Naval Aviator -> Special Forces

[Big Biff]

http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/2007/Messagesa64.aspx


Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure to try out for recon you must go through SOI, no matter what your MOS is, and if you fail the indoc or training then you are put back to 0311. So why enlist in another MOS in the first place if your intentions are to be a 0321?

Going through the 0321 pipeline would definitely give you a leg up to getting into MARSOC in terms of experience, but understand that you are not going to earn a slot in MARSOC by just getting the 0321 MOS. You still have to do a few deployments and then tryout. Then you have to pass the three week tryouts against the hundreds of other applicants from all crawls of the Corps ranging from guy admin pog's to female helo mechanics.
By the time you were elevated to Operator status you would be a 23-25 year old Sgt and be expected to again complete a few deployments. After this you would be around 25-27, then IF selected for MECEP on your first try, you would do another 6 months in the prep course, then (assuming you have no college) another 4-4 1/2 years in college putting you between 28-30. Now you are pushing the limits with waivers as to whether the Corps will let you fly.

It's like everyone else says, if you want to go flight, that is good to go... If you want to be Ricky Recon/Super Secret Squirrel that is equally as good. Who knows, whats to say you got selected for MECEP after being an operator that you choose to be a team leader in 03 or MARSOC. I would think this would be more realistic than hoping the stars do align for that brief moment in history and you become the exception to the standard.

 

[HeyJoe]

The only Easy Day was yesterday

I have an easy solution: Find a lake or beach near your house, fill a backpack with rocks, and run there as fast as you can. Once there, roll around in the water until you are soaking wet and covered in mud, then lay on the shore staying awake for at least one night without eating or drinking...........all the hours of mind-repressing pain and mind-numbing boredom and cut right to the "fun stuff."

None of the days are that easy....these are BUD/S graduates still working towards that coveted Trident:

090408-N-3714M-045 KODIAK, Alaska (April 8, 2009) A cold weather training instructor monitors SEAL Qualification Training candidates while they spend five minutes in near freezing water during a re-warming exercise.

090408-N-3714M-023 KODIAK, Alaska (April 8, 2009) A SEAL Qualification Training candidate falls through the ice in near freezing water during a re-warming exercise. Candidates completed the re-warming exercise after spending 48 hours in the Alaskan mountains learning how to navigate through the rugged terrain and survive the frigid conditions. The 28-day cold-weather training course, taught in Kodiak, is part of a yearlong process to become a U.S. Navy SEAL. (U.S. Navy Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erika N. Manzano/Released)

 

[Swanee]

MARSOC tryouts are open to all MOS's right now. However after the Marine Corps spends the half a million to million to get you to full blown operator status, I don't think they are going to let you go MECEP without getting their money out of you via deployments.

I graduated OCS and am classing up at TBS with a guy who was an 0321 and now is a 7599...

It can happen, but he is the exception.

 

[JTB7]

Going through the 0321 pipeline would definitely give you a leg up to getting into MARSOC in terms of experience, but understand that you are not going to earn a slot in MARSOC by just getting the 0321 MOS. You still have to do a few deployments and then tryout. Then you have to pass the three week tryouts against the hundreds of other applicants from all crawls of the Corps ranging from guy admin pog's to female helo mechanics.
By the time you were elevated to Operator status you would be a 23-25 year old Sgt and be expected to again complete a few deployments. After this you would be around 25-27, then IF selected for MECEP on your first try, you would do another 6 months in the prep course, then (assuming you have no college) another 4-4 1/2 years in college putting you between 28-30. Now you are pushing the limits with waivers as to whether the Corps will let you fly.

It's like everyone else says, if you want to go flight, that is good to go... If you want to be Ricky Recon/Super Secret Squirrel that is equally as good. Who knows, whats to say you got selected for MECEP after being an operator that you choose to be a team leader in 03 or MARSOC. I would think this would be more realistic than hoping the stars do align for that brief moment in history and you become the exception to the standard.

