Hey Marines - an 0313 question

[CS1983]

My buddy's son is shipping out to MCRD San Diego in a few days. He enlisted with 03xx, with the hopes of being an 0311. Apparently his recruiter just told him that he is now going to be on LAVs, so I assume 0313.

I was under the impression that 0313 was a post-ITB assignment (or perhaps when one gets there?) and the Marine Corps didn't pre-slot recruits for anything aside from 03xx, and all decisions for 31, 13, etc. were made at ITB.

Is it possible that they have pre-ID'ed recruits who meet a certain ASVAB line score metric for assignment to 0313, and he happens to be one? Or could it just be the Recruiter dicking with him to see how bad he wants to be a Marine vs just wants a particular MOS?

As far as 0313, I'm under the impression it's much like the Army's 19D, which I was. However, do the 0313's ever get to do dismount work, or is that an 0311 role for scouts?

As a 19D, I wasn't always stuck in a crew position and was sometimes a dismount, etc. Reading some forum posts elsewhere, it sounds like the 0313s are kinda shafted on the dismount portion of the LAR mission.

Just trying to understand what exactly is going on here.

Thanks for any insights.

ETA: He just clarified. 21xx. Yuck. A friggin' mechanic.

[CS1983]

Gah, poor kid is being screwed by the Corps already. Just wants to be a grunt and they want to make him a mechanic. Screw that. He needs to cut line and run to the Army before he swears in a 2nd time (which is the only binding oath of enlistment, btw; the first time they do it at MEPS is just to swear into DEP, at least for the Army.)

[Irving]

Is there not enough swearing and drinking as a mechanic?

[CS1983]

Is there not enough swearing and drinking as a mechanic?

God bless the support dudes, seriously. We always treated our mechanics as well as we could (especially when we knew we would be going to other FOBs w/ big PX's, we'd get a shopping list from a select few of them).

BUT, and this is a big but, a support role is 100% unsat for anyone who wants to be a combat arms.

I realize the Marines like to tout the "every Marine a rifleman" line, but let's be honest: combat arms is combat arms, and nothing else is.

The way I always looked at it was if you're going to do something you can do on the outside, there's no point in being in the military -- especially if it's something you can do without .mil experience. Which is exactly why when they offered me a choice between med retirement and a list of support MOS's, I chose retirement.

Hopefully the kid makes the right decision for himself and is willing to live with the reality of turning wrenches for 4 years.

[JohnnyDrama]

The Corps is a great place to be if that's what you make it. An 03xx is the thing to do when you start though. I ended up in supply. Not the best place, but I got in on some really cool "shit" details. I volunteered for everything that came my way. I really wanted to stay in but they wouldn't let me move out of supply.

Best of luck to him and semper fi!

[Great-Kazoo]

God bless the support dudes, seriously. We always treated our mechanics as well as we could (especially when we knew we would be going to other FOBs w/ big PX's, we'd get a shopping list from a select few of them).

BUT, and this is a big but, a support role is 100% unsat for anyone who wants to be a combat arms.

I realize the Marines like to tout the "every Marine a rifleman" line, but let's be honest: combat arms is combat arms, and nothing else is.

The way I always looked at it was if you're going to do something you can do on the outside, there's no point in being in the military -- especially if it's something you can do without .mil experience. Which is exactly why when they offered me a choice between med retirement and a list of support MOS's, I chose retirement.

Hopefully the kid makes the right decision for himself and is willing to live with the reality of turning wrenches for 4 years.

I understand the Combat Arms "want". However a mechanic in the service will transition over to civilian employment easier. Not knocking anyone who wants the Combat Arms designation. Just looking at the long game. Unless they're wanting to transition to PMC after they're out.

AS for doing something on the outside a .mil stint kicks you up the ladder civvie side.

[Shooter45]

The recruiter has numbers to fill and is pushing him to the mechanic route. I'd tell him to stand his ground with the 03 job or find another recruiter. I met enough mechanics while I was an 0331 and I had to do the work on our vehicles ourselves. Just because they have a mechanic MOS doesn't mean they know what to do, same as an 03 MOS. Infantry MOS's help a lot for contracting afterwards and the experiences they may or may not get; just opens up the opportunity and ability for other jobs and credentials.

[CS1983]

His desire was to be a grunt, simply.

I believe he wanted USMC because they are, without a doubt, the premiere regular Infantry in the entire world.

Not sure how much of the kool-aid he has consumed on their other components.

