Rifleman/SAW

[mesaRAT488]

I am interested in becoming a Reserve Rifleman. I know that I will be carrying around an M16 but I was wondering if it is possible to get a M203 launcher on it? I know you must be a TmLdr. to do this but what is the usual amount of time to become a team leader? Also, I was in a pickle between that or a SAW gunner. Does any Marine on this forum have any experience with the two in combat? Which one would you prefer?

Jesse

[STA0311]

You determine how long it takes...if you end up being a Sh*tbird Marine, then count on being the point man forever! If you are a moto stud then you could be a team leader withing a couple years.

[mesaRAT488]

I understand that. I dont want to be the least I can be, but I am going reserves to start and get college out of the way, after I plan on re-enlisting after 6 into AD. Is it any different in the Reserves to promote in rank and eventually become TmLdr. Also, if you re-enlist from reserves to AD can you keep your rank or is it set up differently? Thanks

Jesse

[STA0311]

Well...if you are going to do 6 years of Reserve Duty, graduate college, and then go into Active Duty as an enlisted Marine you are not that smart...as much as I dont care for a majority of officers there are some great ones out there, and they are usually the Mustang Officers. You should look at going into a commissioning program once you graduate college if you are looking that hard for a leadership role.
Also understand that going into the Active side after being a Reservist of 6 years, you are only going to have about 1 year of total time experience actually being a Marine (About 300 days minus deployments). Where as an Active Duty Marine with 6 years will have had 6 years of experience (2190 days avg.), so don't go in thinking that you are an equal...earn your spot by being a quiet performer. Shine when needed and be a part of a team the rest of the time.
Best of luck.....Semper

[outlaw3179]

Right away youll either be a rifleman or maybe the automatic. It just depends on the needs of the team. You should be able to pick up your own team when pick up lance corporal or Corporal. Again it all depends on the needs of the team and the squad and it pretty much depends on how T.O. your squad is ( Table of Organization )

[mesaRAT488]

I understand that it isnt smart to re-enlist AD. The reason I want to though is because I want to be a Reserve Infantryman at the start (For college, and I have talked to Active Grunts and they say Id like Reserve better). I want to re-enlist as an MP and you cannot do that as an officer. I kno the pay is better as an officer but in my view I'd rather like what im doing. Also there is no garuntee that I would become an Infantry Officer and that is what I would want to do as an Officer. If I am wrong someone please tell me and also please inform me as to what the chances of becoming an Infantry Officer is. Thanks

Jesse

[yellowwing]

Quote:

Also there is no guarantee that I would become an Infantry Officer and that is what I would want to do as an Officer. If I am wrong someone please tell me and also please inform me as to what the chances of becoming an Infantry Officer is. Thanks

Here is the scoop we got straight from an active duty 2nd Lt, DSCUSMC

Quote:

Here is the TBS / MyMOS page: https://www.tbs.usmc.mil/Pages/MyMOS...nt_Process.asp This page explains it all - much better than I probably could. You can see from the statistics that 34/157 Marines in a typical company will get the infantry MOS. From the TBS homepage, there is a Command Brief that talks about MOS selection. https://www.tbs.usmc.mil/ The brief indicates that about 15% of officers get the infantry MOS. That's obviously a little more competitive than the statistic above, but you can see how tough it is.

If you have any questions for him, you first must read through the information he has already posted for Poolees interested in commissioning, here.

Plenty of solid information to read.

[mesaRAT488]

WOW! Thanks so much for going out of your way to do that. It is much help and very appreciated.

Jesse

[yellowwing]

Sure no problem, you just owe us 20 push ups.

[mesaRAT488]

Ha, how bout tomorrow im a little tired? haha jk. Cant wait until 3 months. I just dk to go Reserves and then try to become an officer or go straight to PLC? The reason is, just in case I dont get Infantry Officer I want to at least try it reserves. All I want to do is shoot and serve.

Jesse

[yellowwing]

Quote:

All I want to do is shoot and serve.

Good! You just may have what it takes to be one of us, The Few, The Proud, The Marines.

ooh-rah!

[mesaRAT488]

I really hope so. I will continue to do my part and stay in shape and be motivated, I have convinced my parents to sign in May for the DEP and have talked to my recruiter so he is gonna try to get me to ship next jan (lots of time till then, yet lots of time to get ready and train). Thanks for going out of the way and getting all this info (thjat goes for everyone as well).

Jesse

[SkilletsUSMC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesaRAT488 I am interested in becoming a Reserve Rifleman. I know that I will be carrying around an M16 but I was wondering if it is possible to get a M203 launcher on it? I know you must be a TmLdr. to do this but what is the usual amount of time to become a team leader? Also, I was in a pickle between that or a SAW gunner. Does any Marine on this forum have any experience with the two in combat? Which one would you prefer? Jesse

Team leaders carrying the 203 isnt an absolute. Infact I havent seen a team leader with a 203 in a while. Riflemen carried it exclusively. I was a teamleader, and I had a M16, and I was happy about that. The teamleader should be responsible for moving his team, not so much about shooting, the squad leader even less so.

As far as being a team leader, the UNWRITTEN rule is that your senior Marines will be the team/squad leaders untill you deploy and then you get a boot drop, and the changeover happens again.

[mesaRAT488]

Thanks, so is it possible for a boot out of SOI and with his reserve unit to get one if its in your billet? Or is it more Active Marines? Again, this is just out of curiosity, I know I have a long ways to go until I can be worried about a weapon.

Jesse

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

There is no real way of knowing. It depends on what your particular unit wants you to do. I never saw a team leader without the 203, but clearly that has changed. If your unit wants the rifleman to have the 203, then he will have it. If you show up with several other boots (which is unusual in the reserves) you will be thrown into a slot on a team. If you're the only one showing up, they will work you in where there is room. You can guess you'll be a rifleman in the reserve, because chances are that is where they will stick the boot. However, there is always a chance you could end up filling just about any role other than team leader.

Since you're going to be a reservist, there may be an opportunity for you to attend a drill or two before you go to boot camp. Just ask your recruiter if he can set it up.