Are there any Sgt that have latmoved onto 0300. I report to SOI in Apr to attend ITB to become an 0311 as soon as graduation i amidiatly start BRC. If there are any other Sgts that have done what im about to do. I need some input on schools and what expect.
How in the hell is the Corp going to let a Sgt. lat move to the 03 field and my fellow 03 Marines and I that are trying to re-enlist have been told the field is closed????? Something don't sound right!!!
No disrespect intended, but what is a sergeant doing moving into Infantry/Recon at the end of a shooting war? Where were you when all this craziness has been going down and the Grunts needed everyone who could step up? Why now?
What have you been doing in the Corps up to this point?
You do know that either way, Infantry or Recon, you're an NCO in small unit command where men's lives are at stake. What makes you believe you can lead them? Do you realize how this looks in our community and why many are resentful towards lat moves like yours?
I'm not trying to bust your balls here. Just trying to help you realize where your Marines are going to be coming from when you step into a billet you may have zero experience in. Again, their lives depend on your every move just as much as your's depends on their's. Are you really up for this?
I do sincerely hope you make it and achieve everything you're trying to ultimately become without losing a single Marine along the way. Unfortunately it generally goes with the territory so just do the best you can with what you have and depend on your men as much as they'll depend on you. It's the only way to make it Brother.
Welcome to the Grunts Baby Boy, where wishing for something is generally infinitely better than having it. Ha ha ha why do you think everyone in our career field is always trying to be in the rear with the gear satisfying the honeys while keeping the beer and pogues safe from hostiles and ne'er do wells like us? You're about to find out ha ha ha.
Be careful what you wish for, you just got it ha ha ha ha ha.
You do know that either way, Infantry or Recon, you're an NCO in small unit command where men's lives are at stake. What makes you believe you can lead them? Do you realize how this looks in our community and why many are resentful towards lat moves like yours?
I'm not trying to bust your balls here. Just trying to help you realize where your Marines are going to be coming from when you step into a billet you may have zero experience in. Again, their lives depend on your every move just as much as your's depends on their's. Are you really up for this?
Deano, We've had a few non 03's rotate into squad/section leader billets as Sgts, and we currently are deployed in Iraq. Just because a Marine doesnt have the 0311 billet does not mean he cant be great at the job. I dont know if we are just lucky, but we have two non 03's (one an FO and another a comm bubba) leading grunts and they have done nothing but a perfect job. I understand it may not be the case, but the original poster could be coming from another victor MOS, or a MOS that worked closely with victor units.
LATMOVER I'll give you the same advise I gave someone else. Which is:
I'll give you the same advice that I would give a new 2LT. When you come into your first platoon make sure you are a PT stud. Also if you are put into a leadership billet be VERY, VERY humble about it. Talk to you're squad and introduce yourself, Tell them where you're from what you've done and why you lat moved to the 0300 series MOS. Then let them know that you know that you don't know **** and that you are excited to learn from each and every member of your squad and you look forward to getting to know each and everyone of your squad members.
And then do it. Soak up as much info from your TL's, the other SL's and your PSG as you can. Also when you go to the ranges have your lcpl's and pfc teach you about their weapon how to take it apart etc. Ask them about their sights anything that shows that you want to learn and their experience is valuable to you and that you respect it. In their eye's they'll be like "damn our new POG SL doesn't have a stick up his but and I'm helping him out."
No one will expect you to know everything just like no one expects a new LT to know everything. But if you come in able to PT well and show that you are humble and eager to learn and that you've got heart you will earn people's respect after a bit. Have thick skin and expect to take some crap but if you can PT, are humble and willing to learn and you have what it takes then you'll do just fine. Also having alot of heart and try will go ALONG WAY.
RWT what the heck is a "Victor" unit??? Where does "V" come into play in infantry language???
For the record, during Vietnam Nam a lot of Brothers got tired of sitting in fire bases catching rockets so they volunteered and lat moved from H&S to line companies where they moved through the billets to honcho squads. No big deal because they knew what they were doing and were up for it.
I would rather serve with twelve Devils who want to be there as opposed to forty two who didn't. If they pack the gear let them serve where they're most happy because they'll be a heck of a lot more productive. I just caution Devils to make sure they know what they're really getting into so they're better prepared to hit the deck running as an NCO in Infantry. Heaven have mercy on them if they're not because their men sure as heck won't.
Originally posted by Deanosaur: RWT what the heck is a "Victor" unit??? Where does "V" come into play in infantry language???
Deano, I am not sure the original use of "Victor" in infantry language, and I wont try to just make something up. All I know is currently all combat MOS's are sometimes referred to as "Victor" units. Maybe someone can shed more light on it, but its not uncommon to hear infantry and arty units referred to as victor unit.
As for the word of caution for the poster, thats always good advice, I just hate when I hear Marines talk down to other Marines latmoving to the 03 field. Especially after seeing what kind of exceptional Marines they often turn out to be.
Just thought of something. Perhaps the word "Victor" comes from the taking of Iraq back in 2003.
As for people lat moving into Grunts, most come in with rank which ticks people off because they didn't earn it the hard way along with everyone else. Kind of hard for someone who's been there done that to accept someone who hasn't and that goes for boot Grunt NCO's coming in from MCSF as well. Simple human nature.
The term victor unit comes from the way units are listed in terms of their MCC (which I believe is Monitored Command Code). Deployable units have a "V" or victor in them. For example V27 is the MCC code for 2d Bn, 7th Marines, V12 is the MCC for 1st Bn, 2d Marines, etc. It doesn't just apply to Infantry units.
People should probably read posts a little more carefully before commenting. This dude isn't lat moving into the infantry. He is lat moving into Recon.
ITB will be nothing of interest. The instructors will probably want you to take charge of menial tasks at time, possibly marching your platoon to chow or some such nonsense. The real challenge, obviously, will be getting through BRC. This is difficult, but not by an means impossible, Our assault section leader just dropped a couple weeks ago because of the pool.
In recon, it's not a big deal to be a lat mov. There are a lot of guys in the same boat. You're not going to be a team leader off the bat, you'll be a team member your first pump so just learn what you need to do and you'll be fine.
Originally posted by evil_smile88: A Victor unit is as Kengardner says except a V unit is a combat unit and is comprised of all males.
Not true. Aviation squadrons are also "victor" units (as in they have an MCC that begins with "v" and are combat units) and are not comprised of all males.
