MOS Question (Female Marine Feedback Requested)

[Rough Hands]

Good evening, Marines!

I have been browsing Leatherneck for about a year now, ever since I made the decision to become a United States Marine, however I am not yet a poolee because I've had to lose about 40 pounds. I only have about 10 pounds to go, but I plan on seeing a recruiter very soon (whom I was also in contact with back in October). Also, I did take the ASVAB my senior year of high school, but as of March of this year, it has been 2 years since I've taken it, so I've been told there is a possibility that I will take it again.

I will be visiting my local recruiter within the next week and I want to make sure that I have a very solid list of MOS's. Right now I've been heavily considering 13XX/1371 (Combat Engineer) but I understand that females are restricted in assignment and no females are assigned to combat engineer battalions within the Marine Divisions (unless that has changed since this (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showpost.php?p=324534&postcount=23) post was made). So, my question for you is, and I'm sure you get this a lot, what MOS for females would be most likely to deploy, see combat and/or have similarities to an infantry MOS?

I do understand that whether you deploy/see combat does depend a lot on the unit you're assigned to but I'm sure there are MOS's that see time outside the "wire" more often. I have also considered 58XX/5811 (Military Police) but I have heard that it gets a little too "political". I want to get the most out of my time in the Corps, and I believe the first step to that is going for a job that really and truly is what I want (although I do realize that everything comes down to the needs of the Marine Corps).

All feedback is appreciated, but I would like to see what the female Marines have to say on the matter. And if it helps at all, here are some other MOS's that I have put thought into; 0621 (Field Radio Operator), 3521 (Motor Vehicle Operator), 6199 (Enlisted Aircrew/Observer/Gunner), 4641 (Combat Photographer). Many thanks in advance, Marines!

[tdrt]

I believe all the MOSs you have looked into with the exception of 3521 and 58XX are restricted to men only. Sorry I can't be much more help, but I'm certain others will be here to answer shortly.

And awesome job on the weight loss!!

[Rough Hands]

I believe all the MOSs you have looked into with the exception of 3521 and 58XX are restricted to men only. Sorry I can't be much more help, but I'm certain others will be here to answer shortly.

And awesome job on the weight loss!!

From my understanding, only the 03XX, 08XX, and 18XX fields are barred to women, but please, correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you!

[tdrt]

I can't because I simply don't know.

I realize you're still working on that last 10#, but when do you plan on talking with a recruiter? They would be the best one to talk to about this. And attending poolee PT functions will certainly whittle that last 10 away.

[Rough Hands]

Sometime this next week, hopefully Monday or Tuesday. I was planning on giving him a call in the A.M. to make sure that he actually has some time for me. I'm getting very close to the weight I need to be at; very motivated and shouldn't take much longer than ~3 weeks.

[tdrt]

MCO 1300.8

5002. CLASSIFICATION

1. Women may be classified within any occupational field for which they may
be qualified and are not restricted.

2. Women will not be classified within the following combatant occupational
fields: 03 (infantry), 08 (artillery), and 18 (tank and assault amphibian vehicle).

5-3
5002 MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY

3. Women will not be given any MOS used to indicate a secondary or billet occupational specialty which is usually assigned only to Marines who have one of the occupational fields listed above.

4. Women Marines may be classified in all MOS’s except the following:
0203 Ground Intelligence Officer
0210 Counterintelligence Officer
0211 Counterintelligence Specialist
0251 Interrogation Specialist
2110 Ordnance Vehicle Maintenance Officer
2131 Towed Artillery Systems Technician
2141 Assault Amphibian Repairer/Technician
2146 Main Battle Tank Repairer/Technician
* 2147 Light Armored Vehicle Repairer/Technician
2149 Ordnance Vehicle Maintenance Chief
7212 Low Altitude Air Defense Gunner
7207 Forward Air Controller/Air Officer
7206 Low Altitude Anti-Air Warfare Officer
8152 MCSF Guard
8154 MCSF Close Quarter Battle Team Member

5. The following MOS’s have unit restrictions:
0430 Embarkation Officer: Women will not be assigned to this MOS at the
infantry regiment and below.
0481 Landing Support Specialist: Women will not be assigned to this MOS at the Assault Amphibian Battalion and below.
0451 Air Delivery Specialist: Women will not be assigned to this MOS in
Force Reconnaissance Companies or ANGLICO’s.
1302 Engineer Officer: Women will not be assigned to this MOS at the Marine Division and below.
1371 Combat Engineer: Women will not be assigned to this MOS at the Marine Division and below.
2336 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician: Women will not be assigned to this MOS in detachments provided to MEU’s.
7208 Air Support Control: Women will not be assigned to this MOS in
detachments provided to MEU’s.
7242 Air Support Operations: Women will not be assigned to this MOS in
detachments provided to MEU’s.

