I'm currently in 29 Palms awaiting to be picked up for my MOS school as a 0621. When I first joined the Marines I have to admit, I did'nt want to be with Infantry......at all! Things have changed since then though, now it's the complete opposite.
I have two questions really, firstly....Another Marine here awaiting to be picked up for classes told me the only chance I would have to be with a grunt unit is if i actually signed up to be with one. If thats true, how do i go about doing it. I don't want to sit on my butt all day and get fat in some office or something like that.
Secondly, In Iraq if I get to be placed with a grunt unit, will i actually get to go on patrols with them since I'm only a PFC? If not, what rank will I finally be able to go?
In my unit, they put the RO's in the line companies based on skill. Usually the best PFC/LCPLs gets put in the line companies and they stay there for a year or two and are then replaced by another PFC/LCPL. When you are with the grunts you get to do all the same training as them and when you go to Iraq you will go on all the missions they go on. Unless of course you get put in the HQ plt of a line company then you just do COC stuff. Grunt units are fun but stressful, if you like to shoot/blow up stuff then you will like it. Just make sure you know your job first.
Im not sure how it works over there in FROC but when I was going through tech school we all got our orders, and then some people requested to switch orders. With you I would request to your instructor to be placed in a grunt unit. If you dont end up getting it that way, just wait til you all get your orders and then find the one loser whos to scared to go to a victor unit and switch with him.
They used to give you a dream sheet or wish list for your 3 chopices of duty stations once you complete your school, not sure if they do or not anymore. But you can alsways ask for a transfer from your unit to another even after you get your orders. Personally I don't think it'll matter to much what unit you are assigned to because sooner or later, you'll end up in Iraq or elsewhere. Remember, every Marine is a grunt first before anything else. So even if you are in a HQ Company, you could end up out on patrols, it all depends on the units needs and personnel onboard.I was a 2532 in my days, Microwave Radio Operator, in 7th Comm Bn, Okinawa and went everywhere and did everything as well as my actual MOS duties, kind of like having your cake and eating it too, with Ice Cream on the side. Was the best time in my life in my 16 years in the service. And it's definitely true that once a Marine, ALWAYS A MARINE !
Semper Fi and good luck with your school and such.
Originally posted by jamiesname: I'm currently in 29 Palms awaiting to be picked up for my MOS school as a 0621. When I first joined the Marines I have to admit, I did'nt want to be with Infantry......at all! Things have changed since then though, now it's the complete opposite.
I have two questions really, firstly....Another Marine here awaiting to be picked up for classes told me the only chance I would have to be with a grunt unit is if i actually signed up to be with one. If thats true, how do i go about doing it. I don't want to sit on my butt all day and get fat in some office or something like that.
Secondly, In Iraq if I get to be placed with a grunt unit, will i actually get to go on patrols with them since I'm only a PFC? If not, what rank will I finally be able to go?
Thanks for your time.
The FROC that graduated before mine had about 90% of the class get sent to grunt units. My FROC had only about 5% go to grunt units. It's all based on the needs of the Marine Corps. I wanted to get sent to a grunt unit and I ended up with a combat service support group. Regardless of where you go, a radio operator still has to deal with cleaning/inventorying equipment, or radio watch or whatever other kinds of sit around and thumb your butt type jobs radio operators can do. I can't tell you how it would be if you go to iraq with a grunt unit but I can tell you right now, I went with engineers and I was outside the wire the majority of the time I spent in country and when I wasnt outside the wire I was either doing radio watch or watch officer. As for the PT thing, wether you are in a grunt unit or a regular unit, staying in shape is up to you. The amount of PT the Marine Corps forces you to do is only enough to maintain the average Marine. If you want to better yourself and get in tip top shape, its on you to PT on your own time regardless of your unit. SF
Originally posted by jamiesname: Secondly, In Iraq if I get to be placed with a grunt unit, will i actually get to go on patrols with them since I'm only a PFC? If not, what rank will I finally be able to go?
That part made me laugh. Trust me, PFCs go one patrols quite often.
Anything from E4 down is considered the backbone and muscle of the Corp. Once you get to an E5 (if you do) then you are allowed to start thinking once again. But whatever you do, no matter where you are, or who you are stationed with, a Marine will always have fun, kick-***, and follow orders. (Not always in that order, but close!)
ummm... I figure after 16 1/2 years in the military I know the difference inranks, even though the Army has had changes in thier rank structure with "specialty" ratings from the Vietnam era up through today. I was with various units, transferred from unit to unit while in both the Corp and the Boy Scouts (what we used to call the Army back "then") because of my so called specialty in communications systems that enabled all the branches to talk while on various exercises. Even spent time with thwe Army National Guard before, during and just after the Persian Gulf and our 1st encounter with good old Saddam. But if you really insist, and have some reason to doubt me, I can go through all my records, provide you with photos of my awards and locations through out my career. The Marine Corp's biggest "award" that most of us strived for from 75-79 was the Meritorious Mast, of which I have 2, one from Exercise Team Spirit while in Korea, and the other from my last Corp duty station in Cherry Point stationed with MWCS-28.