[BushMasterBoy]

Just don't ship out. He can renegotiate the enlistment contract. They won't come and arrest him and deliver him to boot camp in handcuffs. For God's sake, get the job you love!

List of specialties below:

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_MOS.html

[Scanker19]

The recruiter has numbers to fill and is pushing him to the mechanic route. I'd tell him to stand his ground with the 03 job or find another recruiter. I met enough mechanics while I was an 0331 and I had to do the work on our vehicles ourselves. Just because they have a mechanic MOS doesn't mean they know what to do, same as an 03 MOS. Infantry MOS's help a lot for contracting afterwards and they experiences they may or may not get; just opens up the opportunity and ability for other jobs and credentials.

This. First time I went all they had was 13 series, and I ain’t no fucking gunnbunny. Literally20 Mins later they had, 11, 19, etc etc.... all I wanted was to be a K

[DireWolf]

His desire was to be a grunt, simply.

I believe he wanted USMC because they are, without a doubt, the premiere regular Infantry in the entire world.

I can remember quite literally this exact thought/feeling (slightly different phrasing comes to mind, but yours is more polite), and also in spite of a nearly perfect ASVAB score...

Best of luck to him getting this squared away!


ETA: something funny this thread reminded me of - spent a few days this week in a hotel where they were staying for MEPS; had a few kids ask if I was with the group...hehehe

[CS1983]

Just don't ship out. He can renegotiate the enlistment contract. They won't come and arrest him and deliver him to boot camp in handcuffs. For God's sake, get the job you love!

List of specialties below:

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_MOS.html

Yes.

I did a Recruiting duty assignment between deployments. (DA selected for the Corporal Recruiting program; awful experience)

I was assigned to Southern California Recruiting Battalion. I saw some pretty dirty tactics to strong arm kids in the DEP program.

The one which sticks in my mind the most was this Hispanic kid. He joined and before he shipped, his mother wigged out. I don't know if he joined without her knowing, or what. But either way, she spoke almost no English. So he brought her to the Recruiting Station to tell our Station Commander (a weasel of a man; if I ever see him again, I'm punching his teeth all the way back to the Philippines from whence he slithered). The Panamanian SFC translated, along with the Mexican SSG. They were telling the mom that if he didn't go he'd be arrested and taken to Leavenworth and all sorts of awful, untrue crap. Poor madre was in absolute hysterical tears.

So I snuck out as I could tell it was wrapping up.

Once I saw them exit the Station, I called them over to where I was hanging out in the shadows (it was at night). Told the kid to translate for his mother so she would understand.

Told them the following:

1) everything they just told you is a lie
2) the first oath is just for the DEP program, and you are not bound to it; only the 2nd oath when you actually ship counts
3) not a single bit of legal trouble will come your way, and if you want to enlist again, or with another branch, you can
4) those men do NOT represent the United States Army and I am very sorry she had to go through this experience

She went from hysterics to tears of joy, thanking me profusely in rapid fire Spanish.

I'm not sure how it works for the USMC exactly, but I know that only the 2nd oath is what counts and no one should give away a portion of their life, or even the whole thing God forbid, unless they are doing what makes sense for them.

The US Army Southern California Recruiting Battalion can still kiss every sweaty hair on my ass.

[Shooter45]

Yes.

I did a Recruiting duty assignment between deployments. (DA selected for the Corporal Recruiting program; awful experience)

I was assigned to Southern California Recruiting Battalion. I saw some pretty dirty tactics to strong arm kids in the DEP program.

The one which sticks in my mind the most was this Hispanic kid. He joined and before he shipped, his mother wigged out. I don't know if he joined without her knowing, or what. But either way, she spoke almost no English. So he brought her to the Recruiting Station to tell our Station Commander (a weasel of a man; if I ever see him again, I'm punching his teeth all the way back to the Philippines from whence he slithered). The Panamanian SFC translated, along with the Mexican SSG. They were telling the mom that if he didn't go he'd be arrested and taken to Leavenworth and all sorts of awful, untrue crap. Poor madre was in absolute hysterical tears.

So I snuck out as I could tell it was wrapping up.

Once I saw them exit the Station, I called them over to where I was hanging out in the shadows (it was at night). Told the kid to translate for his mother so she would understand.

Told them the following:

1) everything they just told you is a lie
2) the first oath is just for the DEP program, and you are not bound to it; only the 2nd oath when you actually ship counts
3) not a single bit of legal trouble will come your way, and if you want to enlist again, or with another branch, you can
4) those men do NOT represent the United States Army and I am very sorry she had to go through this experience

She went from hysterics to tears of joy, thanking me profusely in rapid fire Spanish.

