MOS 0811 question

[BRV219]

I plan on talking to my recruiter soon, but before I go I would like to have a few thing straight in my head. One of the MOS I am considering is 0811, or Cannoneer. The one thing holding me back on this MOS is if I make it through boot camp(I hope I will) and all other 0811 schools, I will never seen any actual combat. By combat I mean firing my rifle, not just the Howitzer. So my question is if I do choose the MOS 0811, would I ever see and combat? If not would MOS 0861, Fire Support Man or Forward Observer, be a better route to take to see more combat? Thanks!

[Lisa 23]

How about taking it one step at a time first.

What is it with everyone wanting to see combat? It doesn't make you any less of a Marine if you don't.

[MicMarine]

WMarine, it is that damn Call of Duty generation. Only the wise know there are no spawn locations, or resets in life. You should have heard some of my Marines before we left. Oh and General Gray is a hard ass, my girlfriend's grand father grew up with him. I have only seen the guy a few time.

BRV219, Combat is not COD or BF2. People's lives are ended, no reset. You have grief from what happens. Some people think they can handle it, and some just can not. The glory of combat is not glorious at all. If you are dead set on seeing combat, which I wouldn't recommend since I know less about you and more about my own experiences. The 03XX field is the way to go. I have talk to Marines that have "PTSD" that were airwing ordnance. That is not a knock on that field (every Marine has a job to do). But those Marines load bomb on to aircraft that are dropped miles from them and hours after touching it.

I would ask myself a few questions: Do I plan on making a career out of the Marines? Do I just want to do some cool $h!t while I am young?

I will say that if your soul purpose in joining the Marine (or military) is to "see combat" you are not joining for the right reasons. I joined to travel and to get an education. I have done both, but not as my friends have done. I have seen 5 countries (brother saw 41 in 8 years), and have been educated with life lessons that no academic organization can deliver. Yet, every 3 or 4 years, I raise my right hand and swear to do it all over again. When I retire I can walk away knowing that I did things my civilian friend could only dream of doing. Combat should not be your focus, until you have trained long and hard enough to prepare for the worst. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[BRV219]

WMarine, it is that damn Call of Duty generation. Only the wise know there are no spawn locations, or resets in life. You should have heard some of my Marines before we left. Oh and General Gray is a hard ass, my girlfriend's grand father grew up with him. I have only seen the guy a few time.

BRV219, Combat is not COD or BF2. People's lives are ended, no reset. You have grief from what happens. Some people think they can handle it, and some just can not. The glory of combat is not glorious at all. If you are dead set on seeing combat, which I wouldn't recommend since I know less about you and more about my own experiences. The 03XX field is the way to go. I have talk to Marines that have "PTSD" that were airwing ordnance. That is not a knock on that field (every Marine has a job to do). But those Marines load bomb on to aircraft that are dropped miles from them and hours after touching it.

I would ask myself a few questions: Do I plan on making a career out of the Marines? Do I just want to do some cool $h!t while I am young?

I completely understand and I did not mean it like that in the first place. Im sorry if I can across as just thinking it will be like COD. I fully understand that the Marine Corps is the real thing and nothing to be taken lightly. I was just trying to get a question answered. Thanks!

[Lisa 23]

WMarine, it is that damn Call of Duty generation. Only the wise know there are no spawn locations, or resets in life. You should have heard some of my Marines before we left. Oh and General Gray is a hard ass, my girlfriend's grand father grew up with him. I have only seen the guy a few time.

It just seems that that's all these young men who want to join, want to see combat, and if they don't see combat, then you're not a Marine. They forget about the consequences that can happen in combat.

And Gen Gray was a pleasure to be around, and I'm very gracious that he took the time for pictures. It's a picture that I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

I will say that if your soul purpose in joining the Marine (or military) is to "see combat" you are not joining for the right reasons. Combat should not be your focus, until you have trained long and hard enough to prepare for the worst. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[MicMarine]

I completely understand and I did not mean it like that in the first place. Im sorry if I can across as just thinking it will be like COD. I fully understand that the Marine Corps is the real thing and nothing to be taken lightly. I was just trying to get a question answered. Thanks!

So you want to join to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that you will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help you God?

If that is the case, any job in the Marines will allow you to do that. What do you want to do besides see combat.

[MicMarine]

It just seems that that's all these young men who want to join, want to see combat, and if they don't see combat, then you're not a Marine. They forget about the consequences that can happen in combat.

And Gen Gray was a pleasure to be around, and I'm very gracious that he took the time for pictures. It's a picture that I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

My buddy who is a recruiter says he has to break the hearts of hundreds of kids each week. That is his biggest problem, the other one is women that want to join to find a husband, WTF? That is like a man going to a strip club looking for a wife. Yeah when they are both dressed up they are nice, but once the courting is over...just wont last.

I am convinced Gen Gray tried to put me on BCP, and send me to AA meetings. It was funny how Henry introduced us, said he had a friend from high school that had retired. He loves meet Marines, he says. As soon as I see him I knew who he was.

