Question: How long do you go to training for 0651 Data Specialist?
Answer: Training for an 0651 during the time that I went lasted about three months. I was in Twentynine Palms for about six months because I had to wait for class to start. It starts with Network Fundamentals, then CCNA Modules 1-3 (4 is optional if you excel), and ends with Microsoft Server and Exchange.
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Question: Thanks for the Q/A section!- Were you able to get your CCNA certification at MOS? if not do you have a chance now in the field to get it?
Answer:
No problem...I'm surprised how many questions I get! You will have the opportunity to get your CCNA Cert. in MOS school if you excel in the first three modules. There are four Modules to CCNA and after going through all 4 you have the opportunity to take the certification test. When I was at the school house the class for Module 4 ran during Microsoft Server and Exchange. So you were basically taking two very accelerated classes at the same time which makes it very difficult. If you do not get it in the school house that is fine, you will have the opporunity to take additional classes through the CTC (Communications Training Center) and recieve your certification through them. You will take these courses either on base or at another base close by. Since I have been in the fleet I have since recieve by Network+ Cert (Recieved A+ Cert. in MOS School) and am now working on my SWAN-D Cert (USMC Satellite System) and am slated for a Security+ course later this year. I'm hoping to take CCNA Module 4 and recieve that Cert as well but my plate is pretty full right now.
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Question: Hello!! My husband is graduating next week as an 0651. He will be stationed in Camp Pendlton and they have told him that he might deploy in August :'( How long do data guys usually deploy for being in a support unit?
Answer: I myself have not personally deployed (we are scheduled to deploy in 2011), but I know quite a few 0651 Marines who have deployed. I know some who have deployed for as little as 4 months, others 6 months, and yet others out as long as a year to a 1 1/2 years. There is no set time frame that I have seen that is a standard for deployment time for 0651 Marines. It is all based on what the Marine Corps needs and the rotation schedule that they have implemented. Although, if your husband is to recieve orders to deploy it should state the length of the deployment. And do realize that if your husband will be serving his deployment as an 0651 Marine he will be relativley safe considering the enviroment he will be in.
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QUESTION:
If your MOS is 0651 do you still get to do duties like the infantry or volunteer for floats?
ANSWER:
The short answer to your question is, Yes. There are always opportunities to do things outside of your MOS as an 0651. I have friends who have deployed as 0651's and have done security patrols, provided security from helicoptors, worked at the checkpoints, ect. There is another friend I know who is an instructor at the Wing Driver School (where you train for Humvee, Seven Ton, Bus, MRAP, ect.) who is also an 0651. As far as "Floats" I'm assuming that you mean a Ship. Data Marines (0651) get to go on MEU's (Marine Expiditionary Unit) all the time. I know of several people in my shop who have gone. I would like to go myself but as of yet have not. These MEU's go all over the place ranging from the east coast of the USA to Austrailia, and South America.
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My son is at MCT as I write this. When will he know where he is going next?
Answer:
MCT lasts for a little less then a month. After MCT is over he will probably be going to his MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) school. Depending on what his MOS is (0651 in my case) will determine where he goes to school. All Marines who are 0651's go to Twentynine Palms, CA. His recruiter might have a good idea on where the school house is if you wanted to find out ahead of time. Otherwise he will get orders probably the last few days that he is there that will specify exactly where he will be going next.
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Can you use your phone during 0651 mos training? Do you get libo and can you leave base? What are the barracks like and how long is the school?
Answer:
Yes you can have a phone during MOS School...you just can't bring it to the school house. Once classes start you usually get released around 1600-1700 every day and the rest of the day is yours to do w/e with. The weekends are yours as well and you can go where you want as long as you let your chain of command know and depending on your instructor you may have to submit it in writing. You can't bring your own vehicle so if you plan on going far off base I'd recommend a bus, a taxi once you get where you're going, and some friends to help split the cost of everything. The barracks are not to bad, expect to have 3-4 roommates though. Once class starts school last about 3 mo, although you may wait in a MAT (Marines Awaiting Training) platoon for a few months before class starts.
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Well the journey to becoming a fleet Marine has ended. Every Marine with a non-infantry MOS (Military Occupational Speciality) must complete three things in order to be a fleet marine. Bootcamp, MCT (Marine Combat Training), and MOS School. It was not very long ago when I was borded a plane and then a bus to begin the journey of becoming a United States Marine. A lot has happened since then and everything that I have been taught and trained to do has culminated into me being stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina.
After leaving Twenty-nine Palms, CA I was able to go home for less then a week. It was a good time being home even if it was just for awhile. I picked up some things, packed up my SUV and drove two days to North Carolina. While the drive was long it was a very scenic drive. The hills and the leaves changing provided a nice atmosphere compared to the blandness that was in Twentynine Palms.
I arrived at MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station), at 11:15pm on Oct. 7. I checked in at the TEQ or Temporary Enlisted Quarters, bought McDonalds, and called home letting them know I had arrived safe. I ate my food and went to bed. The next day would be early and long...and uncomfortable. I had to keep my Service Alphas on until about 1500 that day so I could report to the Sgt. Major and First Sargent. On top of that the AC where my shop was had just broke.
I was given a list of places that I needed to stop by and check in at. To this day, I have yet to finish it, but the majority of it has been compleated. I am with a communication/data squadron and enjoy the shop and people that I will be working with, though it will take a while to get completly comfortable with what I will be doing as there is much that I still need to learn.
