Gettin' your feet wet

[305Marine]

I have 2 weeks left before I leave for bootcamp, and I'm still "in limbo" on what I want as an MOS. I'm currently sitting on a contract for CB (clerical administration), but I'm not quite sure I went to spend my career in the Marines behind a desk... At the same time, I don't know how gung-ho I would be about spending my entire term in the front lines.

I do however, want to have done atleast 1 tour before my term is up. Will there be a chance for me to go to Iraq/Afghanistan without having a combat arms MOS? Or is it relatively easy to do a lat move into a combat arms MOS later on?

Thanks in advance,

[GySgtRet]

The Commandant of the Marine Corps has stated more than once that if you haven't served in the sandbox you will.

Good luck. And thank you for what you are going to do.

:thumbup:

[305Marine]

Cool, thanks for the quick response.

What could I expect as an average tour lengh/quantity of tours?

[GySgtRet]

I gather from Marines getting back from the sandbox from 6-9 months depednding on the needs of the Marine Corps. Remember it is always the needs of the Marine Corps. Also, you are trained as a rifleman, the mos you get is secondary. I think that Gen Al Gray quoted this when he was the Commandant?

[DIBLO7]

I'm admin and I've been there twice. Its not just the grunts that go. Every unit has support personnel.

[305Marine]

Cool, did you get to see combat, or just provide support on base?

[SGT7477]

Good luck if you get what you want when I went thru boot camp in 74 there was alot of disappointed people, myself and 2 other went into artillery and the rest went into being grunts so all the guarantees went out the window so it tells you they needed grunts, Good Luck.

[FLRULZURSHPSCKS]

Good luck if you get what you want when I went thru boot camp in 74 there was alot of disappointed people, myself and 2 other went into artillery and the rest went into being grunts so all the guarantees went out the window so it tells you they needed grunts, Good Luck.

Truth. Not even just boot camp, I'm a crew chief, which means you're supposed to go shoot some **** out the door of a huey (my bird of choice) and get some, but i got stuck at a training squadron helping train pilots and new cc's. So good luck with what you choose, just keep in mind anything can end up happening.

[TennysonUSMC]

All that has been said is true. A Marine that graduated Signal Intel school with me is in Al'Waleed as an MP pretty much...took him less than a month into the Fleet to be lined up with that gig. Whereas myself, I work a totally different job than what I was trained for, but am still expected to know it. I am proud of what I can do for the Corps, but right now it needs me here, and I will perform to the utmost of my ability until I am needed elsewhere.