Critical decision between 2 MOS's that I'd like Marine opinions/words on....

[IHaveEGA843]

Evening Marines....

Earlier today while stopping by my local RS the SNCOIC/Lead Recruiter called me into his office/duty hut to discuss the openings for the new fisical year.

He showed me the list of MOS's and ship dates that accompany them. I'm torn between the two because they both have something I want. The first MOS is 0481 Landing Support Spec, I've researched and asking Marines that held that MOS about the job. I got alot of good info back and considered taking that contract the first time around but someone nabbed it once I made the call to accept. This MOS has the ship date boost I want which will bump me from March 12, 2012 to October 2011. My Recruiter and SNCOIC knows that I'm ready to hit PI and obviously have confidence in me with shipping me out ASAP. The next MOS is 2147 LAV/LAR Tech which I would love to do because I wanted a mechanic job and feel I could really enjoy that job since I'm a hands on type of guy who loves taking things apart and putting them back together so what ever it is will work again but better. The only problem is the ship date is the my current ship date of 20120312.

Today I talked to a 2147 Marine who works at my job about his past experience with the field he was in and how he like it. He gave me some insight with an emotional touch on it which I've seen for the second time by him and another Marine, I'll explain that later.

I know the majority of the Marines here might not be able to give me that indepth comparison of Pros/Cons between the 2 but I'd like the honest opinions/words. I'm not one for the hard charging fight action but wouldn't mind it ever once in awhile. I'm for having a high speed job that will take me places that I'd never imagine to be for an experience that would never leave me.

I'd greatly appreciate the knowledge you Marines will bestow on me and I'm ready for whatever y'all feed my hungry mind.

Thanks....

For the emotional part of this post showed me the brotherhood, the care Marines have for each other, that love Marines have for each other. At MEPS a kid who was in the National Guard was talking about how the US is not at war any more and this Marine who just EAS'd and switched to the Army was listening as we talked about the expectations I should look for when I hit Recruit Training. He just stopped talking and said, "shut your ****ing mouth! You dont know what the **** you're talking about because this is a war I've lost brothers in, men that I would give my all for, Marines that I loved as if we were brothers since birth!" He stormed out and never came back in. Everybody was like damn hes mad but I look at it as the pain of losing fellow Marines and the love he had for them. It was a outlook I haven't seen yet that I never thought about until then.

Today while talking to the 2147 Marine I asked him to give me some insight in the job. He went and showed me a ton of pics of fellow Marines on facebook. He came to a pic with this young Marine that was a Junior Marine to him and was one of his Mechs. He started talking and said, "This Marine.......he was a good kid......a damn good Marine.....He would always ask me about bikes because he wanted one and knew I had one. I always remember him saying "Cpl Wallace tell me about this bike or how about this bike." Well when he got out he got that bike, was married for 2 years, and was living his life until some lady.......some lady knocked him off and ran him over." While he as talking he was beginning to choke up, his eyes started to fill with tears. I felt sorry for him but the words he spoke was filled with some much pain that he started to cry in StarBucks. I never seen that from a Marine before, I never seen the pain come out from losing a brother, a fellow Devil Dog. It showed me that closeness Marines have in the Corps. It made me think about how I'd get mad at fellow Poolees for making the whole group suffer when they do something wrong not knowing that one day he'll be my brother and instead of yelling and cussing at him that I'll be laughing and enjoying each others company while in the Fleet.

I see why when someone comes on the broad and does something to one Marine the rest come in to aid, I thought it was just you Marines poking fun or just giving that person the lashing they needed. It makes me want this even more because I never considered making brothers/sisters of differenct races and backgrounds through the Corps. I just thought I'll have the bond like co-workers and have working relationships with other Marines that I work with.

Marines, thanks for what you do because sometimes us civilians just dont appreciate all the sacrafices you all make for us.

Also, whatever feed back I get.....Thanks......

[IHaveEGA843]

52 looks and no responses......looks bad for the home team needing that "motivation" to press on.....

[Lisa 23]

I understand you're only looking for some input from Marines, but what it seems like to me is that you're relying on some Marines here to make that decision for you. This is a decision that YOU have to make. It's 4-5 years of YOUR life, not any Marines here.

[IHaveEGA843]

Yes ma'am, it may seem that way but it really isn't. I really just want more indepth info about each job, actual facts instead of *************'s generic Marine Corps MOS book write up of the job. You know, kind of like being accepted for a new job and just asking some of the employees you'll be working with or around about what they do/did and did they enjoy it.

