SirRoundSound
10-21-08, 12:47 AM
Hey Marines, I need your help again!
I swore into service on 20080826, and my recruiter succeeded in securing me an 03XX slot as I had requested. But before he dropped me off at my house that day, he made it as clear as he could that it was not too late to change my job.
Normally, I would holdfast by my decision that I made, but there was one thing I hadn't counted on before making my decision: I scored high on the ASVAB. I scored 77 overall. My recruiter thinks this is a pretty big deal, and he told me that with that score, I could have a shot at any job in the Marine Corps. This newfound understanding of my potential has motivated me, although a little late, to perhaps examine other career options.
A couple of weeks ago, my recruiter had an infantry Marine call me who had just finished his second tour in Iraq. This Marine told me that I would be doing a greater service to myself and to the Corps by considering other fields where I can truly apply my potential.
Before I continue, I would like to mention that however I end up serving the Corps, I will be honored and proud to be given the opportunity to wear the uniform and stand as a member of the Marine Corps. I would still be happy to enter the Infantry field, and damned proud to become a Marine.
That being said, I want to be as fulfilling to the Corps as the Corps will be fulfilling to me. This has led me to examine exactly what made me want to become a Marine in the first place.
I don't remember what it was that made me wonder how the United States kept its embassies and assets abroad safe, but I do remember reading in reverence about the United States Marines, standing in noble discipline under the eye of the world, letting every American within know that they are safe and letting every enemy without know that they have their work cut out for them if they dare try anything. I wanted to be that disciplined, and that noble, and I wanted to protect my people under the eye of the world. I understand that all Marines from every field can generally fit these criteria. But nothing would make me feel so fulfilled as standing post in such a manner.
I know that I dream of embassy duty, and I know that that is a B billet, and one of the most desirable jobs in the Marine Corps. I would love to one day become a Marine Security Guard and stand post abroad, but what on earth would I do before I would be eligible for embassy duty? Or, worse yet, what would I do if I never got a shot at embassy duty, or don't "make the cut"?
Naturally, I don't want to pin my dreams on a B billet that I might not get, or have to wait a long time for. So I looked into Security Forces, and there are things that I like that appeal to my original interests, even in some ways more than embassy duty: I can enter the Marine Corps with a Security Forces contract and I still get to be a guard, doing much of the same that I would expect as a Marine Security Guard at an embassy.
But there are certain things I don't like. My first concern is that Security Forces is not a primary MOS, but a secondary one. I understand that this designation would make it very difficult -if not impossible- for me to obtain another B billet in the future (such as my dream job: embassy duty). I also understand that Security Forces is a five year contract, only half of which is served in the Security Forces - the other half being served in the fleet under an 03XX primary MOS. I am not interested in entering and training as a guard and finishing my term as a grunt - I would rather be one or the other. My final concern is that I have heard that Security Forces do not actually stand post and function as guards in the same manner that Marine Security Guards do, despite descriptions I have read about this MOS.
I suppose what I'm looking for is a primary MOS, or other entry option, in which my duties would be standing guard and maintaining the security of wherever it is I am stationed. I hope this is a realistic ideal, but if not, are there any ways I can work with the above options to get closer to my dream? I just want to achieve my potential and serve the Corps as best I can.
No matter what, I will still be honored to become a United States Marine.
Thanks for taking the time to read! I look forward to hearing from you all.
I swore into service on 20080826, and my recruiter succeeded in securing me an 03XX slot as I had requested. But before he dropped me off at my house that day, he made it as clear as he could that it was not too late to change my job.
Normally, I would holdfast by my decision that I made, but there was one thing I hadn't counted on before making my decision: I scored high on the ASVAB. I scored 77 overall. My recruiter thinks this is a pretty big deal, and he told me that with that score, I could have a shot at any job in the Marine Corps. This newfound understanding of my potential has motivated me, although a little late, to perhaps examine other career options.
A couple of weeks ago, my recruiter had an infantry Marine call me who had just finished his second tour in Iraq. This Marine told me that I would be doing a greater service to myself and to the Corps by considering other fields where I can truly apply my potential.
Before I continue, I would like to mention that however I end up serving the Corps, I will be honored and proud to be given the opportunity to wear the uniform and stand as a member of the Marine Corps. I would still be happy to enter the Infantry field, and damned proud to become a Marine.
That being said, I want to be as fulfilling to the Corps as the Corps will be fulfilling to me. This has led me to examine exactly what made me want to become a Marine in the first place.
I don't remember what it was that made me wonder how the United States kept its embassies and assets abroad safe, but I do remember reading in reverence about the United States Marines, standing in noble discipline under the eye of the world, letting every American within know that they are safe and letting every enemy without know that they have their work cut out for them if they dare try anything. I wanted to be that disciplined, and that noble, and I wanted to protect my people under the eye of the world. I understand that all Marines from every field can generally fit these criteria. But nothing would make me feel so fulfilled as standing post in such a manner.
I know that I dream of embassy duty, and I know that that is a B billet, and one of the most desirable jobs in the Marine Corps. I would love to one day become a Marine Security Guard and stand post abroad, but what on earth would I do before I would be eligible for embassy duty? Or, worse yet, what would I do if I never got a shot at embassy duty, or don't "make the cut"?
Naturally, I don't want to pin my dreams on a B billet that I might not get, or have to wait a long time for. So I looked into Security Forces, and there are things that I like that appeal to my original interests, even in some ways more than embassy duty: I can enter the Marine Corps with a Security Forces contract and I still get to be a guard, doing much of the same that I would expect as a Marine Security Guard at an embassy.
But there are certain things I don't like. My first concern is that Security Forces is not a primary MOS, but a secondary one. I understand that this designation would make it very difficult -if not impossible- for me to obtain another B billet in the future (such as my dream job: embassy duty). I also understand that Security Forces is a five year contract, only half of which is served in the Security Forces - the other half being served in the fleet under an 03XX primary MOS. I am not interested in entering and training as a guard and finishing my term as a grunt - I would rather be one or the other. My final concern is that I have heard that Security Forces do not actually stand post and function as guards in the same manner that Marine Security Guards do, despite descriptions I have read about this MOS.
I suppose what I'm looking for is a primary MOS, or other entry option, in which my duties would be standing guard and maintaining the security of wherever it is I am stationed. I hope this is a realistic ideal, but if not, are there any ways I can work with the above options to get closer to my dream? I just want to achieve my potential and serve the Corps as best I can.
No matter what, I will still be honored to become a United States Marine.
Thanks for taking the time to read! I look forward to hearing from you all.