Recon

[Andrew09]

I'm shipping on Febuary 8th to bootcamp and my MOS is Recon 0321. I'm just posting to get as much info on this as I can. I've done research I've my own (prior to picking 0321) so I have simplistic understandings of the job; but I want to here what some Marines other than my recruiter have to say about it all. Any advice or input is appreciated!

[echo3oscar1833]

Your MOS is Recon, how did you get that on contract, are you a reservist?

[echo3oscar1833]

FYI get your profile changed to Poolee.:marine:

[Lisa 23]

Here are a few topics I found using the search bar.......it's been covered many times already.

Basic Recon Course
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82918&highlight=recon&page=6

Question about Basic Reconnaissance Course preparation
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90367&highlight=recon

New Recon tryout guidelines
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87030&highlight=recon

[echo3oscar1833]

Kid asks a question, I ask him one, he hangouts out for a bit then leaves jeezzsssssss:D

[polizei]

Echo, I don't think you can be a recon reservist...but correct me if I'm wrong, picking recon is a specific MOS, he's on a contract, so he gets a guaranteed school seat. Now, if he washes out, well...I think the next options are the needs of the Corps. We had a recon drop in MP school...

[echo3oscar1833]

Echo, I don't think you can be a recon reservist...but correct me if I'm wrong, picking recon is a specific MOS, he's on a contract, so he gets a guaranteed school seat. Now, if he washes out, well...I think the next options are the needs of the Corps. We had a recon drop in MP school...

Oh thanks didn't know that, suppose that makes sense. I always thought if you wanted to be Recon you had to join as a 0300 first, and then tryout for it Semper :D

[hussaf]

There was a reservist recon guy with me at jump school. At least that's what he said, he was from another Co so we didn't know him, just met him at a base bar.

[JSam]

Yes, you can be a Recon Reservist. We have 4th Recon BN. an hour or two away from where I live, in Mcdonough, GA, I believe.
Recruitment is also giving the option to enlist as an Active Duty Recon. Only catch is, if you fail Recon INDOC, you go open contract, or straight 03 if you're lucky.

[Andrew09]

Your MOS is Recon, how did you get that on contract, are you a reservist?

Yes.

WMarine, thanks for the links. Sorry about my ignorance.

JSam, I'm going to be a reservist, my recruiter made it very clear to me that if I failed indoc I'd just be bumped to 03. Is he telling the truth?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Yes, he's telling the truth. You fail Indoc, that's it. You'll be a basic '03 if you are lucky.

[JSam]

Here's what'll happen with you if you decide to go down this path.
You'll go to bootcamp, graduate, and no matter what coast you're on, you'll go to Pendleton for SOI. After SOI, you'll try out for BRC with the Recon Indoc. As you're already a basically trained infantryman, you'll probably get moved over as a reservist 0311 if you fail.

[Lisa 23]

East coast goes to the SOI at Camp Geiger......... http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/soieast/Pages/welcome.aspx

West coast goes to the SOI at Camp Pendelton......... http://www.marines.mil/unit/tecom/soiwest/Pages/welcome.aspx

[polizei]

WMarine, only Recon is on west coast. East coast doesn't do any recon training...so, no matter what, he'll be going to SOI on the west coast.

[Lisa 23]

I was under the impression that every Marine goes to the SOI first, then assigned to BRC.

Marine Corps Enlisted Job Descriptions
MOS 0321 - - Reconnaissance Man


Type of MOS (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/mosdef.htm) : PMOS
Rank (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blenlrank.htm) Range: MGySgt to Pvt
Job Description: The reconnaissance man is responsible for providing the amphibious, long range, small unit, ground reconnaissance and raid skills to support the MAGTF. He is the nucleus of a reconnaissance team in the reconnaissance battalion or the reconnaissance or assault team in the Marine Special Operations Company (MSOC's) In addition to basic infantry skills, he is responsible for highly refined scouting and patrolling skills. He must possess advanced proficiency in scout swimming, small boat operations, close combat skills, airborne, surface and sub-surface insertion and extraction techniques, assault climbing, demolitions, forward observer procedures for supporting arms, initial terminal guidance operations for heliborne assaults, airborne insertion operations, and various waterborne operations. He specializes in communications, photography, threat weapons and equipment recognition, and various types of point, area, and related necessary overlap of ground amphibious reconnaissance operations. Marines assigned to assault teams possess advanced skills in assault weaponry, breaching demolitions, close quarter battle skills and raid techniques. Selected reconnaissance men are further trained as static line and free-fall parachutists and combatant divers. - Noncommissioned officers are assigned as reconnaissance and assault team leaders or their assistants and may be qualified as static line and free-fall jumpmasters, dive supervisors, helicopter insertion/extraction masters (HRST), and tandem offset resupply delivery system (TORDS) operators.
Job Requirements:
(1) Must possess a GT score (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/asvab.htm) of 105 or higher.
(2) Must possess a first class swimmer qualification.
(3) Must obtain a first class score on the PFT.
(4) All Marines, to include non-infantry desiring lateral move, must successfully complete the Marine Rifleman Course of instruction prior to attending the Basic Reconnaissance Course.
(5) Assigned as a primary MOS to MGySgt and below 03XX Marines by CMC (MM) and Reconnaissance OccFld Manager (PP and O Code POG), and approved lateral-move Marines from any other MOS, who graduate from the Basic Reconnaissance Course (BRC).
(6) Must be a U.S. citizen.
(7) Must be eligible for a secret security clearance (http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/security.htm).
(8) Must be medically qualified to perform jump and combatant dive qualifications IAW inter-service requirements established in the P117 Navy Manual of Medicine and Army AR 40-501. Marines assigned 0321 PMOS who become medically unqualified may be directed to Lateral move or be reassigned based on the Commanding Officer, MMEA and HQM recommendations IAW MCO P1000.6. Duties: For a complete listing of duties and tasks, refer toNAVMC Directive 3500.87 (http://www.usmc.mil/news/publications/Pages/NAVMC%20DIR%203500.87.aspx), Training and Readiness Manual.

[polizei]

Why would the Corps spend money to send a Marine to east coast SOI, then west coast for recon training? Seems like they would just send them to the west coast once...but, if it makes sense to do something, the Corps does the opposite! I really don't have any knowledge of this, so don't take my word for it, I'm just guestimating off of what I've heard and what would make sense.

[Lisa 23]

Polizei, I'm sure you're right that all Recon Marines go to the SOI at Camp Pendelton after boot camp, but the only point I was trying to make is that every Marine who isn't going Recon, do go to the SOI at either Camp Pendelton (west coast) or Camp Geiger (east coast) after boot camp, not just Camp Pendelton like JSam said, that's all.
I should've explained myself better in my previous posts on what I was saying.

[echo3oscar1833]

Why would the Corps spend money to send a Marine to east coast SOI, then west coast for recon training? Seems like they would just send them to the west coast once...but, if it makes sense to do something, the Corps does the opposite! I really don't have any knowledge of this, so don't take my word for it, I'm just guestimating off of what I've heard and what would make sense.

99% of the Corps dosn't make sense to the average Marine. Its the nature of the beast welcome to the Corps Devil Dog hahaha :D