Posted on Dec 17, 2014
The elusive Marine Gunner. Do you have a favorite?
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In my (extremely biased) opinion, no military Rank or Occupational Specialty commands the same aura as the Marine Gunner. With that being said they seem to be a secretive bunch, and stories about them are almost impossible to find.
I want to hear your from anyone who has a favorite Gunner from history. My own two favorite are Gunner Henry L. Hulbert, the first to ever don the busting bomb of the Marine Gunner, a Medal of Honor recipient and WWI casualty who hailed from the same area in England as me, and Gunner Alexander P. Ruskewitch, a WWII and Vietnam veteran who began his Marine Corps career as I did, as a Parachute Rigger.
I want to hear your from anyone who has a favorite Gunner from history. My own two favorite are Gunner Henry L. Hulbert, the first to ever don the busting bomb of the Marine Gunner, a Medal of Honor recipient and WWI casualty who hailed from the same area in England as me, and Gunner Alexander P. Ruskewitch, a WWII and Vietnam veteran who began his Marine Corps career as I did, as a Parachute Rigger.
Posted in these groups: 
Gunner
0306: Infantry Weapons Officer
Gunner 0306: Infantry Weapons Officer
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 98
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I ran into one Marine Gunner while the SNCOIC of Vehicle Registration at Pnedleton in 1997-1998. I was in awe. A tall squared away dark-green Marine who commanded attention. I went over to him and introduced myself and shook his hand. Too bad I don't remember his name.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
There was a Gunner Wright in our class in 89 that fits that description. About 6 ft 4 in. and squared away. I think that was his name but that's been awhile. He probably would have been a W4 or higher by 98.
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CWO2 Andrew Chesney
Ruben Wright? Shortly after I got selected for Gunner I spoke to him on the phone and asked to meet with him because I had numerous (understatement) questions about my new appointment. He told me we would get together soon, after he returned from 29 Palms. He didn't come back from "the stumps" on his own free will.
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I remember Gunner Hubert speaking in front of my company back when I was in MCT at SOI West. He had some good stories.
My favorite gunner, however, though I can't remember the name was a guy who taught the warfighting series of classes back when LCpl Chancy was attending the resident Cpls Course in late 2013 in Okinawa. He always had his hands in his pockets and a dip in his mouth during his lectures, and not a single f*** to give. He sure knew everything there was to know about everything infantry related, though.
My favorite gunner, however, though I can't remember the name was a guy who taught the warfighting series of classes back when LCpl Chancy was attending the resident Cpls Course in late 2013 in Okinawa. He always had his hands in his pockets and a dip in his mouth during his lectures, and not a single f*** to give. He sure knew everything there was to know about everything infantry related, though.
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I served from '77 to '83 and never heard of Gunner until this post. Will have to do some deep research.
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I have a question, our oic was a warrant officer and we called him gunner. So does that mean he was an infantry officer? He was aviation ordie
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Sgt (Join to see)
As far as I am aware, that would depend on the time period. I know that in days gone by the Air Wing had Actual Gunners, but these days a lot of Aviation CWOs get called Gunner out of habit, even though they are not. Did he wear the Bursting Bomb as well as his CWO bar?
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Maj Larry Adams
In the Marine Corps, there is only one MOS that carry the title as "Gunner" and that is 0306. This is because the qualifications to become an 0306 are specific to the infantry MOS and require an applicant to have 16 years' time in service, 12 of which must be in an infantry billet. All other MOSs don't have such stringent requirements, and are called Chief Warrant Officers. Nothing against them, just not the same.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Can't repeat some of the things I'd been called and if I could have gotten away with it I would have preferred talking to SNCO's by first name and especially the SNCOIC's I was blessed with. Man, just call me at dinner time and I'll be happy. Dead on about the ego thing, as some guys really let that stuff go to their heads. I was told more than once by my bosses that I wasn't supposed to "get my hands dirty" or "handle tools". Didn't matter that my T/O weapon was 9mm, when we went outside the wire I had an M16. Unless they were a Mustang they couldn't understand how an Enlisted Marine feels about being above the fray. I know the book says blah blah, but the trust of your fellow Marines is about as special a commodity as there is. Lead from the front.
