QUANTICO, VA – The Marine Corps is debating a controversial policy under which all Marines will be designated as "Infantry Marines" and receive the infantry Military Occupation Specialty (MOS), as either a primary or secondary occupation.
The policy would affect the estimated 160,000 Marines who serve in non-infantry occupations throughout the Marine Corps and would let them earn the infantry MOS following their graduation from either Marine Combat Training for enlisted or The Basic School for officers.
"For too long the Marine Corps has had to deal with the so-called 'grunt versus POG' divide between our infantry and non-infantry Marines," said Commandant Gen. James Amos. "However, starting next year we're all grunts."
According to Marine officials, the new policy will not only allow all Marines to carry the infantry MOS, but will also allow those enlisted Marines access to the infantry's historically low cutting scores — promotion points junior Marines need in order to achieve the next rank. Officers will also be able to list infantry billets on their fitness reports.
