This is where you can look and see what the different jobs are about! Written by and for Marine wives!! They are in alphabetical order. So have fun!! Check back often. More will be added soon!! If there is one that you would like to know more about or if you have any questions you can email me or any of the wives that have submitted here!!
Andrea MOS: Air Traffic Controller Base: Camp Pendleton, CA
Basically what they do is about 20 guys civilians and Marines sit in a big dim-lit room with radars and computers around them. They have several screens with the actually runway on it and from that they guide the pilots in telling them their clearance and notifiying the FAA of military aircraft in the area. I know they have a series of tests that they are run through to keep them up to date on the latest equipment. As for deployment they do not have quite as many as other departments. Right now he's out on a 9 day deployment on the beach and back in January he was out on a CAX for 7 weeks in 29 Palms. They're sent out to recreate an air station in the event of an emergancy. I know that the beach that he's working out of right now there's a simulated aircraft carrier design on the ground and they are to guide choppers in on that and help them take off from it as well.
I went to work with him months ago and I was not exactly all that interested in it however one thing that I can say is that it looks a lot like it does in the movies.
Amos MOS: Combat Engineer (1371) Base:
Combat Engineers are sort of a "Jack of All Trades, Master of None." At least that's what my hubby says. The short version is they build things and they blow them up. They are trained in mines, boobytraps, explosives, creating barriers, breaching barriers and fortifications. They are in charge of building base camps (everything from tents to tin shacks to real buildings) and making sure the area is secure (laying mine fields, building bunkers, fortifying machine gun positions, etc.). At Journeyman's School, they are given the specifications for a building and they have to figure out everything from how much dirt needs to be moved to how many boards/nails/screws/whatever it will take. Quite a project!!
One of the coolest things I learned at Jayne Wayne day was that the explosives they use (like TNT) are not in the least bit dangerous UNTIL you put an electrical charge through them. They are similar to clay (sort of like the stuff in the movies) or come in cans and are formulated so that they can smash them, poke holes in them, even shoot them with a gun and they won't blow up. BUT, if you run a piece of det cord (det, like in detonate) to them or through them, and run an electric current through the cord, they make really cool explosions. :)
They also work with something called a "line charge" which is trailer that they pull behind a 5-ton and it's hundreds of packages of explosives (about the size of those vacuum packs of coffee) strung along a huge cable. They fire a small rocket to pull the line charge out onto a mine field and then after it lands, they blow it up. This detonates all the land mines for so many feet on either side of the line charge and a whole line of trucks can just drive right through.
Anja MOS: Communications
Field Radio Operator (2531)
Satellite Communications (2536) Base: Camp Pendleton, CA
Well, until this year, my husband was a 2531 which is field radio operator. If you ever watch the war movies where a man has a pack with an antenna and head set he talks into to call in stuff. That was my hubby. He always said his life expectancy in war was like 4 seconds thanks to his antenna. He is communications and depends what unit your are with what you exactly do.
Now he is a 2536 which is satellite communications. He has a van that is all computers and satellites. Basically, whatever AT&T does, he can do with his van. I am still learning about this one. But any info on these two MOS's I can get the answers to.
So, in combat if communications breaks down, I guess you can blame my hubby.
LOL
Trish MOS: Drill Instructor Base: MCRD San Diego, CA
Right now, my husband is a Drill Instructor....his job is to train the young men coming in to the Corps to be Marines. It is long hours and lots of hard work but on Graduation Day the look in the young mens eyes, the awe of the parents and loved ones is worth every ounce of energy my husband and the other DI's gave!!
Before DI time, my husband was a Machinist...he supported the work of mechanics in order to keep all types of vehicles up and running and in the best possible condition. He also supported the unit in other ways such as helping keep tools in condition, invent new tools and help the welders or other mechanics if they needed it.
