Going into Boot Camp on March 16th. I picked MOS 2821 Technical Controller Marine as my job. I would like to know if anyone else currently has this MOS and what you think about it.

Questions:
How Long is schooling after MCT?
What kind of things do you learn in the class?
Do you get to cross train with anyone else?
Do you like what you do?
Is there room for advancement?

Thanks,
Mashtdi

quote:

Originally posted by MashTDI:
Going into Boot Camp on March 16th. I picked MOS 2821 Technical Controller Marine as my job. I would like to know if anyone else currently has this MOS and what you think about it.

Questions:
How Long is schooling after MCT?
What kind of things do you learn in the class?
Do you get to cross train with anyone else?
Do you like what you do?
Is there room for advancement?

Thanks,
Mashtdi

I believe Thorin001 is our active Tech Controller.

What the hell are the MOS's now days? I was a 2821 until right before I retired when they changed me to 2862.

Semper Fi

John

They must have changed the MOS's recently. I am finding it very difficult to find info on this MOS. My Recruiter cant even tell me how long the MOS Class is. He has tried to contact the west coast to see if anyone can direct him to someone that can answer my questions and so far he has found nothing. I will try to PM Thorin to see if he can give me the low down.

Thanks

MOS recap:
2821 Computer Technician (highspeed 2818) went away about 10 years ago. HQMC waved the magic wand of proficiency and, poof, all the 21's became 62's; along with the 61's and 11's.

4 years ago the technical control field went from Sgt-MgySgt to Pvt-MgySgt. 2821 is technical controller, Pvt-Sgt. 2823 is technical control chief, SSgt-MgySgt.

quote:

Originally posted by MashTDI:
Going into Boot Camp on March 16th. I picked MOS 2821 Technical Controller Marine as my job. I would like to know if anyone else currently has this MOS and what you think about it.

Questions:
How Long is schooling after MCT?
What kind of things do you learn in the class?
Do you get to cross train with anyone else?
Do you like what you do?
Is there room for advancement?

Thanks,
Mashtdi

The basic job of a tech controller is to make this electronic widget talk to that electronic widget. Most 2800's have a specific type of gear that they work on. Our piece of gear is the communications network as a whole.

School consists of 2 parts, BEC (Basic Electronics Course) and techcon school. BEC is about 3 months. Techcon school is about 6 months.

What you will learn in class is some basic paperwork, how to operate the DTC (Digital Technical Control) van, and the TSM (Transition Switchboard Module). The most important thing you will learn is how to troubleshoot. Specificly you will learn how to operate a Promina multiplexer, a FCC-100 multiplexer, campus modems, DNE's CV modems, and Redcom switchboards. You will also be taught some test equipment.

A good tech controller will be crosstrained in switchboards, routers, and every type of transmission equipment (microwave, satelite, etc) that his unit has.

I think it is one of the best jobs in the Corps. Plenty of new toys to keep up with, lots of opportunity to deploy, and all the responsibility you can handle. The down side is that if there are gremlins in your gear you get very little sleep.

There is still plenty of room for advancement. How much that will change in the next 18-24 months when you hit the fleet I can't say.

Thorin,
Thank you very very much for answering my questions. Looks like I got myself into something up my alley. Since I work with business networks all day it looks like I will get there with a little head start.

Once again, thanks for all the info.

Mash

Thanks Thor.

Semper Fi

John

Well, I know you're in boot right now but... I am currently in training for the 2821 field. Just so you know, you may have that on your "contract" but unless your a reservist you are going to be an open 28XX this means you can be anything from a radio tech to a tch controller.


Now if you are able to make it threw BEC (basic Electronics Course) and don't fail an Annex and get dropped, you will make it to TCC, I'm sure you can tell what that means.

If you do get assigned the 2821, you will not be fixing anything, you will not (for the most part) be building anything, what we do is work with cryptonics and frequencies. You will how ever build a relay per say for your final exam for TCC. We are always in air conditioning and we have the best gear to make sure everything we do it at the best of our abilities.


The way the rest of my class and I took it, is we deploy alot because of the lack of TCC's in the Corps so if your recruiter told you you don't deploy that much its a lie. We have one reservist and he already knows he is deploying in September and again 6 months after he gets back. ( I didn't know they knew that far in advanced)


All in all 2821's are the PreMadonas of the 2800 field and everyone hates us LOL

quote:

Originally posted by thorin001:
cal Controller Marine as my job. I would like to know if anyone else currently has this MOS and what you think about it.

Questions:
How Long is schooling after MCT?
What kind of things do you learn in the class?
Do you get to cross train with anyone else?
Do you like what you do?
Is there room for advancement?

Thanks,
Mashtdi

The basic job of a tech controller is to make this electronic widget talk to that electronic widget. Most 2800's have a specific type of gear that they work on. Our piece of gear is the communications network as a whole.

School consists of 2 parts, BEC (Basic Electronics Course) and techcon school. BEC is about 3 months. Techcon school is about 6 months.

What you will learn in class is some basic paperwork, how to operate the DTC (Digital Technical Control) van, and the TSM (Transition Switchboard Module). The most important thing you will learn is how to troubleshoot. Specificly you will learn how to operate a Promina multiplexer, a FCC-100 multiplexer, campus modems, DNE's CV modems, and Redcom switchboards. You will also be taught some test equipment.

A good tech controller will be crosstrained in switchboards, routers, and every type of transmission equipment (microwave, satelite, etc) that his unit has.

I think it is one of the best jobs in the Corps. Plenty of new toys to keep up with, lots of opportunity to deploy, and all the responsibility you can handle. The down side is that if there are gremlins in your gear you get very little sleep.

There is still plenty of room for advancement. How much that will change in the next 18-24 months when you hit the fleet I can't say.[/QUOTE]


Thorin001, just thought I'd let you know, the BEC course is now 6-8 weeks, can't remember on the exact one but its no longer 3 months, and TCC is now 5 months.


OO-RAH

quote:

Originally posted by ShaineP:
Well, I know you're in boot right now but... I am currently in training for the 2821 field. Just so you know, you may have that on your "contract" but unless your a reservist you are going to be an open 28XX this means you can be anything from a radio tech to a tch controller.


Now if you are able to make it threw BEC (basic Electronics Course) and don't fail an Annex and get dropped, you will make it to TCC, I'm sure you can tell what that means.

If you do get assigned the 2821, you will not be fixing anything, you will not (for the most part) be building anything, what we do is work with cryptonics and frequencies. You will how ever build a relay per say for your final exam for TCC. We are always in air conditioning and we have the best gear to make sure everything we do it at the best of our abilities.


The way the rest of my class and I took it, is we deploy alot because of the lack of TCC's in the Corps so if your recruiter told you you don't deploy that much its a lie. We have one reservist and he already knows he is deploying in September and again 6 months after he gets back. ( I didn't know they knew that far in advanced)


All in all 2821's are the PreMadonas of the 2800 field and everyone hates us LOL

What you fix depends on your unit. Some units say that because you have 28 in your MOS you fix your own gear. Others say to turn it into the maintenance shop. As almost all 2821s are in wire platoons they do not have the organic tools to conduct maintenance, but that doesn't stop a few people from trying to make us do maintenance.

oh ok, we are told by our instructors that we are "to vital" to be wasting out time repairing the stuff so, i guess thats just the units they were in

quote:

Originally posted by ShaineP:
oh ok, we are told by our instructors that we are "to vital" to be wasting out time repairing the stuff so, i guess thats just the units they were in

Yeah right, and I was "to vital" to ever be made a radio operator, switchboard watch, message center watch, truck driver, MT mech, Arty tech, radio repair guru, telephone tech, AAV Mech, or a tank Mech. Bwhahahahahaha.

I was "to vital" indeed.

Semper Fi

John

quote:

Originally posted by GyJDIrwin:

quote:

Originally posted by ShaineP:
oh ok, we are told by our instructors that we are "to vital" to be wasting out time repairing the stuff so, i guess thats just the units they were in

Yeah right, and I was "to vital" to ever be made a radio operator, switchboard watch, message center watch, truck driver, MT mech, Arty tech, radio repair guru, telephone tech, AAV Mech, or a tank Mech. Bwhahahahahaha.

