Accepting job contracts. Avionics or Intel?

[savan]

Quicky Summary: Should I leave now with a job I only okay with, or wait longer for the possibility of getting a job I really like?

Originally when I joined the DEP in May, I was given a ship date for Nov 15. Since then it's been pushed back to Nov 29, and now Dec 13. It has something to do with spaces for females being available, but I haven't really minded because I've been waiting for more 2011 jobs to drop--specifically for Intel or Cryptolinguist.

Unfortunately this hasn't happened, so I sat down with my recruiter and we looked at the jobs that are available. Avionics repair, oceanography, and admin stuff, basically. He said I could get my ship date delayed to April, and more jobs may have dropped. Or I could ship sometime in December and get one of those. I've been really excited about shipping, and I said I'd rather leave sooner than later. So I got my date changed to Dec 13 and my job request form was changed to Intel, Avionics, and Oceanography.

Honestly, I'd be okay with avionics and I want to go to boot camp to become a Marine. I've been ready to go since November. But if I'm honest, I still really, really, really want to do Intel. I got a 99 on the ASVAB and all my line scores are over 140. I took the DLAB and got 121. I know I could do just about any job open to females if I wanted to.

Is it worth waiting for a job I really want? I'm excited just to be a Marine, no matter the job. But I know that if I'm going to be doing this for the next 4 or more years of my life, I figure it's a pretty important decision. I want to make the most of my time with the Corps, working where I have the most use. Is there even a chance the job will become available during that time?

One of my recruiters also said that it's possible to switch over after 2 years. This is another possibility, but I'm pretty sure that would require a re-enlistment. This is another possibility, though I don't think most poolees can say for sure if they're going to re-enlist. If anyone has any insight or advice about these jobs, or what I should do, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you, Marines.

[thediesel713]

Wait for what you want.

[DrZ]

I was avionics and found it to be a great career not only during my time in but after my EAS as well.

This question is one of those that you can only answer for yourself. You must determine what you want more. Do you want to be a Marine more than specifically being in Intel or a Cryptolinguist? Think long and hard on this one because what you do as a job really makes a difference in how much you enjoy your time in the Corps.

You will potentially get as many different answers to this question as there are Marines on this site.

Please keep us informed on what you decide. It should be interesting.

[Mxzero]

Trust me, the 2600 field (signals intelligence, what Linguists are in, they're 267X) will have something open if you push hard enough. We're the field with the lowest retention rate in the Marine Corps. Trust me, you'll find a job somewhere in it, maybe not linguist, though they do need Pashto linguists so if your DLAB's high enough you can get it, but something in the field will be open. Nothing wrong with Avionics or anything involving Airwing, hell they're the guys who pull us out of the sh!t when we're shot can't be mad at them, but the TS/SCI clearance that comes with being intel will help you immensely in the years after you EAS.

[Casedizzy2821]

Quicky Summary: Should I leave now with a job I only okay with, or wait longer for the possibility of getting a job I really like?

Originally when I joined the DEP in May, I was given a ship date for Nov 15. Since then it's been pushed back to Nov 29, and now Dec 13. It has something to do with spaces for females being available, but I haven't really minded because I've been waiting for more 2011 jobs to drop--specifically for Intel or Cryptolinguist.

Unfortunately this hasn't happened, so I sat down with my recruiter and we looked at the jobs that are available. Avionics repair, oceanography, and admin stuff, basically. He said I could get my ship date delayed to April, and more jobs may have dropped. Or I could ship sometime in December and get one of those. I've been really excited about shipping, and I said I'd rather leave sooner than later. So I got my date changed to Dec 13 and my job request form was changed to Intel, Avionics, and Oceanography.

Honestly, I'd be okay with avionics and I want to go to boot camp to become a Marine. I've been ready to go since November. But if I'm honest, I still really, really, really want to do Intel. I got a 99 on the ASVAB and all my line scores are over 140. I took the DLAB and got 121. I know I could do just about any job open to females if I wanted to.

Is it worth waiting for a job I really want? I'm excited just to be a Marine, no matter the job. But I know that if I'm going to be doing this for the next 4 or more years of my life, I figure it's a pretty important decision. I want to make the most of my time with the Corps, working where I have the most use. Is there even a chance the job will become available during that time?

One of my recruiters also said that it's possible to switch over after 2 years. This is another possibility, but I'm pretty sure that would require a re-enlistment. This is another possibility, though I don't think most poolees can say for sure if they're going to re-enlist. If anyone has any insight or advice about these jobs, or what I should do, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you, Marines.

Intel sucks, go linguist. Intel you won't be doing anything cool except making powerpoint briefs for people in the know.

Linguist you'll be at the language school for 2 years in Monterey. Whatever you do, pick what you want, although you won't know anything until you actually do the job. Kind of a catch 22. But realize it's the next 4-5 years of your life. So pick something you think you'll be happy with.

