|
Calgunners in Service This forum is a place for our active duty and deployed members to share, request and have a bit of home where ever they are. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
USMC The Basic School
Any fellow Calgunners been through? Im a little over two months in now and about to head to FEX 1. Any tips or pointers to make life a little easier here? Also curious if anyone has any advice about MOS choices and the selection process. Semper Fidelis.
__________________
USMC
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Yeah, what he said? I picked my MOS with my recruiter after getting my ASVAB test score.
__________________
Quote:
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Yes for officers, we get to choose our MOS at TBS about 3-4 months in. Our program is completely different from the enlisted side in regards to MOS selection. We go to OCS as either a ground, air or JAG contract, then compete for whichever MOS we want in that contract field.
__________________
USMC
Last edited by esnyderr; 03-23-2013 at 6:52 AM.. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Graduated from TBS class C 3-78. I imagine the program has changed somewhat. I was prior enlisted, as was about 1/3 of the company. Back then they had what was called the "Quality Spread" which supposedly meant that a distribution for the "popular" MOSes was made between the top, middle, and bottom third of the company. I wanted my first choice,which was artillery (I was an 0311 as an enlisted man and was tired of walking), so I tried to finish as high in the class as possible. None of us believed that "Quality Spread" crap. When I got on in years and talked to friends who had been SPCs, they said that when they were there they sat in a room, drank beer and had a NFL draft type thing. Turns out that in our company, the top guys in the class got their first choices, pretty much, and the bottom feeders got the Supply and Motor T slots. Bottom line, do the best you can, if you want combat arms, do well in the evals and training and make sure your SPC knows who you are. Semper Fi and good luck.
|
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
you're in luck, I worked there as a staff instructor with the artillery battery from 2008 to the end of 2010. You will get to pick your top 10. The way it will work is that your class will be broken down into thirds at graduation. the top individuals of each third will recieve their top picks based on quota needs for each individuals desired top MOS. since most of you officers seem to want to be the like the huge bronze "Iron Mike" statue out in front of TBS HQ and want to go infantry, that gets filled up first, followed by the rest of the ground combat side of the house (combat engineers, artillery, tanks, AAV) the only exception to this is Marines with a flight contract, they will obviously go to their flight school.
So....if you want your top pick, be the top of one of the thirds, otherwise expect to get somewhere in your top 5. hope that helped! |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
I wouldn't too much about your MOS, as I understand Marine officers tend to rotate around a lot and if you go career you might not end up retiring in your original MOS, Or at least that's what I've been told and that's the impression that I get, I was an air wing reservist so I can't really say that it's the 100% truth. I'd just go with whatever interests you that you're qualified for (based on ASVAB score) and be sure to take into consideration how impacted and competitive the MOS is, that will affect how fast/how often you get promoted (though that may be more of an enlisted thing) and how hard it will be to get that regular commission.
__________________
"Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over." Colonel Commandant Archibald Henderson, USMC in a note pinned to his office door, 1836 "We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?" Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Grenada, 1983 |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I dont know if "choose" is the right word. I am a retired CWO3 and can tell you that all my peers, the ones I met as I climbed the ranks, stated that most picked their MOS, but some got their second choice. It could be just their luck, but thats what they complained to me about. I retired in 09, so if something has changed, I apologize ahead of time. The way it was when I retired is that TBS broke the class out into 3 separate groups, all by ranking and that is how they are selected. This was to ensure that one MOS didnt get all the studs. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#12
|
||||
|
||||
One other thing, if you go pilot and get Hornets/F-35s don't forget all that grunt stuff you learn in TBS because there's a chance that you'll wind up doing at least one tour with the grunts as a FAC and calling air strikes. So just because you got your wings of gold don't mean that you won't have to ever hump a ruck again.
__________________
"Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over." Colonel Commandant Archibald Henderson, USMC in a note pinned to his office door, 1836 "We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?" Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Grenada, 1983 |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Whatever you choose just remember that you don't know anything your NCO's don't know.
A deployment anywhere>college Don't try to change the dynamic of your platoon, shop, whatever you are in charge of unless it isn't working for them. If you don't agree with something tactfully bring it up to the NCOs, SNCO don't be big dick lt and make it known you're changing stuff around. Showing dominance is a childish move and trying to be best friends with everyone will have the same negative effect, find a happy medium.
__________________
Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.
|
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Times have changed! LoL Good luck man! FYI, people won't take you seriously until you are a Captain at least, just be humble til'.
__________________
1A - 2A= -1A :( |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
From what most new lieutenants fresh out of TBS tell me, they still divide into top/middle/bottom tiers for MOS selection. They've also warned that "gaming the system" (for example, performing mediocore because you're at the bottom of the top tier to try to be the top of the middle tier) doesn't work out too well for most lieutenants.
