My recruiter just told me they have no spots availabe to be infantry for when I leave so he said he can get me groundoption for my job. I am prety dissapointed that I can't be infantry, but non-the-less excited as hell to be a Marine. I know the job consists of Aritllery, Tanks, etc. I can't remember all, but does anyone have experience in this field? I am just curious. And is you job 100% set in stone once you get too boot camp? or does it/ can it get changed? thanks for your time!
If the only thing not getting you the job you want is there's no spaces- hold out for it. Tell your recruiter that you're not shipping unless you get infantry. Watch what happens.
Being a poolee gives you the unique position to dictate the terms of your enlistment. It is the only time in your career that your own needs should and can outweigh the needs of the Corps.
I am not discounting or advocating any particular MOS- but if you know what you want- go get it.
If you think you'll be happy in another related MOS- then by all means, go for it- but don't do it because someone said you cant have what you want. (if, like i said- the only reason you can't get in is space) Pete
To answer or comment on the rest of your question because I forgot the first time:
If it's in your contract, that's what your doing.
It is possible to get another MOS- though highly unlikely you will get approved if it's not part of your re-enlistment package at the end of your first term. Where I was, and I'm not sure if this is Corps wide, or command level- but the rule was you had to have two years on station to even put in for a transfer. "Time on station" referring to time in the fleet... after bootcamp, and any/all MOS schools. This is taking for granted you get the green light from your chain of command.
SO, best case senario- you're not going anywhere for 3 years after you leave for bootcamp.
Think about this: Are you really going to want to leave all your friends and job proficiency behind to find new friends, and be probably a Corporal with zero job skills? I know it's all black and white right now, as it should be- but think about the surrounding deciding factors. More than likely if you got an MOS you didn't want- you would stick with it through your term because you dont want to go back to school and be a nugget again, right after you stopped being one the first time.
Make it easy on yourself, if infantry is what you want. Do it right the first time.
Anyone, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything. Pete
I agree with RedRT on this. If your heart is set on a particular job, in your case infantry, tell them you do not want to ship until there is an opening for that particular job.
Do not think that it is easy to make a lateral move at the end of an enlistment. When I became eligible, I found that my MOS was critically short. The only thing I could do was get a "B" billet.
Before we went to CAX, we had two prior service Marines come to our section, both were from the wing, but in order to get back in, they had to take what was available. It took them a couple of months to get up to speed on the proficiency needed for their rank. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I would go with the MOS I wanted first.
Be prepared for your recruiter to read you the riot act. Just be curteous and assertive. He's not going to be happy- but then again, this is what he does for a living. Pete
Oh ya- I keep forgetting things lol- must be the whiskey that keeps my heart pumping:
Even IF you are approved for a lat-move- being somewhere around your 3 year mark... They're not going to retrain you for a couple months up to a year, to dump you in the fleet and only get their money out of you for a year after that. Be prepared to sign an extention. A good bud of mine went to MSG (Marine Security Guard) duty and had to sign for two additional years- and his original contract was 5. Just food for thought. pete
If you want infantry and they don't have a slot in the ship wndow you are in, then change ship dates, or have them request an infantry slot be moved. Somewhere in this country there is a command that has an infantry slot and your recruiters command can trade for it.
Yeah..this kinda applies to me too. If ther eare no infantry slots, i'm lucky i havn't finalized my enlistment. I don't wanna join if i can't get Infantry. I thought Infantry was damn near the easiest job to get, because i didn't think many people would sign up to get shot at, thought we were rare.
But even so, I'm gonna take that advice, i'm gonna tell this guy that there is no way i'm signing up unless i get an Infantry MOS
Originally posted by runnerwithm4: either don't ship till you get 03 or get open contract
Fuck that. Don't listen to that trash. Are you kidding me? Open contract is the worst possible advice to give someone that wants a specific job.
Get what you want on your contract. Don't settle for anything less. Its going to be the only time you can get to tell the Corps to give you want you want or go fuck themselves. The ONLY time.
Apollo, your advice always rocks. Aye, I'm basically telling him he can kiss my *** good bye if I don't get an infantry contract. screw some support job.
wait so... I enlisted, I'ma poolee, and I signed a preliminary contract after MEPS saying I would be Open Contract... but Im not leaving until June, and therefore am in the delayed entry program. I was told i'll be signing another contract before i leave is that correct?
and if so... If i dont have the option for the MOS I want because of availability at the time i sign that contract, I am allowed to request to wait on my ship date?
Originally posted by 16078712: I was told i'll be signing another contract before i leave is that correct?
Yes. That contract you signed is your DEP contract. It might seem like its some important document that binds you to the Corps.....but it does not. You can quit ANYTIME you want UNTIL you sign that final contract on the day you swear in and ship out.
and if so... If i dont have the option for the MOS I want because of availability at the time i sign that contract, I am allowed to request to wait on my ship date?
DO NOT SIGN THAT FINAL CONTRACT UNTIL YOU READ JUST WHAT THE FUCK IS ON IT AND MAKE SURE IT HAS YOUR CHOICE OF JOB MOS SPECIFICALLY SPELLED OUT IN INK. ACCEPT NOTHING ELSE. DO NOT LISTEN TO ANY BULLSH*T THE RECRUITER MIGHT SAY TO GET YOU TO SIGN. NO MATTER WHAT HE SAYS, IF IT IS NOT ON THE CONTRACT---YOU WILL NOT GET IT.
There is no way in God's creation that can be true. Does anybody know from experience--- or second hand knowledge if recuiters have to meet an MOS quota?
If there is such a thing, then I assume that would be the situation.
Your recruiter is giving you the straight scoop. When I was a recruiter the infantry was always the first to fill up. Hard to believe but true. You can go open for right now because as it's already been said it isn't binding. But I will almost garauntee you that there will be an infanty slot open up the closer you get to ship because alot of poolees get cold feet when the realization of what the infantry is and what they'll be doing hits them. You'll get it don't worry about it because like I said alot of poolees will piss their pants and not ship. Just keep asking your recruiter everytime you see him and call him.
Yeah, Told him I HAVE to get Infantry, or no feckin' way will I sign that contract. He's a good guy too, and as he was former grunt, he said it's the best way to go and he'll try as hard as he can to get me a slot.
Odll enough Infantry is one MOS that fills quickly. People come to the Corps for Infantry.
Every state gets allotted a ceratin amount of slots for each mos. It's a fair share basis. One state can trade with another state when an opportunity arises. The initial contract is doen so that a slot isn't assigned before all tests are back, and sometimes because they need time for waivers, or trades. You'll get grunt before you leave , trust me.
