The Marines use the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code to identify all of the jobs in the Marine Corps. It’s a four-digit code to identify specific job specialties. MOS’s are grouped into different occupational fields (the first two digits) and then by a specific job in that field (the last two digits).
After you graduate from boot camp, you’ll get your first job-your Primary Marine Occupational Specialty (PMOS). You will then head to advanced training. During your career, you may get an Additional MOS (AMOS) or a Category II MOS, that indicates your special skills or duties performed on tours or in training programs.
U.S. Marine Corps Enlisted MOS
The Marines have over 180 enlisted MOS’s that are made up of four digits. The Marine MOS structure is not as detailed as the Air Force AFSC. Let’s take a look at MOS 0121 and break it down for you:
0121 – Personnel Clerk
The first two digits tell you that it is a job in MOS (01), Personnel and Administration. The second two digits tell you the exact job-Personnel Clerk.
A Guide to all Marine Enlisted MOS’s
Here are the different occupational fields for enlisted Marine’s:
01 – Personnel and Administration
02 – Intelligence
03 – Infantry
04 – Logistics
05 – Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Plans
06 -Communications
08 – Field Artillery
09 – Training
11 – Utilities
13 – Engineer, Construction, Facilities and Equipment
18 – Tank and Assault Amphibious Vehicle
21 – Ground Ordnance Maintenance
23 – Ammunition and Explosive Ordnance Disposal
26 – Signals Intelligence/Ground Electronic Warfare
27 – Linguist
28 – Ground Electronics Maintenance
30 – Supply Administration and Operations
31 – Traffic Management
33 – Food Service
34 – Financial Management
35 – Motor Transport
41 – Marine Corps Community Services
43 – Public Affairs
44 – Legal Services
46 – Combat Camera
55 – Music
57 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense
58 – Military Police and Corrections
59 – Electronics Maintenance
60/61/62 – Aircraft Maintenance
63/64 – Avionics
65 – Aviation Ordnance
66 – Aviation Logistics
68 – Meteorology and Oceanography
70 – Airfield Services
72 – Air Control/Air Support/Anti-Air Warfare/Air Traffic Control
73 – Navigation Officer/Enlisted Flight Crews
80 – Miscellaneous Requirements MOSs
Marine Enlisted MOS Descriptions
01 – Personnel/Administration
What You Would Do: Jobs in this field involve administrative, managerial, and technical tasks. You would be trained in clerical and administrative procedures, office management, personal computer skills, handling military publications and correspondence, preparing orders and directives, and using filing systems and record keeping.
03 – Infantry
What You Would Do: Infantry is the combat arms branch of the Marine Corps. You would be trained to locate, close in, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver. You would also repel an enemy’s assault by fire and close combat.
04 – Logistics
What You Would Do: You would be responsible for providing general and direct support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). You may also support the MAGTF during assaults and operations onshore.
05 – Marine Air-Ground Task Force Plans
What You Would Do: This field is made up of Marines, planning specialists, information operations specialists, and security forces advisors.
06 – Communications
What You Would Do: You would design, install, connect and operate communication networks and information systems. You would also do preventative maintenance on computer systems, radio, telephones, cryptography software, and hardware systems.
08 – Field Artillery
What You Would Do: This field has different areas of responsibility. Your duties will include: firing battery (moving, loading, firing, and maintaining cannons); field artillery operations (moving, operating and maintaining equipment that acquires target); and observation and liaison (checking and analyzing combat plans and communicating advice).
09 – Training
What You Would Do: Jobs in this field include drill, combat, marksmanship, small weapons, water safety, survival, and martial arts instructors.
11 – Utilities
What You Would Do: Your job would be to plan and provide utilities to support posts and stations. You would establish, operate, maintain and repair power generation units, shower and laundry facilities, and HVAC systems
13 – Engineer, Construction, Facilities, and Equipment
What You Would Do: Your duties would include welding and metalworking. You would also be responsible for the maintenance, operation, and repair of heavy engineering equipment.
18 – Tank and Assault Amphibious Vehicle
What You Would Do: As a member of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) crew, you would help with operating and maintaining the vehicle and upgunned weapons stations.
21 – Ground Ordnance Maintenance
What You Would Do: Your job would be to inspect, repair, and maintain weapons systems. Tasks include repair analysis, technical inspection, testing of ordnance equipment, and quality control.
23 – Ammunition and Explosive Ordnance Disposal
What You Would Do: There are three positions in this MOS: basic ammunition and explosive ordnance disposal, ammunition technician, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician.