Anne MOS: Infantry/Grunt Base: Camp Pendleton, CA
My husband is an infantry grunt and he loves it. He learns and trains on different weapon usages and tactics to survive a war. He has a dozen men under his command and he has to lead them into battle when needed. He is responsible for their lives. He is taught to kill with a M-16 and to live by his wits. He and his men are the ones who will be at the front lines if a conflict starts. They are the ones who will storm a sandy beach and they are the ones that are expect to die to defend what we believe in. Recently I helped him pack for a 6 month deployment to Okinawa, Japan. I saw him laced a dogtag on each of his boots in addition to the tags he wears around his neck. He answered my inquiry by saying, "Sometimes, that's the only body part left to identify." Grunts are a strange breed. They know that they are expected to take a human life when needed. And they also know that the enemy will do the same. Grunt wives are even a stranger breed. They understand all of the above but they still have to smile and say "I Love You" and wave good-bye.
Ivy MOS: Infantry/Grunt Base:
Well my boyfriend is a grunt. all he really does is sit around all day and shoot guns and learn how to defend this country. the only bad part about what he does is when he goes on deployments, but then again we all have to deal with those. i dont know how the rest of you deal with your spouses or fiancees, but I'm learing fast.
Lisa MOS: MP Base: Quantico, VA
My husband is an MP, but he does security for the Presidential Helicopters. It is a great duty. We are here, at Quantico, for four years. He works 2 - 8 hour days, and then is off for two days, and everyother weekend, he has Fri, Sat, and Sun off. The only thing is that he goes on trips every couple of months, for anywhere from 3 - 10 days, but he gets per diem for where ever he goes. They lift the President to his different sites, so he has met him several times. He likes it, but when he was in the first time, he was in Communications, and loved that.
Tanisha MOS: NBC Specialist Base:
Mike is a NBC specialist, for those of you who don't know that's Nuclear Biological Chemial Weapons Defense Specialist. It is definitely interesting right now. He is in Okinawa for a year deployment. He made L.Cpl when he got there, the job he is doing is a Corporal Position, which he is very excited about doing. He is recalibrating weapons, setting up & running the gas chamber, teaching a class, working in the office. So, he is excited, plus he is going up for the promotion board @ the end of july, middle of august. So, hopefully he'll get it. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Plus, there is rumors that they may send him on a float for a month- a montha & a half, which if he went he'd get to go to Phillipines, Korea, & some other places. Hopefully he will get to go. It's just a rumor though. But if he doesn't make the promotional board in July or whenever if he goes on the ship it will increase his chance of getting the promotion. Plus, if he makes the promotion in July, he will be one of the first Marines to make Corporal before 4 months. Woo hoo! I am so excited for him I pray that this goes through for him, he has had some really hard times, as far as his rank goes so far. Did I mention that he is the Sr. L.Cpl there also, so that speaks very well for him over there. I am just happy that he found something that he likes, is good at, & may even consider making a career from this.
Jennifer MOS: Recruiter Base: Aurora, CO
Brian is a recruiter right now and it is tough. I think that you have to go in knowing this. If you think how great it will be to have him home all the time you are wrong. I see less of him now then when he was in the fleet. He is in bed everynight but his mind is almost always at work. You just have to be strong. We only have 4 months left :-)
Terri MOS: Senior Drill Instructor Base: MCRD San Diego, CA
His job is a high stress and little time off job. The wife needs to be as independent and supportive of her husband as possible. He will be spending more time with the recruits than with his own family. When he does get a break the time spent should be real family quality time, because breaks are few and far between. This duty is not recommended if there is any problems with marriage what so ever , because you will not make it.
Although being a drill instructors wife is not the easiest job. I am proud of what my husband does and of the difference he makes in young Marines lives. And it is well appreciated by the families of the recruits also, because after graduation they seek out the drill instructors to thank them for a job well done. It is a long and stressful cycle but well worth the end results.
If there are any questions i can answer for anyone i would be happy to do so.
My husband has been a drill instructor for a year now.
Kelly MOS: Supply Base: Camp Pendleton, CA
Supply in general is a great job. Usually very regular "office" hours. As close to it as it gets in the Marine Corps anyway. Anyway, supply is to order, maintain, issue out, and control property for a battalion or unit. They basically take care of and get the gear for everyone.
I got really lucky. My husband ended up the CMR clerk in his supply shop. Which makes him nondeployable right now. He controls and maintains records of all TAM itemed gear within the battalion or company. And he breaks it down by commodities.
Barbara MOS: Tactical Data Systems Repairman Base: Cherry Point, NC
He works on the electronic equipment...radars...etc, that they use in monitoring air operations.
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