Questions about choosing my MOS

[knawgz]

Since my last post, I was given the opportunity to speak with a recruiter. She told me to think about choosing an MOS, I've narrowed it down to 2 different fields. 03xx, and 58xx. Would anyone be able to give some information about these two? Anything helps. Thanks in advanced.

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[03GyRene]

You'll be able to find plenty about these MOS' if you search this forum. Basically, you are looking at Infantry (03xx) vs. Military Police (58xx).
As Marine Infantry, your role basically is to kill the enemy (...locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and manouver...).
As Military Police, you will be a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction on and around the base, as well as responsibility for base security.
Good luck

[irpat54]

You'll be able to find plenty about these MOS' if you search this forum. Basically, you are looking at Infantry (03xx) vs. Military Police (58xx).
As Marine Infantry, your role basically is to kill the enemy (...locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and manouver...).
As Military Police, you will be a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction on and around the base, as well as responsibility for base security.
Good luck

you summed it up perfectly..

[knawgz]

I found a lot about 03xx, but not as much about 58xx. Is it an unpopular career field?

[crazymjb]

Step back and ask yourself what your goals are with your job in the military. Do you want to be learning combat tactics, field craft, spending a lot of time outside, doing a lot of training, etc? Do you want to be military law enforcement, and actually do your job when stateside, rather than training a lot. Keep in mind that MPs did see a lot of combat the past 10-15 years, but unless we are in another sizable conflict, that will not be the norm.

For what its worth, we had a lot of guys who re-classed to MP from infantry when we got back from overseas for about 6 months. Most hated it, I know at least one (who is a state trooper as his civilian career) who has lateral moved into the MOS to hopefully do his 20 years in the reserves.

Mike

[knawgz]

Step back and ask yourself what your goals are with your job in the military. Do you want to be learning combat tactics, field craft, spending a lot of time outside, doing a lot of training, etc? Do you want to be military law enforcement, and actually do your job when stateside, rather than training a lot. Keep in mind that MPs did see a lot of combat the past 10-15 years, but unless we are in another sizable conflict, that will not be the norm.

For what its worth, we had a lot of guys who re-classed to MP from infantry when we got back from overseas for about 6 months. Most hated it, I know at least one (who is a state trooper as his civilian career) who has lateral moved into the MOS to hopefully do his 20 years in the reserves.

Mike

Kind of want to do both. But I want to choose a field that will set me up for success, whether I choose to continue my career in the Marine Corps, or transition to civilian life. I understand that both allow for career growth, but does one allow for more career growth than the other? My goal is to either become a civilian police officer, or continue my military career as an officer. So I'm really considering MP, but at the same time, infantry as well. They both have a lot to offer. As for your friends, experiences seem to vary. Do you know what they hated about being an MP? Also, how do lateral transfers work?

[crazymjb]

While MP may translate more directly to an LE job, I'd say the majority of cops I know were grunts, but these are guys I knew as a grunt. They don't really seem to care all that much about MOS according to my friends.

As far as being an officer in the military, after 4 years you can use your GI bill to go to college, OR there are various enlisted commissioning programs, but they are very competitive. The benefit as I understand it is doing one of these programs doesn't cost you your GI Bill (I could be wrong here), AND you are still active duty while in school, so those years go towards your pension, which is nice.

For better or worse, infantry guys like being in the field away from prying eyes. It's not that we don't respect the institution, customs and courtesies, etc, but we would rather be training for war, blowing stuff up, etc. There is for lack of a better term, an arrogance about being in the infantry. Is it misplaced? To a large degree I think so, but nonetheless it exists. The Infantry is a cult within a cult. A lot of Marine Grunts, for example, would rather hang out with army grunts than Marine admin. The result of this is infantry guys don't like hanging out around a bunch of people in a garrison environment, where all the by-the-book stuff is under a microscope, and where in there opinion the wrong things are the focus. I'm not saying the infantry mentality is always correct, but when you go from that environment to being an MP, a lot of guys have little patience for it. That said, plenty of MPs love their jobs, but like cops in the real world, there is no love lost for MPs generally. I've never had a bad experience with MPs, and frankly those who have probably COMPLETELY deserved what they got (Marines can be stupid, remember this), but nonetheless there is some animosity towards the MOS and those who hold it.

Mike

[Tennessee Top]

58XX includes both military police and corrections (prison guard/chaser). Which one you end up with depends on the needs of the Marine Corps - you do not get to pick. Make sure your recruiter explains this to you before you sign any contract. It's possible you could spend your enlistment working at a USMC brig or military prison. Corrections school is at an Air Force base in San Antonio, TX.

There are two different types of MP's. Garrison MPS's (they control access to bases, issue traffic citations, etc) and field MP's (they're attached to infantry units and provide security for convoys, control POW's, etc). You may be able to request one or the other at MP school in Fort Leonard Wood, MO (Army base) but I'm not sure.

I was a Company and Battalion Career Planner for a couple years so can explain the basics about lateral moves (all reenlistment and lateral move requests go through the Career Planner's office). There are a lot of rules, and the stars have to align just right for a lateral move to be approved (but it does happen). First, one has to be at their current duty station at least two years to be eligible (that's to cut down on transportation costs and prevent someone who just got there to be sent somewhere else at Government's expense). Lateral moves are primarily used as reenlistment incentives to keep a good Marine on active duty and getting out instead (that happens when a contract is about to expire). They are also used to balance MOS populations. So, if your current MOS is overpopulated, there is no way you'd be allowed to move into another overpopulated field (that would not be efficient manpower management). Best case scenario is to move from an overpopulated MOS into an underpopulated one (or vice versa) as balancing those two would be in the best interest of the Marine Corps. Another factor that can complicate the issue is security clearances. Obviously, if you only possess a secret security clearance, you would not be eligible to lat move into a MOS requiring a top secret security clearance. Your ASVAB score also comes into play. You must have the ASVAB score required for the MOS you want to move into. Bottom line is, making a lateral move is nothing you can plan on, or expect to happen - regardless of what your recruiter tells you. It's just impossible to look into the crystal ball and see how all your stars will align when you become eligible to even consider submitting a request.

[knawgz]

Thanks guys. Think I've made my decision. But, out of curiosity, is fire protection something that's usually offered?

[03GyRene]

Fire protection? Not sure I understand what you're asking.

[TolzerVman]

7051, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist?