MOS Questions for the Marines out there.

[NightRunner]

As a potential recruit I am at that crossroads where all service members must decide their future. I have chosen to become an enlisted Marine, however before I choose a specialty I'm here seeking input from you who have been around the Corps for awhile.

Google doesn't answer everything and prescribed MOS descriptions are vague at best. If there is anyone who could enlighten me on what the routine, day-to-day life is like in any of the following specialties, it might help me avoid repeating a mistake I made back when I first enlisted: that is, picking a job I absolutely hated.

This is not all-inclusive, merely the ones I am most curious about:

CA - Transportation Option
3500 - Motor Transport
3531, 3533

BY - Electronics Maintenance
2100 - Ground Ordinance
2171
2800 - Ground Electronics
Any
5900 - Electronics Maintenance
Any

DD - Intelligence
0200 - Intelligence
0231, 0261
2600 - Signals Intelligence/Ground Electronic Warfare
2621, 2631, 2651


ANY input would be appreciated, but I am specifically looking for people who are in any of these fields or who might know what they are like.

I have already read over the "official" descriptions. Instead, what is the work like on a daily basis? What is the job like while deployed? What are the highlights? What are the drawbacks? I want to draw from the pool of human experience here before I submit my preferences to my recruiter.

By all means, PM me if you prefer not to post public.
Thanks!

[HairyEyeball]

I noticed you ask about ground electronics, but not aviation electronics - that, I can give you some (relatively old, but still relevant). One of the 'perks' of working on helicopters stateside was that there's always room in the aircraft when flying out on an RON (from Santa Ana, CA we were 'good to go' to Vegas - and Vegas in the 60s was the 'real deal').

Out in the field (or the jungle, as the case may have been), you pull an 8-9 hour shift, unless the operational tempo demands the 25-on, 8-off we sometimes pulled. Depending on the way your shop is set up, you may troubleshoot, replace and do squadron-level repair, or specialize in just one area. You might also be assigned to a HAMS outfit, in which case you receive and repair equipment beyond squadron-level capability. You might also be working at Wing HQ level, and never see a combat zone.

Don't know if any of that helps, but it at least adds to your information and broadens your options.

[Machine]

If you sign up for the 3500 option, you may or may not get to be a 3531. 3500 is just that, Motor Trash. Depending upon the needs of the Corps at that time, you may go to 3531 school, or you may go to 3521 school, which is the mechanics course. I wanted 3521, and got 3531 and later the 3533. Ended up being a 3537(in billet only, not pay grade). I would ask for the specific MOS in the contract. There are no guarantees, and my information is (holy shiite!) 21 years old. If you do get 3531, ask for and pray for orders to a division or SRIG unit. Hell I don't even know if they are still broke up that way: Division, FSSG, Wing, SRIG. Personally, I'd have no use in being in a unit that didn't get a little excitement from time to time, but from what I've seen, Motor T Marines are subject to just about as much excitement as the ground pounders. Wether or not you get to become a 3533 is up to whatever unit you go to. 3533 is(was) a 3531 with a tractor trailer/ LVS license.
My last unit gave me an opportunity to work with some of the Comm people, and I think that if I could have done it over, I may have gone down the 2800 road. There is a ton of school involved with that MOS, and I think that it is unit specific, meaning that no two comm systems are the same, so you may go to school for the AN/TSC93, which was the Cadillac in 90-91, or the ANTSC 95 or some other. How much school they send you to may require something like a six year contract, also. Like I said, this info has a little age on it, so do your home work.
At the time of my enlistment, I was looking for a specialty that I could use out in the world should I choose not to make a career of the gun club. There's not much of a civilian market for tank drivers, LAV crewmen, or artillerymen, so that's why I chose Motor T. No regrets.
Life is full of shouldas, couldas, and wouldas, and whatever you choose, rest assured that you will second guess yourself at least once in your enlistment. Just do the best you can all of the time.