[1stRad2671]

How can there not be space in the 2600 field?

[thezero]

How is there not space, the new FY just started not to long ago, could have all the slots been taken up or are they just trying to get what the Corps needs filled

[savan]

Thank you Marines for the advice.

Here's what happened:

I talked to my recruiter a few days after posting this thread and told him I would like to wait for an intel job to drop. I said I'd wait until April (one month before max DEP). I told him that I really want to be a Marine and I'm ready to go, but I want to make the most of my time in the Corps, so I'll wait for a job I really want. He told me it should be fine if I wait and he would talk to Operations for the entire district.

A couple days after that, he called me back, and here's what he said about the job situation.

• He was told that this was the tightest year when it came to finding female jobs that they had ever seen
• There was only ONE female intel this new FY so far, and it was taken by someone who DEP'd in before me
• They 'knew' that no other intel jobs would be dropping period and that if I wait, I probably won't get intel and I might lose Avionics.

I know the new FY started in like October, but jobs have been really slow to drop for some reason. My recruiters even showed me the screen with availabilities and there were only ever 4 or so jobs available at any time.

However, everyone has been telling me that intel jobs HAVE to open up because of the retention rate. And from what my recruiter told me after he talked to Operations, it sort of sounds like they just want to get me out ASAP. So I just called him back and told him I still wanted to wait until April. I guess this gives me more time to prepare and get into better shape!

Thank you again, Marines! If you have any other thoughts on the matter, I would really appreciate it.

[Beltayn]

Stick to your guns. Wait for what you wanted.

They seriously distinguish job contracts by gender quotas? That's pretty messed up.

[thezero]

Beltayn, they are getting to that point yes. The Corps has to represent the general populace, as was told at my last brief. An example given to me at a brief was "Say there are more Asian females in America, the Corps will tell the officer recruiter that we need 4 female Asians. Now even if a white female who was perfectly qualified and wanted to join, they wouldn't be allowed to recruit her because their quota is 4 female Asians" So as a general thought that may be trickling into the rest of the Corps.

[GyC]

You may have made a poor decision... Young Marines on this site gave you some advice, that may not work out for you in the end... There are few Programs left for male or female applicants, as it stands for the current FY... I can guarantee, that there will be no Intel jobs by April, and there may not be ANY jobs by that time... Job availability has nothing to do with retention, the Programs were released in September/October, and new ones don't open up magically throughout the year if a bunch of Marines get out, we recruit for them next FY... Poor advice, and those with lack of knowledge steered you wrong... Here's some things for you to think about ... 1) Do you want to be a Marine, or an Intel Specialist? 2) Have you looked thoroughly into the other options? I was Avionics, Comm, and a Career Recruiter.. 3 different MOS's and Avionics by far was the most rewarding personally and professionally thus far... 3) Shipping cuts are coming, and DEP attrition is now acceptable to cull out those who are not truly dedicated to being a Marine... Think of it this way, the bus just left the bus stop, and you missed it... The next bus might not have a seat for you... You may want to reconsider your decision, because you may very likely end up regretting it... S/F

[savan]

You may have made a poor decision... Young Marines on this site gave you some advice, that may not work out for you in the end... There are few Programs left for male or female applicants, as it stands for the current FY... I can guarantee, that there will be no Intel jobs by April, and there may not be ANY jobs by that time... Job availability has nothing to do with retention, the Programs were released in September/October, and new ones don't open up magically throughout the year if a bunch of Marines get out, we recruit for them next FY... Shipping cuts are coming, and DEP attrition is now acceptable to cull out those who are not truly dedicated to being a Marine.

Thank you, GyC.

I've been losing a lot of sleep worrying about this. I don't want to miss this chance to become a Marine. Like I said before, I'll take any job when it comes down to it. I just wanted to give every chance of getting the job I really wanted and would be most effective in. I'll talk to me recruiter again about this in detail at the office tomorrow.

However, I am really curious about how the jobs work and how they decide what to release/when. Practically since I DEP'd, I was told there were barely any jobs. The year was winding down, nothing from 2010 was left. I'd have to wait until 2011. I waited, and when October came, there was still nothing. I kept asking every couple of weeks and I was told options were extremely limited. Only 2, maybe 4 jobs available.

How does this work? Are most jobs supposed to have been released in Oct/Sept? So by December, they've all been snatched up for the year and nothing new will drop? I guess I've been led to believe that not all the jobs have dropped yet and more were coming, but I've been told that since July at least. If there's really nothing left, I'll take Avionics.

It's a bit discouraging seeing other poolees snag intel contracts for 2011. Guess I've just missed it both directions. But like I've said before, I'm ready to leave and I want to become a Marine. I'll make the most of my time, wherever the Corps needs me.

Any other thoughts appreciated. Thank you again.