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MOS Opportunities An MOS is a Military Occupational Specialty. This is your Marine Corps career path. The PLC and OCC programs offer four different basic fields. **For a complete listing of Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) click here** GROUND: Marine Corps Ground Officers form the backbone of the Marine Corps. No other career offers the opportunity to lead a platoon of Marines immediately after graduating from college. This area includes many specialties, ranging from Communications to Infantry to Finance. AVIATION: The Marine Corps operates the fifth largest air force in the world and it is also the most elite; much of this has to do with our aviators. Marines are the tip of the spear and our aviators are its gleaming and lethal point. Our primary objective is to clear the way for our ground troops. In fact, pilots are in constant contact with the Marine on the ground in order to ensure pinpoint, precise troop support. Although each branch of the military has a flying force, none are better trained than the Marines to cover hostile territory at Mach 1, only 500 feet off the deck. NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER: Marine Corps Aviators are supported by Marine Naval Flight Officers (NFO), who accompany them in the aircraft. NFOs serve as members of aircraft crews and assist in the employment of the aircraft offensive and defensive weapons. In addition to performing a multitude of air defense and attack functions (day or night) they may be also designated as a forward air controller. In this position, NFOs direct supporting fires for ground forces, including artillery, naval gunfire and close air support. NFOs can advise the commanders of ground units on matters pertaining to aerial observation and provide intelligence information not readily available from normal sources. STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE: This is our legal program, which guarantees officers the opportunity to practice law as a Marine Staff Judge advocate. For more information go to the official SJA site at http://sja.hqmc.usmc.mil/. Remember that you will be an Officer of Marines is more important than your specific MOS. Officers in the other branches are defined by their jobs--"I'm an F-16 Pilot," "I'm an artillery officer," or "I'm a Surface Warfare Officer." Marines speak of their service first and their job second, because that is the real order of priority to Marines. The Marine Corps relies on the diversification of Marines to overcome its smaller size, so what you might start out doing will most likely not be all that you do during your time in the Corps. For example, a Captain might be flying Cobras right now, but next year he'll be playing in the mud with the grunts as a Forward Air Controller. After that, he might have a recruiting billet at a college so that he can work towards a Master's Degree. Nothing is ever routine or dull in the Marine Corps. The Corps always takes care of its own, and you can always be proud of the fact that you are making a difference, no matter what specific job you are doing. |