26 – Signals Intelligence/Ground Electronic Warfare
What You Would Do: Your job would focus on strategic and tactical intelligence. You would be tasked with monitoring radio and other broadcasts to establish enemy positions. Jobs include signals intelligence analysts, signals intelligence/electronic warfare, cryptanalysts, and radio reconnaissance.
27 – Linguist
What You Would Do: You would supervise and participate in translation and interpretation activities to support mission tasks during operations and exercises.
28 – Ground Electronics Maintenance
What You Would Do: Your job would be to install, repair, diagnose, and calibrate a wide range of electronic equipment.
30 – Supply Administration and Operations
What You Would Do: Your job would be to perform ground supply administration and operations. Tasks would include ordering and processing equipment, maintaining supply warehouses and distributing supplies.
31 – Distribution Management
What You Would Do: You would coordinate travel and shipments by assisting with the transport of military and personal property, helping move marines and their families move between bases. You would also manage the movement of military equipment and supplies.
33 – Food Service
What You Would Do: Your job would be to prepare food for other marines in garrison and the field. You would also plan meals to ensure that adequate food is available to Marines working in the field during deployments.
34 – Financial Management
What You Would Do: Your job will be to help budget finances and generate spending estimates. You would be responsible for reconciling and preparing accounting records.
35 – Motor Transport
What You Would Do: Your job would be to ensure that all troop and equipment transport vehicles are inspected, maintained, and in mission-ready condition. You may also be a motor vehicle operator and drive a variety of USMC vehicles.
41 – Morale Welfare and Recreation
What You Would Do: You would be responsible for the well-being of Marine service members and their military families. You could work as a Marine and Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR) specialist.
43 – Public Affairs
What You Would Do: Your job would be to gather news and stories that are distributed in print or through television and web broadcasts. You may also conduct interviews or perform investigative work to gather information.
44 – Legal Services
What You Would Do: Your job would be to assist military legal officers. You will be trained in understanding military law to help both Marines and civilians.
46 – Combat Camera
What You Would Do: Your job would be to photograph people, places, and deployments for historical and intelligence value. You may also video and edit various aspects of mission operations.
55 – Music
What You Would Do: As a Marines musician, you would perform music to support military ceremonies, official functions, community relations, and recruiting efforts. You have to audition and be accepted as a Marine musician.
57 – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense
What You Would Do: You would be responsible for conducting defense against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks. You would issue and train Marines on the use of gas masks and related protective equipment.
58 – Military Police and Corrections
What You Would Do: As a military police and corrections specialist, you would support commanders in keeping law and order. You would enforce military laws, prevent crimes, investigate offenses, and apprehend any offenders.
59 – Electronics Maintenance
What You Would Do: Your job would involve the maintenance, repair, and operation of different types of electronic equipment that supports air defense, surveillance, weapons systems, radio communication, and air traffic control.
60/61/62 – Aircraft Maintenance
What You Would Do: This field is divided into three areas: 60 primary, 61 helicopters, and 62 fixed-wing aircraft. You would provide support to the total airframe, power plant, and aircraft weapons systems.
63/64 – Avionics
What You Would Do: You will provide support to aviation weapons systems. Jobs in avionics include aircraft avionics technician, communications/navigation systems technician, and cryptographic systems technician.
65 – Aviation Ordnance
What You Would Do: Your duties will include the maintenance of guns, gun pods, bomb racks, aircraft weapons systems, missile launchers, and related support equipment.
66 – Aviation Logistics
What You Would Do: Your duties will include a wide range of network infrastructures like aviation supply and aviation information systems maintenance.
68 – Meteorology and Oceanography
What You Would Do: You will be responsible for collecting, assessing, and distributing information applicable to friendly and enemy force strengths and weaknesses, including data on climate and atmosphere.
70 – Airfield Services
What You Would Do: Your duties will include aircraft equipment recovery and rescue and firefighting.
72 – Air Control/Air Support/Air Traffic Control
What You Would Do: Your job includes the operation and management of Marine aircraft wing air command and functions. You may get to be an air control electronics operator or an air traffic controller.
73 – Navigation Officer/Enlisted Flight Crews
What You Would Do: Your job will be related to the operations and maintenance of aircraft and helicopters. Jobs available include helicopter specialist and unmanned aircraft system operator.
80 – Miscellaneous Requirements MOSs
What You Would Do: Your choice of jobs in this field includes recruiter, security guard, and parachutist.
U.S. Marine Corps Officer MOS
The Marine officer MOS is similar to the enlisted MOS and are grouped into different occupational fields (the first two digits) and then by a specific job in that field (the last two digits). Most officers go into their Basic School with a basic MOS, and once you finish the course, you will get the advanced MOS.
