I need your expertise/information

[lakeaustinmom]

I am the mother of a recruit currently in phase 2 at MCRDSD. He has experience as civilian firefighter. He was trained through SUI at Piney Point, as well as training here in our county and was a volunteer firefighter, has haz mat training also. He wants to do what you did/ do. My question is what is the best pathway in MC. He wants 5711-CBRN, but is now thinking MOS 7051, or MOS 8811(short term duty assignment)might offer more of the training he wants and the job he wants. Here is the deal. He chose ground forces but now thinks the training that is more appropriate is the Avionics/7051. I am just trying to sort out how to advise him. I know MC will put him where they need him, but how did you get there? Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated!

[LarryK]

Its been a long time for me but, 7051 AFFR will get him to Texas for training. Its good training
And will included EMT training. I think thats right. JoeD, Eric , Or JoeP help me out................

[Stretch]

Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but he should have done more research before he signed the enlistment contract.

Avionics is repairing and maintaining the electronics in aircraft, which has nothing to do with Air Rescue and Fire Fighting (7051).

Structural Firefighter 8811 is no longer a primary MOS, and hasn't been since the late 60's. 7051's who attend the requisite schools and training may become eligible to be awarded the MOS title 8811, but it's really just an honorary thing, with no specific and separate duties. There are no billets for 8811's in the Marine Corps. Civilians have manned the structural fire stations on Marine bases for nearly 40 years now.

If your son is already in recruit training, it's too late now anyway. If he wanted a specific job, he should have gotten a guaranteed Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) from his recruiter before he left. If he has a guarantee for Ground Forces, then that's what he'll get. There is no changing your mind once you're in. Otherwise, recruits would be requesting new MOS's every time the weather got bad.

If he went in with an Open Contract and has no guaranteed MOS, the Corps will put him wherever they please. He may be a 7051, a 5711, a radio operator, a grunt, a cook, or one of dozens of Primary MOS's for which he may be qualified, based on his ASVAB scores and other factors. There is no way to know his MOS until he gets his orders at the end of boot camp.

Once he completes his first enlistment, it is possible to Lateral Move into another MOS, depending on the needs of the Corps.

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The late GySgt David Silva was instrumental in bringing back the MOS designation 8811 when he was Training Chief at Bogue Field years ago. This was done to award 7051's who had gone to all the trouble to attend structural firefighting schools at State Fire Academies.

A few of Dave's Marines at Bogue are the only ones I have heard of who went through with all of it. It is not a universally-accepted program, so other Marine Crash Crews may not offer or allow it.

On a personal note, Dave was one of my AFFR School Instructors at NAS Memphis in '86. He passed away from cancer in 2002.

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Larry, ARFF school includes EMS First Responder, not EMT which is a higher level.

[Joe Post]

I came back from Nam in 1968 and I was hoping some a__hole would spit on me or call me names. I was looking for a fight at that time. No one ever approached me or called me any names and I wore my uniform all the way home. I did hear that some guys did get that treatment. I saw it happening on the TV news tho.
Concerning the MOS 8811, I had that MOS it was secondary one tho. I got it while I was at New River after I attended structual fire school at Norfolk, Va. At that time we were the fire dept. In fact there was a civilian Fire Chief in charge of by the name of Chief Bass and there was Capt Gilley & Capt Clayton.

Joe P