Please let me first start by saying Thank YOu to all you Marines for everything you do. Next, let me make it clear that 1) I am new to this sight and apologize if I post in the wrong area at any time 2) I am NOT a marine 3) my son gets sworn in on Sept. 1st under the DEP (graduates in May 2010 from high school and turns 18 in Mar 2010) so is technically not a marine yet either (he has however been through MEPS already obviously) 4) My son is currently Cadet Command Master Chief for his NJROTC unit, on the drill team, athletics team, and academic team for his Unit, and has currenly been informed of his upcoming promotion to CO of his unit (sorry proud mother here LOL 5) My son is doig his own research, and I try to stay out of it as much as possible, and leave the decision to him, which is why I am here doing my own research simply as a concerned mother who wants to also be well informed. So, with all that said...
My sons goal is to one day be a marine pilot, he still needs to choose his MOS, and I am wondering is there any enlisted MOS which put him in a better position or knowledge for that later career.
A few things to know about my son that at least I feel are important, as far as priorities are concerned: it is more important to him to be a marine that to be a pilot (even if being a pilot in another branch would be "easier"), it is more important to him to fly than what he flies although if he could choose he would love to fly a F??B when the Herriers are replaced, he has always been fascinated with herriers and they have always been what he "wanted" to fly LOL, it is more important to him to go in as enlisted and get that experience before becoming an officer than to go in as an officer (which is why he is turning down an ROTC scholarship and not going to Embry Riddle Aviation University, although that is what, as a mother, i would rather have seen him do LOL)
So if you have any suggestions on choosing an MOS i would greatly appreciate it, when i do give him my imput, i like it to be informed at least, and while he is better at finding these things out, I will turn to y'all for some help.
Thanks in advance!

I should also add that he wants to be a DI!

If your son is turning down a scholarship he is a FOOL.

I promise you,,,,when he graduates college in four years the Marine Corps will still be here!!

I am sorry that you feel that way, however i am very proud of him for his choice actually, he WANTS a military carreer, he is not doing it because he can't afford college, as many others do, it is truelly what he wants in his heart. He plans to retire from it one day and be a Naval Science Instructor for a high school JROTC program.

quote:

Originally posted by davecerami1965:
If your son is turning down a scholarship he is a FOOL.

I have to agree with dave here....

Does he realize that in order to become a Marine officer (and thus a Naval Aviator) that he must have a college degree?

While being enlisted first is admirable, does he understand the additional difficulties he will faced with to get that degree while enlisted.... training interferences ... deployments....change of duty stations...and of course, the financial demands of doing so on an enlisted paycheck?

Has he considered the additional challenges of getting recommended for an enlisted
commissioning program???

quote:

Originally posted by meg_dogg:
as far as priorities are concerned: it is more important to him to be a marine that to be a pilot

Marine Officers and Marine pilots are MARINES first and foremost!!!

He should really rethink his approach and his priorities... enlisted??? officer??? pilot??? DI??? some other MOS??? And remember, while he is trying to do all of this, time marches on to a point where you run out of time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobTate,

OHHH no do not let him join enlisted. if he has a scholarship and wants to be a pilot i PROMISE you he will regret it if he decides to stay in and hes 28 doing the mecep program, and i have seen to prior enlisted marines get screwed out of a pilot contract in their attempts at being commisioned. also i believe he will not have a choice on what he will fly please reconsider because he will realize that an education is the MOST important thing to have in the civilian world or the military world. but if he does decide to enlist tell him to go aviation open contract

Airwing,why do you have to be reminded that MARINE is always capitalized??

Thank you all so much, and especially to ou airwing_marine7257. He is fine with not being a pilot, as long as he is a marine, that is just something he would he would really like as well. He will have his private pilot liscence before even shipping out to boot camp, not sure if that will ever make a difference, but he will have it. he is aware of the obstacles he will face with getting his degree, which becomes a challenge, honestly challenges are what drive him even more in life. while i don't disagree with any of you about college first, it is his choice ultimately, not mine, i cannot NOT let him enlist. (sure i could prolong the process by a few months, but only by a few months) he is looking at this as a 20 yr commitment, not a 4 yr committment, a carreer, not a path along the way to a civilian carreer, and knows it could take him 10 yrs to get a 4 yr degree (not that he plans on that at all, but knows it to a realistic possibility. He wants to be on the front lines if that oppertunity comes up, not someone who is hoping to avoid that while enlisted.

Sarge, sorry i am guilty of that as well, I will do better!

You are right, megg.... the decision is ultimately his..

But no matter what path he choses, you will never be more proud of him than the day you attend his graduation at PI/SD or the day you pin those gold bars on him.... or maybe even both.

Good luck to him and you.

quote:

Originally posted by Sarge7174:
Airwing,why do you have to be reminded that MARINE is always capitalized??

good to go!, and remember its sergeant not sarge were not the ARMY lol

Has your son put any thought into joining the reserves? He could still be a Marine and go to school.

The road to becoming a Naval Aviator and a Marine pilot is long and difficult. Going enlisted to my way of thinking is not the best route...go to college, get the degree then go for the bars....and flight school...