I'm not sure how it works for the USMC exactly, but I know that only the 2nd oath is what counts and no one should give away a portion of their life, or even the whole thing God forbid, unless they are doing what makes sense for them.

The US Army Southern California Recruiting Battalion can still kiss every sweaty hair on my ass.

It's only the official oath you take at Meps the night/morning before you ship off to recruit training. I don't remember taking a 1st oath but may have just don't remember for the Marines.

[Great-Kazoo]

It's only the official oath you take at Meps the night/morning before you ship off to recruit training. I don't remember taking a 1st oath but may have just don't remember for the Marines.

The 1st is a formality. The 2nd before you ship out, the day before to boot is the "official" one. At that time you're in or out the door.

[Joe_K]

My Recruiter tried the same tactic, tell him to tell the recruiter he won?t sign anything until an Infantry slot opens up. My Recruiter has his heart set on me being in Intel, or some crap because I?d Aced the ASVAB. I still ended up with an 11th hour change to my contract with an 03XX 5 year Security Forces contract slid across the desk and the SSGT telling me to sign it, or else I wouldn?t ship for another 6 months. I?d already waited 3 months, and he was sick of me.
I begrudgingly signed and shipped that day.
Lots of things have changed in the last 11 years and I?ve lost contact with the friends I had in 1st LAR. Not sure how Drivers vs. Gunners vs. Dismounts get assigned.

In hindsight I?m glad I signed that contract, the clearance, MOS schools, and experiences were well worth the indignity if not just being a Grunt. I also never would have met my Wife or be living in Colorado had I been stubborn and demanded to go with a 4 year Infantry contract.


For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭

[Rucker61]

Little bit different in the officer route, at least in the Army. You submit the short list of what branch you want, and you get what they give you. My first two choices were Infantry then Armor, but I guess someone felt that a 2LT with a degree in theoretical mathematics might better serve in the Engineers.

[Mtneer]

5 Great reasons to become a (good) mechanic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg4Jx5TC2Ac

[BushMasterBoy]

If I had to do it again, I would be a cook. It is warm where you work, you get to eat anytime you want, and nobody messes with you because you are feeding them.

[CS1983]

Well, he stamped his feet a little and compromised on being an armorer.

I don't personally agree with the decision, but it's his choice.

On the upside, he likes tinkering with guns and given his father, has ample experience in it.

Would be cool if he gets assigned to a unit where the equipment is more specialized.

[CS1983]

Joe K -

Some of the smartest dudes I knew were combat arms. A few of the dumbest, too.

From the 11C (mortar man) w/ a BS from MIT (was using student loan repayment program) to the former pre-med 19D (Scout) who had given up a golf scholarship from a university in Pennsylvania, to the 19D who now has a Masters in Biology and is a lab manager. A lot of average guys too who, though lacking book smarts, were street smart wizards.

And then... there was the 19D from some holler in Kentucky who, having an ASVAB score of 25 (!? -- talk about a waiver!) came to a road march with a friggin duffle bag swinging from his ruck frame's bottom cus he had failed the ruck weigh in the day prior and was told to add weight.

I would imagine it's the same in the Marines.

[CS1983]

He's been at MCRD San Diego for a few days now.

I plan to buy him a laser engraved Ka-Bar when he graduates.

[JohnnyDrama]

Best of luck to him. He might have had time to sleep by now. Those first couple of days in receiving are pretty blurry....

Every Marine should have at least a couple of Ka-Bars. A nice, maybe engraved one to show off, and another for work.

[CS1983]

Would he be allowed to have/keep the Ka-Bar in his barracks room once no longer in MOS training?

Or would that be company/battalion specific guidance?

[Great-Kazoo]

Would he be allowed to have/keep the Ka-Bar in his barracks room once no longer in MOS training?

Or would that be company/battalion specific guidance?

No weapons on base. Depending who is higher up the food chain, either it will be ignored, or written up at the least.

[JohnnyDrama]

No weapons on base. Depending who is higher up the food chain, either it will be ignored, or written up at the least.

Reminds me of a story involving a Kukri....

[Sawin]

He's been at MCRD San Diego for a few days now.

I plan to buy him a laser engraved Ka-Bar when he graduates.

Check out KennesawCutlery.com. They’ve got terrific selection and prices on ka-bars.