A little insight to a couple MOS's

[MREsarefinebyme]

I'm shipping May 9th, and I have a few options for my MOS that I need to pick from. I'm trying to find one that has a shorter training period, and preferably not combat related, since I want to lat move in 2 years. The choices my recruiter told me I have are BY ground electronics technician, CE combat support, and CK fire direction/control specialist.

If there are any Marines out there who can give me an insight into these MOS's I would greatly appreciate it.

[devilbones2]

Why do you want to lat move in two years and what makes you think you can even do that? You may be eligible to lat move in two years but that all depends on the needs of the Corps and not your own.

[DJ860420]

I believe that the BY contract contains my OC field which is 28xx. I can tell you if you do get the 28xx MOS your school will be long, and you will have a 5 year contract. Lat move opportunities will be non existent unless you re-enlist and lat move into another critical MOS. The upside to this is you will always have a bonus for re-enlistment, and we promote at a smooth steady progress. If you have any questions just ask or PM me.

[Devil1087]

lat move in two years

ahahahahahahahaha

Your recruiter is a funny guy, pick wisely bro, that lat move will not happen.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Why do you want to lat move in two years and what makes you think you can even do that? You may be eligible to lat move in two years but that all depends on the needs of the Corps and not your own.

So I've heard.

[MREsarefinebyme]

I believe that the BY contract contains my OC field which is 28xx. I can tell you if you do get the 28xx MOS your school will be long, and you will have a 5 year contract. Lat move opportunities will be non existent unless you re-enlist and lat move into another critical MOS. The upside to this is you will always have a bonus for re-enlistment, and we promote at a smooth steady progress. If you have any questions just ask or PM me.

Thanks DJ. Will be pming you.

[MREsarefinebyme]

lat move in two years

ahahahahahahahaha

Your recruiter is a funny guy, pick wisely bro, that lat move will not happen.

Thanks for the help.

That's what this thread was for, to get more information on my choices from people who've been there before.

[MREsarefinebyme]

ttt

[Mindgame]

Here is my recommendation. Do not join a MOS just because it is hopfully a "just for now" type deal. Join with an MOS that might interest you. Even if you hope to lat move. Nothing is a guarantee in the Marine Corps. If you get stuck with soething you don't like, it will be miserable. Ive met a decent amount of people who have been talked into an mos they really didn't want. They deal with it for there contact, get out, and hated there Marine Corps experience. Or they got rebelous, did something stupid, and got kicked out.

If you do think one of those MOS's will be something you would enjoy doing. Then go for it. If not. I would give more consideration on something you might like. Or if the MOS you desire is unavailable.... Wait. Even if you have a contract date, you can push it back WHENEVER you want. Right now is the only time you have to negotiate anything.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Here is my recommendation. Do not join a MOS just because it is hopfully a "just for now" type deal. Join with an MOS that might interest you. Even if you hope to lat move. Nothing is a guarantee in the Marine Corps. If you get stuck with soething you don't like, it will be miserable. Ive met a decent amount of people who have been talked into an mos they really didn't want. They deal with it for there contact, get out, and hated there Marine Corps experience. Or they got rebelous, did something stupid, and got kicked out.

If you do think one of those MOS's will be something you would enjoy doing. Then go for it. If not. I would give more consideration on something you might like. Or if the MOS you desire is unavailable.... Wait. Even if you have a contract date, you can push it back WHENEVER you want. Right now is the only time you have to negotiate anything.

That's what I'm doing. I'm trying to get more information on these MOS's so that I can make an informed decision and choose something I will enjoy doing. 2 years may not seem very long, but it is, and can be if you're doing something you hate. I just want more information so that I can find out if any of them would be something I would be interested in. Fire direction/control specialist seems interesting, but I have no clue wtf that is really. I've read a few threads on here, but that hasn't totally helped.

Also, I can't push my date back right now, it's pretty much set in stone.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Thanks for the help though Mindgame.

[afraziaaaa]

I'm shipping May 9th, and I have a few options for my MOS that I need to pick from. I'm trying to find one that has a shorter training period, and preferably not combat related, since I want to lat move in 2 years. The choices my recruiter told me I have are BY ground electronics technician, CE combat support, and CK fire direction/control specialist.

If there are any Marines out there who can give me an insight into these MOS's I would greatly appreciate it.

Two questions for you: WHY do you want a shorter training period? WHAT do you mean by "not combat related"? You are enlisting in the Marine Corps. There is nothing "non-combat related".

With that insight, we might be able to better reccommend something that suits your needs/wants.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Two questions for you: WHY do you want a shorter training period? WHAT do you mean by "not combat related"? You are enlisting in the Marine Corps. There is nothing "non-combat related".

With that insight, we might be able to better reccommend something that suits your needs/wants.

For sure.