The base here is really nice apart from the constant sounds of jets and planes taking off. Things are somwhat spread out so I am fortunate to have my vehicle here.
I miss the people that were in my class in Twentynine Palms and I wish them all the best. There are a few from my class that are here as well, yet we are in separate shops and I don't see any of them very often.
The Marine Corps birthday is on November 10, and this year we will be celebrating it on November 4th. There is a ceremony that takes place as well, and not to long after arriving I found out I would be in that ceremony. I am not sure what exactly I will be doing but I will find out this coming week when practice starts.
I don't have any pictures of the base yet but I'll try and post some soon. My address has changed as well and if you wish to write feel free!
PFC Cuestas, Joseph
MWCS-28 Data
PSC Box 8071
Cherry Point, NC 28533-8071
Class 26.5 has been my family for the past few months.I remember very distinctly when it was finally time for class to start.I had grown accustomed to the routine that I had already fallen in and like anything new that may come into a person’s life, I felt a little apprehensive.Since that time I am thankful for the class that I am in and for the instructors that have been put in charge of us.We have been through a lot as a class.Some hard times, and some really good times.Either way we each pushed each other to continue pressing on.
Physically I am doing well and am seeing progress, although I have a long way to go.The pictures are from a five mile run that we did along the ridge line of some of the hills/mountains that surround our base.The terrain and the sand really make it hard.Believe me when I say I surely wasn’t leading the pack.
Academically I am doing well too.Since my last posting I have become fully A+ Certified.It is an entry level certification that shows the Marine Corps and the Civilian world I am skilled in computer repair and troubleshooting.We have also finished the CCNA courses which introduce us to networking fundamentals and the beginnings of understanding and setting up a network.It was split into 4 parts called Modules, with the 4th module being voluntary if you qualified based on your class average.Each module was at most 11 chapters long.It was very tough to study like I knew I should because it is just so time consuming.Nevertheless, I was able to do fairly well in it.
I am still number one in my class, but I say that in humbleness knowing that at anytime I could become prideful and arrogant and lose my spot. I still need to study hard to keep that intact and if my instructors see fit, they may reward me with a meritorious promotion to Lance Corporal.
Currently we are studying Microsoft Server and after that we will be studying Microsoft Exchange.Once again we will be graduating October 1st, 2009 and after that it will be off to my first duty station.I hope and pray that I get stationed at Camp Pendleton, but I suppose wherever I go I can make the best of it.
I have learned a lot while being here in Twenty-nine Palms.Both inside and outside of the classroom.Things in the Marine Corps can be really tough.Physically, mentally, and emotionally we are challenged.I suppose it would be the same for anybody who is living.Life is tough!So many decisions, so many choices.Thank God for the Light that lights our path!Though life is tough I am so thankful for it.August 26, 2009 will begin my 25th year of life.If only it didn’t have to begin in the middle of the desert!!Then again, some of God’s greatest leaders were shaped and formed on the backside of a desert where the only place worth looking, was up!May I continue to look up.
Upon arriving in Twenty-nine Palms, CA I was placed in SRC or Student Receiving Center for about a week. After that I was put in BMAT or Bravo Marines Awaiting Training. For about three or four weeks, I forget. My last week there I was assigned to work with MCTOG, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group. There I helped fix the computer communications system used by Officers and High Enlisted Marines for there training and simulation exercises. It was a lot of fun and gave me a glimpse of what life in the fleet will be like. Long hours and lots of computers!
After MCTOG I started classes for 0651, Information Systems Specialist. We are using the Cisco Curriculum for all of our studies. We finished "IT Essentials" a 16 Chapter book in a week and two days! It was a lot in a little amount of time. I was able to finish that course at the top of my class. Me and three others in our class of twenty-eight will be able to take the A+ Certification test as a result of our high scores. We are currently studying for CCNA and are on Module 1. CCNA deals with networks and how they work. There is a lot of conceptual ideas that need to be grasped in order to understand how a network works, and lots of Acronyms that need to be memorized. This is new territory for me but we are taking it a chapter a day or a chapter every two days which makes it a little easier.
I have also been promoted from Private to Private First Class. July 4th, 2009 was my six month anniversary of being in the Marine Corps. So far up to this point I have enjoyed it. There have been moments when things were really tough but when its all said and done you realize that we are a lot more capable then we think we are. My goal right now is to excel in my classes and finish first. To do this will not be easy as there are a lot of smart people in my class. Even then I'd rather have this goal then be one of the many in my class who are content with simply getting by. If I can achieve this goal and am found to be in good standing with my Instructors, I may receive a Meritorious Promotion to Lance Corporal. My second goal is to be able to receive as many certifications as I can while I'm here.
As stated earlier, I'll have a chance to get my A+ certification soon. I think we will have the chance to get our CCNA certification and our Microsoft Exchange certification as well. To simply pass a course Cisco requires a 70% or higher. The Marine Corps requires 85% or higher to try and receive a certification. This goal seems more attainable but is still going to require a lot of work.
Graduation is set for October 1st, 2009 and after that I will receive orders for my first duty station. I have requested to remain on the West Coast but as with any request the needs of the Marine Corps comes first.
The days are long here and almost every hour is filled. If I don't write much know I'm studying! To all who read...Semper Fi
I am a United States Marine who served on active duty from January 2009 to January 2014. I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. My MOS was 0651 and I ended my time on active duty as a Sergeant. Currently I live in San Antonio, TX!
