View Full Version : Having real trouble picking a MOS
WanderWannabe
10-26-06, 06:50 PM
Hey, first off, great to find a place with so much info.
Now the problem is this. I am a chef, one of the real chefs with the dorky white hats and all. However, I am sure I do not want to be a mess hall cook, as I hate my career. I scored a 87 on my ASVAB which opens me up for most jobs. As such, I am having trouble deciding on an MOS.
I am thinking about Linguist or Intelligence. When I ask Marines about those fields, I get the general feeling that I am looking into the most hated jobs in the Corp. Anybody in either of those fields willing to drop some info on this poor Poolee?
jackson07
10-26-06, 08:28 PM
I am going in as a Linguist. The linguistics I have talked to have loved their jobs. Then again every MOS will have people that loved and hated it.
Echo_Four_Bravo
10-26-06, 08:32 PM
If you're into that kind of thing, you'll be fine. Over the years I noticed one thing, most Marines hate their MOS. It either beats you up, isn't what you thought you'd be doing, or is just too much work. In reality, it is just the Marine Corps. Pick a job that looks like you'd enjoy it for four years and then run with it.
I loved my MOS, but wouldn't want to do it now unless I just had to do it. With luck, you'll find something you like, and that you can do forever.
WJason777
10-27-06, 10:19 AM
You shouldnt be worrried about an MOS, just earning the title of a Marine should all you be worried about.
WanderWannabe
10-27-06, 10:38 AM
Well, no offense but that makes no sense. If you do not worry about your MOS you could be stuck peeling potatoes for your time in the Corp. Or driving a bus. Or being a "Fabric Repair Specialist." All necessiary jobs, but not what I hope to be doing for the Corp.
You shouldnt be worrried about an MOS, just earning the title of a Marine should all you be worried about.
Bad advice. He should absolutely be worried about his MOS, it's his life and his career and if he has the option to choose the job he wants to be doing for the next 4 or 20 years, then he should make that choice wisely. You always hear some Marines who always talk about how their recruiter screwed them into a job they didn't want and whatnot - you don't want to be like that, you have option to choose which job you want and it would be stupid not to.
WJason777
10-27-06, 01:53 PM
Yeah your right.
NJR0688
10-27-06, 04:13 PM
I would like to add another question in mind. If u decide to go with a MOS with the first four years. Will you be able to change ur MOS, when you're able to re-enlist?
Yes, absolutely. Unless...hmm I can't think of what it is called, they just got done with one a couple years back. It prevents ANYONE from switching MOSs or duty stations. I am sure somebody knows what it's called. For what ever reason I'm thinking ''stop loss injunction'' but I'm pretty sure I'm way off on the name.
I'm even thinking (possibly incorrectly) that you can change up your MOS during your constract, and not have to wait for the re enlistment chance to come up. But that would require a lot of shat if it isn't a related skill. You gotta be retrained and everything. Which also leads me to believe you can't in that case. A real pain for all involved.
jackson07
10-27-06, 04:44 PM
Lets refrain from giving advice unless you are 100%. I know you are only trying to help, but we don't want to give out the wrong advice by accident, and only confuse someone more.
Lets refrain from giving advice unless you are 100%. I know you are only trying to help, but we don't want to give out the wrong advice by accident, and only confuse someone more.
The answer, yes you can change your MOS is 100%. I am not unsure at all about that.
Echo_Four_Bravo
10-27-06, 04:49 PM
Marines can make "Lat moves" which is a change in MOS. However, there is no guarantee that you'll be able to do so. If there is a need for your MOS, you won't be able to change. If the MOS you want to switch to doesn't have a need for more Marines, you won't be able to switch. That said, just about every person I know of that wanted to reenlist into a different MOS was able to do so, I never met a Marine that did a lat move during his contract.
The stop loss kept people from getting out of the Marine Corps period. Your contract was extended without your consent.
Camper51
10-27-06, 04:56 PM
Brass,
Fact is if you have a "critical" MOS you can NOT necessarily change your MOS at re-enlistment. Been there, tried that, didn't get the hat. So the real answer is MAYBE, depending on your MOS and the needs of the Corps.
As to changing your MOS before a re-enlistment, probably not. The Corps spent money to train you in your MOS and they are not going to waste it by letting you change jobs and enter another school for more training just because you don't like your job.
I suggest you refrain from "knowing it all" until you in-fact do...
Echo5November
10-27-06, 06:09 PM
Just pick an MOS field that intrests you. Regardless what you pick, if you do perhaps graduate recruit training and become a Marine, you will be a rifleman. First and foremost. It doesn't matter if you go infantry, become a cook, or push papers for legal administration. If the time comes for you to pack your gear and hit the ground running, you might be expected to pick up your M-16 and put some rounds down range just like the next guy. If you hate being a chef, pick a different field. I'd say Infantry or MP. Definately the best two jobs in the Marine Corps.