I know that years before I was even born applicants didn't have the resources I'm blessed with now and didn't have a choice in what they do. I may be wanting to much but just some basic responses from Marines who are/were/or worked around those 2 MOS's could just give me the simple Pros/Cons of each and I'd appreciate just that.

Yesterday the Marine I met up with told me Marines help Marines, well I'm not a Marine yet but just a dedicated Poolee looking for some info that will give me the guidance I would like.

Thanks for the response miss.

[Tookie22]

I can not give you a response on a specific MOS because Ive never dealt with any of the ones that you have spoken about. The brotherhood is there regardless. The mos you choose is based solely on you and what you would like to do for the next 4-5 yrs of your life. Either way every job is important. Even the admin at IPAC that never deploys. They fixed my pay and leave days. Or even Food Specialists who spent so many hours preparing hot chow to boost the morale in the middle of nowhere. Nobody here can tell you what to choose the possibilities are endless. I understand you want motivation and someone to point/lead you in the right direction, but you are the driver now. An adult who will make his own decisions. Good luck and have fun which ever job you do.

[MOS4429]

"I know the majority of the Marines here might not be able to give me that indepth comparison of Pros/Cons between the 2 but I'd like the honest opinions/words. I'm not one for the hard charging fight action but wouldn't mind it ever once in awhile. I'm for having a high speed job that will take me places that I'd never imagine to be for an experience that would never leave me."

Also, it's difficult to know exactly what you are asking. If you are asking for a comparison between the two MOS's, you are going to need to be patient until somebody with one of those MOS's stumbles upon your post.

And I don't know what you mean when you say, "not one for the hard charging fight action but wouldn't mind it ever once in awhile."

If you are talking about combat, that line you post sounds like somebody who is viewing it as a video game or "Hey, guys, anybody want to go fight the enemy today?"

This is serious business. Do some serious soul searching about what you are getting to. DO NOT make your decision based on emotion!

[IHaveEGA843]

Tookie, thanks for the response. I know each and every MOS is important to keep th Corps running the way it is. I don't downplay any job because I'll never look at a Marine just as what is MOS title he/she has but look at them as a fellow Marine. In the civilian world people let job titles make them instead of just giving respect to someone who maybe the lowest man but not looking at him as a helpful coworker. I don't want to obtain that mindset nor bring it the Corps.

MOS4429, thanks for your response also. I try not to let it get to me but sometimes my impaitenceness *if that's even a word* comes out, I never intend to make anybody do anything but just eager to read what others have to say. As for the combat situation, I'm not saying id like to play COD decorated war fighter on Monday then take a break until Friday to start another ground stomp full guns blazing mision. Im really trying to say that if I had to id fight but if I didn't and my MOS doesn't see it I sure won't complain neither, that's why I turned down the 0311 job quick like. I'm there and willing for the fight but if I don't have to I won't want to. I rather not bring that with me into my new career because its a negative mindset to have.

I'm treating this whole 6 yr enlistment as real business, its 6 yrs of my life and future. I just don't want to be a disgruntled Marine because the job isn't what I thought it will be. Don't get me wrong I'll workand do everything to my best abilities but l be counting down the days until I'm avail to lat move or I EAS.

[MOS4429]

Understand what you're saying, and I don't think your position of not signing up for the fight but willing to do so is unusual at all. In fact, before you ever are training in your MOS, you will be first trained to be a basic rifleman.

It is good to hear a young person taking their life and future serious. Not many do. Being disgruntled is really up to the individual, no matter what their MOS is, duty station, or assignment. Now your last line, I think you meant to say you won't be counting the days until you can lat move or EAS?? If so, then that is a good attitude to have.

[IHaveEGA843]

A good bit of my fellow Poolees at my RS want straight UH contracts or Recon based contracts, they want that then great, id glady support them in every way I can but most talk about fighting all the time. I rather be that trained Marine with the riflemens knowledge of how to take offense and defense to any situation presented but I wouldn't want it to be my main job, do you kinda see what I'm saying? The heart and dedication is there for the fight but if its something I wouldn't be tasked to do then I won't complain neither about not being able to use my training I've learned.

Yes sir, life it self is serious. I cherish every moment of it and I'm thank for those who make it possible fo me to live it the way I want to. Also, you're right about the last part. It was worded wrong and when I tried to edit it I didn't do it in time enough for it to save. Nobody likes negativity around them and I sure won't want to be the one passing it out.