[Lisa 23]

My buddy who is a recruiter says he has to break the hearts of hundreds of kids each week. That is his biggest problem, the other one is women that want to join to find a husband, WTF? That is like a man going to a strip club looking for a wife. Yeah when they are both dressed up they are nice, but once the courting is over...just wont last.

I am convinced Gen Gray tried to put me on BCP, and send me to AA meetings. It was funny how Henry introduced us, said he had a friend from high school that had retired. He loves meet Marines, he says. As soon as I see him I knew who he was.

That's a good one...a woman joining to find a husband...lol!

I put some other photos of Gen Gray in a thread I have in the Marine Corps League forum.

[Hanzo]

It just seems that that's all these young men who want to join, want to see combat, and if they don't see combat, then you're not a Marine. They forget about the consequences that can happen in combat.

This is nothing new. Young men have been drawn to "the glory of combat" since combat has been around. That's the way it has always been and the way it will always be.

In my opinion, the reason it seems strange now is that during time of relative peace, you had a lot more people signing up for college benefits and things along those lines. I remember all the UA Marines being brought back saying "I never would've enlisted if I thought I would have to fight". I think this new generation is simply going into it with their eyes open, realizing that they will most likely see combat. Granted, they have no idea what combat actually is, but that doesn't make them different than any other combat veteran in their young age. There was a time that Chesty Puller had never seen combat but wanted to. (Of course, I don't think that ever changed for him)

[BRV219]

So you want to join to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that you will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help you God?

If that is the case, any job in the Marines will allow you to do that. What do you want to do besides see combat.

Yes that is exactly why I plan to join once I turn 18 and finish high school. To answer your second question I want to make a difference. Im tired of friends and family just saying "oh thats to bad, this war is horrible, ect." I want to serve my country because I love it, and I want to preserve it and its way of life for future generations.

[codeman92190]

If you are under the assumption that Artillerymen, especially cannoneers, do not see combat, you are very mistaken.

Given the unusual circumstances of these wars, artillery isn't being used as much, so many batteries are going overseas without their howitzers, and performing the role of infantrymen. In fact, of the 5 instructors I have had, every one of them did at least ONE deployment as infantry.

[echo3oscar1833]

I joined the DEP in 2000 before the thought of us going to war was a thought. Or at least in my eyes anyway, I never thought I was going to serve during a time of two major wars. I joined the Marine Corps because it was a dream of mine, my dad was a Marine, and so was my Uncle. I wanted to be just like them. I was drawn to the Marine Corps, not by the fancy dress blues, but by what the Marine Corps is. I still hold those feelings today, as true as I did back then. I remember when 9/11 happened, I was in boot camp. I remembered thinking we where going to war, and I was going to go. I got lucky I suppose, when my Bn deployed to Iraq in 2003 for the invasion, I stayed behind in a Manpower billet, because I was already in an ongoing Medical PEB. I am glad in a way that I never served in a Combat Zone, but at the same time it was hard watching Marines all over the base, my buddies, and Bn shipping out. It was hard standing on the flight line loading supplies knowing I could not be over there with my friends. It was even harder when the first KIA came back in our Bn. He was a Sgt. I kinda knew, not that well, but he was still a brother, and it hit home for all of us that worked in Manpower for the Battalion. We where the ones that did the memorial services, and talked to the wives. I am proud of my service, but I will never forget those days as long as I live.

[BRV219]

If you are under the assumption that Artillerymen, especially cannoneers, do not see combat, you are very mistaken.

Given the unusual circumstances of these wars, artillery isn't being used as much, so many batteries are going overseas without their howitzers, and performing the role of infantrymen. In fact, of the 5 instructors I have had, every one of them did at least ONE deployment as infantry.

Thanks you for your answer. That was the original question I asked. I was under no assumption because I simply did not know. Thanks!

[MicMarine]

If you are under the assumption that Artillerymen, especially cannoneers, do not see combat, you are very mistaken.

Given the unusual circumstances of these wars, artillery isn't being used as much, so many batteries are going overseas without their howitzers, and performing the role of infantrymen. In fact, of the 5 instructors I have had, every one of them did at least ONE deployment as infantry.

No boot I am not under the assumption. All the artillery Marines I know, like the one attached to my Battalion, where serving as "security" or provisional rifle platoons. Anything from the chow hall, ECPs, convoys, and TCN escorting. All Marines can see combat, like a firefight. My cousin is winger, and she had a CAR before I did. She was trying to be one of the female Marines that works with MARSOC but is pregnant.

Anyway, back to the question asked. The only MOS that will guarantee combat, is 03XX. Arty is a support MOS, plain and simple. If they are not making it rain steel they are may do some "security" or provisional rifle platoons. THEY ARE NOT INFANTRY.

[codeman92190]

No boot I am not under the assumption.

I think you misunderstood, Ssgt. That whole comment was directed towards the original poster. I didn't even read what you had said.