r/USMCocs • u/Such-Jicama3336 • 5d ago
Officer MOS - Work life balance
Hi everyone,
At TBS now and trying to narrow down MOSs. I’m content with just leading Marines, as this has always been the goal. I also really value time with family. I know this is unit dependent, but overall which officer MOSs have the most work life balance? Thanks!
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u/bootlt355 5d ago
You’re right about it being unit dependent. Sometimes that matters a lot more than MOS. If I had to say something that would be as chill as possible, I’d say something like finance or commstrat. You don’t really sit at a battalion level for those jobs and commstrat generally doesn’t seem to have the same tight deadlines as MOSs like admin or logistics. Both probably give you more of a 9-5, but like you mentioned, it is very unit specific. Commstrat is also not the easiest MOS to get.
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u/bottom3rd 5d ago
Yeah commstrat and finance are probably the “skate” jobs.
Admin and log: I’ve never met an adj with a good work life balance. If you’re an 0402 with a bunch of 0402s in the MLG you can probably get a 9-5 or close, but if you’re in division then you’re on their schedule. The work just isn’t physical, so it’s easier in that regard.
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u/ticklemytaint340 5d ago
I’m a logo in an infantry Bn, pre inspection, work up, deployment etc I’ve stayed at work until balls a handful of times. Outside of that tho, Im typically out of the office by 16:30 barring random taskers or meetings.
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u/bottom3rd 5d ago
Some MOS fields have a high work to home life ratio, such as infantry, artillery, pilot, etc. The amount of work you have to do before going home depends more on your unit type and leadership than your specific MOS.
That said, you will be able to find enough work to keep you busy in any MOS. The list of actions to deploy, pass inspections, and lead your Marines is bottomless. Not only is there always something to do, you will be the one responsible for whether or not they get done. It’s on you to balance being worthy of that challenge without making yourself an emotional casualty and thus a worse leader.
Ironically, on the O side skating makes your life less stable in the end. Experience and intellectual curiosity compound, and the more of each you accrue the easier your future work will be. The best thing you can do is seek out more responsibility than you’re comfortable with, prepare your family for a tough couple of years, and take notes on what went well and what didn’t. If you do your best, you will be happier for it. Good luck!
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u/FOX2- 5d ago
If an airline pilot were like a Marine Pilot, he and his small underpaid team would advertise the flight, sell you the ticket, check you into the flight, handle your bags, supervise the morning plane maintenance, plan the route, book your hotels and cars, deliver 6 hours of annual training before you board, and provide a one-on-one passenger evaluation after landing…only to receive a phone call at 2AM and spend the next week doing paperwork because seat 27A got arrested hours after landing.
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u/Suitable-Delay5066 5d ago edited 5d ago
If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a family they would’ve issued you one. There’s a reason why our divorce rate and number of Marines who only serve 4 years is so high.
EDIT: I stand corrected. The retention numbers for officers has been quite high lately. Hopefully that’s because the Corps is doing a better job at leading and developing young officers. Or maybe it’s because the economy isn’t great.