View Full Version : I think I chose the wrong MOS
Crusader0451
09-01-11, 09:44 PM
Hello everyone, I've signed for 0451 Reservist, projected ship date:20120103.
I chose this MOS as a secondary choice to Recon, I know think this was a mistake and I want to be Infantry. I wanna be on the front lines some day, I wanna be in the ****, ya know? As 0451 I would be attached to 4th Recon in San Antonio, which evidently is an opportunity for some cool training. But what matters most to me is being in the actual physical fight. I have considered applying for MARSOC but I cant find substantial information on who can be a CSO and getting in is not guaranteed. I'm just at a loss of what to do.
I think when you get to boot camp or when you get out sometime you get an opportunity to make sure you have the MOS you desire..it's not like this is the first time anyone changes their mind..although I may be wrong but this is what I have read.
Also, from what I have heard but not actually looked into (only because it's not my field of interest) is that if you are scoring perfect on your PFT and whatnot in bootcamp, you'll be asked if you'd like to reconsider and join Recon...
That's the best advice I have, based on rumor and other poolees and my recruiters...You may have to ask your recruiter or another Marine, although most aren't allowed to post in this part of the forum from what I understand.
Hope it helps. [:
PNW2011
09-02-11, 12:21 AM
Yeah, everyone wants to be in the sh*t bro. If you really think it's that sexy what is stopping you from calling up your recruiter? And why are you going reserves? If you want to be "in the sh*t" that's your best bet, active duty is always going to deploy. Reserves are just that, reserves.
Yeah, everyone wants to be in the sh*t bro. If you really think it's that sexy what is stopping you from calling up your recruiter? And why are you going reserves? If you want to be "in the sh*t" that's your best bet, active duty is always going to deploy. Reserves are just that, reserves. :thumbdown
Really uncalled for...
Marines are Marines as far as I'm concerned active or reserve. He was asking a question. He stated he wanted to change his mind about being reserve anyhow.
Either way, if you both get through boot camp then you'll be brothers in the end. Treat others as you want to be treated. You won't get far with that attitude.
PNW2011
09-02-11, 04:35 AM
>Join as a Reservist POG
>Want to be in the sh*t
Logic here is flawless, Crusader has admitted that he thinks he made a mistake, and I gave my honest opinion. Active duty, 03 infantry. In my experience poolees talk mad trash about how they can't wait to be slaying babies and bodies all day long, then I find out they're going to be admin or legal. Being able to work with 4th Recon would be cool, but it doesn't make you Recon. All those "high speed" outfits have support personnel as well. What the recruiters say he might do, could end up being total lies for all he knows. Unless he gets picked for 8th & I duty or something, infantry is probably going to throw you to a line company.
IHaveEGA843
09-02-11, 05:34 AM
Like others stated tell your Recruiter to change it, simple as that.
PNW, you hear that **** also at your local RS. Everybody wants MARSOC/Force Recon/FAST/EOD, I really would like to know the logic behind this because I mean just becoming a Marine should be enough. Maybe this old guy isnt seeing it but like I tell others, "I'll be that POG that supports yall....."
I'm going reserves *cant leave this cake fed gov job* but I'd really recommend if you want all the "coolness" go Active like PNW said.
When I went in for my interview at the reserve center a couple weeks back I asked when I would be able to deploy and from the looks of things now its 2014, yea.....then its a volunteer thing and I'm pretty sure alot of Marines who will have more time in and rank than me will snag that up before me. It is what it is.....Not looking for the slaying of babies while mounted up in a soft door hmmwv that I was not in earlier since I did a in air helo extraction while raining death from a M4 then screaming "GET SOOOOME!!!!!!"
No.....
Lisa 23
09-02-11, 06:48 AM
Yeah, everyone wants to be in the sh*t bro. If you really think it's that sexy what is stopping you from calling up your recruiter? And why are you going reserves? If you want to be "in the sh*t" that's your best bet, active duty is always going to deploy. Reserves are just that, reserves.
Young man, you're really lucky that most Marines can't post here in the poolee forum, or they'd rip you a new one.........that was TOTALLY uncalled for! And don't say you didn't mean any disrespect either.
Just because someone chooses to serve their country being in the Marine Reserves, it doesn't make them any less of a Marine. They go through boot camp just like everyone else does.
Unless you've EARNED the title, been in the Corps for a few years, and maybe a deployment or two under your belt.......then you can say what you want, but until then, I'd keep your trap shut if I were you.
Oh......and my nephew is a Marine Reservist, and I'm damn PROUD of him!!!
MunkyVsRobot
09-02-11, 11:25 AM
My hats off to all you who are going reserves. No way I could do it, balancing civillian and military life, my current job sucks the big one so i dont even want to keep it. In a lot of ways Reserve is harder than Active duty you dont get paid every day like we do and you also have to keep your normal job on top of staying locked on for whatever your MOS is I know I personally couldnt handle all that.
PNW2011
09-02-11, 04:36 PM
I'd get ripped a new one for defining what a reserve force is? That's awesome for your nephew, I'm not hating on the reserves. I'm just acknowledging what it is. And from talking to reservists online and in person, the opportunities to deploy are significantly lower than active duty. I'm not saying "active Marines are better than reservists", active infantry battalions will always deploy somewhere. That is guaranteed, and that's why I said if you really want to be "in the sh*t", that would be the way to go.
Saying "you can't say that", doesn't make my statement invalid ma'am.
