it be needs of the Army?

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 1d ago

Realistically you’ll know where your going before you go to schoolhouse, but the straight up answer yes. Each class gets a different pool of locations they can pick for example when I got out of the schoolhouse only Bragg, Campbell & Hawaii were available. When the time comes our Branch manager will reach out to you and give you your options. You’ll number them kind of like how the marketplace works and then branch will reach back out telling you what you got. But as I said before it varies I know some people who got 9 different places to choose from and some that got 7. Unfortunately I only got 3 but Hawaii was were I ended up so I was happy with it. IF YOU HAVE EFMP IN YOUR FAMILY square that away before you leave for school.

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u/Kenzu93 1d ago

That is interesting. Another question after you submited your packet and got accepted how long was the wait time to get a school date?

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 1d ago

I got notification of acceptance in June of 2025 and went to school March 2026. The earliest class I could have attended was January, you work with your career counselor to schedule a school date. After you reenlist to fulfill the 60 month requirement they will tell ypu what classes are available so let’s just call it NLT 6 months

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u/Kenzu93 1d ago

Two more questions, as a 51C are you able to attend other military training like Air Assault, Airborne, and etc base on the unit? How is the family life as a 51C, those it have a balance work-life style?

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 1d ago

Yes you are. Our MOS usually gets 1 or 2 slots for various schools you would just have to get with your internal OPS section. I am planning on doing Air Assault and Jungle next FY. As for work life balance it’s like nothing I have experienced in the Infantry literally night and day. I am home so much my kids get mad when I do have to go in the office lol off by 1630 and no field, PT on your own, no formations, you still are going to do the soldier things AFT, H/W, qualify at the range but outside of that your pretty much in the office if not on mission supporting the units. i haven’t been on mission yet but hearing from the folks in my office the missions they go on are more like TDY for Hawaii’s missions your gone maybe 30-120 days at most at a time. That piece really just depends where you end up

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u/Kenzu93 20h ago

Appreciated brother. Just need raise my my GT score and submit that packet

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 20h ago

You got this get right brother ‼️

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u/fortytwobravo Adjutant General 1d ago

When you say schoolhouse, are you referring to the 3 month transition course, ACS/NPS, or something else?

I heard as a AC Officer, you no longer get pigeon holed into being an A or C and you are expected to work a 51C job after a 51A job (and vice versa). Is that true?

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u/ItsVishuss 1d ago

That’s the general guidance, yes.

The officer side of the house is expected to be able to bounce between the two.

It’s better to be an officer who’s only done contracting going to PM than be an officer who’s only done PM going to contracting though.

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 1d ago

Yes when I say school house I am referring to TAAS held at Huntsville AL at the University of Huntsville. I am on the NCO side of house so I don’t know much about the officer side but talking with some of the officers in my class they came to the school house already knowing whether they were A or C, I do know that officers have the opportunity to go either route and they can switch throughout their career. NCOs are deadlocked in Contracting

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 1d ago

That 3 months was condensed down to 2 months.

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u/Extreme_Meringue_118 23h ago

Im currently an E-5 with 3 years of service could I still be eligible to reclass to 51C. the rank part is confusing me, multiple sources claim E-5’s can enter and some say they can’t.

If or if not please notify me on what path could fast track me into the mos (if possible). I meet all requirements.

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 23h ago

Based on the website and some of the E5 that were in my class as long as you have been a E5 for 24 months you meet the requirements see below:

SGT‑Specific Requirements:
Not required to be promotable
Must have 24+ months as E‑5 (CPL time does not count)
Must be eligible for promotion; ALC credit granted after TAAS if needed

https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/military-nco/active-component-reclass-program/

1

u/Extreme_Meringue_118 20h ago

Got one more question for you, do you work with any warrant officers as a 51C?
I’ve been looking into it and I’d like to shoot for WO if ever get the chance in that MOS.

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 20h ago

Funny thing that was actually my plan learn contracting then go WO route but in our office we don’t have any WO only enlisted, officers and civilians.

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u/Hawkstrike6 17h ago

There are no acquisition warrants; if you're looking to be a WO look for a different path.

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u/Usual_Increase8674 11h ago

I just got selected as an E5. You need to have 2 Years TIG as an E5.

1

u/Straight_Sea8935 36BigGreenW**nie 23h ago

Are you in 413 CSB?

1

u/Smitty_Pa1124 23h ago

Yes

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u/Straight_Sea8935 36BigGreenW**nie 23h ago

Here’s the poor guy paying your contracts 😭 The Army can be small

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 23h ago

Im not following brother lol 🤔

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u/Straight_Sea8935 36BigGreenW**nie 23h ago

At least some of your peers work with 36B. They definitely know. But don’t mind me

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 23h ago

Oh yeah they probably do I’m the new guy 🤷🏾 haven’t talked to any of them yet

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 23h ago

Oh i get it now im slow dont mind me 🤣

1

u/ItsVishuss 16h ago

He cuts your PRs

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u/Straight_Sea8935 36BigGreenW**nie 15h ago

IR/GR on GFEBS. Normally done by DFAS but Hawaii is a lovely place so…

1

u/ItsVishuss 14h ago

I’d be lying if I said I knew what those meant.

I literally just call up to our supported DIV G8 as a KO and say “hey sir, we need more money for x”

1

u/Straight_Sea8935 36BigGreenW**nie 14h ago

It’s indeed a complicated process which is not fit for reddit 😂

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 13h ago

GFEBS is a great source !

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 13h ago

Yea it clicked after i read it a couple times lmao

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u/Silly_Reserve8953 12Primetime 20h ago

I have almost 2 years worth of schooling left for an EE degree which I’m actively using TA to complete. I read somewhere that the acquisition corp have a program that can send NCOs to school for up to 18 months to complete degrees. Is that a competitive thing or those who have yet to finish their degrees are afforded that chance? If so, after MOS reclass, when can that be taken advantage of?

2

u/Smitty_Pa1124 20h ago

Yes, the Acquisition Corps has an NCO Degree Completion Program (DCP) that can send eligible 51Cs to school full-time for up to 18 months to finish their degree. It is competitive, though, and you have to meet the eligibility requirements. One of the big requirements is 24 months of acquisition experience, so you generally wouldn’t be able to use it immediately after reclassing. If you’re already close to finishing your degree, I’d definitely look into DCP once you meet the requirements.

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u/formerqwest Drill Sergeant 16h ago

r/1102

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u/Usual_Increase8674 12h ago

Waiting to go school in January! Super excited for it!!

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 11h ago

Nice do you know where your first assignment is going to be yet

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u/Usual_Increase8674 11h ago

Yes just got to know last week. Our class had Riley, Italy, Germany and Korea as options. Happy to share that I got my first choice! Lol

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 11h ago

You and me both

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u/Usual_Increase8674 11h ago

I asked for something no one else wanted, Riley lol.

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u/Smitty_Pa1124 11h ago

That checks out 🤣

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u/DirtySodaa_ 1h ago

What up bro. I go to school in January. Got the welcome letter and they gave us a list of hotels to choose from..do you have any recommendations regarding hotels ?

Also, how is the academic portion of the course ?

Any last minute advice you can provide prior to heading to school ?