A question regarding 08xx

[Infinitum]

Hello Marines! I just wanna ask a quick question about the field of Artillery. Exactly what do the Artillery men do, and are they essentially on the front lines with the Infantry?

Thanks in advance.

[Lisa 23]

Have you tried doing a search on the site for your answers first, or even the internet?

[Infinitum]

Yes I have searched the internet for quite a bit now and the site. Maybe I overlooked a thread, I will run another search.

[Lisa 23]

United States Marine Corps Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors
FIELD 08, FIELD ARTILLERY

The field artillery OccFld is divided among three functional areas: firing battery, field artillery operations, and field artillery observation/liaison. Qualifications include ability and learned skills to operate and maintain artillery equipment; basic technical and mathematical skills for computing, communicating, and executing fire commands; ability and attitudes supporting life and close work with others in a field environment; and performing duties involving hard technical skills as well as administrative and managerial skills. The duties that must be learned vary by functional area. Firing battery includes moving, emplacing, loading, firing, protecting, and maintaining field artillery cannon weapons systems. Field artillery operations involve moving, emplacing, operating, protecting, and maintaining equipment which acquires targets; provides, relates, and evaluates gun and target survey information, meteorological data, weapon system performance; and integrating these factors into orders and communicating these orders to the firing battery. Field artillery observation and liaison include checking and analyzing combat plans and communicating appropriate advice, planning and operating information to coordinate the fires of field artillery and naval guns with infantry and armor combat maneuvers; observing and reporting targets and other battlefield information; and adjusting observed fires on targets. Types of entry-level jobs include work as field artillery batteryman or cannoneer, radar operator, fire control man, meteorological man and, as a fire support man, spotting fires of artillery and naval gunfire. Formal schooling or field skills training is provided to Marines entering the OccFld. Because field artillery is the primary supporting arm for Marine Infantry and Armor, most of its billets are in FMF ground organizations. The Marine artilleryman finds most assignment opportunities similar to the wide variety of billets available to those in other combat and combat support fields at all staff levels of the division and in various free billets. Marines entering this OccFld receive MOS 0800, Basic Field Artillery Man, and under instruction and close supervision, perform routine duties incident to the firing, operation, and maintenance of field artillery pieces and related equipment. These Marines are trained for one of the MOSS in the field artillery OccFld and participate in routine functioning and tactical employment of the unit to which attached.

Below are the Marine Corps Enlisted Military Occupation Specialties which are organized under this occupational field:

0811 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0811.htm) -- Field Artillery Cannoneer
0814 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0814.htm) -- High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
0842 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0842.htm) -- Field Artillery Radar Operator
0844 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0844.htm) -- Field Artillery Fire Control Man
0847 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/%20http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0847.htm) -- Artillery Meteorological Man
0848 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/%20http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0848.htm) -- Field Artillery Operations Man
0861 (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0861.htm) -- Fire Support Man

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/08.htm

[eazyrider]

In fairness though the official description doesn't always tell you about what day to day life is like. I think that is what the majority of wannabes that come on this site are looking for. I know a retired Arty guy I'll ask him what it's like because that is one MOS that I know nothing about.

[Capital M]

Cannoneers are with the howitzers, they basically know the guns in and out. They are also the HIMARS guys.. Basically drive around in a humvee with missles on the back. Forward observers (0861) are always out in the field scouting and calling in artillery and naval gunfire when needed. FDC (0844)... Don't really know what they do besides control fire. They're kinda like thd nerds I guess. Here FDC doesn't stand for fire direction and control.. it stands for fat dudes chillin. You get the idea.

Radar is exactly what it sounds like. Meteorological isn't. They added survey to their job. From what a Marine across the hall tells me, 0847's make sue that every one has the right grids on their maps so the 11's don't make it rain on the 61's and the 03's.


Now from what I've been told by my recruiter (an 0811) as well as here at the Marine battery on FT Sill, alot of 08's will be in provisional rifle platoons.. An instructor here said he was guarding helos in Iraq at one point, while another 0811 ( not here) was kicking in doors in falluja.


There are a lot of variables. Just remember 08's are not grunts, our main job is to support them. If they need arty, they've got it, if they don't, then we don't fire.

PM me if you want to know anything about the school

and yes I agree there is a difference between about.com and real life experience.

[Infinitum]

Thank you Capital M, I appreciate the time you took to answer me question. Now from what I have heard because of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan Artillery Marines are usually being used more as infantry (doing patrols and such). Is that true?

Sorry of all of the questions by the way.

[josephd]

Thank you Capital M, I appreciate the time you took to answer me question. Now from what I have heard because of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan Artillery Marines are usually being used more as infantry (doing patrols and such). Is that true?

Sorry of all of the questions by the way.

I cannot speak for Arty in particular being used as infantry but almost everyone going to 'Ghan is being used for patrols, convoy security, etc....

A few good friends of mine are non-infantry and they are out on patrol on a daily basis over there