0331

[JoeInVille]

How do they choose you for a Machine Gunner? For example, is it your size, height, weight, or just how you can handle a weapon of that size and weight. I was just curious because I will obviously be placed wherever they want me in the 0300 MOS but I wanted to know the qualifications and how they can choose you to become an 0331. I truly do not care that much where I am placed in Infantry but I am probably the most interested in being a Machine Gunner so I was just curious about how they do place you.

[OB MSG]

Needs of the Corps or you just get lucky, that's the only way I know of. Talk to your recruiter as well. Can't say it'll help but they might be able to give you some info.

[bgsuwoody]

Actually there are a number of slots opened for each of the 03xx MOS's when you arrive at SOI/ITB. Those spots are filled by a number of things. First you must have a certain GT score on the ASVAB, then you also get to fill out a preference sheet and with that you can choose 0331. Lastly it is what your instructors want to choose. Usually if people had the other two down and talked to the 0331 instructor or his own instructor on being a 0331 he would get it. The GT score is key.

[MotivatorOfTheGuard]

If i were you i would talk to outlaw! He is/was an 0331 and just got out in 2005. Hunt him down and ask politely if he can tell you about it.

[OB MSG]

Thank you for the clear up, Marines! Hopefully this young wanna-be will read and heed.

[JoeInVille]

I appreciate your help Marines! I will talk to my recruiter about this and just figure out things with him. I actually found Outlaw earlier and I tried to PM him but his box is full!!! Hopefully he will be browsing this later so I can get some more information.

[RYDERKUR]

How about Sergeant Outlaw poolee, you know better damn it. Proper respect towards rank and NCO's start here. Congratulations on picking up too Corporal.

[outlaw3179]

Did someone say my name!

Besides going infantry in the reserves I dont know any other way to actually choose machinegunner. When we got to SOI after completing it, they called off our names and tada I was chosen for 31. I bet you though if you get to SOI and tell the instructors you want 31 you may get lucky and they might get it for you.
Other than that I think the only other way is to go reserves and then you can choose your actual MOS.

By the way Ill clean my inbox so that way I can get all your fanmail gents. :)

[JoeInVille]

My apologies to Sgt. Outlaw! I forgot and was not sure about his rank. It will not happen again and I meant no disrespect. I will probably go discuss things with my recruiter but like I said, I appreciate everyones help and I apologize about not including sgt. Outlaw's rank.

[outlaw3179]

lol...chill out ..were on the internet ( dont let it happen in the fleet thought, youll be digging a fighting hole with an MRE spoon)


Guns Up !

[egbutler1]

Now i'm was not an 0331 by trade in the corps. Trained in SOI as an 0311 but picked up 0331 as a BMOS while in FAST Co. I highly suggest you read "Guns UP" great book! There is nothing better while your in a firefight than hearing that Mod Duce vommit rounds down range and watching the humvee rock back from the recoil and see those API rounds rip threw a house where an insurgent hides on the other side thinking 'they can't hit me behind this mud hut.' Boy was he wrong.

[outlaw3179]

Great Book one of the best machine gun books out there.

[egbutler1]

Yeah it is the best book i have read to date. I didn't get the chance to open it up till I was in Iraq. But once i did get into it i couldn't put it down took it on patrol with me for those long 6 hour OPs we did in the middle of nowhere. I pretty much considered it the unofficial guide to Heavy Gunnin' in the Corps.

"20 round bursts!"

[Adam1988]

It depends on ITB.

Sometimes everyone gets what they picked.

Sometimes half gets what they picked.

Sometimes they say "You're all 11's."


For the record, I got my first choice :)

[outlaw3179]

Tube Stroker!

[Bulkyker]

Talking guns ..... coolest thing in the world watching them guns roll threw rounds till they're white hot swap barrels with an asbestos glove that has smoke coming off it. All fun in the sun then you gotta hump that heavy bastard and clean it.

[outlaw3179]

I always played with the .240G but man I loved firing the .50 . That is a awesome weapon. Walking around the hills of Pendleton humping that beast , not so awesome.

[Adam1988]

Tube Stroker!

damn right

[Jonny Destroyer]

Tube Stroker!

LMFAO!!!!! God, that nickname cracks me up every time!

[0331patp]

To be a 0331 bad a i mean machingunner first you have to enlist as 03 basic infantry go threw boot and start SOI after about two weeks in SOI they will give you a couple of choices if you want to stay riffle man or got to either 0331(machingunner) 0352(tow) 0351(anti-armor) 0341 (motor). If your gt score is high enough and you pft and all that is better then others who want 0331 then you will get it , then you will begin in the 0331 package at SOI after that you will graduate and head of to the fleat(your duty station) If your lucky you will get into a weapons company far away from 29palms. or you may get put into a weapons platoon. the difrence is in a weapons company you will be primarly useing the .50 the mk19(gernade louncher) or the 240 gulf. weapons platoon your stuck with the saw and 240 . Plus your stuck with a bunch of 11's wich are basic infantry.
But best of all you may get thrown into CAAt (Combined anti-armor team) where you will cross train and get secondary mos in 0341-0352-0351 , and you will be part of the elite QRF(quik reaction force) pretty much you the guys in the hmmwv's kicking a all over the land. The four years i spent in caat were the best and most fun times of my life even tho i was stuck in 29palms or Iraq.