Well, I'm married and have a 6 month old son, and since my family cannot come with me to wherever I would be training, I would like to have an MOS with a shorter training period if at all possible. As far as combat, I would myself prefer to be infantry, but suggestions from friends and family members who are in the Corps, say that I should do otherwise, because those MOS's tend to have one away from home often with training and such. Deployments are another story, that is obviously unavoidable, but I know some jobs you are home more often than others. If I have an MOS which requires me to be away from home, then I will do it, no problems, no questions asked, but if I have the choice, I'm going to try and choose one that will allow me to be with my family as much as possible.

Thanks and hope that helps.

[afraziaaaa]

For sure.

Well, I'm married and have a 6 month old son, and since my family cannot come with me to wherever I would be training, I would like to have an MOS with a shorter training period if at all possible. As far as combat, I would myself prefer to be infantry, but suggestions from friends and family members who are in the Corps, say that I should do otherwise, because those MOS's tend to have one away from home often with training and such. Deployments are another story, that is obviously unavoidable, but I know some jobs you are home more often than others. If I have an MOS which requires me to be away from home, then I will do it, no problems, no questions asked, but if I have the choice, I'm going to try and choose one that will allow me to be with my family as much as possible.

Thanks and hope that helps.

Good to go. If BY, CE and CK are your only options right now then I reccommend the BY enlistment option. the training will be longer, but you will be further away from the "front lines" if you will.

The separation time is unavoidable no matter your MOS. CK is going to place you as a forward artillery observer, and in CE you are going to be in direct support of forward deployed infantry troops which will require you to train closely with them when you are here in CONUS. That translates to more field time than you are necessarily looking for.

Looks liks you are going to have to bite the bullet on this one. Ask yourself which one is most important to you, short training or less time in the field?

Good luck.

[DJ860420]

Just so you know, if you do get in the 28xx field since the training is so long you can have your family with you.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Good to go. If BY, CE and CK are your only options right now then I reccommend the BY enlistment option. the training will be longer, but you will be further away from the "front lines" if you will.

The separation time is unavoidable no matter your MOS. CK is going to place you as a forward artillery observer, and in CE you are going to be in direct support of forward deployed infantry troops which will require you to train closely with them when you are here in CONUS. That translates to more field time than you are necessarily looking for.

Looks liks you are going to have to bite the bullet on this one. Ask yourself which one is most important to you, short training or less time in the field?

Good luck.

Awesome. Thanks for the response, that helps a lot.

I know separation time is unavoidable, but I'm trying to minimize it if at all possible if that makes sense.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Just so you know, if you do get in the 28xx field since the training is so long you can have your family with you.

I don't know what to think because I've heard different things. I've heard that family can't come no matter what, and I've heard this, that if the training is a certain length, they can come. Not sure what's true and what isn't, so I guess I'm just planning for the worst case scenario.

[Tennessee Top]

Understanding that separations from your family are inevitable (frequency and duration dependant on your MOS and unit), how does your wife feel about the situation? Her comfort level and adjustment to the USMC will have a bearing on your morale and job performance (been there myself). Do you think she has a realistic view of what she's getting into? Is she adequately prepared?

[MREsarefinebyme]

Understanding that separations from your family are inevitable (frequency and duration dependant on your MOS and unit), how does your wife feel about the situation? Her comfort level and adjustment to the USMC will have a bearing on your morale and job performance (been there myself). Do you think she has a realistic view of what she's getting into? Is she adequately prepared?

Right, hence me trying to figure out which of these jobs are best. She's comfortable as anyone can be with this I suppose. Her brother has been in the Corps for about 7 years now, obviously this is a different situation, but I think she has a pretty good idea of what to expect because of that, and any questions she has, he can probably answer.

The reason my ship date is set in stone right now is because I was in the DEP for a year previously from Jan 22, 2010, until Jan 3, 2011. I walked away after having been pushed back multiple times for various reasons, but I ultimately decided to walk away because she wasn't ready. I know it hasn't been long, but becoming a Marine is something I never stopped wanting to be. So we have talked about it, and she realizes that this will ultimately be good for us, and it will make me happy. But, I don't want to leave her behind for a year either while I'm in training. I don't think that would be good for either of us. Not sure what approach to take.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Anyone else have any insight?

[Tennessee Top]

The first time I went to Okinawa for a twelve month unaccompanied tour, I had to leave my wife behind at Camp Pendleton. She and Jody hooked up about the six month point but she did not want to send me a "dear John" letter. So, she just waited till I came home. She had her trash already packed so when I walked in the front hatch, she walked out (I was served the divorce papers a couple weeks later). She and Jody were married shortly after our divorce was final. Fortunately, there were no children involved.

Never was tempted to remarry so I went back to Okinawa for another twelve months a decade later as a single Staff NCO.

Not saying anything like this would ever happen to you. Many of my career Marine friends are still married. But, Okinawa is out there and being able to take your family with you is the exception. You may be able to avoid it for one enlistment but any longer would be a stretch.

[MREsarefinebyme]

Damn. That's ****ing brutal.