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View Full Version : MOS Info needed for a Prior Service Marine looking to Return


flinthill99
06-06-11, 11:15 PM
I need some advice from some of the old salts out there...I EAS'd from the Corps in 2004 after a five year enlistment as a 6463 (I-level F/A-18 avionics RADAR technician (RSTS)). I have moved back home to Charlotte, NC where I have been a police officer for the past six plus years since I got out...

...However, I still have the bug and it's never left. I went in to the reserve center here in town today and spoke with the SNCIOC of the PSR office for awhile about my options. Aside from getting my big butt back down to my playing weight, I have a few things that I need to work on and make a decision about. I think the PSR seemed pretty locked on and interested in helping (which was a big relief given the difficulties I've read about others having on this forum).

I had my eyes set on trying to get into the Environmental Services Detachment because of my background as a volunteer firefighter, hazardous materials technician, and civilian bomb squad technician. However, I was told today that it is a secondary MOS and I need to pick a new MOS to get into before I can try to move over to the ESD. I also read an article ( http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/04/marine-amos-reserve-law-enforcement-battalion-041511w/ (http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/04/marine-amos-reserve-law-enforcement-battalion-041511w/) ) about the Commandant creating new law enforcement battalions, but none of the recruiters seem to have heard about this yet.

I had the PSR e-mail me a list of all open MOS billets for Corporals within North and South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. I would like to stay as close to home as possible, but I would greatly appreciate it if you have any experience with the following MOS's, please give me some info/feedback so I could try and make the best decision (I've placed an asterick by the ones that seem the most interesting):

*0531: Civil Affairs NCO (Camp Lejeune)
*0231: Intelligence Specialist (Marietta, GA)
*5811: Military Police (Marietta, GA)
*8056: Hazardous Material/Hazardous Waste NCO (Charlotte, NC)
1812: M1A1 Tank Crewman (Camp Lejeune)
0313: LAV Crewman (Columbia, SC)
7234: Air Control Electronics Operator (Virginia Beach)
0481: Landing Support Specialist (Charlotte, NC)

Again, because of family/job commitments, I'm trying to stay as close to home in Charlotte as I can, but I'm open to anything that is interesting and challenging. I'd really appreciate any feedback or comments you can give to assist me in making a choice.
And if you have any idea or information on what's up with the link I posted, you'll be my hero!!!

Semper Fi

Regards,
Chad
Sgt Leprechaun
06-07-11, 12:23 AM
The Hazmat NCO is another secondary MOS.

Your best bet locally would be the 0481 job I would think. Unless you really, really want to be an MP...which I'd advise against these days. Besides, you do that already. Who wants to go do in the reserves what they do in 'real' life? To me that would be boring.

Intell and Civil Affairs aren't bad but they look to be a bit far away. I'd personally stick with what's available in Charlotte, it's closer. Just my opine though.
Caesar Augustus
06-07-11, 12:30 AM
I say go for LAV crewman but then again I only saw an LAV one(CAX 2005 at camp wilson) and always have thought they were cool.

I think intel would be your best bet since it has opportunities in and out of the Corps should you choose not to do your 20 and its in GA.

What are you issues regarding family and how much do you want to deploy. Those two things will be a big factor.

Yut kill
flinthill99
06-07-11, 04:42 PM
Thanks for the replies. I fully agree that I probably wouldn't want to go the MP route...my PSR said the same thing about why would I want to do something for 40 hours a week and then do it again on the weekend?

I did a bit of Googling on civil affairs. Couldn't find much about the Marine Corps end of it, but what I did find seemed like it might be a good fit because it might assist me in the latter end of my law enforcement career.

Sgt Leprechaun, do you know much about what the 0481 Landing Support Specialist does? I've read the descriptions in the MOS manual of all the MOS's I'm interested in but sometimes those might be nowhere close to what the real thing is like.
Caesar Augustus
06-07-11, 04:54 PM
Red patchers.
Sgt Leprechaun
06-07-11, 06:20 PM
They do all sorts of stuff, from handling ALL embark duties on land and at sea to building pallets, netting, accounting for boxes, etc. On ship they handle the mount in mount out duties as well. A Gunny friend of mine did it for almost 20 years. I'll try and get some info from him and post it up.
Caesar Augustus
06-07-11, 06:57 PM
They do all sorts of stuff, from handling ALL embark duties on land and at sea to building pallets, netting, accounting for boxes, etc. On ship they handle the mount in mount out duties as well. A Gunny friend of mine did it for almost 20 years. I'll try and get some info from him and post it up.

