Marine Corps..I am going into infantry i was wondering if you get a choice of what you want to do?

Question

I was wanting to be a rifleman...i don't want to end up being a guy doing mortors...My recruiter told me you sorta get a choice of what you want to do but i want to know from someone that has been there...Thankyou!

Answer 1

First of all, you made a great choice choosing Marine Infantry. I made the same and never regretted it (except for halfway through every hike).

Second of all, get another screen name.

In the Marines, you are guaranteed a broad field, which in your case would be "03" Infantry. Once you finish Boot camp, you will have 10 days leave and then report to the School of Infantry on whatever coast you went to boot camp. Before you begin training, you will be in Receiving for about a week while they process you. It is at this stage where you will get your specific job, such as 0311 Rifleman, 0331 Machinegunner, 0341 Mortarman.

People will tell you otherwise, but you have no choice in what specific job you get UNLESS you are in the Reserves, in which case your Reserve Unit will need a very specific MOS Like 0352 TOW gunner and you are given that specific MOS in your contract.

In reality, about 60% of grunts are 0311 Riflemen by MOS but all Marine are trained as riflemen. 0311 training goes for about a month and those that are chosen for Weapons Company (machinegunners, mortarmen, TOW gunners, LAV, anti-tank) will head over for another few weeks of training in their specific weapons group.

Generally, those with higher ASVAB scores are chosen for weapons MOS', though that is not always the case. I was told I was an 0351 for all of SOI and then switched to 0331 my first day at Weapons Company, as was half of the class.

Answer 2

Congrats guy from an old timer...hope you arent shying away from 81's cause you don't wanna hump them cause you'll end up humping your share of extra gun ammo and mortar rds anyway. I was in long ago and I imagine a lot has changed but I imagine if you've really got your heart set on being a rifleman...they can accomodate you. But I think you'll find out it won't really matter...once you get an appreciation for what various weapons can do you wont be that upset...you know there can be times when the only thing that keeps a small unit alive is it's mortar crew firing FDF's. In the end it's all Marine infantry, and most people who've been in any length of time cross train anyway..that makes you more valuable. Best of luck to you and Semper Fi.

Answer 3

SEMPER FY,Soon to be a " GRUNT "
Riflemen ( 0311 ) are the backbone of the Corps , but every job in the Corps is important .
All the others are there to support,feed,equip,,ect., the man with the rifle in his hands.
All your initial training will be as a RIFLEMAN, all Marines are required to maintain those skills
at need ALL HANDS are called out to defeat the enemy,with rifles

Answer 4

A mortor man is also a rifleman, but a rifle man is not a mortar man. So be happy with it

Answer 5

Nothing like being ambitious, didn't your parents ever tell you anything? What turnip truck did you fall off, or was it the movie "Full Metal Jacket"?

And D H above, it is Semper Fi, not FY... sheeesh, you must of been a gravel cruncher (infantry)

Answer 6

well your recruiter is kind of right You may make a suggestion as to what you want and if the marines make the same choice then yeah you got what you wanted but if they pick something else for you then thats what you do

Answer 7

they will give you a general field. Only the army lets you pick

Answer 8

you have to go to a school to determine what your are quified for