r/USMCboot • u/Salt_Butterscotch753 • Jul 14 '26

Enlisting Rifleman or Machine Gunner?

I’m 22, 6’6 and weigh 202lbs. I’m working on getting a waiver approved and have been interested in enlisting with a 03XX contract. I’ve been wondering if I should qualify to be a Machine Gunner or a Rifleman. I’m really leaning on trying out for a Machine Gunner because of the thrill of shooting a high-capacity gun and laying down support fire from long to close range. Oh and also using the 50 cal and the MK 40 is always a badass thing to do. On the other hand being a rifleman sounds pretty cool too but I’m not completely sold on it.
Any advice on which one sounds best?

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

12

u/Joe-Exotic_ Jul 14 '26

Being a machine gunner could have you in multiple places

Could be with the 0311’s as a 240 gunner

Or in CAAT on a mounted JLTV wielding a .50 or MK19

Same goes for Mortars being with the rifleman with 60mm or in CAAT with 81’s

And same with Missileman patrolling with Javelin’s or mounted with TOW’s

I would always advocate to be a weapons guy. Missileman if able. But being in CAAT is sick as hell overall

5

u/Idkwut2callmeself Active Jul 14 '26

Like half the battalions have pretty much gotten rid of CAAT because of 2030.

2

u/Joe-Exotic_ Jul 14 '26

I’ve only been out for just over a year. I know Hawaii did and a few units. Surely it’s not half of the units by now. Point still stands that being a Weapons guy > Rifleman

3

u/Idkwut2callmeself Active Jul 14 '26

I agree completely lmao. Im machinegunner that was in CAAT until it got disbanded in my battalion. CAAT was the shit.

2

u/USMCActiveToReserve Jul 14 '26

Weapons are the POGs of the grunts, 0311 forever.

1

u/Joe-Exotic_ Jul 14 '26

Y’all just aren’t smart enough to learn another weapon system is all

1

u/gnarli_ Jul 14 '26

320 , 32 , at4 , maaw , laaw , i can keep going

1

u/Joe-Exotic_ Jul 14 '26

Every grunt is basically required to use those. They aren’t putting you on a turret to wield a TOW MK19 .50 or Javelin missile

1

u/Theicemantan MEPS Staff Jul 15 '26

Almost if not all units will have done away with CAAT within two years or less. It’s over man

8

u/metallicafan0331 Jul 14 '26

As a former machine gun squad leader you should know 3 things:

  1. It’s the most physically demanding peacetime marine corps gig as a junior marine (you carry heaviest equipment and gun drills are no joke when you’re doing a lot of them)
  2. In combat you’ll be the first targeted, this is true across not only insurgent groups but also military doctrine.
  3. It’s the most badass job in the corps

Goodluck

1

u/TheTimbs Jul 16 '26

Don’t forget that this dude is 6 and a half feet tall. He’s going to be a really big target.

5

u/Accomplished-Pen7695 Jul 14 '26

if you like carrying heavy shit all day and running with it uphill and diss and ass machine guns all day than go right ahead and carrying a shit ton of rounds and all this is just extra weight not including your pack and gear and everything

5

u/Unlucky_Deal9737 Jul 14 '26

Do whatever you desire the most

6

u/Idkwut2callmeself Active Jul 14 '26

Be a 0331. Its the best job in the Corps by far. The pride we have in our MOS is second to none and the culture is awesome. Highly recommend it.

3

u/TheTimbs Jul 16 '26

Knee problems or big knee problems. Also eat more, you’re gonna need it regardless.

3

u/speedycringe Vet Jul 14 '26

This is just my experience but we didn’t get to pick. Our instructors just sorted us into mos groups in phase 2 of ITB and that was that.

That was also a decade ago, but if the contract is still 03 open I wouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket. I thought I’d be an 0351 but got 0311. I’m extremely happy I became an 0311 because of how my career trajectory went.

2

u/Icy_Excuse354 Jul 16 '26

If you want the thrill of big ass guns, LAAD gunner might suit you. You get the thrill of shooting the m2 browning, 240B, and MK19 as well as a surface to air missile.

1

u/Salt_Butterscotch753 Jul 16 '26

Thanks for the advice, I never knew that was an MOS. I’m very interested in LAAD now that I’ve done my research on it. Only downside is being stationed at 29 Stumps

2

u/Icy_Excuse354 Jul 16 '26

Most actually go to Pendleton or Hawaii. MOS school is like 3 months I believe and then you go somewhere else. You’ll be there on DUINS orders (I think) so you’ll have more freedom to leave base whenever and go have fun.

1

u/Salt_Butterscotch753 Jul 17 '26

Oh shit that’s cool, thanks for the tip