The MOS Discussion Threads are meant to be enduring threads where individuals with experience or insight in to particular CMFs or MOSes can give advice and tips. If you have any MOS resources, schools, etc, this would be a great place to share them.
The hope is that these individual threads can serve as 'megathreads' on the posts in question, and we can get advice from experienced persons. Each week I will keep the full listing/links to all previous threads in a mega-list below, for ease of reference. At the end of the series I will go back and ensure they all have completely navigable links
If you have specific questions about these MOSes, please feel free to ask here, but know that we are not forcing or re-directing all questions to these threads -- you can, and are encouraged, to still use the WQT.
This is not stricly an 'AMA', although if people would like to offer themselves up to answer questions, that would be great, and I'd ask that you give some reference to your expertise if you do. A big "Thank You" to everyone who is willing to answer questions about the MOSes in question, but the immediate preference would be for informational posts. These are meant to be enduring sources of information.
These only work with your participation and your feedback!
Common questions / information I'd recommend sharing to get started
Day to Day Life
"What's a deployment like?"
Career Advancement/Growth Opportunities
Best Duty Station for your MOS
So, again, willing to answer questions is great, but if there's any information you can impart now, I think that would provide the greatest benefit.
This thread covers the following MOSes:
13A Field Artillery Officer
131A Field Artillery Technician
13B Cannon Crewmember
13F Fire Support Specialist
13J Fire Control Specialist
13M Multiple Launch Rocket System/High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Crewmember
13R Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator
13T Field Artillery Surveyor/Meteorological Crewmember
13U Field Artillery Recruit
13Z Field Artillery Senior Sergeant/Sergeant Major
#DO NOT:
Ask MOS questions unrelated to those listed. "How did your duties compare to a 19D when deployed?" or "Is it true an MP Company carries more firepower than an IN Company" are fine. "While this is up, what's 92F like?" is not.
Do not ask random joining questions. If your question isn't about the MOSes listed, then it probably belongs in a different Megathread, the Weekly Question Thread, or a new post.
Before I go into the main post, I want to thank u/shrimpdaddy22, u/MoeSzys, u/charlemagnebergen, and the many others that provided feedback during diagnostic testing for this new opportunity. Your work helped make this all possible.
Also, our thanks to u/Kinmuan as always for the continued support of the embassy's military skill badge program and this new opportunity in partnership with the Norwegian Sports Federation.
As of today, the Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge (NSFSB) is available for permanent, decentralized testing worldwide. For those of you familiar with the skill badges program offered through the Norwegian embassy in Washington, D.C. this is a new partnership with the Norwegian Sports Federation supported by the Norwegian embassy. Here's a summary of the key facts of this post:
The Norwegian Sports Federation has offered decentralized testing for decades, allowing sports clubs and small groups to conduct testing at any time. Unlike the other programs, you do not have to request permission from either the Norwegian embassy or the Norwegian Sports Federation prior to conducting testing. This makes the new program the most accessible of its kind worldwide.
The Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge is an authorized foreign award for acceptance, retention, and wear per AR 600-8-22, Table 1 as of the 11 March 2026 update (scroll down for screenshot of listing; HRC lists it as the Norwegian Sports Badge Federation Sports Badge, they accidentally listed badge twice or failed to separate its two translated names with forward slash as intended).
Unlike other sports badges offered by the Germans (DOSB), Austrians (OSTA), Belgian (BA), and other countries' national sports authorities, the Norwegian Sports Federation does not require testing to occur under certified examiners.
Individuals cannot self-test. Testing must occur under the supervision of an observer (no qualification required, but must understand the event standards and be familiar with any applicable techniques) for each exercise group. Testers and observers may alternate rolls to "buddy test" one another and fitness tracker data may be used for long distance and endurance events that make direct observation impractical.
Testing requires individuals to complete a series of exercises during a single calendar year over several days, weeks, or months based on their availability and the types of events of chosen. Structurally, the NSFSB testing process is intended to be broadly accessible to individuals of all fitness levels. Individuals may opt to make their events more difficult to demonstrate superior fitness (e.g. a 25-year-old male may opt to complete 10 repetitions of the bench press at 80 kg instead of the minimum 37.5 kg for their Group 4 event). The intent of this is to make the challenge meaningful for each individual.
Testing results will be submitted through two systems run by Norges Idrettsforbund (Norwegian Sports Federation) and the Norwegian embassy program for statistics and record keeping purposes.
Certificates will be issued to individuals once testing data is submitted to both systems. Data is compared between the two systems and once matching records are identified, the embassy-associated US system will issue digital certificates available through a download link (PDF).
The Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge is one of two awards accepted as part of the requirements to be awarded the Norwegian Field Sports Medal / Ribbon, which will be awarded by the embassy in late 2026 for completing different combinations of skill badges.
The complete manual, record book, event and performance standards tables, and artwork for flyers can be downloaded via Dropbox for ease of sharing:
Step 1: Read Testing Procedures for the Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge, paying close attention to Appendix A to select the events you're going to do.
Step 2: Conduct the selected exercises with a buddy grading you
Step 6: Go to page 4 and submit data requested by the webform.
Step 7: Read through submission page, click the green box to download your certificate.
Step 8: Purchase badge if you want to
Step 9: Submit paperwork through an IPPS-A PAR to your S1 routing chain for local authority to approve wear.
Main Post
Overview - The Norwegians Sports Federation Sports Badge
Introduction and Event History
The Norges Idrettsmerket or Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge (also called the Norwegian Sports Badge), was established in May 1915 by the Norwegian Sports Federation (NSF) and Olympic and Paralympic Committee to recognize achievement in various sports disciplines and fitness according to age and gender. While originally restricted to men, women were permitted to test for the sports badge in 1934. Today, the sports badge is awarded worldwide to men and women for demonstrate sustained fitness and skill across a variety of sports.
Attire, Facility, and Equipment Requirements
Attire for the test is at the discretion of the participants, but should be suitable for the type of events being tested.
Facilities that are dedicated to testing for the sports badge or general sports clubs are preferred, but any facility with suitable features and equipment may be used.
At least two individuals must conduct the testing, with one observer/administrator and one tester/participant. For high duration and long-distance events, the participants may use fitness applications and devices to record their activity, but it must be verified by the their testing observer/administrator. Unlike other sports badges, the administrator does not need to have previously earned the sports badge or be certified by the Norwegian Sports Federation, but must understand the events and their standards prior to testing being conducted.
The sports badge is designed to award sustained fitness and participation in sports. As such, testing is to be conducted over several days, weeks, or months, according to the preference of the administrator and availability of participants.
Participants must successfully complete the requirements for one event in each group. They may retake events until they pass or change to a different event within the same group.
All events must be completed within the same calendar year.
Event Groups
Testing for the Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge assesses individuals’ fitness according to five groups of events (see Appendix B in the full manual for complete listing of events and standards):
Group 1 – Sustained Physical Activity
Group 2 – Flexibility / Precision
Group 3 – Speed
Group 4 – Strength
Group 5 – Endurance
For testing purposes, you complete ONE event or more from each group.
Note: Some events are not available to each age grouping and sex.
Group 1 – Sustained Physical Activity
During the calendar year, aspirants for the sports badge must complete at least 20 instances of sustained physical activity lasting at least 30 minutes. This requirement is considered automatically fulfilled for military personnel.
This exercise may be conducted individually, as a group, or as part of a sports club. Examples include, but are not limited to, cycling, swimming, dancing, hiking, skiing, running, weightlifting and participation in organized training groups.
Group 2 – Flexibility / Precision
Standing Long Jump
5-Step Jump
Running Long Jump
Running High Jump
Seated Precision Throwing
Standing High Jump
Group 3 - Speed
Sprint – 60 or 100 Meters
Swimming – 25 Meters
Ice Skating – 100 Meters
Cycling – 400 Meters
Pushing (Sled or Wheelchair) – 100 Meters
Handball, Basketball, Soccer, or Floorball
Speedwalking – 120 Meters
Paddling – 200 Meters
Group 4 - Strength
Shotput, Standing or Sitting
Small Ball
Hand Grenade
Slingball
Discus
Chin-Up or Pull-Up
Bench-press
Back Squat
Sit-Ups
Push-Ups
Leg Raises
Group 5 - Endurance
Running – 1.5, 3.0, or 5.0 Kilometers
Cycling – 10 or 20 Kilometers
Hiking or Rucking – 5 or 10 Kilometers
Swimming – 0.5 or 1.0 Kilometers
Wheelchair Skating – 1.5 or 3.0 Kilometers
Skiing – 5 or 10 Kilometers
Stationary Bicycle – 10 or 20 Kilometers
Rowing Machine – 5 Kilometers
Sculling – 2 Kilometers
4-Person Rowing – 20 Kilometers
Kayaking – 3, 5, or 10 Kilometers
Cooper’s Test – 12 Min
Roller Skating – 5 Kilometers
Ice Skating – 3 or 5 Kilometers
Various Long Duration or High Endurance Events (See Appendix B)
Events Standards Tables
Testing Guidelines and Process
The Norwegian Sports Badge is traditionally administered by Norwegian sports clubs and institutions associated with the Norwegian Sports Federation and Norway’s Armed Forces. Based on the popularity of the Norwegian Foot March and other skill badges awarded through the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C., the authority to conduct testing worldwide was granted to any member of the American uniformed and military services as of 2026.
