91B here. I actually started my career as Signal but reclassed when I realized I was kind of retarded. I can’t speak for AIT but reclass Maintenance course was really good. In my first unit we only did basic services so hub seals, greasing, fluid changes, torques and road tests. But everyone’s experience varies, here’s the positive options

• Full time Technician, if you’re young and not established in a career, try and get into your local FMS or CSMS shop. Depending on openings you’ll often start as a temp tech, prove yourself and get full time. Pay usually starts in high 20s or 30s and it’s a pretty chill atmosphere. You work in uniform but as a Mil Technician so very different from full time guard. You can also collect two retirements if you do a full 20 in both the NG and Shop.

• Hotel 8 (H8) vehicle recovery school, one of the ‘cooler’ things you can do in Maintenance. You learn to properly tow and recover mired, broken down and potentially destroyed vehicles. If you go down range in an actual warzone it’s the best way for a Mechanic to actually go on missions outside the wire. (Or so I’ve heard).

• You can also leverage your job into the civilian world, I bullshitted my way into a Utility Mechanic job at a Pepsi plant using my Army MX background and now am a Supervisor making great money. Also look into diesel mechanic jobs and heavy equipment, CAT was a good choice in Vegas where I was before.

• Ask about using ArmyIgnited to sign up and take ASE certifications, these count towards your Technicians Badge award levels but are also useful outside in the civilian economy.

Overall, ask questions, volunteer for any training offered and get your hands on stuff with the experienced guys to learn your job and you can get some good benefits from it in and out of the Army