Good point(s). If he wanted to get into MARSOC, then it would be much harder to become a pilot later. I got the impression he just wanted to be a special operator(0321-Reconnaissance Man) not MARSOC.

I dont know why they are letting anybody fill MARSOC positions. If I were the commander, I would want 0311s or 0321's with combat experience to fill the killer-type jobs in MARSOC.

Read [in the article that Sgt. Heggen made it by 23]. Others interviewed were pretty old, like 25 and 27.

 

[eddie]

Read [in the article that Sgt. Heggen made it by 23]. Others interviewed were pretty old, like 25 and 27.

Not that Recon isn't absurdly badass, but what is interesting to me is that they are drawing only from FMF. Nobody else does that for their "specials" anymore.

 

[Ric Hard]

No such thing as going back and forth. Getting on a transition team may be an option to you though. The only other option is going on the show JAG!

 

[phrogpilot73]

Not that Recon isn't absurdly badass, but what is interesting to me is that they are drawing only from FMF. Nobody else does that for their "specials" anymore.

Huh? I don't get what you're saying. SEALs have to be in the Navy first, Green Berets/Rangers/Delta have to be in the Army first, and MARSOC/Recon Bn have to be in the Marine Corps first. There are occasional exceptions here and there, but not with the regularity that you're implying...

 

[eddie]

Huh? I don't get what you're saying. SEALs have to be in the Navy first, Green Berets/Rangers/Delta have to be in the Army first, and MARSOC/Recon Bn have to be in the Marine Corps first. There are occasional exceptions here and there, but not with the regularity that you're implying...

I meant right out of bootcamp / infantry school as opposed to MARSOC only taking NCOs. Poor wording on my part.

 

[phrogpilot73]

I meant right out of bootcamp / infantry school as opposed to MARSOC only taking NCOs. Poor wording on my part.

Ahhh, OK. Well in that case - it still kind of makes sense. Look at the Army - You can enlist and be a Ranger or Green Beret from the get go (don't know what percentage of Green Berets are 18X), but you have to be an E-5 or above to apply for Delta. So, think of Recon Battalion as the Rangers/Green Berets of the Marine Corps, and MARSOC as Delta. And no, I'm not comparing missions or capabilities. Only pointing out that other services do the same thing.

 

[CWJones411]

Just wondering, is there a Marine Corps equivalent of the Army's 160th SOAR?

 

[HeyJoe]

Just wondering, is there a Marine Corps equivalent of the Army's 160th SOAR?

No

 

[phrogpilot73]

Just wondering, is there a Marine Corps equivalent of the Army's 160th SOAR?

No

What he said. Although we train towards some of the same mission sets as the 160th, just minus the Gucci gear and experience level of the pilots.

 

[HeyJoe]

What he said. Although we train towards some of the same mission sets as the 160th, just minus the Gucci gear and experience level of the pilots.

And "habitual training" with supported/associated units

 

[JTB7]

Just wondering, is there a Marine Corps equivalent of the Army's 160th SOAR?

http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil/news/Para.htm

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147348

 

[JTB7]

Sorry for the double post, couldnt find the edit button...

Going through the 0321 pipeline would definitely give you a leg up to getting into MARSOC in terms of experience, but understand that you are not going to earn a slot in MARSOC by just getting the 0321 MOS. You still have to do a few deployments and then tryout. Then you have to pass the three week tryouts against the hundreds of other applicants from all crawls of the Corps ranging from guy admin pog's to female helo mechanics.

I think we talked that you have to attend SOI, and some said you just went strait to BRC, well I found this...

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Sniper

Current Marine to reconnaissance option.

• Any Marine can volunteer for and take a Recon or MARSOC indoc or screener. If they pass it they can be accepted into the battalion and can begin training to go to BRC. Non infantry MOS Marines will now be required to go to SOI and obtain an infantry MOS before attending BRC.

I know wikipedia isnt the most reliable source but this sounds legit. You have to attend SOI and if you dont pass recon/MARSOC training you give up your old job and get an 03xx MOS.