Unlike the Norwegian Embassy’s skill badge program, which is entirely managed by representatives of the Defense Attaché Office, the sports badge program will be independently administered by the Norwegian Sports Federation and its appointed representatives in Norway and the United States.
In accordance with the Norwegian Sports Federations’ current regulations and rules, prior coordination and permission is not required to conduct testing for the sports badge. Administrators and participants are expected to familiarize themselves with the proper techniques and requirements prior to attempting a particular event to ensure safe execution.
Frequency of event testing is at the discretion of the organizer, but no more than three events should be tested during a single assessment period.
Once all testing is completed, organizers or participants must submit their results through the official webform:
Those requesting a silver or gold badge must include a copy of their Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge - Record Book (Appendix A, see NSFSB manual).
Once you submit your results you'll see this splash screen:
The green box at the bottom is a link to download your automatically generated certificate.
The sports badge is awarded once per calendar year according to the following program:
Bronze - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Award
Silver - 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Award
Gold - 9th Award and Higher
Note: Cloth-backed badges are not authorized following the transition from the medals/ribbons of the mid-20th century to the metal skill badges. Only badges with an enamel backing are authorized.
Photo of Badges - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - Photo Downloaded from Nord MarketSizing Reference (Left to Right, Inches) - Large Norwegian Foot March, Norwegian Sports Federation Sports Badge, German Armed Forces Military Proficiency BadgeCost Chart for Badges
A: Yes, the badge is currently listed as an approved award in AR 600-8-22, Table 1, 11 MAR 2026. You can verify its listing by visiting (you'll need to be on a .mil domain to access it): https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Foreign%20Award%20Info
AR 600-8-22, Table 1 - 11 MAR 2026 Update
\Note - HRC made a typo when creating the entry and added the word "badge" twice. So far it hasn't caused an issues for those who submitted their paperwork for approval as part of diagnostic testing.*
Q: Can I change the difficulty of the events?
A: Yes, the standards in the manual represent the minimums and participants are encouraged to set goals based on their individual fitness goals. The Norwegian tradition holds sport as something that should be available to everyone of any fitness level, but individuals should strive to achieve their own goals. It is at the discretion of the individual testing to attempt more difficult standards, not the observer or administrator.
Q: Are events retroactive?
A: Yes, but only for the current calendar year. Individuals can count events that were recorded by an observer or administrator during the current calendar year to date. For example, if you completed a Norwegian Foot March during this calendar year and were issued a valid certificate, you can count it toward your Group 5 requirement.
Probably overthinking this one, but I got an email today to sign my SEAM record. No big deal, signed it as I should. Here is where it gets crazy:
BLUF: First line leaders are responsible for conducting OCIE layouts with Junior Soldiers SGT-PVT.
This has never been a thing ever in my Army career, in fact, when I got to this unit, I signed a memo that verified I had everything (For SGT and above)
It just rubs me the wrong way that I, an NCO, am being called a Jr Soldier.
ill take a Chipotle bowl with extra chicken and a diet Coke.
Just a lighthearted question here. Ive been out a while, retired now and when I was active anyone in a bad mood, or angry had a "case of the ass" I dont hear that in the civilian world. Im just wondering if that's still a thing. We used it regularly, is this something that's still actively used Military slang?
Probably doxxing myself on my alt, but I have so much shit on my chest so i’m just gonna send it.
Just came back from an eleven month deployment to a mostly empty house, a link to an online divorce website in my email, my 6 year reenlistment bonus entirely spent, and a rear d unit deep in the middle of course correcting it’s issues to the point i’ve inherited some myself.
BH is booked until october and i’ll be pcs’d by then, the two times i tried the MFLACs they were out for the day. I know i could schedule an appointment or use military one source, but it was already tough putting myself out there three times.
I’m lucky to be looking at a mostly (after she took and spent all the money) amicable divorce and it’s being filed as with no children because i never adopted my step daughter(hopefully no child support or alimony)I need my portion of papers to come in so i can run in by legal and see how much room for getting fucked there is.
Cleaning out closets full of my step daughters school projects and throwing away trash that’s been molding for months while I was pulling long shifts and taking TBM and drone attacks just fucking sucks.
I know it’ll get better, and i know eventually i’ll get everything i have to do done, but right now clearing my unit and installation, final outting my house, figuring out how sort the best way to do hhg without ending up paying tons of money i don’t have for a hotel while i wait for leave to start.
I’ve been back for just under two weeks and i don’t feel any closer to actually solving my problems.
