What is "MOS" necessary for driving a tank? Why Pilots Are Aces Comparable to Fighter Pilots

Also in Japan, the Ground Self-Defense Force owns a "tank", and many people admire its pure functional beauty and coolness because of its robust appearance, even if it is not a military enthusiast.

There are also the Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle, which runs on eight wheels without tracks, and various types of self-propelled artillery for long-range artillery fire, but the Type 74 Tank, which has a powerful form and balance, is also available. , Type 90 tanks, and Type 10 tanks.

Is the license required to drive a tank different from, say, the same caterpillar bulldozer or excavator?

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Large special license (large special vehicles are limited to Catapilla vehicles) and MOS are required

The tanks deployed by the Ground Self-Defense Force in Japan are, in order from the oldest, Type 74, Type 90, and Type 10. There are 3 types of type tanks, and it is an 8-wheeled type tank instead of a caterpillar, and although it is inferior to tanks in defense power and rough road running performance, it excels in high-speed driving on flat roads such as paved roads, and has 16 firepower comparable to the Type 74 tank. There is a type mobile combat vehicle.

In addition, there are many types of tracked vehicles (caterpillar armored vehicles) alone, such as the Type 99 self-propelled howitzer, the Type 87 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Type 73 armored car.

In recent years, although there has been an increase in wheeled vehicles (tire-type armored vehicles) that emphasize the speed of ``from the garrison to a place where you can board a transport ship, and to the battlefield after disembarking from the transport ship,'' speed is more important than speed. Tracked vehicles that emphasize combat power are also deployed in parallel, making it a policy to take advantage of each other's strengths.

Even though the number is decreasing, the first thing you need to operate tanks is a "Large Special License (Large Special Vehicles are limited to caterpillar vehicles)", an unusual driver's license that you don't see very often.

Usually, "large special license" refers to heavy equipment such as shovels, loaders, tire rollers, etc., which are active at construction sites and road construction sites, transport vehicles such as forklifts, and special purpose vehicles such as snowplows, size and maximum speed. is a driver's license for a "large special vehicle" that is more than legally stipulated.

Due to the characteristics of the vehicle to be driven, it is characteristic that the operation skill of the mounted machine is also required, but there is no distinction between whether the traveling device is a caterpillar type or a tire type.

However, in the Ground Self-Defense Force, in order to shorten the training period and reduce costs, there is a special license system that ``limited to caterpillar vehicles among large special vehicles'' (there are also large special licenses that are not limited).

In addition to this driver's license, one of the special skills called MOS (qualification within the Self-Defense Forces), which is required to drive a tank, or obtain approval from the commander Finally, you can drive a tank.

In addition, MOS is set for all skills of the Self-Defense Forces, not just tank driving. Tanks have a gunner and commander MOS in addition to the driving MOS, and wheeled vehicles such as mobile combat vehicles and wheeled armored vehicles cannot be driven or operated without the necessary MOS after obtaining a first-class large license.

Of course, ordinary people who are not members of the Self-Defense Forces cannot obtain MOS, so even if they have a large special vehicle license or a large vehicle license, they are legally unable to drive a Self-Defense Forces vehicle.

Then, even if I join the Ground Self-Defense Force, if my request to be assigned to the armored department is not approved, will I not be able to obtain a "large special license (large special vehicles are limited to caterpillar vehicles)"?

It's been a while, but I heard from Mr. K, a former Ground Self-Defense Force officer who joined the military 25 years ago.

"In my case, I only got a license to drive a large truck and towed it, but it depends on the department. I'm in charge of the small tank (normal class anti-tank equipment, type 60 self-propelled 106mm recoilless gun). Also, in the management and maintenance platoon of the headquarters management company, and in the work platoon, there were many people who had a license to drive only large special catapillas or even wheels."

Of course, if there are tracked vehicles in the regular department, it seems that it was essential in the work platoon with heavy machinery such as bucket loaders and excavators in the engineering department (engineering), and in the maintenance platoon that repairs all vehicles.

"As long as you have the equipment, you should be able to drive. The vacant members were nominated and went to training.However, it felt like full-time employees (*) were given priority.”

(*Regular employee: A sergeant or a sergeant who has been enlisted for life until retirement age, and a sergeant who can continue for 5 to 6 years with a 2-year renewal is a "contract employee". Lieutenant, Colonel, General Such "executives" lost their driving MOS, so basically they were in a position where they could not drive.)

Hmmm, I thought it would be attractive to get various licenses and qualifications after joining the Self-Defense Forces, and it would be easy to find a new job.

"When I went to self-education to pick up a large truck, in addition to the non-tenured personnel of the same period, there were also fixed-term contract employees who were in their 5th or 6th year at the last minute of their term. In terms of towing, he was on the verge of retirement.”

I see, whether it's a contract employee or a full-time employee, if you're about to retire, it seems that it will be convenient for you to get a license, considering re-employment. And I don't see people's licenses so much, so I don't know." was the answer.

More than that, I was like, "Huh? Is it only for SDF personnel? I just found out!"

If you have a tracked vehicle or a caterpillar type heavy machine even in the armored department of the Ground Self-Defense Force, or the general department, the facility department, or the special department (artillery), you can drive only the Self-Defense Forces vehicle on public roads. You can receive education from the age of 18 and obtain a license from the age of 19 at the earliest.

Similar to a normal large special license, you need not only driving, but also a "MOS (special skill)" that allows you to handle mounted weapons and equipment, but being able to ride a tank at a young age is attractive.

However, the Ground Self-Defense Force in recent years is the successor to the old Type 74 tank. In addition to the caterpillar type 10 tank, tire type 16 mobile combat vehicles, armored vehicles and self-propelled guns are also increasing in tire type. Therefore, even in the armor department, it may not be limited to a "large special license (large special vehicles are limited to catapilla vehicles)", but may remain a large license of type 1.

Furthermore, the priority of "contract employees" is low even for large licenses, and it is almost impossible to say "If you get a tank MOS (qualification) with a short-term two-year contract, Yahmeta!" I also need a pass.

At least, you need to be a sergeant candidate of 3rd class or higher, and you need to have the will to continue your appointment for a long time. is a small part of

For that reason, even if you get a "large special license (large special vehicles are limited to caterpillar vehicles)", it seems that it will be difficult to become a tank driver in the Ground Self-Defense Force in the future. If it is the Air Self-Defense Force, it seems to be said that it is an ace comparable to fighter pilots.

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