Do not let him pass up the chance of going to College, as the Marines have said we will be here when he is done. He still can be enlisted and work his way up, but becoming a Zero (pilot in Marine terms) will be harder to come by. However there are Ground Officers in all Squadrons, they are Warrent Officers who run the Avionics Shop, Ordnance Shop, Maintaince Control. It takes 6 years and the rank of Sgt to apply for WO, but if he makes it that far and a College degree I would think that he would be very competative in getting promoted to WO. From WO after a certian peroid of time he can apply for a regular Commission, once again with a College Degree he would be very competitive. These Officers at called LDO's (Limited Dutry Officers), LDO's can not Command but but can be Xo's and can be promoted all the way to Bird Col....

meg_dogg I am really glad your son is so motivated to join the Corps. I feel safer knowing there is still some hard charges out there that want our life as his. With that being said I think he should really consider joining as a reservist while he is going to college, I can totally understand that impatient feeling of wanting to join and being a MARINE and at 17 your son may think he has things all thought out but as everyone has said on here he really needs to go to college first. If he were to join as a reservist he would get a taste of the Marine Coprs lifestyle and get to be enlisted, while also attending school. If he really, really, really loves being enlisted then he could always go active duty. But if he decides that he like's being active duty but he really wants to fly and (MAKE MORE MONEY) as an officer then he can finish up college while being a Marine and then go OCS and become a Marine Corps pilot. Remember the maximum age allowed for Marines to start flight training is 26...that may sound far off but it will come up quick. Please ask your son to consider joining as a reservist and going to school I really feel that would be the perfect dynamic for him. As far as the DI role goes my best friend is a DI right now at Parris Island and I am sure he would be more than happy to talk to your son and let him know how that is, I would also be more than happy to talk to your son and let him know what his options are and what path's are going to lead to what, my email address will be included at the bottom of this post. Regardless of the decision that he makes on college you should be proud because he knows what he wants, and the Marine Corps is great for young men.
Andrew.Stone@live.com

Ma'am no offense but your son really needs to be the one in here talking with us about this. As was so eloquently written above, at 17 you son has no clue what he's really getting into by going enlisted when he has a chance to get his college education now. In today's workplace a college degree is like a high school diploma only twenty years ago so he'll need it if he's going to effectively compete with his generation.

As far as being a drill instructor, few volunteer as they're primarily identified as exceptional Marines in the Fleet so they're given their choice of recruiting or the drill field. Most hate it because it's the "land of no sleep and constant yelling" as they'd rather be back in their unit or riding a desk so they can have quality time with their families which they never see. So being a DI is totally overrated to them and just another unpleasant duty they'd rather not be doing.

If your son truly wants to fly, if he goes enlisted he'll most probably top out the age requirement and lose his dream shot because the Corps doesn't care how good his civilian flying skills are. It's all about learning their way in their time so he better think hard and fast before he walks away from a real good shot at Marine flying by skipping college on an impatient whim that will ill serve him in the long run.

He can always go NROTC and exercise the Marine option or go Platoon Leaders Class which is known as PLC for short. It would be very prudent at this time to call your local Officer Selection Office (OSO) and get the real deal on what his real options are.

Best of luck to you all in whatever he decides.

Thank you all so very very much, it has been awhile since i logged on because my son has been on here asking questions for himself as well.Final decision....he is currently a "PULLEE" (sp?) was sworn in on Sept 1 under the DEP. His shipout day for PI is currently scheduled for July 19, 2010 and his MOS is aviaition engineering. I am so so proud of him!! Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy Lewis USMC retired, his Naval Science Instructor for his NJROTC unit, is also attending graduation with us. I can't wait!!His recruiter has asked him to request recruiter's assistnace assignment for 2 weeks. He is really looking forward to that as well.

the Marines will be there after college...


AND.... college will be there after the Marines.

I did my 5 years enlisted, now I'm in school soaking up every benefit the government has.

For me; after an enlistment, college is a literal cake walk. I tried to do it before I enlisted and didn't have the self discipline to even go to school. These days, I sit front and center eager to learn.
Pete

well my son was harping on me, so i thought i better correct it...his MOS is aeronautical engineering...LOL

United States Marine Corps (USMC)

Officer Job Descriptions

See Explanation of Terms

MOS 6005, Aeronautical Engineer*

a. Summary. Aeronautical engineers supervise and coordinate design, development, testing, procurement, overhaul, modification, and repair of aircraft and aircraft subsystems.

b. Requirements/Prerequisites

(1) Assigned as a skill designator to aviation ground officers possessing a baccalaureate degree in aeronautical engineering.

(2) Must have a secret security clearance.

c. Duties

(1) Supervises and coordinates research, design, development, and testing of aircraft and aircraft subsystems.

(2) Plans and supervises execution of developmental programs for aircraft and aircraft subsystems.

(3) Coordinates activities of development and procurement agencies with agencies responsible for supply and maintenance.

(4) Prepares procurement plans and programs for aircraft and aircraft subsystems.

(5) Conducts liaison with other components of the Armed Forces to exchange pertinent data.

d. Related DOT Classification/DOT Code. Aeronautical Engineer 002.061-022.

Information Derived From MCO P1200.7V Part 1. Current as of Nov 00

I am in the process of finding out his MOS number, but everything I personally find is somewhat confusing to me, )a civilian). I have found the following, as listed above 6005, which to me seems like an officer position, not an enlisted. Also 9620 and 8820. The one i see as an enlisted MOS is 9620, so I am assuming that is what his is. If anyone has helpful information for me about this, it is appreciated.