To get that coveted MOS

[skaterjon89]

Ship to Boot: MCRDSD 20080804

First off, I have searched for about a good amount of time to see if this has been answered, if it has, i could not find squat. :\

Ok, so I understand unless you are going Reserves you do not have a GUARANTEED MOS, now I'm currently signed up for Security Forces but soon I will hope to go to 0861(Artillery Forward Scout Observer). Now I understand that I can just get into the 08xx field, but how would I go about attaining 0861? Is there some kind of refrence thing you go through? Tryout type thing like scout/sniper or recon school? Indoc type thing? Testing process? What exactly do I have to do basically to get into that desired MOS?

[BR34]

Honestly, you have to either be reservist, get the exact MOS in your contract, or cross your fingers and get lucky.

No one I went to boot camp with knew what their MOS was going to be when we were at MCT. We all found out together one day out in the field. After we got our MOS our SSgt tried to explain to many of us what the hell our MOS was and where/for how long we will be traning.

As I'm sure you've read time and time again, it all comes down to needs of the Corps.

*edit* There's also the lat move option, but you have to be in for a minute to do that.

[skaterjon89]

what is the lat move option? Also I think my recruiter signs us up for that mos on contract, I think I did for security forces. They had me sign like 2-3 pages and initial all these things. Ty for the info br03...

[LeonardLawrence]

a lat move is a lateral move. example is an Infantryman going to a Military Police job. Training whether it is school or OJT varies with the assignment. Last time I looked at numbers which was ages ago you had to have at least two years to put in papers....my experience in the fleet was it happened at re-enlistment time ....

Using an educated guess, I imagine getting out of an Infantry billet in these times might take some time...

If you are sure you want that billet, you should go for it. If I was the NCO doing the paperwork I would expect a pretty convincing argument on why I worked a XX Contract for you and now you want a YY Contract.

[WalkingMan]

Ship to Boot: MCRDSD 20080804

First off, I have searched for about a good amount of time to see if this has been answered, if it has, i could not find squat. :\

Ok, so I understand unless you are going Reserves you do not have a GUARANTEED MOS, now I'm currently signed up for Security Forces but soon I will hope to go to 0861(Artillery Forward Scout Observer). Now I understand that I can just get into the 08xx field, but how would I go about attaining 0861? Is there some kind of refrence thing you go through? Tryout type thing like scout/sniper or recon school? Indoc type thing? Testing process? What exactly do I have to do basically to get into that desired MOS?

I was with the Bravo 1/3 point FO team for a year in Viet Nam, but I got the job the Old Corps way.

I was a 2533 Radio Telegraph Operator assigned to the FDC (Fire Direction Center) with Charile Battery 1/12. The radio operator with Bravo 1/3's point team either got zapped, or rotated. I was the FNG, so someone handed me a PRC-25, put me on a chopper, and that was the last I saw of the Rear Area for the rest of my tour.

I have to tell you, I loved it. I was immediately cross-trained as an FO, and spent the rest of my time in the Corps as a Grunt, doing Grunt Stuff, which is where my heart and soul really turned out to be at.

I'm sure the job has become a lot more technical and computerised than what it was back then, but I doubt that the people have changed much.

Best folks I ever knew.

[skaterjon89]

I have been looking at 0861 MOS alot lately, and it is just way more attractive to me then Security Forces, I like working with some technical stuff, I'm at heart a computer g33k that is oddly also physicaly fit and athletic... I heard the FO school is difficult mentally and physically and I'm very intrigued by it, I like the mental challenge as well as the physical challenge. Also I want to see stuff go "kaboom" :) Being able to call for all that power is unbelieveable. Also ANGLICO (still not quite sure what they do that is different then another FO) from what I have read, and such from various websites it looks like something I want to do, although I think you have to be the top FO to get that or something but I'm willing to study study study...

Also I heard the schools are fun while you in class and such, from what I read Ft. Sill is boring and Marines aren't to welcome there, but once classed up the fun starts, but I have to study much, which I don't mind, I do that in college already...