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CWO2 Andrew Chesney
Infantry Weapons Officers are designated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps as "Marine Gunners"", for all the other warrant officers the term "gunner" is just a cool nickname.
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Gunner/Marine Gunner is a CWO2 Infantry Weapons Officer (MOS302) if I am not mistaken...I am just a squid, so I could be wrong. So um...K. Not to make light of Marines who are generally pretty damn awesome...but Isn't that really all they are? Just a CWO2 with a specific MOS?
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Well, close! Gunners are Commisioned at TBS to CWO2 whilst the other slecialties are appointed WO1 (oooops the Recruiters are also Commisioned CWO2)
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CWO3 (Join to see)
CWO3 (Join to see) - the Gunner's in our class got promoted in Jap Gardens toward the end of WOBC, they were the first bunch (89) and were some great guys, Ed Bitanga was a SgtMaj when he got selected and there were several MSgts and 1stSgts, Bitanga passed away 8/2016 in Guam, a few are still around, I think Ray Grundy may be working in DOD somewhere, I asked him online about Hank Lowery and he thought he's around Pensacola, they were an awesome bunch and invited Gunner Bolton to our graduation at FBI Academy, him and Galinas were the last ones before they restarted it, Bolton was running PltSgt Course West when I went through in 88, Gen Gray spent some time with him at SOI while they were kicking it around, I ran across Galinas in Korea in 89, we supported them for KITP and he was with 3/5. Ran across Grundy at Udari Range Kuwait with 24 MEU early 90's, much respect for all of you guys, S/F
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CWO2 Andrew Chesney
In 2004 I walked into the 2MARDIV HQ as a GySgt, got commissioned, and walked out as a CWO2 (Gunner). Wasn't until a few weeks later I reported to WOBC at TBS.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
CWO3 (Join to see) - That’s correct. The first Gunners were promoted to CWO2’s because a lot of them were Platoon Sergeants and Gunnery Sergeants. I can’t remember their names but I served with them during the Gulf War.
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Elusive? Every Infantry Battalion in the Marine Corps has one. It's an MTOE position for a senior Infantry Warrant Officer (Infantry Weapons Officer is the correct term, its an MOS, 0306 specifically)... They generally serve in the 3 shop...
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CWO3 (Join to see)
They now serve at higher Command Elements based on rank, It's based on the unit's T/O and staffed by the Ground Officer Monitor at HQMC. Generally a BN Gunner is CWO2/3, Regiment a CWO4, and Division rates a CWO5 as Division Gunner. Anything above that is likely based on seniority. I think Army Aviation does something similar. The tech CWO's don't stick to the T/O so much, as plenty of Platoons had CWO4's there when I was in. They only got picky about it with non-FMF assignments like Training and SYSCOM etc, due to their experience vs. the level of program management and academic exposure. P.S. your link is about Enlisted Machine gunners (0331), which is totally different. Gunners are MOS 0306. I found another link in a quick search:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infantry_weapons_officer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infantry_weapons_officer
Infantry weapons officer - Wikipedia
The United States Marine Corps MOS 0306, Infantry Weapons Officers, commonly referred to as "The Gunner" or "Marine Gunner" are non-technical Chief Warrant Officers (CWO2 to CWO5) that are weapons specialists and are knowledgeable in the tactical employment of all the infantry weapons in the Marine Corps arsenal—all weapons organic to Marine infantry units.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
CWO3 (Join to see) - Did I really link a page to 0331's?! Oh sweet Jesus I must've been eating crayons that day....
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SFC Michael Hasbun
CWO3 (Join to see) - Oh! They changed the page. If you read the text in my link, it originally routed to an 0306 page....
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CWO3 (Join to see)
SFC Michael Hasbun - you're fine, even before posting I noticed the link did say 0306 and I found it on about.com, but when you click it the link is about 0331's, totally internet malfunction, thanks for sharing and best wishes
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