USMC 0861 Fire Support Man Course Coronado, CA 5 Salvo FFE

[hnxkam]

I know Marines are assigned their MOS's, but while in the DEP you can choose an OccFld...is there anything I can do that can help me actually get 0861?

[Wolf2131]

@hnxkam

Unfortunately not. It seems to all work out based on the needs of the Marine Corps. While I was DEP'd in, I picked CK - Fire Support Man, which had a wide range of Artillery related jobs. I managed to get 0861 based on needs of the Marine Corps (0861 was critical needs) and possibly from having a high GT score. Good luck!

[hnxkam]

@Wolf2131 What was your GT score? If you don't mind me asking, and if you remember, haha

[Wolf2131]

@hnxkam

132 GT. Probably could have scored higher if I studied for it. :P

[hnxkam]

@Wolf2131 3 months later and yet i have another question...what kind of math is good to know if you end up as an 0861?

[Wolf2131]

@hnxkam

No worries, man. I'm here for any help you may need.

Having good math skill in general is definitely a huge asset. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, working with decimals and fractions, quick conversions in metric distances, being able to quickly estimate numbers and distances, etc. My advice? Be all around solid. You won't be solving calculus equations, but you need to be really snappy with the basic stuff including decimals and fractions.

[raptor22able]

Do you just call in naval and artillery or do you call in aircraft like helicopters and bombers?

[Wolf2131]

@raptor22able

We train to call in arty, naval guns, mortars, in addition to AC130 call for fire, close air support (i.e., bombs, rockets, etc from fixed and rotary wing) and the like. On the higher level, you help to deconflict fires to help stay away from blue on blue incidents and from shooting your own planes out of the sky.

[AmericanGMS]

how is this MOS? ive been looking at combat engineer but idk if i want to be building all day long need some feedback plz

[Wolf2131]

@AmericanGMS

Hey there. I don't know what the combat engineer job entails, but you'd do well to dig someone up who does know. As for 0861, I loved doing it. It's a fast-paced, highly technical job where you're out with the grunts most times on deployments. Plus, who doesn't like blowing shit up? My old Sgt told us a long time ago that he went to re-up and asked his dad (SgtMaj ret.) which job was the next best to being a grunt without the BS. His dad told him 0861. Any questions, please ask!

[slipknotmtdew]

SSgt. Real, Sgt. Cassell and Sgt. Traylor are the MASOC instructors. I requested Camp Pendleton but they're deploying soon so i'll probably end up on the East Coast

[Wolf2131]

@slipknotmtdew

Good luck, devil. Stay out of trouble with that nice, lax libo on Coronado. :)

[slipknotmtdew]

The liberty there is pretty limited. No over night libo, different "phases" on what you can and cannot do, theres a curfew every evening and Lawton is still as horrible as ever. Coronado is Fleet Liberty all you need is a sign out buddy. Stay motivated. Oorah.

[Wolf2131]

@slipknotmtdew

Sounds like Ft. Sill. Ssgt Coulter and Sgt Fenderson still teaching MASOC there? Any idea of your duty station at the top of your wish list? I was in Hawaii. ;) Nice place, but only about 40 miles wide and very rainy. hahaha

[slipknotmtdew]

Yeah Ft Sill is pretty terrible.

[slipknotmtdew]

Just came out of MASOC at Ft Sill.

What to expect:

Four fire missions: Three Graded; Grid, Polar, Shift from Known Point. One Non-Graded; Lasor Polar/Strikelink

PT Everyday Monday - Friday, generally involving running

Five - Seven writen exams; Multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer

Uniform Inspections: Alphas & Bravos/Charlies

& Hikes

Currently at NAB Coronado, California for the Fire Support Man/Naval Gunfire

[Wolf2131]

@slipknotmtdew

Lucky, killer! Hopefully for you, the life over on Coronado is still as lax as it was when I went through in 2008. Great times there. Enjoy that horrible chow hall and don't harass the BUD/s guys. They've already got it rough.

Remember that fleet life is only a few months away. Don't get fat and nasty with the McDonald's/Subway on base and for god's sake, fix your uniforms before you check into your unit.

How's old Ft. Sill these days?

Semper Fidelis. Stay motivated.