Crusader0451
09-02-11, 04:59 PM
Reservist get deployed, they fight and get killed just like active duty. <br />
Whats stopping me from talking to my recruiter - left my phone charger out of town should be getting it back tomorrow.
Pchurchill
09-02-11, 05:48 PM
I'd get ripped a new one for defining what a reserve force is? That's awesome for your nephew, I'm not hating on the reserves. I'm just acknowledging what it is. And from talking to reservists online and in person, the opportunities to deploy are significantly lower than active duty. I'm not saying "active Marines are better than reservists", active infantry battalions will always deploy somewhere. That is guaranteed, and that's why I said if you really want to be "in the sh*t", that would be the way to go.
Saying "you can't say that", doesn't make my statement invalid ma'am.
Dude, I don't know if you recognize the fact that you are pretty much on your own right now. I understand you trying to stand up for yourself, but trying to convince her of your opinion (which, when you presented it, came off as demeaning) isn't going to help your case. She is a Marine, it is her website. You and I are guests. If I were you I would have taken her last suggestion.
PNW2011
09-02-11, 05:54 PM
Yes you are correct, 3% of the casualties in OEF have been reservists. They're not being called up as much for OEF compared to OIF, which was MUCH worse considering they were calling up Marines from the IRR to go fight.
Yeah, everyone wants to be in the sh*t bro. If you really think it's that sexy what is stopping you from calling up your recruiter? And why are you going reserves? If you want to be "in the sh*t" that's your best bet, active duty is always going to deploy. Reserves are just that, reserves.
People probably wouldn't be jumping down your throat had you used more appropriate diction. The message isn't bad, but the way you said it is.
As for the OP: No one can really tell you what MOS you should go with, but don't feel too bad about it if you don't know yet. I feel like 80% of the people in my pool have no idea what they want to do. Either that or they change their mind about what they want to do every other week. If anything it's good that you're putting this much thought into it.
Tony20111024
09-04-11, 04:52 PM
If you want infantry then don't leave without that contract.. stop beating around the bush and tell you're recruiter firmly but respectfully you want a UH Infantry contract. And just a warning I know plenty of reservist that want to deploy and arent given the opportunity. So unless you got a really great job or you are going to a great school I would go active duty. Just my advice from what i've seen. But what do I know I'm just a poolee.
Crusader0451
09-07-11, 03:59 PM
My recruiter has informed me that all slots are taken until 2012, so pretty much my only chance will be if someone gets discharged.
If all else fails you can probably switch to active when you reenlist but it'd be harder to get recon the older you are ithink...not sure tho, but that's your best bet..
Redsfan293
09-07-11, 10:53 PM
If you want infantry then make sure your recruiter knows. I've heard that the new fiscal year starts in October, then the Marine Corps gets more money and there will be more jobs opening up. Don't quote me on that though that's just what I've heard.
PNW2011
09-07-11, 11:04 PM
Yes, october is the start of the next fiscal year, has little to do with money, more to do with quotas
IHaveEGA843
09-08-11, 05:33 AM
I dont know if you want to do it but I know they have reserve slots for 0311s. I waited until the list of what will be open here was avail for the up coming fiscal year and made my decision.
My recruiter asked me if I wanted 0311, passed on that noise....just took 0481 that had me on the first thing smoking to PI.
MunkyVsRobot
09-08-11, 11:24 AM
Cant wait too long if you are in the DEP for too long they can boot you I believe.
PNW2011
09-09-11, 06:44 PM
They can, and will. But there's nothing stopping you from coming back in. the SNCOIC kicked a lot of people out, and probably half of them re-enlisted.
DForbes
09-11-11, 05:20 PM
I'd get ripped a new one for defining what a reserve force is? That's awesome for your nephew, I'm not hating on the reserves. I'm just acknowledging what it is. And from talking to reservists online and in person, the opportunities to deploy are significantly lower than active duty. I'm not saying "active Marines are better than reservists", active infantry battalions will always deploy somewhere. That is guaranteed, and that's why I said if you really want to be "in the sh*t", that would be the way to go.
Saying "you can't say that", doesn't make my statement invalid ma'am.
Putting a ma'am after things does not make them respectful; she is a Marine and you should NOT be talking back to her in any way. You also shouldn't be trying to lessen the reserves, I don't really care if that's what you mean, that's what you wrote and that's how it's going to come across. Even if Marine reserves aren't dying at the same rate (I don't know any stats, I'm going off of what you said), they are still sacrificing by being away from their families for a year or more too and missing everything like an active duty Marine does. You should check yourself.
OP: Like others have said, a recruiter is your best bet; however, from what I learned when making the decision too is that it's a lot easier to go active duty before going to boot camp than after if that is what you want to do, I never really saw you say that, other people were though. What I've learned from Marines that come back from boot camp is that during you will be offered a chance to go Recon although I believe you have to be an 03XX, don't quote me on that though. If you can't get an infantry slot firstly I would tell my recruiter to become a smoke jumper. I'm not sure all RSS's are the same, but for us smoke jumpers are those that can be called when something goes wrong and someone can't ship. I'd let my recruiter know I want someone's infantry slot if something comes up. Aside from that though, my recruiters have said that it's fairly easy to do a lateral move once in the fleet into another MOS. This is my own figuring here, but I would think it would be easier to switch out of an MOS if it was one that didn't require too much schooling, in other words that hadn't invested too much in you yet. That's just the way I think it would work.
Good luck!
Poolee Forbes