A Guide to all Marine Officer MOS’s
Here are the different occupational fields for Marine Corps Officers:
02 – Intelligence
03 – Infantry
04 – Logistics
06 – Communications
08 – Field Artillery
13 – Combat Engineer
18 – Tank Officer/Amphibious Assault Vehicle
30 – Ground Supply
34 – Financial Management
43 – Public Affairs
44 – Judge Advocate
58 – Military Police
60 – Aviation Maintenance
66 – Aviation Supply
72 – Aviation Command & Control
75 – Pilots and Naval Flight
Marine Officer MOS Descriptions
02 – Intelligence Officer
What You Would Do: You will be trained in one of the following intel disciplines: ground, human source, signals, or air intelligence. Once you are promoted to Major, all of the areas merge and you will become a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Intel Officer.
03 – Infantry Officer
What You Would Do: As a Marine Infantry Officer, you will be responsible for training Marines in various ground combat missions, gather and evaluate intel on enemy forces, develop battle plans and command your unit’s use of weapons and equipment.
04 – Logistics Officer
What You Would Do: Your job is critical in planning strategies for units at all levels. You would coordinate the movement of troops and equipment from ship to shore and on to forward operating bases.
06 – Communications Officer
What You Would Do: As a Communications Officer, you are the mainstay for command and control of Marine forces. Your job is to oversee the planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications and computer systems. You will have to quickly establish communications capabilities on the battlefield.
08 – Field Artillery Officer
What You Would Do: You will be responsible for leading Marines in tactics, gunnery, and gun-line drills. You will provide close-fire support for infantry, armored reconnaissance, and tank units.
13 – Combat Engineer Officer
What You Would Do: Your job will be to lead Marines in demolition, mine and countermine warfare, obstacle placement, breaching, and construction. You will work in one of four categories of engineering: mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and general engineering.
18 – Tank Officer/Amphibious Assault Vehicle Officer
What You Would Do: As a Tank Officer, you will be responsible for bringing firepower to the battlefield. You will command Marines in M1A1 tanks. As an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Officer, you will command assault amphibian units and direct AA units on maneuvers, tactical problems, and in combat.
30 – Ground Supply Officer
What You Would Do: As a Ground Supply Officer, you will lead and train troops in coordinating equipment and supplies for missions. You will supervise the buying and contracting of supplies, manage budgets and develop spending plans.
34 – Financial Management Officer
What You Would Do: You will be in charge of all financial issues. These issues include managing budgets and disbursing actions. Your job will be to coordinate military pay and travel, budgeting, accounting, and directing internal reviews.
43 – Public Affairs Officer
What You Would Do: As Public Affairs Officer, you will communicate the mission to the public and internal units. You will answer questions and inform the media of Marine Corps stories and events. You will also fill requests for aircraft, bands, color guards, and speakers. You will write articles, publish base newspapers and manage websites.
44 – Judge Advocate
What You Would Do: As a Marine Corps Judge Advocate, you will be coordinating equipment responsible for advising Marines on legal issues. You will need a law degree and be accepted into the JAG program.
58 – Military Police Officer
What You Would Do: Your job will be to provide support to your commanders in all areas of law enforcement. You can provide security and law enforcement. Support on-base or on deployment.
60 – Aviation Maintenance Officer
What You Would Do: As an Aviation Maintenance Officer, you will oversee Marines who maintain aircraft and aviation equipment. Your job is to make sure that all aircraft are ready to fly to support any mission.
66 – Aviation Supply Officer
What You Would Do: Your job will be to make essential decisions about budget, inventory management, deployment, and personnel, and other support matters. You will work in Aviation Supply Department in one of the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons (MALS).
72 – Aviation Command & Control
What You Would Do: As an Aviation Command and Control officer, you may serve in one of these three jobs: Air Support Control Officer, Air Defense Control Officer or Air Traffic Control Officer. Your main duties include directing the interception of hostile aircraft, directing the employment of surface-to-air-missiles, coordinating air support missions, and leading activities associated with air traffic control and airspace management.
75 – Pilots and Naval Flight Officers
What You Would Do: As Pilots and Naval Flight Officers (NFO), you will fly or operate the weapons and electronic systems on board F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, and other assigned aircraft. As a pilot, you will focus on flying the aircraft, and the NFO will focus on the weapons systems.
Jim spent 22 years on active duty, climbing the ranks from Airman Basic to a decorated Air Force Major. Stationed all over the world, he held many high-level posts, including Chief of Foreign Military Sales at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jim earned his Ph.D. through the Montgomery Era GI Bill and spent 13 years teaching African Studies in Pennsylvania. Jim is also an award-winning travel writer.
