MOS Motor T Mechanic 3521

[Corbin]

This is my MOS unless I change it before I go to PI 20080211.
Can anyone tell me about this MOS as far as Iraq goes? How was MOS school?
I am enlisted as a reserve so there are not many other MOS's out there but I could always change it. I also looked into Combat Engineer.
Thank you,
Corbin

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

What do you mean how it goes as far as Iraq goes? If your unit deploys you'll be there with them, fixing their vehicles as they have problems- and they always have problems.

I wasn't Motor T but I was friends with a bunch of them. Crazy group of people.

[Corbin]

I am just wondering if I should switch my MOS. I ment by what do they do in Iraq. I saw a video or Motor T Marines working on motors but also taking a checkpoint class for searching people and vehicles.

[rvillac2]

Regardless of your MOS, you can expect other duties when deployed. Guard duty is just one example of those other duties.

Also, if you're reserve the primary mission of your unit may change if you're activated and deployed. Some combat arms battallions have deployed as detention troops.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

Performing guard duties is a function of all Marines. You will probably be responsible for working check points no matter what job you end up with. And this war has proven that all Marines really are infantrymen. There are plenty of non-grunts doing very grunt-like things in Iraq.

[Corbin]

If all Marine in Iraq are basicly serving as Infantry, should I switch my MOS from Mechanic to Rifelman?

[Corbin]

Correction.

Anyone who has served in Iraq, and did not have a 03** MOS, could you explain a bit about the experience?

[jrhd97]

Haven't been to Iraq, can tell you that haven been a 3521, while on deployments you never seem to have enough of anything to fix what is broke. You will learn more in a week in the FMF than you will in school. You will get good a riggen stuff to make it till parts come in. And you will pull guard duty. That comes with all MOS's

[Marine84]

Corbin - what is it EXACTLY that you're looking for? Are you looking for a less dangerous job - there are none. Are you more worried that you'll be checking vehicles and not fixing them? What?

[Corbin]

I was wondering about the MOS school and what is it like. What do you do on a day to day basis?

[Proffitt]

The school for us mechs is just like all the other MOS schools...it sucks. You don't learn that much (compared to shops, and yes young grasshopper...IRAQ) Day to day in the school you'll PT MON-WED-FRI and march to 8 hours of classes a day. That's it. When you get to Iraq, depending on the echelon of maintenance, you'll learn a whole S### load. Good luck.

[Corbin]

Ha, thank you Sgt.

Do you get to work on engines? Or is it just paper work, note taking, class time?

[Proffitt]

In school you do paperwork and take lots of tests. You will get a little hands on, but just for critique (tests). Once you get into the fleet, you'll get to work on all the trucks you want..haha. You'll hate diesel engines by then. If (when) you go to Iraq, like e4b said, you'll rarely have all the right parts to fix something right. That means work on your field expedient fixes, that's what kept me in the good graces as a Lcpl in the eyes of the SNCO's. ha. later.

[rheinmark187]

MOS school was garbage (5 years ago) , it'll give you a familiarity with the Vehicles, but that's about it. The best thing I can tell you is, take the MOS if you're really into working on vehicles and you have past experience. You can be doing everything from doing I level work (working extensively on the drivetrain of a hmmwv) in a rear echelon shop on Camp Fallujah, to road recovery of down trucks, or in a Victor unit Artillery battery, Rifle Company, etc. I was randomly assigned this MOS, so I lat moved out of it as soon as
I could, and was very happy with my decision.