Following successful completion of IOC, some Infantry Officers are assigned to one of three Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions and must obtain the 0303 LAR Officer NMOS. LAR Officers are the commanders or assistants to the commanders in the LAR Battalions or Supporting Establishment designated billets. As such, LAR Officers plan, direct and assist in the tactical employment and deployment of LAR units. To fulfill these responsibilities, they: collect information requirements; evaluate intelligence; estimate the operational situation; and formulate, coordinate and execute appropriate plans for armored reconnaissance and surveillance, armored security in support of maneuver, offensive and defensive actions, fire support, raids, communications, operational logistics, and maintenance.
Are there any prerequisites to becoming a Light Armored Reconnaissance
Officer
(1) Must be a U.S. citizen.
(2) Must be an 0302 Infantry Officer.
(3) Must have normal color vision.
(4) Must have WS-B (+) Water Survival.
(5) Adjudicated secret security clearance and TS/SCI security clearance eligible.
(6) Officers must meet the Ground Combat Arms MOS Classifications Standards. For the Physical Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 6 pull-ups and run 3-miles in 24:51 or less. For the Combat Fitness Test, officers must perform at least 60 ammo can lifts, run the movement to contact in 3:26 or less, and navigate the maneuver under fire in 3:12 or less.
Where do I go after TBS?
The NMOS is granted upon completion of the 40 day Light Armored Reconnaissance Leader Course (LARLC) at the School of Infantry (West) aboard the MCB Pendleton, CA. The purpose of the course is to train LAR Marines assigned to Marine Corps LAR units to command and control LAR operations at the platoon level. The course provides detailed instruction on the following tasks: Armored Reconnaissance Operations; Armored Security Operations; LAR tactics, techniques, and procedures; direct and indirect fire planning; LAR scout employment; LAV-25A2 weapon systems employment; operation of LAR communication systems; field logistics; and Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS) for the LAV-25A2. Upon successful completion of the course, a Marine is capable of performing as a LAR.
What is it like being a Light Armored Reconnaissance Officer?
A typical first tour assignment for an LAR Officer is as a Platoon Commander within an O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) command at an LAR Battalion within the MARDIV as part of the GCE of the MAGTF. There are LAR Battalions assigned to both 1st and 2nd MARDIV as well as to 4th MARDIV as part of Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES): 1st LAR Battalion aboard MCB Camp Pendleton, CA and 3rd LAR Battalion aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, CA (1st MARDIV); 2nd LAR Battalion aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, NC. (2nd MARDIV); and 4th LAR Battalion aboard MCB Camp Pendleton, CA (4th MARDIV). The Platoon Commander is responsible for the tactical employment, collective training, administration, personnel management, and logistics of a platoon of 27 Marines and 4 LAV tanks. Additionally, LAR Officers may serve as an Executive Officer within a LAR Company
Recommended reading for Light Armored Reconnaissance Officers
Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II through
Iraq. John C. McManus
The Last Stand of Fox Company: A True Story of Marines in Combat. Bob Drury
and Tom Clavin
The Village. Bing West
Sources of Power. Gary A. Klein
Emotional Intelligence 2.0. Daniel Goleman
Related occupations
- 0306, Infantry Weapons Officer (III) (CWO5 to CWO2) PMOS
- 0311, Rifleman (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0313, Light Armored Reconnaissance Marine (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0316, Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft (CRRC) Coxswain (SSgt to PFC) NMOS (0311, 0321, 0369)
- 0317, Scout Sniper (GySgt to LCpl) NMOS (0311, 0321, 0331, 0341, 0351, 0352, 0369)
- 0321, Reconnaissance Marine (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0323, Reconnaissance Marine, Parachute Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0324, Reconnaissance Marine, Combatant Diver Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0326, Reconnaissance Marine, Parachute and Combatant Diver Qualified (MGySgt to Pvt) NMOS (0321)
- 0331, Machine Gunner (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0341, Mortarman (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0351, Infantry Assault Marine (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0352, Antitank Missile Gunner (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0363, Light Armored Reconnaissance Unit Leader (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0365, Infantry Squad Leader (Sgt) PMOS
- 0367, Light Armored Reconnaissance Master Gunner (MGySgt to Sgt) NMOS (0313, 0363, 0393)
- 0369, Infantry Unit Leader (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0372, Critical Skills Operator (MGySgt to Sgt) PMOS
- 0393, Light Armored Reconnaissance Operations Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
- 0399, Operations Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
- 0370, Special Operations Officer (LtCol to Capt) PMOS
Sources/Credits: Please note that the information above was derived from and in most cases taken directly from the "Marine Officer MOS Assignment Handbook". The Basic School. Camp Barrett. March 3, 2019. All credit goes to the great staff at TBS for putting this together.
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