Army 42 alpha (human resource specialist)?
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I was a 42A for 4 years, with 3-187th Infantry Battalion working in the BN S1 shop. I went to the range probably only 3 times with my unit. We did field marches every Thursday for PT. Lots of running. 5 times in my 4 years did we bother with combatives. I was left back as the Rear-D for 2 real world deployments, so I would have to say that it was not the most tactically exciting job. However, my NCOIC was invovled in the assault into Baghdad. Most of my excitement while in the military was seeing how much red tape I could slip past to ensure that my boys were taken care of- ie promoted on time (or ahead of time), that their pay was correct, evals looked good and that we had all the skilled soldiers that were required to complete the mission, even snaking a couple from units that also needed them, and swindling deals and just generally being as grifty as possible.
I am not a 42A, but I have known many of them.
Depending on what you are doing, and where you get assigned, your level of excitement will go up or down. I was in school was a 42A who was VERY hard core as far as all things military are concerned...I asked him why he chose 42A as his MOS, and he said it was because he is a single parent and didn't want to necessarily put himself in a position where he woudl have a better chance at leaving his son an orphan. He did, however, say that he took part in a LOT of patrol missions in Iraq and saw more than his share of combat.
My fiancee is 42A and in that MOS its office work.. hence "human resource spec". However since most 42A units are undeployable you can be mobilized and sent away. Now that so many aer getting sent to Iraq and elsewhere shes been doing mostly SRP and SRCs for deployment.. she has worked 72 hours so far since last Wednesday and if you get bored easily its not the right MOS because she complains about time going by too sloowwww
My husband is a 42 alpha. He hardly spends time in his office. They are always training him for stuff and might get deployed in September. Right now he is in the field for 2 weeks. He drives the XO's car and stuff but he really doesn't spend time doing the paperwork that he is supposed to do. That is only his experience and it could differ from what other 42 alphas are doing. The AIT is short which is nice its a good job if you have any questions just e-mail me.
42As can work in several different places, they can maintain the company paper work or operate at a battalion level doing everyone's paperwork and if you get a mail handlers license you can work in a mail room. You will still have all the training to do so you won't be bored. One thing it was hard to get promoted in that job when I was in but that may have changed by now. Good luck and thank you for serving our country.
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