I was "to vital" indeed.

Semper Fi

John

In OIF 1 I MEF HQ was somewhere in Iraq when we were informed that there was an Iraqi unit in the area. All Marines were told to man the perimiter. Except the tech contrillers, we were told to get in our van and keep comm working.

quote:

Originally posted by thorin001:

quote:

Originally posted by GyJDIrwin:

quote:

Originally posted by ShaineP:
oh ok, we are told by our instructors that we are "to vital" to be wasting out time repairing the stuff so, i guess thats just the units they were in

Yeah right, and I was "to vital" to ever be made a radio operator, switchboard watch, message center watch, truck driver, MT mech, Arty tech, radio repair guru, telephone tech, AAV Mech, or a tank Mech. Bwhahahahahaha.

I was "to vital" indeed.

Semper Fi

John

In OIF 1 I MEF HQ was somewhere in Iraq when we were informed that there was an Iraqi unit in the area. All Marines were told to man the perimiter. Except the tech contrillers, we were told to get in our van and keep comm working.

I was never lucky enough to serve with a MEF HQ. I also only ever served in two units with Tech Con's, and the first one well he did the same crap we all did. He is still one of my best friends to this day.

Semper Fi

John

It doesn't matter who you are or where you are, communications are critical, period. Without communications you have nothing, from top of the frontline private down the line to the OIC. (yea, I said that right I think ) to water, food and ammo, fire support and every thing else you can imagine or think of, it takes COMMUNICATIONS to make it happen!

quote:

Originally posted by GyJDIrwin:

quote:

Originally posted by thorin001:

quote:

Originally posted by GyJDIrwin:

quote:

Originally posted by ShaineP:
oh ok, we are told by our instructors that we are "to vital" to be wasting out time repairing the stuff so, i guess thats just the units they were in

Yeah right, and I was "to vital" to ever be made a radio operator, switchboard watch, message center watch, truck driver, MT mech, Arty tech, radio repair guru, telephone tech, AAV Mech, or a tank Mech. Bwhahahahahaha.

I was "to vital" indeed.

Semper Fi

John

In OIF 1 I MEF HQ was somewhere in Iraq when we were informed that there was an Iraqi unit in the area. All Marines were told to man the perimiter. Except the tech contrillers, we were told to get in our van and keep comm working.

I was never lucky enough to serve with a MEF HQ. I also only ever served in two units with Tech Con's, and the first one well he did the same crap we all did. He is still one of my best friends to this day.

Semper Fi

John

When there are two whole guys in your unit who can do you job, and you are running 24 hour ops, you get to avoid a lot of the stupid stuff.
Back in garrison I have had many non-MOS jobs. Of course I had a few more of them when I was a 2811 with 1/3. There I even went on an exercise as an 0331.

You could always goto a base unit if your lucky and work at Base Telephone like i do. Everything you learn at TCC goes out the window, and you work with alot of fiber.

Wow, hey thanks for the messages guys, very helpfull. As you guys can guess I just made it through boot camp and im on my 10 days leave. Im looking foreward to BEC and TCC, not looking foreward to MCT (im not much for humping up hills all day) but never the less, im fired up for MOS school.
So what kind of stuff do I have to look out for in the MOS classes? Whats the biggest pain in the butt? Any words to the wise? Im a sponge looking to soak up as much info as possible...

Thanks again
Semper Fi
Mash

quote:

Originally posted by MashTDI:
Wow, hey thanks for the messages guys, very helpfull. As you guys can guess I just made it through boot camp and im on my 10 days leave. Im looking foreward to BEC and TCC, not looking foreward to MCT (im not much for humping up hills all day) but never the less, im fired up for MOS school.
So what kind of stuff do I have to look out for in the MOS classes? Whats the biggest pain in the butt? Any words to the wise? Im a sponge looking to soak up as much info as possible...

Thanks again
Semper Fi
Mash

Sorry, I cannot help you with the specifics on the schooling. Just about everything has changed since I went through in 99.

Just remember, very little of the stuff is actually difficult. But there is an awful lot of stuff to remember.