MOS issue

[beduwensuyi]

So a week ago I put in my choice for an MOS in the following order:

1. Avionics
2. Financial Managment(one point waiver denied)
3. Legal/Admin

Now my recruiter called me today and told me that I would most likely be doing 4421-Legal services Specialist. However doing some research I have read that people rarely get this MOS and are usually put as admin clerks. Nothing wrong with that MOS, but that is something I am just not interested in.

Now the reason why I didn't get my first choice (avionics) is because I will be leaving for boot camp too late. The reason why is because I will be finishing my AS in business this spring. The degree isn't that big of a deal because I plan to finish my BS on base anyways and I will have around 45 credits when I get there.

So my question is:

Should I stay in the MOS group that I am in now and take the gamble or should I move my boot camp up so I know I will get an MOS I enjoy?

[josephd]

My personal opinion...

Stay in what you got(Legal/Admin.). Being that you will eventually have a BS in Business, working in a paper pushing MOS could be very beneficial if and when you get out. If you get a security clearance it would help even more.

[Tennessee Top]

Being an admin pogue has it's advantages (I was one so know from personal experience). Biggest advantage is with duty assignments; they need admin clerks everywhere there are Marines (same cannot be said about legal beagles and airwingers only go to air bases). So, your travel opportunities are limitless. Also, when it comes time to request a "B" billet like embassy duty, your MOS will have no restrictions as some do (some MOS's cost so much to train you, they do not like for you to be away from it any).

Here is just one example. I was the admin chief for the Inspector-Instructor Staff here in Knoxville, TN. I had a Sergeant for my admin clerk who basically ran the payroll for the reserve company. There were no legal clerks. The USMC has reserve units all over the country and every one of them needs somebody to run their payroll and teach their reserve clerks how to do their jobs. This is an example of where you could be assigned besides any USMC base we have. We have Marines who train at other military installations like the Army base in Fort Knox, KY (tankers); there is a detachment of Marines, including admin clerks, permanently assigned there to administer to the USMC students.

Another point; being in admin (depending on the training requirements of your unit) is more conducive to going to school off duty. While I was assigned to the Headquaters Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA, The School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, and Headquarters Squadron One, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa Japan, I was able to go to school at night and weekends and finished both my associates degree and bachelor of science degree (and it was all paid for with tuition assistance).

So, the point is, there are many benefits of being in admin that are not apparent to you from your vantage point at this time. I only touched on a couple of them here.

If you have any specific questions about the MOS just send me a PM.