And Coronado is a blast from I heard...

oh and WalkingMan
I was a 2533 Radio Telegraph Operator assigned to the FDC (Fire Direction Center) with Charile Battery 1/12. The radio operator with Bravo 1/3's point team either got zapped, or rotated. I was the FNG, so someone handed me a PRC-25, put me on a chopper, and that was the last I saw of the Rear Area for the rest of my tour.

confused me, not sure what all the abrevations mean, but eh...lol...

[WalkingMan]

I have been looking at 0861 MOS alot lately, and it is just way more attractive to me then Security Forces, I like working with some technical stuff, I'm at heart a computer g33k that is oddly also physicaly fit and athletic... I heard the FO school is difficult mentally and physically and I'm very intrigued by it, I like the mental challenge as well as the physical challenge. Also I want to see stuff go "kaboom" :) Being able to call for all that power is unbelieveable. Also ANGLICO (still not quite sure what they do that is different then another FO) from what I have read, and such from various websites it looks like something I want to do, although I think you have to be the top FO to get that or something but I'm willing to study study study...

Also I heard the schools are fun while you in class and such, from what I read Ft. Sill is boring and Marines aren't to welcome there, but once classed up the fun starts, but I have to study much, which I don't mind, I do that in college already...

And Coronado is a blast from I heard...

oh and WalkingMan


confused me, not sure what all the abrevations mean, but eh...lol...

Interestingly, my interests parallel yours, in that I am into both computers and physical fitness, both at fairly high levels. I work with BSD UNIX systems, mostly OpenBSD nowadays, and I build and deploy high security servers, and do a fair amount of security-related work, and things like writing rule-sets for PF (packet filter) firewalls.

My computer workshop: http://robertwittig.net/workshop.html

The ANGLICO Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Naval_Gunfire_Liaison_Company

In Viet Nam I worked in this area, and our team did have the pleasure of directing fire for 'On Rushes', which was the call sign for the 16 inch battery on the New Jersey, and which definitely delivered quite a large Boom, on the target.

I did not attend any sort of ANGLICO schools or anything, though, in typical Viet Nam era fashion, I was just told, 'hey, go with those guys, see you when you get back'.

Working with Naval personel in combat situations did leave me with a high degree of respect for my Navy counterparts, though.

I'm not sure which abbreviations, threw you, but FNG = F--king New Guy. :)

[rvillac2]

Jon,
I agree with you, the FO MOS is very attractive. You do not have to go through an indoc for it, but if you get the MOS and wash out of school, you can get reassigned to another MOS. That means that if you're lucky enough to get it, you're very likely to keep it after graduating the schools.

You live in my area and did you know we're close to the 5/14 artillery regiment? HQ is in Long Beach and November battery is next door to you in Pico Rivera. Long Beach also used to have the west coast Reserve ANGLICO unit, but I'm not sure if it is still currently there.

The reserve arty units have FO billets you can get contracted into in addition to the Reserve ANGLICO unit. (Even these reservists get to go to jump school.)

If you go active duty 08XX, you'll be taking your chances and they will be pretty slim. You're more likely to get 0811 which is cannoneer since they are the biggest pool that needs to be refilled.

Good luck.

[skaterjon89]

I think I can get contracted into 0861 because my recruiter always tells me that we got the hook ups there, and that also i was contracted into Security Forces and I asked after reading posts here and such, "so i go to SF school if I'm lucky in the lotto?" he always told me "no, you go there no matter what, it's in the contract, then it is your duty to pass the MOS, if not you probably get thrown in with the regular grunts"

Yeah also I read something about there being a Artillery HQ or something in Long Beach, I didn't know Pico had one either though...

I think I would be able to pass the schools, I heard the classes are difficult, from various threads and websites I have read. I seem to be an intelligent kid, and I work hard, I heard there is a way I can get the books or study material ahead of time and start studying while im in Limbo for classes to start up... Well I don't want to get to ahead of myself, I still have to pass boot camp and the like, just thinking ahead a lil :P