Radio Operator School

[CJames97]

Hello Marines, my name is Cameron James. I am a Poolee enlisted May 18th, 2015. My ship date is June 13th, 2016, and I am signed on to an 0600 Communications Contract.

I have asked vague questions about life as an 0621 before, but what I'd like to know is what specifically is the school like: what's the length, what do you learn, what's 29 Palms like (feel free to be brutally honest). My parents and girlfriend have asked how much and how easily it would be to visit while I'm in the school, if they can at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, what are other specific MOS within 0600? All I've seen from my research is radio operator and data network specialist (which I don't qualify for due to my ASVAB score).
As always, I appreciate the help Marines, this site has been one of my greatest resources as a Poolee.

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[TolzerVman]

Go to Google. Type in "NAVMC 1008-A". The first choice should be from marines.mil; pick that one. You get a pdf of all the MOSs.

[CJames97]

I'm a little confused about the PMOS and NMOS.. what's the difference?

[LCPL1341]

Life of a Radio Operator. I'm not a Radio Operator, but I did spend close to a year in 29 Palms for my original MOS (2800 radio maintenance) and I have many friends who went through FROC (Field Radio Operators Course). The 2800s were in Alpha Company, the 0600s (to include 0621) were in Bravo Company, right next door to us in a different barracks. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect after boot camp.

1) MCT at Camp Geiger (if you're East Coast) or Camp Pendleton (West Coast). Idk if this has changed, but MCT was 29 training days when i went through. You graduate MCT and head straight to MOS school, which in this case, would be MCCES, 29 Palms for Comm School.

2) You'll get to MCCES and spend a few days in receiving doing in processing, medical, various paperwork, etc. After these few days, you drop to your MAT platoon (Bravo company for 0600s) and move all your stuff from the receiving barracks up on the hill to the bravo company barracks down the hill. MAT stands for Marines Awaiting Training; it's where you stay until you pick up in a training company and actually start your MOS school.

3) Typical day in MAT consists of:

0530-0630: PT

0630-0730: Shower, morning chow

0730-1700-1800: MCMAP, Annual training classes, more PT, drill (marching), room inspections, working parties, working parties, working parties...did I mention working parties? Oh, and some free time where you sit around waiting for word in your rooms.

1800: secured for the day, you're on libo. Bravo Company Marines weren't allowed to leave base when I was there, I dont know if this has changed. SO on libo, you can do anythng you want on base to include the gym, chowhall, eating either the PX, or Dominoes, going to the PX and blowing your money on overpriced things, or sitting in the barracks playing video games. Once a week you'll do field day (Thursday) where you'll clean the **** out of your room and get inspected Friday morning.

As you can see, being in MAT is like purgatory. There really isn't any structured activity and you just sit there waiting to pick up and start school.

4) You finally pick up with a class and start training. The school for 0621 (FROC) is 2-3 months long, I don't remember how long exactly. Fairly short school compared to the other ones out there. You learn how to operate a PRC 117 and other types of ground radios. I'm not an 0621, so I wont speculate on specific periods of instruction in the course itself. But expect 2-3 months of MOS school, and learning how to operate/ conduct basic troubleshooting on ground radios.

Some final points:

- When I was there, FROC Marines waited the shortest amount of time in MAT. They would drop to MAT from receiving, and pick up with a FROC class within a week or two. Other MOS's in Bravo Company waited a month or more before picking up. In Alpha Company, we had guys sitting in MAT for 3+ months sometimes. MAT gives you a lot of free time, but its boring a repetitive. As an 0621, you won't sit there too long.

29 Palms itself isn't as bad as people said it was (to me, at least). In Alpha Company, our MOS schools kept us there for 6 plus months, so Alpha Co. Marines were allowed to have cars and on the weekends we requested special libo to go to Vegas, L.A. Palm Springs, etc. Bravo Company guys weren't allowed to rent cars or have their own shipped over since you guys had shorter schools...however, the workweek in MOS school is 5 days a week (you get weekends off with the exception being firewatch or A Duty if your name came up on the list). So the weekend was yours to do with what you pleased. You can request special libo to go off base, but you need to find a way to get away from 29 Palms. Cabs will cost you an arm and leg. But there is an SMP program on base that hooks you guys up with day trips and overnight trips on weekends if you pay for them (they bus you out to Vegas, LA, Big Bear, Havesu, etc then bring you back Sunday) so def look out for that and take advantage.

[LCPL1341]

I LITERALLY copy and pasted this response from a previous thread you posted asking the same things about Comm school. The funny part is that the comment I copy and pasted was mine. Pay attention to detail. You asked about Comm School and 29 Palms before. FROC is a short course; you get weekends off, it's 5 days a week. Your family can come visit you at any time when you get the weekend off, get a 72, 96, etc. You'll have to fill out a bunch of ORM forms, but command usually approves them.

[LCPL1341]

You say this site is "one of your greatest resources" Yet you missed that novel I wrote on a previous thread asking the same damn questions you're asking here.

[LCPL1341]

PMOS= PRIMARY MOS. It's the job you go to MOS school after MCT for.

NMOS= secondary MOS, I.E., not your primary; it's just an additional job.

[CJames97]

Aye sir, I apologize for my missing your comment. I'll be sure to go back and re check my old threads, and your comment was extremely helpful then as well as now. Again, I do apologize sir, and I appreciate the help

[Tennessee Top]

LCPL1341 is not a sir. He works for a living! But, appreciate the respect shown (does not always happen with posters here). Good luck to you.

[LCPL1341]

You're good, no need for apologies. Lack of attention to detail is just a pet peeve of mine lol. You seem squared away though, you'll do well in boot camp. Good luck and if you have more questions, keep them coming.