7208 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
INTRODUCTION:
The 7208 MOS has two specific functional areas: Low
Altitude Air Defense, and Air Support Control. The former places you
in a Low Altitude Air Defense unit controlling the employment of Stinger
Missiles while the latter deals with controlling aviation on the battlefield
from the Direct Air Support Center. Both functional areas allow you
to be fully involved in the coupling of Marine air and ground teams.
Although the 7208 MOS is open to women they are not able to serve
in the Low Altitude Air Defense Battalions in the capacity of an Anti-Air
Warfare Officer.
The Air Support Control Officer and Anti-Air Warfare
Officer are trained in both aspects of this occupational field, but
fill two separate and distinct billets. The breakdown is roughly 50/50
as to which initial assignment an officer receives, with the exception
of women who are automatically assigned as Air Support Control Officers.
As you would be trained in both specialties, lateral moves can be
made rather easily after your first tour, depending upon billet availability.
Some prerequisites:
-
Gain and maintain a secret security clearance.
-
Complete Air Support Control Officers Course and
Anti-Air
Warfare Officers Course.
-
Women are currently eligible for only the Air Support
Control Officers track.
In the Air Support Control Officer capacity you are
responsible for the assignment and control of aircraft, to include
close air support, assault support, and medevacs as they become required
on the battlefield. As a second lieutenant operating from the Direct
Air Support Center (DASC), you will talk directly to and control both
fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as the Tactical Air Director (TAD)
and the Helicopter Director (HD). Your responsibilities will include
safely routing aircraft through the battlespace and to the requesting
Forward Air Controller, as well as providing these aircraft with friendly
and enemy situation updates. You will assist the Senior Air Director
(SAD) in making timely and intelligent decisions concerning the assignment
of available aircraft to immediate requests for air from the supported
unit. The DASC normally co-locates with the Ground Combat Element
(GCE) Fire Support Coordination Center (FSCC) to ensure close coordination.
You are, therefore, routinely deployed forward in the battle area
and closely work with the ground forces to support them. When this
DASC/FSCC co-location is not possible, the DASC will field an Air
Support Liaison Team (ASLT) led by a lieutenant to ensure that close
coordination between these two agencies takes place.
If you are assigned to a Low Altitude
Air Defense (LAAD) battalion, you will initially command a LAAD platoon.
Each platoon is comprised of three sections. Each section has five
teams. A team consists of two Marines. Additionally each team possesses
either a modified Stinger rack-mounted HMMWV or an Avenger air defense
vehicle. All told, you will command roughly 40 Marines and an extensive
array of vehicles and high dollar equipment. You will have more responsibility
than most second lieutenants, including the opportunity to lead Marines
immediately.
Tactically it will be your job to position
your sections to defend the MAGTF air defense priority. You will position
yourself with a command agency and provide direction and leadership
to your forward deployed sections during tactical operations.
WHAT WILL I DO AFTER TBS BEFORE I GET
MY FIRST BILLET?
After completing TBS you will report
initially to Marine Corps Communication-Electronics Schools in Twentynine
Palms, California, for a twelve-week Air Support Control Officers
Course. Upon completion you will report to Ft. Bliss, Texas, for the
Anti-Air Warfare Officers Course. This course lasts approximately
six weeks. You will receive basic skills at these schools to qualify
you in both aspects of the MOS. You will then receive your follow
on assignment to either a Marine Air Support Squadron (MASS) or LAAD
Battalion. There is rarely a waiting period for these schools.
WHAT WILL MY FIRST TOUR BE LIKE?
If you serve in a MASS, your operational tempo will
be among the highest in the Marine Corps. There are three Marine Air
Support Squadrons; one in MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, another
in Camp Pendleton, California, and the last in Okinawa. You can be
assured of spending a considerable time deployed, supporting as many
as 4 three-week long Combined Arms Exercises (CAX) a year in Twentynine
Palms, California. You can also expect to provide support for a seven-week
long Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course (WTI) in Yuma, Arizona.
Additionally, any time a training exercise that involves both air
and ground forces is scheduled, the MASS is tasked with providing
support. This results in supporting many battalion level operations,
and providing support for many training exercises such as Tactical
Air Control Party classes. Finally, each Marine Expeditionary Unit
(Special Operations Capable) [MEU (SOC)] deploys with two 7808 lieutenants
commanding the Air Support Element, which provides excellent opportunities
for you to take part in Fleet Marine operations. Overall you will
be deployed considerably more than most of your non-7208 peers. The
MASS is structured in such a way as to provide only limited command
opportunities for its most junior officers. Your primary duty tactically
will be acting as part of a DASC crew during training exercises and
operations, and executing collateral duties in garrison.