5-4
MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY 5004
5003. FMF ASSIGNMENTS
1. Women Marines may be trained to provide essential support of combat
operations; however, they will not be assigned to any unit within which they will routinely become engaged in direct ground combat operations as a primary mission. Accordingly, women will not be assigned to the following units or any sub-element thereof:
Infantry Regiment
Artillery Battalion
Force Reconnaissance Company
Tank Battalion
Assault Amphibian Battalion
Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
Combat Engineer Battalion
Counterintelligence Teams
Interrogation Platoon
Sensor Control and Management Platoon (SCAMP)
Detachment H&S Company, 3d Marines
Combat Support Company, 3d Marines
Riverine Assault Craft Unit

2. Women may be assigned to the command element of any MAGTF, division,
aircraft wing, and FSSG. They will deploy with their units subject to the availability of appropriate transportation.
3. Women may be assigned to those FMF units that provide the detachments for the command, aviation, and combat service support elements of any MAGTF.

Women will not be assigned to support units/detachments/elements that would be expected to maneuver with the infantry regiment or its subordinate units,or be collocated with the infantry regiment (e.g., helicopter support teams,FSSG contact teams, counterintelligence teams, interrogator-translator teams,etc.). Women will not be assigned to the GCE below the division level.

5004. SUPPORTING ESTABLISHMENT
1. Women may be assigned to any supporting establishment unit or duty
station for which qualified by grade, MOS, or other special criteria.

2. Women may be designated as pilots/aircrew members and assigned duties aboard any aircraft.


Hope this helps.

[Beltayn]

Check out this video:

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/01/going-where-male-marines-cant/

I went to MOS school with LCPL Witt. While the movie stresses they are part of a FET team, they are both Cryptological Linguists doing what Cryptolings do in the field.

[Rough Hands]

Thank you so much, tdrt. Your post was very informative, and I may actually save that to my documents.




0211 Counterintelligence Specialist


From this though, I assume that the source for this may be somewhat outdated? According to this (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70812) thread, Counter-Intel opened to female Marines just two years ago.



8152 MCSF Guard


REALLY? I was not aware of this. It was an MOS I had thought about before, it's a shame that it's not open to women.


Check out this video:

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/01/going-where-male-marines-cant/

I went to MOS school with LCPL Witt. While the movie stresses they are part of a FET team, they are both Cryptological Linguists doing what Cryptolings do in the field.

Excellent! I have seen something about FET before, but I understand that it's something you have to be chosen or recommended for only when in-country, correct? Ultimately, I think I will be happy with whatever job I get, as long as I am a Marine (but I will add Cryto-Linguist to my list). Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it.

(Only 8.5 pounds to go!) ;)

[CrazyKelley]

I am a female, and I was a 1345, Heavy Equipment Operator, with a Landing Support Battalion for 8 years. I did go to Iraq with a Bridge company and was outside the wire A LOT, and there was actually a female who was a combat engineer who had just become one, this was in 2004, when they decided to open the field up to females as well. They will just make sure to not assign you to the infantry, but 1345 is a tremendously fun MOS to have. I am currently working on getting my commission, waiting to ship to OCS in the fall, and hope to become an officer in the engineer field. If you want to go outside the wire a lot, you may want to consider motor t as well. FYI, you need to make sure you aren't sensitive about stupid crap because if you choose engineers, you will not have a lot of females around you, just guys, a lot of the time I was the only one.

[WXSgt]

post is 2 months old but yes CI is for females now i talked to a SSgt in CI just a few hours ago. also if your wanting to go into groundside there is always the lioness program. It was started mainly because males cant pat down females and well they were carrying bomb vests. I am not sure of the requirements for that but do know they take any MOS

[ArtyOps]

I can only say one thing,

DAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMN

And I can't even say why.

[ArtyOps]

Please disregard that last post. It was meant to be in another thread.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Kelly, lets see a profile please.