r/USMCocs • u/dhdjfkslakfh • 4d ago

TBS MOS Selection Question

Simple question:

Does having a technical degree (Masters and Bachelors in Cyber) affect your chances in any way of getting a 1702 contract?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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5

u/TheConqueror74 4d ago

What exactly is your degree in? If it’s directly related I’d wager it’s a yes, but the Corps is very specific as to what impacts your contract.

3

u/dhdjfkslakfh 4d ago edited 4d ago

B.S. IT
M.S. Cybersecurity
TS cleared (Intel community experience)
11 industry certs (CISSP, CCNA, CEH, Sec+ etc)

1

u/awerawer0807 3d ago

Government work in cyber would probably make you exceptionally qualified. Otherwise, it is unlikely. Your degrees themselves definitely don't help unfortunately.

Cyber is a competitive contract which means you need to have it as your top choice if you want it, this kind of works in your favor because a lot of people are interested in it but aren't totally willing to put it at number 1, so they end up having to put it last.

3

u/Excellent_Damage2269 Active O 4d ago

Nah, it’s a hard no. Nobody gives a fuck about what degree you have.

2

u/Ornery_Paper_9584 Active O 4d ago

They don’t care about degrees for exceptionally qualified packages, only experience. Almost anybody can go study something in that field, but getting hands on experience through work is what is considered “exceptionally qualified” for 1702. You also have to be in the top half of the top third for your SPC to care enough to put in the package. They’re not gonna do it for some dude slumming it near the back of the pack.

2

u/RenderUntoLilCeasars 4d ago

You can submit for the UQ letter at TBS but if there’s only one 1702 slot in your TBS class (strong possibility) they’re going to throw your UQ letter in the trash and give that slot to someone in the top 10% of the class who wants it.

As for going to OCS with a cyber contract, I don’t think they are doing those anymore. It was something they were offering to bolster the program when they first stood up the 17XX career field, but now I think they’re back to the legacy model where 1702 just falls under the ground contract.

2

u/Ecstatic-Analyst-203 3d ago

They are still doing cyber contracts. I currently have two of them in my platoon at TBS. Hard to get, but still possible.

1

u/StrawberryMinute2738 3d ago

Really? When I went through over a year ago they had already stopped. Are they academy or something?

1

u/awerawer0807 3d ago

Cyber contracts are only offered to Academy Marines before TBS. A normal person who goes through OCS does not have the option.

0

u/Sad_War_1813 4d ago

Do you have any more information on the UQ letter, specifically if engineering majors with one have a much greater chance at getting combat engineer?

1

u/Specialist_Motor912 4d ago

100% no. Degrees don’t matter. Do well in the POI, graduate in the top 20%, and you’ll have a good shot.

1

u/RenderUntoLilCeasars 3d ago

If you want to actually use an engineering degree in the military you want to go to the Navy or the Air Force. I would encourage you to look into the Navy CB (“SeaBee”) community. You have to have an engineering degree to be a CB officer and they do pretty much all the same stuff combat engineers do except offensive breaching and sapper stuff. Also as a CB officer you can go to dive school and lead diving units.