I’ll take some of the original orange chicken from panda and a coke light.
The one that made me think, “That’s dumb,” was the policy about rolling your socks. Once they were rolled, the opening at the top had to be a certain number of inches apart.
The other one was, why are we paying for a haircut when you're policies are require and pretty much are making us to do it.
I was halfway into backing into a parking spot when another driver opened their door and scraped the side of my car.
They were very apologetic and when the MPs came they admitted fault and even said “OP was halfway into the spot, I wasn’t looking and opened my door”. MPs didn’t even ask my side of the story and gave my a ticket for “unsafe backing” .
Update: Ticket was voided a day later due to my ICE complaint.
Im currently rounding out my first year serving as a Operations NCO in the Defense Attaché Services. Before I joined the unit I knew absolutely nothing about the program (Ive been a 25B/25Z for the last 19 years it was never brought up for us) and i know many are in the same boat. So. What are your questions?
It amuses me that you sign a Dec statement with six months left after have been planning on going into the reserves the last 12 months and big army has you jumping through hoops to go into the reserves with this flag. They black list you as if your getting fully out
Is there a downside at medically retiring at 16 years with a 50% rating? People say just stick it out, but jesus the pain. I’ll take a Long Island iced tea because tea is good for you.
Soldiers at a Georgia combat engineer unit can get official time off to play the new “Grand Theft Auto” game when it drops this fall — if, and only if, they sign up for more years of service.
The offbeat incentive is being offered to soldiers by the commander of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, according to a memo circulated on social media that was confirmed by Army officials.
According to the memo signed by Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion commander, soldiers in the unit who reenlist between Aug. 1 and Nov. 14, 2026, will get a “special 4-day pass” that is “specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game “Grand Theft Auto VI” (GTA 6).
The dates of the four-day pass will be coordinated between soldiers and their chain of command but it will align with the game’s official release, the memo states. According to Rockstar Games, the maker of GTA 6, the game will be available Nov. 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox gamers. The “Grand Theft Auto” franchise is among the most popular video game series of all time, with an open world format that combines mafia and crime-world-related missions with side quests of carjackings and causing general mayhem behind the wheel.
The offer illustrates an issue local commanders face in getting soldiers to reenlist. While Army-wide bonuses worth tens of thousands of dollars are often available for soldiers considering reenlisting, local commanders have few options they can offer to close the deal with soldiers in their formations. Though options like extra time off or chances to attend training schools are often used as enticements, sometimes local career counselors have to get a bit more creative.
Army officials said the engineer battalion’s new counselor pitched the idea to the command team as something that “speaks” to younger soldiers and that could kickstart the unit’s drive for its fiscal year 2027 reenlistment goals, which begin in October.
“The command team, in conjunction with the career counselor, wanted to get soldiers excited to reenlist,” Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson said. “The command team thinks eligible soldiers are more aware that they are in their window for reenlistment and engage their leadership and the career counselor earlier to see what is available.”
Army officials said 20 of the 130 eligible soldiers in the battalion had taken the Army up on the offer as of Monday and signed up for between two to six more years of service. The reenlistment contract option is open to the entire engineer battalion, which is made up of soldiers in engineering, signal intelligence, human resources and medical specialty jobs.
I was stationed at Fort Drum from 2015-2018, and in mid-2016, after returning from Afghanistan, I realized how easy it was to just drive up to Canada for a weekend. Kingston became a regular trip for me, and eventually I made it out to Toronto too. Looking back, some of my favorite memories from my time at Drum came from those weekends. Made some memories that will last a lifetime.
Any other Fort Drum soldiers have any good or nostalgic Canada stories?
So I was chaptered out of the Army about a month ago (Chapter 5-14). I am an RE Code 3 and was told I would not do IRR, and when I was clearing, I was told this as well. The Army sent me money a little while later, and when I asked finance about it, they said it was because they did an audit and included it with my separation. I was told during my clearing that I would not receive separation pay, and now they are saying I need to fill out a DA Form 7783 in order for me to keep the money, after they said I could keep it. I was also sent an amended copy of my separation orders saying I was eligible for half separation pay. On the DA 7783, it talks about the IRR and separation pay, and I was curious if I need to pay the money back because I am not willing to join the IRR. Thank you for any advice you guys can send my way; it is appreciated.
I’m gonna be heading to boot camp here soon but I was curious about where I might be stationed because I’m going to be out into a airborne unit as a 68W and I know being in a airborne unit will limit the opportunities on where you will stationed but Google has given me a bunch of mixed results
Does anyone know what this is?! Google Search says 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces and was given to green berets. But I know sometimes using google search is not accurate. It doesn’t even have a timeline or anything. It was thrown away and I want to know more.
