thedrifter
03-07-07, 07:01 AM
Facing shortage, Marines make LAV crewman its own career path
NCOs had been moved to different specialty at E-6
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps is looking for experienced staff noncommissioned officers to become Light Armored Vehicle crewmen, said Capt. Paul Gillikin, of Plans, Policies and Operations.
Toward that end, the Corps is making LAV crewmen its own career path, Gillikin said.
Until now, LAV crewmen have had to change their Military Occupational Specialty to number 0369 once they hit E-6, he explained.
Infantry Marines in several specialties fall under MOS 0369 once they become staff NCOs, Gillikin said. The system had applied to Marines in the following MOS numbers: 0311, 0313, 0331, 0341, 0351 and 0352.
Marines in this MOS can join either regular infantry or Light Armored Reconnaissance battalions, he said.
The problem is most of the billets for this MOS are for regular infantry battalions, and few of the Marines in MOS 0369 who joined LAR battalions had any LAR experience, Gillikin explained.
“There was a documented performance gap on vehicle maintenance, gunnery, and a lack of training return on investment,” Gillikin wrote in a Monday e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
To rectify the situation, the Marines are allowing staff NCOs to retain their MOS as LAV crewmen, he said. The MOS number is 0313.
“The conclusion of the program builds a logical MOS roadmap as the Marine is raised, retained and promoted in the community, he attends schools and gains the knowledge required for a crewman at that grade,” Gillikin said via e-mail.
The Corps is allowing former LAV crewmen and other Marines with LAR experience to switch to MOS 0313, Gillikin said. Staff NCOs in MOS 0369 have until March 27 to apply to switch to MOS 0313, according to the Corps.
Gillikin said the Corps is looking for about 200 active-duty Marines and 40 reservists to make the switch from MOS 0369 to 0313. Interested Marines should contact their Career Retention Specialists.
For more information, go to MARADMIN (Marine Administrative Message) 137/07 at: www.usmc.mil.
Ellie
NCOs had been moved to different specialty at E-6
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Marine Corps is looking for experienced staff noncommissioned officers to become Light Armored Vehicle crewmen, said Capt. Paul Gillikin, of Plans, Policies and Operations.
Toward that end, the Corps is making LAV crewmen its own career path, Gillikin said.
Until now, LAV crewmen have had to change their Military Occupational Specialty to number 0369 once they hit E-6, he explained.
Infantry Marines in several specialties fall under MOS 0369 once they become staff NCOs, Gillikin said. The system had applied to Marines in the following MOS numbers: 0311, 0313, 0331, 0341, 0351 and 0352.
Marines in this MOS can join either regular infantry or Light Armored Reconnaissance battalions, he said.
The problem is most of the billets for this MOS are for regular infantry battalions, and few of the Marines in MOS 0369 who joined LAR battalions had any LAR experience, Gillikin explained.
“There was a documented performance gap on vehicle maintenance, gunnery, and a lack of training return on investment,” Gillikin wrote in a Monday e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
To rectify the situation, the Marines are allowing staff NCOs to retain their MOS as LAV crewmen, he said. The MOS number is 0313.
“The conclusion of the program builds a logical MOS roadmap as the Marine is raised, retained and promoted in the community, he attends schools and gains the knowledge required for a crewman at that grade,” Gillikin said via e-mail.
The Corps is allowing former LAV crewmen and other Marines with LAR experience to switch to MOS 0313, Gillikin said. Staff NCOs in MOS 0369 have until March 27 to apply to switch to MOS 0313, according to the Corps.
Gillikin said the Corps is looking for about 200 active-duty Marines and 40 reservists to make the switch from MOS 0369 to 0313. Interested Marines should contact their Career Retention Specialists.
For more information, go to MARADMIN (Marine Administrative Message) 137/07 at: www.usmc.mil.
Ellie