[Dcawoodworks]

Hi I’m new to the forum and have a couple of questions about MOS’s. I’m still a year away from being able to enlist but I’ve been looking at possible MOS’s and wonder if there’s any way to be a 0326 recon man with a 0317 scout sniper secondary MOS? Thanks for the help.

 

[RAMMAC]

0317 is a secondary MOS and so is 0326 so that means that you have to have a qualifying primary MOS first.

Recon Marine would be your primary MOS (0321).

0326 is a Reconnaissance Marine Parachute and Combat Diver which requires that you be an 0321 first and then go to jump school and Combat Diver school.

0317, Scout Sniper is another secondary MOS and you'd have to attend Scout Sniper school.

Recon Marines are volunteers and they usually come from an infantry MOS (other MOSs can volunteer for the job but most don't make it) and you have to be released from your primary MOS. That means that you have finished boot camp and your primary MOS is in the combat arms group (infantry, armor, heavy weapons, etc.). All of these schools you're talking about take time. From the time you enter boot camp to the time that you get your primary MOS you'll spend about a year or so. Then you have to volunteer for and pass the Recon screening. Then you go through training for your Recon MOS and that'll be a few more months. Then you will have to request the schools for each of the secondary MOSs that you want but you can only apply for a school that trains you for what your unit needs. If they don't need a Scout Sniper then they wont let you apply for the school. The schools themselves have only so many slots for students and if there are more applicants than openings then the school wont take you. Then you have to pass the initial inventory tests that the schools have and if you fail them then you return to your unit and they are less apt to send you for that training again. Even if you were to get approved for every school that you want and you finished each school successfully, it will take more time than you will have in your first enlistment so expect to enlist for at least two tours to get everything that you are planning to attain.

I retired from the Marine Corps before you were born and spent a little over three years as a Recruiter so I am familiar with how the Marine Corps works.

P.S. There's a lot of ugly that goes with being in Recon or worse yet, Force Recon. I suspect that you're all full of youthful enthusiasm for being a bona fide badass but there isn't much glory when you're hot, dehydrated, hungry, scared, and you still have to hump miles of mountain terrain through bad guy country with 80 pounds on your back before you can get to someplace safe.

 

[Dcawoodworks]

0317 is a secondary MOS and so is 0326 so that means that you have to have a qualifying primary MOS first.

Recon Marine would be your primary MOS (0321).

0326 is a Reconnaissance Marine Parachute and Combat Diver which requires that you be an 0321 first and then go to jump school and Combat Diver school.

0317, Scout Sniper is another secondary MOS and you'd have to attend Scout Sniper school.

Recon Marines are volunteers and they usually come from an infantry MOS (other MOSs can volunteer for the job but most don't make it) and you have to be released from your primary MOS. That means that you have finished boot camp and your primary MOS is in the combat arms group (infantry, armor, heavy weapons, etc.). All of these schools you're talking about take time. From the time you enter boot camp to the time that you get your primary MOS you'll spend about a year or so. Then you have to volunteer for and pass the Recon screening. Then you go through training for your Recon MOS and that'll be a few more months. Then you will have to request the schools for each of the secondary MOSs that you want but you can only apply for a school that trains you for what your unit needs. If they don't need a Scout Sniper then they wont let you apply for the school. The schools themselves have only so many slots for students and if there are more applicants than openings then the school wont take you. Then you have to pass the initial inventory tests that the schools have and if you fail them then you return to your unit and they are less apt to send you for that training again. Even if you were to get approved for every school that you want and you finished each school successfully, it will take more time than you will have in your first enlistment so expect to enlist for at least two tours to get everything that you are planning to attain.

I retired from the Marine Corps before you were born and spent a little over three years as a Recruiter so I am familiar with how the Marine Corps works.

P.S. There's a lot of ugly that goes with being in Recon or worse yet, Force Recon. I suspect that you're all full of youthful enthusiasm for being a bona fide badass but there isn't much glory when you're hot, dehydrated, hungry, scared, and you still have to hump miles of mountain terrain through bad guy country with 80 pounds on your back before you can get to someplace safe.

Thank you for the info sir I did some research but couldn’t quite connect the dots. i hate to keep asking questions but if I understand correctly pretty much a primary mos is the same as all the guys in your unit (such as Recon) and secondary’s are just schools you go to and return to your unit? Sorry if I’m not understanding well. My dad was in the army in the 90s and my uncle was a marine in 70s and went to the army after that and they told me how it all works but they couldn’t remember anything about primary and secondary MOS’s and stuff like that.

 

[Kilo 3/5]

What RAMMAC said except for the PS part. No disrespect intended RAMMAC. If you want Recon and Sniper then you better be one motivated, super fit, psyched up badass with a squared away mindset. The so called Glory is what you take away from your training and carry within yourself for the rest of your days. Go after what you want. Tell your recruiter you want to be in Combat Arms, guaranteed Grunt. 0311 Rifleman etc. Me and my Grunt brothers get together regularly and the Glory Days are all we talk about. Adrenaline junkies everyone of us. Recon school summer of ‘84. I’m about to hit 60 and would give everything I own and then some to be a young highly motivated hard charger once again. So get it done young buck. Get in there and “Get Some”! Oohhrraa!