Those were the *******s who expected us to actually understand how to properly palletize something while they stood around and kept telling us to break it down and do it again:devious:

<---Bitter.

I'm not exactly sure how closely related the hazardous materials handler is to what my dad does now in the AF but I can try and see if he can relay me some info on what they do to at least maybe give you a bit of insight into what the job is in general.
Sgt Leprechaun
06-07-11, 07:02 PM
Aw, that sucks. I had to go to school to be an embark 'rep' for my shop so I learned palletizing the hard way...sounds like you.

My friend the Gunny just got back to me, says it's backbreaking hard azzed labor most of the time. Promotes quick if you are of more than average intelligence but can be VERY frustrating.
Caesar Augustus
06-07-11, 07:04 PM
I can definitely imagine its hard work. Dealing with them was the worst part of deploying and preparing for the MEU.

I'd think it would be a job that could translate well in the civilian world because you'd have to have some sort of engineering aptitude to do some of it.
Sgt Leprechaun
06-07-11, 07:06 PM
As well as the logistical element of things, too.

It would certainly be different than police work, that's for sure. Of course, MP's don't 'police' much of anything anymore and have less authority than a Mall cop for the most part.
Caesar Augustus
06-07-11, 07:09 PM
I HATE HATE HATE MPs because they almost always feel the need to show just how awesome they are any chance they get.

You get to do logistics without being logistics. Win win.
Sgt Leprechaun
06-07-11, 08:19 PM
Yeah, I agree with you about the MP thing. Generally they never impressed me, and less so once I worked 'real' Law Enforcement out in town. That's all I am now is a glorified MP (with less authority) at an army post and I absolutely DETEST my job and the people I work around. Hard enough being a Marine with the army but this place makes it impossible. Not a career I'd rec. for ANYone with 2 brain cells or the motivation to advance or do something worthwile. I'd go be a mall cop, they get more respect and have more authority LOL. Except the benefits aren't quite as good and I've got too much time invested now.

Oops..off topic. Yeah, logistics IMO would be the way to go esp. if you have an ounce of sense and can have some patience to advance.
FO0331
06-07-11, 09:50 PM
Regarding the CMC's announcement of a new Law Enforcement Battalion: I understood it as a Reserve BN of investigators , not MP's. I think leadership saw how we were behind on "sensitive site exploitation" and evidence gathering while trying to develop information on the insurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan. It sounds really interesting, but there isn't much info on the web. I also sent an email to a PSR and he said he had never heard of it either(I found this forum using a Google Alert for "Law Enforcement Battalion Reserve Marines").
fpdesignco
06-11-11, 06:12 AM
Wow, I’m a 0313 and had no idea there was a Fox Company 4th LAR. LAR is a mobile infantry unit with a SPECALIZED mission (get ready to enjoy the desert with high powered thermal scopes), depending on...
fpdesignco
06-11-11, 06:18 AM
hahaha, thats funny, damn red tag fags




Those were the *******s who expected us to actually understand how to properly palletize something while they stood around and kept telling us to break it down and do it again:devious:

<---Bitter.

I'm not exactly sure how closely related the hazardous materials handler is to what my dad does now in the AF but I can try and see if he can relay me some info on what they do to at least maybe give you a bit of insight into what the job is in general.
Caesar Augustus
06-11-11, 02:33 PM
Hell I only saw one LAV and that was at CAX. Can't remember seeing one any other time but the few guys who I knew who had been with an LAR said the same. You're always on the move and in the desert...
rufus1
06-11-11, 06:16 PM
Go on have a little fun and go with the tank. You can run all over sh*t and Blow things up. If you are good they may let you bring one up to Charlotte and get rid of some of the crap that is there. I worked in prisons and God know all the bunch from MECK. County we had on a regular basis. Good luck and I hope you make the right decision BROTHER.:tank: