0369 Infantry Unit Leader MOS Patch

Nobody enlists as an 0369: the Infantry Unit Leader MOS is filled only from Marines who came up through the enlisted infantry fields and made staff sergeant. It is the point where a grunt stops being measured by his own rifle and starts being measured by his platoon. The MOS runs from staff sergeant through master gunnery sergeant, with first sergeants and sergeants major excluded. A sergeant from another field can earn it, but only after training as a basic 03 infantryman before promotion. There is no lateral move in as a staff NCO.

Most 0369s first meet the job as a platoon sergeant, advising the platoon commander on discipline, morale and welfare and running the scout-sniper or weapons sections when that is the billet. A gunnery sergeant can take over as company gunnery sergeant for a rifle company. Master sergeants serve as company operations chief in a weapons company or in the battalion S-3. An infantry master gunnery sergeant is the operations chief for an infantry battalion or higher. At every level the 0369 is trained and expected to take command of the platoon or unit if the officer goes down.

This patch measures 4.5 inches wide by 3.25 inches tall in the classic MOS tab shape, clipped at the top corners and finished with a red merrowed edge. A black band across the top carries MARINE CORPS in white, and the red center panel holds the numbers 03 and 69 in big white block numerals. Between them sits the eagle, globe and anchor in gold and silver thread. SEMPER FIDELIS runs under the emblem, and INFANTRY UNIT LEADER closes out the black band at the bottom. The back has an iron-on backing, and sewing it on will always hold best.

The 03 field is the core of the Corps, and the 0369 is the Marine the rest of the platoon watches when things go wrong. He writes the training schedule, checks the gear, counts heads and keeps the lieutenant out of trouble. Young Marines remember their platoon sergeant long after they forget most of the officers. Plenty of retired gunnys still introduce themselves by that four digit number before anything else.

Put it in a shadow box with the chevrons and ribbons from a 20 year infantry career, or sew it on the jacket that goes to the battalion reunion. It also makes a good gift for a Marine in the 03 field who just picked up staff sergeant and left 0311 Rifleman behind, or for a son who wants to know what his father did. The number says the rest.