 

[RAMMAC]

A primary MOS is the main job that a Marine is trained for. A grunt or standard infantryman has a primary MOS of 0311. If he qualifies for Recon then his primary MOS will change to 0321.

A primary MOS is your basic skill, specialty schools may or may not add a secondary MOS but jump school and combat diver would result in a secondary MOS of 0326. The truth is that an MOS is just a way for the Corps to manage manpower based on skill sets. When you are assigned to a unit they can more easily decide where to put you, they can assign you a job in your primary or secondary MOS but it's not common for the Marine Corps to waste the money it took to train you so if you have a secondary MOS they will usually put you in a job that requires those skills. Recon units aren't common or big so after you get a secondary MOS you will usually earn a reputation (good or bad) for that skill set. Just remember, the needs of the Corps come first. If you have more than one specialty your unit will decide which one they want you execute.

 

[RAMMAC]

What RAMMAC said except for the PS part. No disrespect intended RAMMAC. If you want Recon and Sniper then you better be one motivated, super fit, psyched up badass with a squared away mindset. The so called Glory is what you take away from your training and carry within yourself for the rest of your days. Go after what you want. Tell your recruiter you want to be in Combat Arms, guaranteed Grunt. 0311 Rifleman etc. Me and my Grunt brothers get together regularly and the Glory Days are all we talk about. Adrenaline junkies everyone of us. Recon school summer of ‘84. I’m about to hit 60 and would give everything I own and then some to be a young highly motivated hard charger once again. So get it done young buck. Get in there and “Get Some”! Oohhrraa!

None taken, I think you might have misunderstood my intent though. I wasn't trying to say that there is no esprit, I was trying to warn the young man that it ain't no joy ride. Very few jobs in the Marine Corps are easy but all ground combat jobs are tough and take a lot more ability to adapt than most realize. I was an airwinger, I worked on Harriers. I deployed with SOCOM/ MARSOC units so I have a lot of respect for what those guys did. I did 5 combat tours and had the usual convoy escort and various other rear area jobs that I could volunteer for but most airwingers think is to be avoided (I didn't like working on airplanes in a combat area). So while I wasn't a ground combat Marine I actually did the job a few times.

I always point out to the clueless in our society that grunts aren't the stupid monkeys that most people think, on the contrary, their job may not take an extensive education to get in to but you'll get an education before you're done. You've got to be intelligent to survive, especially in today's fast paced, high tech combat environment and to be successful you'll learn how to be a lot of things other than a trigger puller. You'll learn logistics, emergency medical care, aircraft operations, radio communications, manpower management, financial management, and above all...Leadership.

 

[Dcawoodworks]

What RAMMAC said except for the PS part. No disrespect intended RAMMAC. If you want Recon and Sniper then you better be one motivated, super fit, psyched up badass with a squared away mindset. The so called Glory is what you take away from your training and carry within yourself for the rest of your days. Go after what you want. Tell your recruiter you want to be in Combat Arms, guaranteed Grunt. 0311 Rifleman etc. Me and my Grunt brothers get together regularly and the Glory Days are all we talk about. Adrenaline junkies everyone of us. Recon school summer of ‘84. I’m about to hit 60 and would give everything I own and then some to be a young highly motivated hard charger once again. So get it done young buck. Get in there and “Get Some”! Oohhrraa!

Thank you sir! I want to do something with my life I can be proud of not walk around town with a recon or scout sniper shirt on everywhere and brag about or anything but just think back and say it was the best time of my life. Thats why I want to be a marine. My dad was just army and he doesnt talk about his buddies or basic training or anything much and when he does he talks like it was awful and he never even saw action. But my uncle was in beirut in 83 and he talks about the Corps every chance he gets and its always fond memories and he still keeps up with his buddies and always says he wished he hadnt went to the army. My cousin joined the marines around 7 or 8 years ago and he always says its great and ive always felt there is a lot of honor and integrity associated with the marine corps and I hold them above any other branch.

 

[Dcawoodworks]

A primary MOS is the main job that a Marine is trained for. A grunt or standard infantryman has a primary MOS of 0311. If he qualifies for Recon then his primary MOS will change to 0321.

A primary MOS is your basic skill, specialty schools may or may not add a secondary MOS but jump school and combat diver would result in a secondary MOS of 0326. The truth is that an MOS is just a way for the Corps to manage manpower based on skill sets. When you are assigned to a unit they can more easily decide where to put you, they can assign you a job in your primary or secondary MOS but it's not common for the Marine Corps to waste the money it took to train you so if you have a secondary MOS they will usually put you in a job that requires those skills. Recon units aren't common or big so after you get a secondary MOS you will usually earn a reputation (good or bad) for that skill set. Just remember, the needs of the Corps come first. If you have more than one specialty your unit will decide which one they want you execute.