If assigned to a LAAD battalion, located in the same
locations as the MASSs, you will have similar deployment cycles. There
has been a recent trend to reduce the deployment of LAAD personnel
to CAX, as little opposition air is provided for LAAD training. LAAD
personnel play a significant role in the WTI program, and you can
expect to routinely deploy to support that course. Operational tempo
is slightly less than it is in the Air Support Control Officer pipeline,
although it is still extensive. LAAD is an integral part of the MAGTF
and will always be tasked when a MAGTF operates. The MEU (SOC) is
provided with one LAAD Section led by a lieutenant due to its real
world operational potential.
WHERE MIGHT I GO AFTER MY FIRST TOUR?
As a 7208 officer you are eligible
for most standard B-billet tours. The 72xx community as a whole has
very strong ties to all other communities within the Marine Air Control
Group (MACG) and often you will find yourself assigned to other squadrons
within the MACG regardless of your primary MOS. These other units
include the Marine Air Control Squadron, Marine Tactical Air Control
Squadron, and VMU (UAV) Squadrons. Upon promotion to major, all 72xx
officers are redesignated MOS 7202.
WHERE ELSE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION
ON THIS MOS?
Marine Corps publications which discuss
the employment of the DASC and LAAD are: FMFM 5-42 Control of Aircraft
and Missiles, FMFM 5-40 Offensive Air Support and MCDP 5-52 Employment
of Low Altitude Air Defense. These expound upon the employment
and responsibilities of the agencies and the officers in this MOS.
CONCLUSION:
The 7208 field offers the best of both
worlds; the opportunity to lead Marines in a LAAD Battalion, and control
the employment of MAGTF air in the MASS. Few other MOSs offer as many
diverse challenges to young officers as this one. If you choose the
7208 MOS, you will rapidly be entrusted with awesome responsibility
and discover one of the most rewarding jobs in the Marine Corps.
7220 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
INTRODUCTION:
If you like work around airfields or
are interested in the aviation community, the Air Traffic Control (ATC)
MOS may be for you. In addition to providing a rewarding military career,
air traffic control also has lucrative civilian aspects.
Initially, the ATC Officer will serve
as a watch officer at an ATC Facility, until he or she achieves the
prerequisite FAA qualifications. After receiving these qualifications,
and sometimes during the process (depending on the needs of the USMC),
an ATC lieutenant will serve as a Marine ATC Mobile Team (MMT) Leader,
ATC watch officer, or in another similar billet within the Marine
Air Control Group (MACG). Prerequisites:
-
Must pass an annual flight physical
examination.
-
Must maintain a secret security clearance.
-
Must complete the basic Air Traffic
Control course.
WHAT WILL I DO AFTER TBS BEFORE I GET MY FIRST BILLET?
After TBS you will attend a 16-week
course at Naval Air Station, Pensacola. This course is divided into
four main parts: ATC basics, tower, radar, and Marine Air Traffic Control
and Landing System (MATCALS). After ATC school, you will check into
a Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) prior to being sent to an ATC Facility.
WHAT WILL MY FIRST TOUR BE LIKE?
All ATC officers will be assigned to
one of the three MACS in the USMC, and return to this MACS after each
deployment or temporary duty, during their first tour. Your first tour
could vary from remaining at an ATC Facility to constantly deploying.
Regardless of billet, ATC officers are put in charge of Marines immediately
upon arrival at their first command and frequently are in command throughout
their first tour. Deployment opportunities include Marine Expeditionary
Unit (Special Operations Capable) MEU (SOC), Special Purpose Marine
Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF), Combined Arms Exercise (CAX), Weapons
and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI), and numerous others. Some of the
follow on schools available are the MMT Leaders Course and Air Space
Management Course.
WHERE MIGHT I GO AFTER MY FIRST TOUR?
The great thing about ATC is that there are numerous opportunities available
to you. After your first tour you may become an ATC Facility officer,
an ATC Detachment Commander, or get the opportunity to go on a B-billet.
Additionally, you may have the opportunity to fill numerous other 7200
billets within the MACG, and else where.
WHERE ELSE CAN I LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON THIS MOS?
The ATC MOS offers the opportunity to lead highly
trained Marines early on in your career. Additionally, the 7220 field
offers the unique opportunity to receive FAA certification as an Air
Traffic Controller.
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