Specific job selection in the Marine Corps?

Question

I've recently been inquiring about the Marine Corps, and have recently found out that the Marines are the only branch of service that does not allow you to choose which job you will have specifically once in. My question is, Can recruiters get you a job you really want if its in writing and not just a specific field of occupational specialty to choose from?

At this point, becoming a Marine is most important. Its something i believe would mean a great deal to have accomplished in my life time. But being able to have the job i want(Air Traffic Control) would be a bonus. Any help especially from Marines (past or present) or Recruiters for the Corps would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Answer 1

First of All, Marines don't have Jobs!  And Marine Recruiters don't negotiate with civilians like its a baseball contract for the pros's.

MOS Military Occupational Specialty is what your referring to and after you take your ASVAB, that will determine what fields you qualify for.

You may qualify for many however you will  have to chose an MOS that is open at the time.

Then you have to complete Recruit Training

I would suggest the Air Force or the Army because the Corps is not looking for someone that wants to benefit themselves however only those who will benefit the Corps.

Good Luck on your Journey.

Answer 2

In general, your career field choice, no matter what service you are enlisting or commissioning it, is only one input that goes into what they assign you.  All of the contracts contain a clause that allows for the "Needs of the Service" to override whatever they initially agree to.  

The Marines in particular have a unique approach to your service, generally viewing every Marine as a rifleman first and whatever you are assigned to do other than that as a secondary duty.  No matter what, you will be fully prepared and eligible to be activated and sent into combat.

If you want to have a say in your assignment, you need to do your research and make sure there is a need for that career at the grade you are coming into, and that they will be filling some of those positions out of your class.  Once you know that, then you need to be at the top of your class in every way that would indicate that you are qualified for that kind of duty.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

The vetting process for specific MOS's in the Marine corps is actually pretty interesting to look at.  Here's what happened with my son and his A- and C- school experiences.  His chosen Occupational Field was combined to include... series' 5900, 6300, and 6400.  ALL of the recruits in that combined Occupational Field started A-school together, because they were all going to have MOS's in the Electronics Maintenance/Aviation Electronics field.  A-school was used as a screening process... meaning, they started out at low-level info and increased the difficulty as they went.  When Marines reached their maximum potential, they were vetted out and assigned to the job that best fit their abilities and the needs of the Corps.  Those who were still working well within their capabilities kept on in A-school, and so on.  So, every couple of weeks they'd have a big test and some of them would then be assigned to their specific MOS (working from the bottom of the 5900 series upward through the 6300 series and into the 6400 series), until the A-school coursework was complete.  Those who fully completed the A-school coursework were assigned to the high-end 6400 series MOS's... My son's a 6492.. Aviation Electronics Technician.  Then they're given orders to report to C-school, for specific MOS job training.

I'd have to look at the Occupational Field listing to see all the MOS's in the Field that includes Air Traffic Control... but I don't remember it being a long list... Chances are, if you have the aptitude to be a controller, that's what you'll end up doing.  

Also, the only branch of the military I have seen GUARANTEED MOS's for is the Air Force (and they don't call them MOS's)...  Nobody is going to promise a recent high school graduate a specific job... A job within a field... yes.. but a specific job?  No way.  They don't know your skills and abilities, and at that age, you're probably not even aware of the full extent of your aptitudes.  they might SAY they're giong to guarantee you an MOS... but I'm confident they have an "out" in case you get to A-school and just can't hack it.  You have no idea how many kids enlist with all kinds of great ideas about what they want to do... but that's not what they're geared for... so they bomb out and end up peeling potatoes.   At least with the USMC method of vetting, you're guaranteed a job within that Occupational Field.

Also... I've been a Marine Corps Mom for 4+ years and have only heard of a handful of cases where a new Marine got the rug pulled out from under himself, MOS-wise...  and I know the families enough to know it was a good decision on the part of the corps.