Switch to Active?

[oneshot649]

Alright gents, i'm a 92day reservist for an 0311 slot, i'm supposed to ship for Boot 20070521, but i'm getting really sick of college and i was thinking about going active instead and heading off to boot sometime earlier next year. I was planning on going active once i had finished SOI in 2008 and hook up with an infantry or LAR unit. Here's the question: if i switch to an active contract and go to Boot earlier, and since active doesn't 'guarantee' MOS slots, what are my chances of picking up an 0311 once i graduate? I want to be a Marine, and i know that that is more important than whatever 'job' i'm given, but i really want that 0311 bad, and i could have it anyways if i just linger in the civilian world for a few more years, but if i thought i had a good chance of picking it up earlier, i'd jump at the chance. Advance apologies if i sound like i'm nitpicking on stupid stuff. What says y'all?

[SmokeyBandit]

I'd also like to add a question to that. If you go reserve 0311 and then re-enlist to active after your reserve contract is up do you have a better chance at keeping 0311 for active duty?

[oneshot649]

that's what i was originally planning, though right after training instead of at the end of the contract. I 'assume' you would, but only because 0311 is usually a needed MOS and they wouldn't want to pay to retrain you to something when they can just train someone fresh out of boot for w/e else.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

If you move from reserve to active you will be at the mercy of the Corps. I actually know several people that tried to keep their MOS but ended up in a totally different field.

As for your ability to get 0311 if you go active, you may or your may not. There is no other way to say it. There is a need for more 0311 than any other 03 MOS, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get it.

[oneshot649]

Thanks Echo Four Bravo. Would anyone care to give me odds on how likely it would be for me to pick that 0311 up?

[Echo5November]

Even as a 92 day reservist, you are not guaranteed 0311. You are slotted for the 0300 infantry field. You could very well go through SOI and be told you are going to be an 0331, 0351, 0352, etc. rather than an 0311. Although it is likely to be an 0311, its not a guarantee. But if you are fed up with college and want to go active, just talk to your recruiter. Obviously he can help you with this problem other much better than listening to the advice of everyone on this forum.

[oneshot649]

wilco. thanks all.

[Accord]

There is a way to go active duty and be 100% guaranteed the specific MOS of 0311, most people - even my recruiter - weren't aware of it.

Get a UZ contract. All it is is a regular infantry contract except it guarantee's you the chance to take the recon indoc at SOI, but the kicker is if you wash out of the indoc you are automatically reverted to 0311. Not general infantry, but 0311. With this contract, whether you pass the indoc or not, you go through the 0311 pipeline at SOI.

Best case scenario is you pass the indoc, worst case scenario is you're guaranteed 0311, you just can't go wrong with the UZ contract.

The only thing is that there are certain prerequisites you must meet to be able to get the UZ contract which you don't need for a standard infantry contract, such as a 105 GT score, certain vision standards, no moral or medical waivers, you must be able to score at least a 1st class on the PFT (NOT an IST) before shipping, etc.

[oneshot649]

clever and devious....i like it..

[Accord]

clever and devious....i like it..
Neither clever nor devious, they won't give you a UZ contract unless there is a good chance you'll be able to pass the indoc, this is why they require you to have a 1st class score on the PFT (Not IST) before shipping as well as being able to meet several other requirements. Not everyone can get a UZ contract.

[oneshot649]

i guess i'll just talk to my recruiter this weekend about it. thanks accord.