Is it true that you dont always get the mos you want in the marines?

Question

Is it true that you dont always get the mos you want in the marines?

Answer 1

I did not but that was in the 60's. It may be better now.

Good luck and Semper Fi.

Answer 2

First, you have to qualify for the MOS you want via the ASVAB and your line scores.

Second, your statement is true for all the branches.

Third, unless you enlist under an open contract you are guaranteed a specific job field - but not the specific MOS. Once you complete boot camp you'll be assigned your specific MOS based on what you qualify for and what the Marine Corp needs at the time.

Answer 3

Yes its true they they don't always, but most of the time they do.

Answer 4

Yes that's true for all branches. If you don't do well enough in your schooling you end up in the most critical field, my brother was going to school to an avionics technician and failed out and ended up being a cop because that's what the Air Force needed.

Answer 5

yes. my brother wanted infantry and got something else. but then someone who was leaving earlier broke his leg and he was going to infantry so they gave it to my brother instead  

Answer 6

thats true in every branch - alot of factors can change your mos - such as your score on your asvab, the availability of the mos and things like that.... good luck  

Answer 7

that is usually true of the militery in general.

They usually go by how you score and then find anMOS that they think you would be good at.

Answer 8

Yikes... let me clarify this for you, so it makes sense with what recruiters are typically saying these days!!

As long as you qualify (ASVAB with specifc line scores, etc) for it, the Marine Corps WILL guarantee you a specific occupational field (OF), but not a specific MOS within that OF.  

Let me give you an example.   OF 5900/6300/6400 represents three different MOS series combined into one, called "Electronics Maintenance/Avionics/Aviation Electronics."  All Marines in this combined OF start off with basic electronics A-school.   At the end of MCT, everybody in 59/63/64XX gets orders saying their MOS is 5900 and they are to report to one of two A-schools.  Some go to 29 Palms, some to Pensacola.  

In Pensacola, A-school starts off with extremely basic electronic principals (this is a screwdriver, this is an allen wrench) and gets increasingly difficult.  Each new Marine continues on in school until he reaches his maximum potential, at which point he is removed from A-school and given orders for his MOS... which will be based on how far he went in A-school and the needs of the Corps.  The remaining Marines will continue on in A-school at a higher level.  The farther you go in A-school, the farther away you get from the 5900 series (Electronics maintenance) and the closer you get to the 6400 series, (Aviation Electronics).   Once A-school ends, you get specific orders for C-school for your specific MOS... at the end of which you'll get orders showing your Permanent Duty Station and the Unit to which you're assigned.  

The bottom line is, they are all guaranteed jobs in either 59XX, 63XX, or 64XX... but not the specific MOS.  That's up to you to earn.  

By the way, I have spent the last 4 years in close relationships with other Marine Parents and their Marines.  I have never heard of anyone being re-assigned to a different MOS without good cause... usually because their chain of command felt they would be better placed in another MOS (and he was given the option...)  or they choose themselves to volunteer for the Infantry.