[dukesix]

Wellllllllll. Make sure your contract is 'solid'....or you will end up as a 0311. That's Infantry. Not exactly a life I would recommend.....yet, believe it or not, it has it's 'perks'. You'll train (real hard)....but you will also have quite the satisfaction in a job well done. Some (if not all) Marine line units have been described as ".....boot camp...fourth phase." Probably true....even nowadays. If you want to go to where the fight is....go '03. I could go on.....suffice to say....you've been warned.

Dukesix

[Ben Shotalot]

Anything in the 02XX or 26XX MOSs would be a benefit to you when/if you decide to get out and work in the civilian world. Those fields will have high paying jobs out there for years to come.

BTW, I was a radio guy. A battery operated grunt. I was the first to know about things out in the field (operationally wise) and that by itself was a small perk when it came to prep-time, dwell-time, and over-all state-of-mind.

Also consider which jobs have the fastest promotion track. Some jobs will have you at pay-grade E3 forever while others will put you on the fast track.

[Machine]

Also consider which jobs have the fastest promotion track. Some jobs will have you at pay-grade E3 forever while others will put you on the fast track.


True that is. Intel promoted a hell of a sight faster than trucking did.

[NightRunner]

Thanks for all the input so far! I have a supplemental question that my recruiter can't (or won't) answer:

There is currently a $15K bonus available for a 6-year infantry slot. While I am not opposed to taking that route, I wonder if including it on my preferences list would override any chances of getting one of the jobs I would more prefer (such as a DD option).

I'm concerned about this because I remember that's how the assignment selection worked when I was in the Air Force. If you were stuck at a Stateside base that you didn't like, you could easily get selected for a PCS--all you had to do was go update your preferred assignments "dream sheet" with somewhere "undesireable" or remote such as Korea or Afghanistan. Then suddenly you would find PCS orders on your desk to that place regardless of all the other places you listed. (This happened to work perfectly for me.)

By the same logic I could assume that (because infantry slots need filling) if I even THINK infantry, I could end up 03xx instead of something I desire more. Only problem is I have to list three items and there are very, very few available choices right now. If the "odds" of MOS selection are equal all-around, I am flustered over nothing. But, like I said, the recruiter isn't giving me any answer about this.

Thanks again.

[Ben Shotalot]

There is a bonus for a reason - they are hurting for infantry and they will place you there if you put it on your "dream sheet".

Put your top choice first, and then put your REAL second and third choice in. Hopefully for you, the second and third choice would be at a force balance. If you put down something you don't like and you get it, then you would only have your crazy self to blame.

:recon:

[Wolfy]

Depending on the way your shop is set up, you may troubleshoot, replace and do squadron-level repair, or specialize in just one area. You might also be assigned to a HAMS outfit, in which case you receive and repair equipment beyond squadron-level capability. You might also be working at Wing HQ level, and never see a combat zone.
Hairy, I think HAMS is now referred to as MALS (Marine Aviations Logistics Squadron). Where we send all the gear for high-time inspections and whatnot.

Our Avionics Marines in my squadron are good guys, and there isn't too much "high-tech" stuff in a 46 to make the job harder. MALS avionics is a pretty good posting too... I remember going down to pick up some NVGs from there and the Staff Sergeant chewing my ass for keeping his Marines at work past 1630... :dontgetit:

Wellllllllll. Make sure your contract is 'solid'....or you will end up as a 0311.
I believe this applied to the Marine Corps of old, not so much now. I have yet to meet a single Marine in two years that went open contract and got 0311. Every one I've met either got put into supply or admin. I've also met a lot of Marines that signed up for 0311, got a minor injury in SOI, and got shoved into supply or admin.

[NightRunner]

Well, I jumped on that intel slot, but it evaporated within 24 hrs of hitting the list. Now I am down to only three options, so I guess there's no more need for this think-work. The ONLY availabilities at this time are:

BY - Electronics Maintenance
F9 - Infantry w/bonus
CA - Transportation Option

Three options to pick from, and I have to pick my three favorite ones. Hmmm.... :satisfied:

I'd have to wait until next year's spread comes out if I wanted to see more options, and I don't want to do that. There is a blessing in the simplicity of having so few choices, after all. How do the Aussies say it? "No worries?"

Thanks for everyone's input. Now I've just got to sort out this medical-board nonsense and I'll be ready to pack up and leave.