In 3 weeks I'll be concluding my first and only enlistment and the only real parting shot I have is maintain GAFF (give a **** factor), don't micromanage, delegate to your SNCO/NCOs, and don't make a fool of yourself in the Fleet (whether it be garrison, the Birthday Ball, or the field) unless you want your XO/CO to screw with your time. Good luck, glad to hear you're safe after the recent crazy stuff happening down at Quantico lately.
__________________
"There is an old song which asserts that "the best things in life are free". Not true! Utterly false! This was the tragic fallacy which brought on the decadence and collapse of the democracies of the twentieth century; those noble experiments failed because the people had been led to believe that they could simply vote for whatever they wanted… and get it, without toil, without sweat, without tears." |
#18
|
||||
|
||||
You should probably also try to avoid the whole addressing yourself as Lt so and so over the phone, you're not fooling anyone, pretty much everyone knows that when you say that you're just a 2nd Lt. since 1st Lts will always answer the phone as 1st Lt so and so.
__________________
"Gone to Florida to fight the Indians. Will be back when the war is over." Colonel Commandant Archibald Henderson, USMC in a note pinned to his office door, 1836 "We have two companies of Marines running rampant all over the northern half of this island, and three Army regiments pinned down in the southwestern corner, doing nothing. What the hell is going on?" Gen. John W. Vessey Jr., USA, Chairman of the the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the assault on Grenada, 1983 |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
ESNYDERR,
TBS This is not going to make it easier but it's the right way to roll: -100% effort every time, all the time, in everything. -Lead when it's time to lead, follow when it's time to follow. -Volunteer, even for the **** that sucks. -Take care of your peers and take care of yourself. MOS selection -Only way to guarantee you get what you want is to finish #1. That being said, the better you do, the better your chances of getting something you want regardless of where you fall-out in the tier rankings. -Some MOS's have more opportunities for longevity. For example, there are a lot more jobs for grunts above Co grade than for tankers, trackers, PAO's etc. -By this point if you’re not sure what you want to do I seriously recommend you think twice before listing any of the combat arms at the top of your wish list. See below. -DO NOT try and game the game regarding tier rankings. Just do your best and take what you get. -If you don't want an MOS, DO NOT put it near the top of your wish list. General -Take TBS seriously. Never forget or lose sight of the fact that when you reach the fleet you'll stand in front of the best this country has to offer and its most precious natural resource-enlisted Marines. Your decisions, character, successes, and failures WILL influence their lives for the better or for the worse. This is an awesome responsibility in the literal sense of the word and can't be overemphasized. You're in a business of blood where your mistakes can cost Marines their lives, limbs, and/or psychological well-being. Act according to this in and out of uniform, be real with them, and genuinely give a **** about them. If you ever stop giving a **** about them, get out—immediately. Any questions PM me. Delta Co 07; 0302 S/F |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
He's at The Basic School, not Officer Candidate's School. OCS, yeah it's basically boot camp. TBS is more like finishing school for Lieutenants before getting their MOS. You do have more free time, and if you're not out in the field, you pretty much have your weekends to yourself.
|
#22
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Support CalGuns by purchasing stuff through this Amazon link: http://www.shop42a.com |
#23
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#24
|
||||
|
||||
Dont go to LAR...they're a lost cause...Full of Marines who are so disgruntled. I cant speak for 1st and 3rd but 2nd is a lost cause. I cant imagine 1st and 3rd being any different.
__________________
United States Marine Corps 0313 / 0311 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Apache Company Last edited by kurupted; 04-05-2013 at 6:20 PM.. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
BLUF: Let it be known what MOS you want, and ensure your SPC knows WHY you want it. During the MOS mixer, talk to the Captains they bring in for each MOS. Last edited by Apex_RS4; 05-10-2013 at 8:36 PM.. |
#27
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.
|
#28
|
|||
|
|||
Marine week or not, they get to go to a Padres game during boot camp. I never recall being able to leave Parris Island for anything!
|
#29
|
|||
|
|||
You joined the Marine Corps, and you have a penis. Your first choice should be 03. Your second choice should be 02, as you can serve as a STA and Recon platoon commander.
__________________
"You can't just convince them through projects and goodwill. You have to show up at their door with two companies of Marines and start killing people. That's how you start convincing them." |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
well put
|
#32
|
|||
|
|||
Good luck log-dog. Now bring me my chow!!
Congrats though. You'll find some disgruntled officers in that field but if you make the most of it and really care about being good at it, you can be a huge asset to the unit. Get to an Infantry Bn if you can. There is no better place to be. 13 years as an 0203/0202 staying with the grunts as much as possible. Good luck. |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
Well thats what happens when you do hikes on flat ground.
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|