[justlooking8701]

what do you guys do for PT while in 0861 MOS school

[Wolf2131]

@justlooking8701

While in the MOS school itself we PT quite often. At Ft Sill, we PT'd on Mon, Wed, Fri and often did anything from runs (1.5 mile to 6 miles) to circuit courses in boots and utes. Runs were definitely the most common, with quite a bit of variation, from just plain formation runs to rock man runs, or indian runs. Other exercises would come either before or after involving whatever they came up with.

At Coronado, we PT'd usually every day of the week.

[Wolf2131]

@justlooking8701

At Coronado, we PT'd usually every day of the work week. It almost always included a run (from 1 mile to 5 miles) and could be anything from a regular formation run to a beach run to an indian run. Sometimes, we'd do tabata workouts or Crossfit. Other times we'd just play football.

[itzchiefyy]

@justlooking8701

at fort sill, depends on your instructor. run most of the time. squad comps etc. at coronado, its just up to your ncos in your class

[24488GUARDSMAN]

i could watch that coming in all day

[desolate69]

Good stuff I passed up my orders to be an instructor there a few years back...shoulda taken it...civi life blows... Sgt. Moore 0861 "fuck a one shot one kill...one call one city block!"

[Wolf2131]

@desolate69

Shame. You know that's a cushy job. :P

[kirbinator13]

We just shot HIMARS rockets there over the weekend.

[NSHSGoose]

Yep, same thing we shot... We stayed on the island the whole week, and the boredom was worth this day of mass murder... Ok, so we only shot at dead howitzers and conex boxes, but it was still fun!

[omgusernametak3n]

is teh fire support from a crusier or destroyer

[Wolf2131]

I don't remember specifically what it was, but I want to say it was an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer.

[NSHSGoose]

@Wolf2131 When we shot, we had the Benfold fire for us, she's DDG 65. In layman's terms, an Arleigh Burke Class destroyer.

[Wolf2131]

@rjr6d hahaha It really was a great time! Where are you now?

[SSMC86]

This is the MOS that I picked. Leave for Basic Training in March. Can't wait.

[Wolf2131]

It's a hell of a fun job! Getting stationed with a firing battery is a lot of fun. I know the batteries here in 1/12 in Hawaii like to do plenty of field ops. :D When you're at Ft Sill, it sucks, but stay out of trouble and grind it out, then when you're at Coronado, it's the BEST time ever.

[SSMC86]

Thanks for the heads up. Just took the oath at Ft. Dix and am just getting myself ready to ship out for Parris Island. Hopefully, I'll earn the right to be a U.S. Marine.

[Wolf2131]

It's a privilege and an honor, not a right. ;) Best of luck! Remember: Keep your ears open, your mouth shut, do what you're told, and listen to what your Drill Instructors said even after you leave boot camp. Learn your job to the fullest, do the right thing at all times, and you'll go far. :)

[woLFpaCK03131]

does anyone know if these mos sees any combat like gtes to fight anyone

[SSMC86]

Well, there's this really good MOS for that. I don't know if you've ever heard of it, but if all you care about is seeing combat then you might want to try this MOS called 0311 Rifleman. Also known as INFANTRY.

[woLFpaCK03131]

okay thanks but im not fucking stupid i was just wondering i applyed for infantry anyway i was just thinking about what else is out their im going to try to be a LAR crewmen

[Wolf2131]

Yes. 0861s are often attached to grunt units for deployments. As SSMC86 said, if that's all you care about, go infantry.

[desolate69]

@woLFpaCK03131 lmao certainly do ANGLICO MARSOC FR any grunt unit FIST team. What you think an FO/Scout does order pizza? You control the most fire power on the battlefield. You can also go to FAC school where you call in jets and helos for airstrikes. You are the eyes of all the big bombs you get to watch your targets get blown back to hell anyway you want, Fire for effect for the win!

[donkey0531]

Man I wish I could go back and do it again. This made sitting 6 months at Sill worth it.

Semper FI

[Wolf2131]

@donkey0531 So true. :D I miss it.

[DevilDogN8]

Can't wait to get to Coronado. Ooh-Rah MASOC!

[Wolf2131]

Coronado is amazing. Nothing like Ft Sill or the Marine Battery there. The hooyah's chow hall there is pretty bad, but it's edible, and you're already paying for it anyways, so what the hell. To tell the truth, I miss Coronado. It's nice. Who are you, motivator?

[Apocal43]

Cool shit.

[yahoshuausmc]

CHAVEZ WAS THERE

[Wolf2131]

Jew :P

[KENDALLLKREBS]

the mexijew

[Wolf2131]

hahaha. indeed. who is this?