Marine dad has a question My son is currently in combat training at Camp Pendleton. He graduates on Aug. 31?

Question

He has been assigned to 29 palms for school in air traffic control and command. Code7234 If the school isn't full he has been told that he may be able to come home as a recruit (assist) until it is. Does anyone have any knowledge about this. They changed his MOS after boot camp

Semper Fi

Answer 1

Hi there! And Welcome to the Marine Corps Family! (I just love saying that!)

You asked two questions and I have two answers for you.. from my son's experience in the Corps.

First.... Once he's done with MCT, he'll go to 29 Palms for A-school. He will have to report directly there, and he may have to hang out a few days waiting to get the official word, but if they're backlogged with young Marines waiting for that particular A-school, yes, he may be allowed to come home and work out of the recruiters office as part of the Recruiter's Assistance program. How long will that be? It depends ENTIRELY on how backed up the school is. Also, make sure he verify's his following paysheets, that they didn't dock him leave for that R/A time...

Second... I'm guessing they changed his MOS but left him in the same Occupational Field... Let me explain how that worked with my son and hopefully it'll make sense in your situation, too.. When my son enlisted, he chose the Occupational Field covering MOS's in the 5900 series, the 6300 series, and the 6400 series... called Electronics Maintenance/Aviation Electronics. He specifically requested a 6400 MOS. When he left boot, his orders indicated he had been "switched" to a 5900 series MOS... After MCT he was sent to A-school in Pensacola, where all the 5900/6300/6400 MOS's went. They all started out with the same basic electronics course, and as the academics and labs got more difficult they'd re-route the lower performing students to the lower-level technical training jobs... so the first guys out were mostly in the 5900's.... As they work their way up the class, in terms of dropping the lower-performing Marines into jobs that fit their skillset, they end up with the highest performing Marines taking the most technically challenging positions.. those in the 6400 series MOS's.

Here's my take on your situation. They're not going to guarantee a new Marine they don't know that he's going to be in charge of directing aircraft... so they bumped his MOS down with all the other new Marines in his Occupational Field. He'll go to 29 palms and start out with the whole herd... and as they cull off the lower-performing Marines, he'll be in the running for the Air Traffic slots.. which are probably near the top of that particular chain of MOS's attached to that Occupational Field.

Make sense? He'll end up with an MOS that maxes out his skillset and aptitudes... and the Corps will place him where they need him, based on those skills and aptitudes. If he qualifies for and earns the ATC slot, he'll probably get it!

Answer 2

Recrit assist means he will be assigned to the Marine Corps Recruiting Office or Recruiting sub-station nearest his residence and will help the recruiters in attracting others into the Corps. He might be called on to address groups of young men and women and might even be able to appear on radio and TV shows in the area to promote enlistment in the Corps.
He will then be assigned to the air traffic control school at 29 Palms when a space is available in a future class.
Semper Fi!

Answer 3

Pendleton 1987

Answer 4

Yes, it's the recruiter assistance program. If there is a slot avaialable, he'd just be working with the recruiter whenever and wherever the recruiter needs him.

Answer 5

I dont. but I wanted to say thats awsome that hes down ther my brother graduates sep.21 from MCRD then off to camp Pendleton for him.. But thats why awsome that you sons a Marine..oorah

Answer 6

recruiters helper