I know that Marines are assigned 8th & I duty at SOI, however I was wondering if you can volunteer for it or can you only be assigned by your instructors?

You can't volunteer for 8th & I. You are selected.

so do you have to be infantry to be selected for the silent drill team?

Yes.

quote:

These Marines are individually selected from the Schools of Infantry located in Camp Pendleton, California, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from interviews conducted by barracks personnel. Once selected, Marines are assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., to serve a two-year ceremonial tour. Beyond their ceremonial duties, the Marines collaterally train in the field as infantrymen. Throughout the year, these Marines hone their infantry skills at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and other bases.

Once the year's Silent Drill Platoon members are selected, they begin their training at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C., and continue to train at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. They continually work on perfecting their routine year-round.

Thanks man, I was hoping that I could be selected but my MOS's I picked are all in aviation.

quote:

Originally posted by 14561708:
Thanks man, I was hoping that I could be selected but my MOS's I picked are all in aviation.

There are non-Infantry MOSs that get assigned to 8th and I, they just don't march in the parades or other stuff. 8th and I has to have a billet for you to be assigned there.

quote:

Originally posted by 14561708:
Thanks man, I was hoping that I could be selected but my MOS's I picked are all in aviation.

There's always HMX-1. Be top ranked in your class and if HMX-1 requires an available billet, you can choose it.

I was 3rd in my class, the last week of our course the instructor handed out billets.

Started with the top guy, he chose New River, it was open, next guy El Toro.....I say Hawaii, they both turn and look at me, jaws dropped as the instructor says "yep, that's open, your going to the MALS Kaneohe Bay.

What happens next is even more surprising. The next few go on choosing, some told "no slot there, where else do you wanna' go", then around or about the 12th guy he says, "well I'll go to Hawaii too, if it's open". Instructor; "yep, you got the only other slot, going to Kaneohe Bay". There were exclamations of "WTF", and "hey that's not fair, I thought there weren't anymore slots". The instructor just told them "well you didn't ask"

Fate can be funny, sometimes all you have to do is ask.