View Full Version : Pursuing a 5811
Good evening, Marines!
I'm considering joining the Marine Corps and would like to pursue a job as a 5811, Military Police. If there are any Marines who have served or are serving as 5811s, any advice you could give would be much appreciated. I'm a 17-year-old senior and I meet height-weight standards. Pull-ups and sit-ups aren't a problem as I've been doing them for quite a while (multiple situps were not an uncommon form of punishment for me growing up.) I'm pretty quick and love to sprint-race, but as far as full-out running goes I'm pretty shabby. I'm out of breath after a mile or so at a slow, steady pace and need help or advice to achieve a 28min three mile. As far as scoring the GT-100 required; I'm no good at mathematics but am able and willing to improve. Any advice as far as particular mathematical concepts/resources I should study and practice would be helpful and much appreciated.
If I enlist, it won't be until I'm closer to 19 in age as I would like to use that time to help further our family business(es). I am hoping that this time might also be used to prepare myself mentally, academically and physically for the Marines.
Thank you very much, and God bless.
Edit; would also like information as far as securing a job as a 5811 before enlisting. How do I ensure that I will get a job as a 5811 after going through boot?
Alisium
10-24-09, 08:53 PM
You can't ensure a particular job only the field. So you can enlist for the 5800 field but not 5811. It's a gamble, really.
The only way to ensure your job is to enlist into the reserves. In the reserves you actually are picking position with a particular command.
polizei
10-24-09, 09:06 PM
MP school is easy, don't worry about that. Believe it or not, the hardest part about MP school is being on an Army base for 3+ months. The only thing you really need to work on is running. My platoon ran 5-6 miles, 3-4 days a week. Believe me, it was tough, but got us all in pretty good shape. And like Cpl. said, you can enlist in the 5800 field, but getting field vs. PMO (garrison, ie a cop) just depends. Our class of a 100 or so was split pretty much down the middle. It's however, almost certain that you'll get PMO if you're married (with or without dependents).
Anything else, just ask or shoot me a PM.
Understood, sir. Thank you. It would be a toss-up for 5811-5831 and everything in between. I have considered the reserves, but am shying away from it simply because the only thing I would do outside of the Marines is attend college and I do not want to serve and attend college at the same time, but would prefer to attend college (via the GI bill) after I get out.
Thank you sir!
Polizei; thank you, sir! I am trying to work on my running, just trying to figure out a good route for my area. In reference to that; was most of your running across flat, hard surfaces or varying terrain? I live in a terribly hilly area, and am wondering whether or not I'm wasting my time running around on this stuff rather than just running track.
polizei
10-24-09, 09:17 PM
I'm reserve. So far, I don't like it...I want to be back with my Marines. Civilians suck, I can't stand it. You won't realize the difference until you become a Marine. Best of luck to you, and don't call me sir please. I'm not an officer! Most enlisted don't like being called sir (unless it's a DI).
I'm not exactly sure how 5831 works. It might be a specialty MOS that you have to lat-move into. I'm sure another Marine will chime in with more advice on that MOS. As far as I know, you'll go in as a 5800 and get picked for either field or PMO at the discretion of the Corps.
Gotcha on "sir", Polizei. Thanks for clearing that up for a civvie.
How are sub-58 jobs determined? As in, if I choose to enlist under the 58 field, how would my particular job be determined? Just chosen at random? Or will it depend on something else?
hbarcus
10-25-09, 02:01 PM
Don't aim for a 28-minute 3 mile run. Why settle for bare minimums. If you want to be a Marine you need to learn to strive to be the best at everything you do. Does that mean try to run an 18-minute 3 mile? No. Why? Because there are still other Marines who run less then that. You should ALWAYS strive to be the best in everything you do.
Fubar5812
10-25-09, 03:07 PM
5831 (correctional specialist) trains for 1 month at Lackland AFB,San Antonio TX. its a very quick course because alot of that job is OJT and every brig is run differently they just teach the basics at Lackland. I saw alot of there training why I was at K9 school (K9 and Corrections both went to lackland when I was there). you can sign a contract for 58xx guarnteeing you either 5811 or 5831 but its really up to the needs of the Marine Corps....out of my MCT platoon 12 of us where MP's and only 1 guy got corrections.
your "sub job" isn't a sub job it is your primary MOS. me for example I am a 5811 with a secondary MOS as a 5812 (K9 handler). there are alot of secondary MOS's in the MP field like K9 handler, SRT (SWAT of the Marine Corps basically) AID (accident investigator) CID (criminal investigation division) all kinds of stuff.
hbarcus; thanks for the encouragement. I have no doubt that I can do better than a 28 minute three mile.
fubar5812; thanks for distinguishing between primary/secondary MOS. Basically what we have is Field (58xx) Primary MOS, and Secondary MOS. Field can be guaranteed via contract, but your primary MOS is to be determined by the Corps needs at the time of your enlistment. Correct? And these must first be completed to be eligible for a secondary MOS.
hbarcus
10-25-09, 08:10 PM
That is 100% correct the68.
Fubar5812
10-26-09, 03:14 AM
the whole "field vs garrison" thing cannot be guaranteed by anything other than reserve status (reserve MP units are all field units)....as was said before the married Marines are more LIKELY to get PMO over field units but anything goes...im single and ended up in a PMO unit in Hawaii even though i requested lejuene.
polizei
10-26-09, 10:19 AM
They let you request a duty station Fubar? For us, we were only allowed to choose east, west, overseas. What MP class were you?
Fubar5812
10-27-09, 11:08 PM
I did the wish list at MP school, at K9 school you can request a actual duty station since it's such a small MOS, but it is ultimately up to the monitor and the needs of certain bases where you go.
my class? put it this way... I remember answering your questions about MP when you where still a poolee.
LonewolfUSMC
11-11-09, 11:32 AM
Having worked in numerous mos's(job assignments) including 5811 and 5831 (Military Police and Corrections) I would like to say I enjoyed my many assignments in the 5800 field. Having also served as an 8411 (Recruiter), as you have already been told you can only be contracted for the 5800 field and to be assigned you have to meet certain requirements (ask your recruiter). But let me give you the same advice I gave everyone that I spoke to about serving in the Corps. As important as any job assignment might be, you have to make sure you are 100% satisfied with the idea of being a MARINE. If you fail to get this right I can assure you that Getting your dream job as an M.P. could prove to be a terrible mistake. If deep inside being a MARINE is just o.k. You need to do your homework but, there are some wonderful Police departments all over the country that would love to have you.
Semper Fi,
"LonewolfUSMC"