[0331patp]

outlaw if you think walking around the tiny hills of camp pandalton where hard with a .50 try a mk19 in bridgeport.
By the way bridgeport kicks a

[Jonny Destroyer]

To be a 0331 bad a i mean machingunner first you have to enlist as 03 basic infantry go threw boot and start SOI after about two weeks in SOI they will give you a couple of choices if you want to stay riffle man or got to either 0331(machingunner) 0352(tow) 0351(anti-armor) 0341 (motor). If your gt score is high enough and you pft and all that is better then others who want 0331 then you will get it , then you will begin in the 0331 package at SOI after that you will graduate and head of to the fleat(your duty station) If your lucky you will get into a weapons company far away from 29palms. or you may get put into a weapons platoon. the difrence is in a weapons company you will be primarly useing the .50 the mk19(gernade louncher) or the 240 gulf. weapons platoon your stuck with the saw and 240 . Plus your stuck with a bunch of 11's wich are basic infantry.
But best of all you may get thrown into CAAt (Combined anti-armor team) where you will cross train and get secondary mos in 0341-0352-0351 , and you will be part of the elite QRF(quik reaction force) pretty much you the guys in the hmmwv's kicking a all over the land. The four years i spent in caat were the best and most fun times of my life even tho i was stuck in 29palms or Iraq.

English for Marines. Look into it. LOL

j/k Devil, I know its not a grunts job to spell ;)

I was in CAAT for my 4 years as well. Went in as an 0351, primarily concerned with the Javelin system (now they actually teach that in SOI to the 0352s, and primarily focus the 51's on SMAW and Demolitions), I was cross-trained as a 0331 because, well, you need to know how to shoot all the machine guns if you're gonna be in CAAT obviously. Near the end of my contract, they started calling us MAP (Mobile Assault Platoon) instead of CAAT, because theres really no armor to fight in any of the places we are deployed to now. We virtually never even used the TOW system during my last deployment to Iraq...we just never needed to utilize it. Thats what the Cobra's are for ;)

Oorah! Blow sh*t up!!
-CPL Maines:usmc:

[JoeInVille]

Thanks Marines, I appreciate all the information and help you all have given!

[JordanB]

**** a 240 man my 249's a pain in the ass as it is and LAR aint even gotta hump the *****es, 31 in a straight leg units the last thing on my to do list lol.

[bgsuwoody]

To be a 0331 bad a i mean machingunner first you have to enlist as 03 basic infantry go threw boot and start SOI after about two weeks in SOI they will give you a couple of choices if you want to stay riffle man or got to either 0331(machingunner) 0352(tow) 0351(anti-armor) 0341 (motor). If your gt score is high enough and you pft and all that is better then others who want 0331 then you will get it , then you will begin in the 0331 package at SOI after that you will graduate and head of to the fleat(your duty station) If your lucky you will get into a weapons company far away from 29palms. or you may get put into a weapons platoon. the difrence is in a weapons company you will be primarly useing the .50 the mk19(gernade louncher) or the 240 gulf. weapons platoon your stuck with the saw and 240 . Plus your stuck with a bunch of 11's wich are basic infantry. But best of all you may get thrown into CAAt (Combined anti-armor team) where you will cross train and get secondary mos in 0341-0352-0351 , and you will be part of the elite QRF(quik reaction force) pretty much you the guys in the hmmwv's kicking a all over the land. The four years i spent in caat were the best and most fun times of my life even tho i was stuck in 29palms or Iraq.

I really don't know what I want to say here, maybe its because I'm so basic, but I think I am going to take offense to this comment

[hermogenesm]

:tank: Cold-War/Vietnam 60's70's the M50.A1/0351 Tank Killer's.Combat code name.The Thing OR The PIG.

THE ONTOS...Was a relatively light weight tracked armoured marine fighting
vehicle. Joined the Marine's in 1950's to destroy the main battle tanks of this
era using the firepower from its six (6) 106mm recoilless rifles.Four of the six guns had 50 calibre spootting rifles attached. other firepower 50 and 60 cal.
A crew of (three) 3 were pulled from the Marine Infantry Battalions to learn
the trades of radiomen,mechanics and tacticians. The Marine's designations
for jobs within the infantry were in the series 0300's.The Ontos crewmen were motor transport or track maintenance cross trained MOS 0351.


By sgt hermogenesm:usmc:

Blind Marine Veteran

[smoking gunz]

I really don't know what I want to say here, maybe its because I'm so basic, but I think I am going to take offense to this comment
I dont think you have the time in or rank to take offense to anything yet.

[outlaw3179]

You mean like 9494 yeah neat.

[chili77bowl]

Hey, WTF?! No one thinks of asking the resident SOI instructor?

To be any crew serve MOS, when you get to SOI you will get several breifs from your company on this subject and at some point you will put your name on a list of which one or ones you want, and the instructors will screen you...if selected, you will move to that platoon and start the training, but it is after about 3 weeks of common skills training.

-Chili