Ok that makes sense that's kinda what I had thought but I wanted to make sure before I got ahead of myself. Thank you both so much for the help! Y'all have a good night

 

[RAMMAC]

The difference is that the Marine Corps does a lot more to try to build a team spirit, it's important when the chips are down and you're outnumbered, everybody fights harder if they feel like the guy next to them is family.

Combat time makes for a different feeling too. If you walk away with all your parts you tend to have a better view of the experience. I can say that I had some really crappy times and some really good times. My combat time was actually some of the best time I had in over 20 years of service. In fact, my blood pressure was the lowest it's ever been while I was in Desert Shield/Storm.

 

[spsosicmcise]

Dcawoodworks how good of a swimmer are you?

 

[Dcawoodworks]

Dcawoodworks how good of a swimmer are you?

Pretty good I swim rivers in the summer around were I live. I like the water but I’ve never timed myself or tried going as fast as I can but I’m gonna do some training in the water once it starts getting warmer.

 

[SteedGun]

God bless all of those that serve or are serving. Thank you. I shoot with a lot of vets and I always learn something talking with them. If you are going to do this go all in. Be the one others can count on. Don't be the one others have to carry. Keep us posted.

 

[jkv45]

Thank you to all that have served, especially in a combat zone.

To the OP - when my son enlisted he had a specific idea of what he wanted to do, but as many have found out - the Marine Corps has other ideas and needs. Just know that you can't control where they put you and what you end up doing. Sometime they just don't have openings in your desired area.

You will need to go in with an open mind and a flexible outlook.

In the end you will always be a Marine, and can be proud of your accomplishment your entire life.

 

[RAMMAC]

And remember, the population in the military is a reflection of the population outside of the military so you're going to deal with some really good people and some really bad people but it seemed to me like more often I worked with pretty good people in the Corps than anyplace else. In my experience the higher the formal education of a person the better the chance was that they would be an intolerant, arrogant person that was hard to work with. That's not an absolute but it was true more often than not. Combat had a tendency to knock that attitude out of people. I guess there's something eye opening about realizing that bullets don't care about your privileged attitude.

How you remember your service depends a lot on how you look at life. The more positive minded you are the better the chance that you'll have more good memories than bad.

 

[AlanBurgesstL3Z]

Welcome to the forum. Thank you all for the detailed answer, it's good that I came here!! x)

 

[boomerpusher]

Have to echo the warning from RAMMAC, my dad went into the service wanting to be a cook because cooks always eat good and don't get shot at but he ended up being what was called a "hospitalman" and was basically an untrained medic. Made the Sicily invasion and ended up trapped in Bastone. So what you want isn't what the service needs and that is where you will be put. In order to get the schools you want, you will have to be not only a Marine, but an outstanding Marine in all respects. You are preparing now don't stop, don't think it's too hard, it will be worth it. By the way, drop the thought that your dad was "just Army". He did what had to be done while many did not.

 

[danthman114]

if you're going in the marine corps with a goal then do it and don't let anything keep you from it. reason I say that is a lot of marines out there get a bad attitude and will spread it to the younger marines like a virus. lance corporals are worst for various reasons. my advice is go 0311 and make up your mind if its for you or not. if you don't think any of it is retarded then try out for recon and hopefully you don't pass out while under water like most do. better get in shape now.
ps. remember, KEEP PADDELING through the waves!

 

[0311INF]

I went 0311 and at that time, there were opportunities to "try out" for various other school selections. You have to be at the top of the heap physically, mentally and emotionally to succeed in those schools and especially for a career beyond.

 

[Dcawoodworks]

Have to echo the warning from RAMMAC, my dad went into the service wanting to be a cook because cooks always eat good and don't get shot at but he ended up being what was called a "hospitalman" and was basically an untrained medic. Made the Sicily invasion and ended up trapped in Bastone. So what you want isn't what the service needs and that is where you will be put. In order to get the schools you want, you will have to be not only a Marine, but an outstanding Marine in all respects. You are preparing now don't stop, don't think it's too hard, it will be worth it. By the way, drop the thought that your dad was "just Army". He did what had to be done while many did not.

I didnt mean just army as any disrespect or anything I was just saying he wasn't a ranger or anything is all and thank you for the advice.

 

[spsosicmcise]

Well I’ll say this, if you are still in school and your school has them, join the swim and wrestling teams. Learn to embrace being in places that make you uncomfortable, especially in the water. The water is the great equalizer. Download the app called I hold breath, it’s a free diving app but it will help you with your breath hold. Aquire a no quit mentally. Boot Camp is very easy compared to Recon and sniper school, but take each task as serious as the next.

Recon isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok. If as you get close to making the decision to join find a mission you think you would be interested in and go after that. Doesn’t matter what branch it is, or job most people serve a purpose and no one has the patent on killing the enemy. If you decide you want to go recon just go straight after it and no matter how much it sucks keep pushing. It’s gonna make you question your life decisions, but who cares just remember you can’t stop time.