I am now in the DEP for the Marines and I got a Score of 80 on the ASVAB. Would I be qualified to drive tanks? Just wanted to check with someone other then my recruiter. Any advice will help.

Here is a break down on score.

MM:129
GT:121
EL:125
CL:117

Your scores seem to be good. However there are other requirements such as vision, drivers lic. etc. Check with your recruiter to see if you meet these. Also unless you are going reserves you cannot enlist specifically for tanks (MOS 1812).

Just for clarification?
I cannot enlist on active duty and have the MOS 1812 or the MOS 1833.

If this is true, I need to do some re-thinking on what my MOS will be.

You cannot enlist on active duty and be guaranteed a specific MOS. You can enlist in the combat support option, Tanks and Amtracs fall under this option, however so does artillery. So whatever the needs of the Corps are when you graduate boot camp will determine which MOS you get.

I was interested in the 18 field in regards to AAV and tanks. I do not have much interest in artillery though. What are the chances of going through DEP and ending up with the MOS of your choice? How rapid does the corps needs change? What are your recommendations/advice for getting in the 18 field by enlisitng?

Get the combat support option and hope you get tanks or AAV's. Thats about all you can do.

Does the combat support only cover the 08 MOS and the 18 MOS........or does it include others?

Also, I just wanted to say thanks to you, ABVGUNNS, you have been more than helpful!

At one time Low Altitude Air Defense Gunner was in there as well. You have to ask you recruiter whats in it now.

quote:

Originally posted by 16165109:
I am now in the DEP for the Marines and I got a Score of 80 on the ASVAB. Would I be qualified to drive tanks? Just wanted to check with someone other then my recruiter. Any advice will help.

Here is a break down on score.

MM:129
GT:121
EL:125
CL:117

I was a Tanker, as I remember your score had to be 95 or above. This might have changed though,that was 25 years ago.

I went in 18XX hoping I would magically be a tanker and they turned out magically making me a 1812.

Gotta love the luck of the Irish! (Well, part Irish at least!)

My son just enlisted in the 1812 MOS (SMCR). I know that the MOS school is in Ft Knox, but anyone know how long the school is?

It's about 3 months long, 53 training days.

My recruiter just told me that you CAN be guaranteed MOS 1812, Im prior service Navy and im no fool, Im doing all of my research before i enlist,

P.S. I also have other opton
Aircrew, or Intelligence Specialist

I also enlisted under the Combat Support option. I also wanted to be a tanker, but my recruiter told me that because of my high AFQT and line scores I should expect to be an 08, either as a Fire Control Man or a Meteorological Man (0844 and 0847). Still, the final word rests on the needs of the Corps.

Either my memory is failing or maybe I blocked out the process, but as I recall when I joined the Marine Corps, I enlisted as Infantry as my primary and as my second choice Armor, and I don't remember my third option. I was lucky to have become a Marine Tanker.

As others have said, the Marine Corps decides what they need at the time, however, from what I remember if you have a true desire to become a Armor Marine, then you can set that as your primary. If you don't end up with your 'contracted MOS' then remember that you can later in your career make a shift if the need is there.

If being a Marine Tanker is your real desire, regardless of what your scores are, you can ask your Recruiter to set you as a Armor MOS and hope you become a Tanker. Now this is coming from a Marine who joined in the 80's, so obviously things have changed. Nevertheless, if you have a strong desire to be a Tanker, then fight for it and you may get what you want.

I don't want to be a hard azz about this either, but in the Wannabe Forum their has been a thread about becoming a Marine Tanker, it would be a good idea to contribute to that thread too so that not only you, but other potential Marine Tankers can benefit from these words of wisdom. Good luck to you and remember one important group of orders while in a tank.

Gunner SABOT tank, UP, Indentified, Fire, Target. Damn those words ring in my head every time I come to this forum. Get some.

It was a far different Marine Corps when I enlisted in the summer of 1966. I signed up for two years. Yes, the USMC was competing with the freekin' Draft Board for recruits!!! Anyway, the last few weeks of bootcamp the Sr DI called all of the "two year pukes" out on the company street and told us that we were all going into the grunts and were being sent to VIET - freekin' - NAM because Uncle Sam wanted his moneys worth out of training us to be United States Marines.

When he offered our choice of MOSs by shipping over for as little as one year, I did it for tanks.

I never looked back and will never regret that decision.