Echo_Four_Bravo
10-27-06, 06:24 PM
Echo5, those are great choices. I would have to add engineer to that thought process as well. Playing with all that demo would be cool. q
WanderWannabe
10-27-06, 10:06 PM
Just pick an MOS field that intrests you. Regardless what you pick, if you do perhaps graduate recruit training and become a Marine, you will be a rifleman. First and foremost. It doesn't matter if you go infantry, become a cook, or push papers for legal administration. If the time comes for you to pack your gear and hit the ground running, you might be expected to pick up your M-16 and put some rounds down range just like the next guy. If you hate being a chef, pick a different field. I'd say Infantry or MP. Definately the best two jobs in the Marine Corps.
Forgive my ignorance, but I was raised on an Air Force base for my young childhood. In the Air Force, being an MP is the single worse job to have, and it's often assigned to wash-outs.
How is a Marine MP different from an Air Force MP? Besides the obvious, that is
Echo_Four_Bravo
10-27-06, 10:29 PM
The Air Force SPs aren't as bad as you seem to think they are. They're my favorite Airmen other than PJs and Combat Controllers.
Old Marine
10-28-06, 09:51 AM
Forgive my ignorance, but I was raised on an Air Force base for my young childhood. In the Air Force, being an MP is the single worse job to have, and it's often assigned to wash-outs.
How is a Marine MP different from an Air Force MP? Besides the obvious, that is
If this is true, you must know how the other half lives and why would you pick the USMC. Pays the same, food is better, living conditions are better, more money is allocated to the Air Force, and numerous other bennies.
WanderWannabe
10-28-06, 09:59 AM
If this is true, you must know how the other half lives and why would you pick the USMC. Pays the same, food is better, living conditions are better, more money is allocated to the Air Force, and numerous other bennies.
No good reason, I suppose. Besides the fact that I want the to be a part of the Marine Corp. No other service interests me. Not to knock the hard-working people in the others, but doing anything besides joining the Corp. would feel like doing it half-assed. I never do anything half-assed.
Echo5November
10-30-06, 11:26 AM
Doesn't matter if you're a grunt, mp, or a pencil pusher. You're going to be overworked and underpaid. As far as the difference, one is the air force one is the Marine Corps. Law enforcement is still the same except maybe different paperwork, and s.o.p. Marine Corps mps are not only garrison but field side also. I loved being an mp, and I love being a grunt now. I'm not going to sugarcoat things to persuade you to be an mp. Choose whatever field floats your boat.
WanderWannabe
10-30-06, 11:36 AM
Doesn't matter if you're a grunt, mp, or a pencil pusher. You're going to be overworked and underpaid. As far as the difference, one is the air force one is the Marine Corps. Law enforcement is still the same except maybe different paperwork, and s.o.p. Marine Corps mps are not only garrison but field side also. I loved being an mp, and I love being a grunt now. I'm not going to sugarcoat things to persuade you to be an mp. Choose whatever field floats your boat.
Well, again, I don't know much except what I was told by a Msgt. of the Air Force about MP's. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to know more about the life of a Marine MP. I can read, if you know of any good links too. Just trying to get all the info I can.
Echo5November
11-01-06, 07:53 AM
Well since you were caught up to speed about mps from an AIR FORCE Msgt, forget anything he told you about Marine MPs. That would be like me trying to explain the proper s.o.p. of how the air force conducts business. Unfortunately, I don't know of any good books that explain the life of a Marine MP. Just go talk to your recruiter, ask him all these questions. Thats what they are there for.
NJR0688
11-01-06, 09:29 AM
Brass,
Fact is if you have a "critical" MOS you can NOT necessarily change your MOS at re-enlistment. Been there, tried that, didn't get the hat. So the real answer is MAYBE, depending on your MOS and the needs of the Corps.
As to changing your MOS before a re-enlistment, probably not. The Corps spent money to train you in your MOS and they are not going to waste it by letting you change jobs and enter another school for more training just because you don't like your job.
I suggest you refrain from "knowing it all" until you in-fact do...
So, hypothetically speaking, if i decided to enter the Personnel/Admin or Legal Admin field as a reservist, I would not be able to change my MOS to Logisitics at the point of re-enlistment?
Just hypothetically asking, lol.
Camper51
11-01-06, 09:54 AM
"So, hypothetically speaking, if i decided to enter the Personnel/Admin or Legal Admin field as a reservist, I would not be able to change my MOS to Logisitics at the point of re-enlistment?
Just hypothetically asking, lol."
<!-- / message -->If you read the first paragraph, second sentence of my post you have your answer. I could not have been more clear in my answer.
Anyone can be an idiot and ask hypothetical questions and I could give hypothetical answers that are NOWHERE near the truth...
The fact is each and every situation is different and as such it is handled differently. I happened to have been good enough at my job so I wasn't allowed to change MOS, however I knew a couple of birds who were gladly shipped off to never never land...
Are you one of those birds, come back to haunt me, huh???
NJR0688
11-01-06, 11:00 AM
Haha, not necessarily. But, yea, u do make a good point. I gues it does depend on the circumstance. As for the birds, maybe... :p
Camper51
11-01-06, 11:04 AM
Ha, ha ha ha