Fire Support Man MOS 0861, is a primary MOS. I went to Ft. Sill after Boot Camp and attended the Marine Artillery Scout Observer Course(MASOC), upon completion, attended Naval Gunfire School, Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va. After that, off to the Fleet. Forward Observers are assigned to firing batteries and the Headquarters Battery of each battalion in the Naval Gunfire Section. They are also assigned to the Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies. I dont know of anyone who has specifically volunteered for this MOS, but the 0800 field can be contracted. Depending on ASVAB scores and the needs of the Corps, you may or may not get this MOS.
My son is classing up at Ft. Sill on the 4th, I believe. His MOS is an 0861. I am somewhat confused as to how long training is at Ft. Sill and then at Coronado Island. Also I hear that he may go to "Jump School"...? Please help me. I am also wondering were his PDS may be. I know that there are several options, but am confused as to where and what they are. Please help!!!!
Jeanne, First, my info may be a little dated, but generally is probably correct. The Marine/Artillery Scout Observer Course is approximately 6 weeks long, then he will go to the Naval Gunfire School at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA. (Across the bay from San Diego) After completion of these schools, he is available for assignment. If he volunteers to become Airborne qualified, he will be assigned to one of the Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies. If he chooses not to be Airborne qualed, he will be assigned to one of the Artillery Regiments. He could be assigned to Camp Lejeune, NC; Camp Pendleton, CA; K-Bay, Hawaii or Okinawa, Japan. There are a couple of us on here who were 0861s, Lyle0861, myself and I beleive DaringRooster. If you have any more questions, let us know.
Derek would love to be airborne qualified, but isn't there some specific qualifications that he would have to meet before?....such as a particular class standing, or test scores? Getting any info from him is like pulling his teeth. We just put him on a plane back to Ft. Sill last night. He was to call and let me know how all went, but like usual....I will probably get a call sometime this comming weekend or such. He doesn't have a cell phone, but as loads of minutes in phone cards. I thought he was picking up this week for classes, but I guess it is next week. He was home on RA for about a month...said he would never do that again. I was glad he was home, but the pressure and the hours rough...he never said anything or acted out about it but I could tell it was getting to him...the recruiters in the office I mean.
thanks for the info, if you have anything else you could share about 0861's I would surely love to hear. I keep finding the same stuff over and over on the net. I have been really looking for some kind of training matrix.
Jeanne, I am glad that you are proud of your son. Yes, getting info from him may be like pulling teeth, he will be ready to talk to you about his new found knowledge when he is ready. I know that you want to know all about what he is doing with training and everything, but....he will tell you when he is ready. Give your Marine some room, trust me. He will learn a lot about land navigation, he will have to know where he is at all times, there is no room for error. He will learn how to locate targets, calling for and adjusting fires, and working with laser range finders/designators. K-Bay or Keneohe Bay, is on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Take care.
Lyle, When did you go to Sill? I went Jan - Feb 85. I think it was MASOC Class 2-85. Do you remember Gunny Bemo? The huge Battery Gunny at the Barracks? Looking at the Marine Battery web site from Sill, we had great living conditions compared to now. 4 man rooms down the street from the Chow Hall. I was looking through paperwork tonight and I found my certificate from Naval Gunfire School in Little Creek.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: SCMerle,
Hey- That was first stop after boot (I was prior service Army) in '84. I was jump qualified from my first enlistment, and would have liked a jump billet, so my recruiter thought 0861 would be a good fit (he was thinking it would get me to ANGLICO). As I have never been a stellar swimmer (2nd class), even attempting to get to Recon was not an option. Those folks are amazing, but I can't do it. Where did you go after Sill and Little Creek? Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town.
After Little Creek I went to 2d ANGLICO. But during my jump physical, the Doctor disqualified me for a knee injury I had in college. I was there I think 2 months before I went to the Naval Gunfire shop at 2/10. That will always be the best assignment I ever had. I reenlisted early, and then made a huge mistake. I thought I wanted to get away from going to the field all of the time and went on Barracks duty. I should have waited to get a slot at Little Creek. But, hind sight is 20/20.
Originally posted by SCMerle: Jeanne, First, my info may be a little dated, but generally is probably correct. The Marine/Artillery Scout Observer Course is approximately 6 weeks long, then he will go to the Naval Gunfire School at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA. (Across the bay from San Diego) After completion of these schools, he is available for assignment. If he volunteers to become Airborne qualified, he will be assigned to one of the Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies. If he chooses not to be Airborne qualed, he will be assigned to one of the Artillery Regiments.
Your info is a little bit dated, since ANGLICO does not have the jump mission back yet. Right now the monitor decides if he will go to an ANGLICO or an artillery regiment. If he gets to ANGLICO, he stands a decent chance of getting to go to jump school, but he will not get jump pay.
Actually, if your son started on the 4th, then he is in the same class as my team chief, Sgt Salisbury. He chose to lat-move from Motor T to 0861 when he re-enlisted, and they are just now sending him to MOS school, even though he has already done two deployments as a scout/observer.
Merle, no worries. We're hoping to get the mission back soon, but rumors about that have been going around for 2-3 years with no actual progress yet. In the meantime, we still get some seats for airborne school, but not as many as we'd like. I'm leaving on Wednesday to report to Benning, fortunately.
Hey- I had a friend at 2nd ANGLICO in '85-'86. His name was Jon Reinhart. The last rime I saw him, he was just back from Benning, and I was headed to Ft. Drum. He was a 2531.
It looks like VMI is at ANGLICO right now. In my limited experience with them, usually 0861s are the the only ones besides 0802s who have the opportunity to attend Jump School. According to VMI, ANGLICO does not have the jump mission back yet, so even if you do get to an ANGLICO, you may not get a chance to attend Jump School. But, as I stated earlier, do not try to mold your career around units that may get you jump training. Focus on being the best Marine you can be first. If jumping is more important than being a Marine, go to the army.
Sir you have stated that ANGLICO does not rate or have jump billets anymore? Have they in the supreme know changed the mission? Sorry Lieutenant but after 13 1/2 years of ANGLICO I am seriously confused and out of the loop. Been retired 6 years now and that does not coincide with ANY of the previous missions that we had. Not an argument in any way but a WTFK. Of course, ANGLICO used to be all voluntary and have an indoc also. Please advise.
