marine corps air wing??

thinking of joing the marines and being an aircraft mechanic or even aviation logistics....if i did either job would i ever have to go on foot patrols in Iraq?.....not that i'm scared i just don't want to be surprised

Public Comments

1. My friend was airwing in the USMC...he never HAD to go on patrols, but he offered to go on them. Airwing doesn't see much combat bud. But why join the Marines if you don't want to see combat? Join some other branch. Thanks for even thinking about serving...it's more than most people can say. I was suppose to ship out last summer, but I won't go into it. My mos was gonna be 0231(intel specialist)...I'm guessing I would have been in the field. Requires high ASVAB to get that job though. Another thing...Even if you don't see combat on patrols, you still have the constant fear of mortar rounds hitting your base at any given time.
2. if you ain't skewered,than why are you asking,maggot?,that would be the fort response from the drill Sergent.
3. First and foremost a Marine is a rifleman. That being said, you would more than likely NOT have to go on foot patrols. Most of the wing in Iraq are stationed at Al Asad and mechanics don't do foot patrols outside the wire there.
4. In the Marine Corps you are a rifleman first, then whatever MOS (job) second. While your chances would be much lower as a mechanic in the air wing, you still might be called to go out on patrol. Also, my brother was in the Wing in Vietnam and they came under frequent missile attacks so you just never know when you're in theater... In Somalia, my unit went on patrols quite frequently (although mostly they looked for volunteers) and were in DataComm (computer guys) - 9th Comm Bn. Good luck and thanks for considering serving your country.
5. In the Marine Corps you could go anywhere and do anything. You are first and foremost a rifleman so no matter what at anytime you could go to a rifle company, most likely not but it can happen. I was in the air wing and spent 66 of the 77 day siege of Khe Sanh on the ground, so the air wing does get shot at, take my word for that. If you don't know about Khe Sanh go google it.
6. My husbands MOS is aviation on the F-18's he is a rag squad and isnt going anywhere anytime soon unless they put him on temp leave to another base. But every Marine is first a fighter and then they have there mos. good luck
7. Anyone and everyone in the military could go for foot patrols in Iraq. USAF, USA, USN, or USMC. SOme may be more likely than others, but whatever your job, I can pretty much guarentee some sand on your boots
8. No. If you are in aviation logistics or are an aircraft mechanic, you'll be deployed to an incountry base. My son is in Aviation Electronics and was stationed at a huge airbase maintained by the Air Force with security provided by the Marine Corps. There was no local town who's streets needed patrolling.. and it would have been unlikely even if there had been. My son did NOT knock on doors with a gun in his hand or patrol streets. That's not what he has been trained for, so that's not what he did. The Marine Corps spent a lot of money training him to do his job, and that's exactly what they expected him to do. It may be different at some of the other MAW deployment sites in Iraq... Every Marine is first a rifleman... so I suppose it's possible... But would have to say it's unlikely. By the way, Marine Air Wing is a great gig...
9. Not to burst your bubble kid, but airwingers went on patrol too. I was in OIF 5-7 and devildogs from 2 74 (Yuma) went on patrols on a regular basis. They left the wire all the time, because our primary goal is mission accomplishment. Like someone else here said, from the Commandant on down to the lowliest cook we are all riflemen.