06 Comm Field

[LittleMissStretch]

In the months I have been on this site, I have researched and re-researched the (06) Comm field. Yet I have found very little on what its like, Percentage of females in the field, among other things. I have the seen the job descriptions and such but not what I'm looking for. I guess I would like to hear from Marines who have been in the field or currently in that field and if there are any Female Marines in that field it would be even better. I'm looking into 0651-Data Network Specialist, 0653-Defense Message System and 0665-Tactical Network Specialist. I just want to know what's MOS School like? Are there many females in this field? But, ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

[Achped]

I highly highly do not recommend 0621 (field radio operator) as a female. Trust me on this. I'm not a female nor am I an 0621. But my best advice to you is to stay with the data side.

[LittleMissStretch]

Might I ask why, Lcpl

[SlingerDun]

Don't know today but field radios used to be heavy and awkward with primitive antennas that stick out and whip around, then you got your issued gear to hump also. You follow the unit commander {or whoever rates a radio} around like a disciplined punk and its hard to get in a nap when comms are active. On the other hand you hear the current scoop and might be able to figure out whats up and where your going. Field Marines are always speculating and spreading rumors and lies about the near future. The Gunny say's there was an AO in Vietnam called the "Antenna Valley" where a disproportionate number of radio operators were targeted by snipers. I found the grid coords @Ray's Map Room

--->Dave

[LittleMissStretch]

I see

[Achped]

Don't know today but field radios used to be heavy and awkward with primitive antennas that stick out and whip around, then you got your issued gear to hump also. You follow the unit commander {or whoever rates a radio} around like a disciplined punk and its hard to get in a nap when comms are active. On the other hand you hear the current scoop and might be able to figure out whats up and where your going. Field Marines are always speculating and spreading rumors and lies about the near future. The Gunny say's there was an AO in Vietnam called the "Antenna Valley" where a disproportionate number of radio operators were targeted by snipers. I found the grid coords @Ray's Map Room

--->Dave

We probably still use the same radios, PRC-117s, PRC 119s? They've gotta be at least from the 80s, if not Vietnam.

Still got those obnoxious whip antennaes, or the flex antennaes for the real "distant" chats (3 miles).

Alot of other stuff has changed though, theres even a radio that sends text messages

[Brewer0311]

They're phasing out the 119s out in country. I can't remember what it's called but my RO told me that it could do what 3 of the other radios could do. It's smaller, easier to use, and obviously lighter.

While I was there CLB had a female RO for their convoys. Seemed like all of us grunts in the COC enjoyed hearing a females voice for a few minutes.

Data seems like it is a pretty good field though. Promotes pretty quickly and you learn stuff that could help you in the civi world. Only problem is... If you don't go to a new place you aren't setting anything up. Your just making sure it doesn't get screwed up and then fixing it if it does.

A lot of time on the FOB and hanging around the PX from what I've seen. I don't know how it would work with units other than grunts though. We obviously don't get females in our battalion, just a few get attached to us to search females.

Hope this helps you out some.

[LittleMissStretch]

Yea, it has, Thanks Cpl

[Try2CatchMike]

0621 School and all Data/Comm jobs have school at 29 Palms CA. There are VERY few female Marines in the 0600 field from what I have seen as far as student wise. Maybe 3-4 out of 20 or 30 are Marines in those classes are female from what I have seen. I hope you like to run and cause they will wear your ass out at your MOS school.


-LCPL Penfold

[LittleMissStretch]

I will learn to love running if it means I'm in Comm, Lcpl and from the looks of it I'm looking at swimming in a testosterone pool everyday...oh well. You do what you can.

[Isrowei]

Why does it matter how many females are in it? Do what you like for the job itself.. not the abundance or lack of other females.

Think about this... Females make up around 16-18% of the Corps. But.. you can't be in combat arms so there's 1/3 off the top. That leaves 66% of the Corps you're lumped in with. So, 18/66 = 27%. Figure that anywhere you go... it's going to be around 1/4 female (or more). That's the odds.

But again.. what does it matter? You either like the job for the job... or you don't.

[LittleMissStretch]

Sir, I didn't mean to come off like I was hoping to be with all Women. I have 3 cousins in the Corps and from what they told me there are just some MOS's that hold more Males than Females but, all three of them are grunts. It just sparked some curiosity and Sir, I have chosen my MOS and its Comm. I'm not the type of person to give up or change my mind. I will do my job regardless and I will do it well. Thank You for your input Sir. It's greatly appreciated.

[LittleMissStretch]

Sir, I didn't mean to come off like I was hoping to be with all Women. I have 3 cousins in the Corps and from what they told me there are just some MOS's that hold more Males than Females but, all three of them are grunts. It just sparked some curiosity and Sir, I have chosen my MOS and its Comm. I'm not the type of person to give up or change my mind. I will do my job regardless and I will do it well. Thank You for your input Sir. It's greatly appreciated.

Correction to the above Post. The part in bold should have said :
they told there are some MOSs that hold more females than others but,

[jarheadlady]

As was said, do not worry about being in the testosterone pool every day. Its there, put on a life jacket and jump right in.

This is not going to be a popular post among other female Marines on this site, but I will and always have said exactly what is on my mind so here it goes. The following comes from all my years experience in and around the Corps. I have said before, but perhaps not to you, my father was a career Marine and I am a career Marine. My son is now a career Marine, so I have seen a few minutes of life in the Corps.

When you ask females why they joined the Corps you will get one of two answers;
The first being "I wanted a challenge and the Corps was it for me." Or, "I grew up around Marines and this is where I wanted to be since I was a little girl." I raise the BS flag on both. OK, yea there are a few who really mean it, but there are also MANY females that join because.. well to be honest, we have the hottest men in the hottest uniforms. Its like shooting fish in a barrel. Oh and before you ask, yes, I am married but his is a civilian and has never been in the military. I am also the mother of 4, two of them serving their country and 2 of them with masters degrees serving in teaching capacitys.

Lets take a platoon of 50 women at PI. After graduation within a year 40 of them will have slept with at least 2 or 3 different Marines if not more. Of those 40, 25 of them will marry a Marine and 15 of them will get pregnant (6-10 of those out of wedlock). Of those 15 only 8 of them will stay their full 4 years. Even when they stay the full 4 years, they become a burden to their shops and fellow Marines. They become undeployable during their pregnancy and on light duty so their jobs must be fulfilled by other Marines. Back to the 10 that were left over at the beginning. 7 of those 10 will be considered "dykes" by other Marines (both male and female) whether or not it is true. The rest of them will keep their heads down and work their as*es off and will be respected by her peers. Of those 10 2-5 of them will reenlist and a couple of them will make the Corps a career.

Those numbers are not a proven fact, just MY opinion as to what I have observed during my lifetime around my Corps.

Decide which one you want to be before you ship to PI. If you want to be one of those last ones, go for it. If you don't, go somewhere else. Our Marines do not need the extra weight on their backs.

[Marine84]

AMEN GUNNY!

I remember one of our last bus (cattle car) rides the DI standing in the front telling us about our reputations - how our reputations would make it to the next base before we did (and it does!) and that over 1/2 the bus would be pregnant within the year (which I saw a lot of). No offense to the Moms but, the Corps ain't the place for having babies - the babies don't know you for the first few years of their lives and you are a burden to the Unit because you can't do your part to contribute to the mission and another Marine (be it male or female) has to pick up your slack.

And, if you ever do end up doing something wacky........................NEVER put it on film! LOL!