MOS Contracts
With few exceptions, the Marines don't guarantee an MOS
When you sign your enlistment contract, you can select a particular occupational field such as Infantry or Engineering.
In some unique cases, you can sign for an MOS such as Enlisted Musician or Reconnaissance Marine.
If you don't sign for an occupational field or MOS, you'll go open contract. This means you can be selected for any MOS in the Marine Corps that you have qualified for.
How Do I Select an MOS?
Candidates for enlistment will first have to choose which Enlistment Contract they sign before being assigned an MOS by the Marine Corps. The contract they sign will play the most important role towards ensuring getting an MOS (essentially a career specialty) you want. Each contract has either one or many MOS's under it.
Contracts available to a prospect will be based on their ASVAB scores and the Needs of the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps manpower planners look at forecasts of future force numbers and decide how many of each contract will be required in a given fiscal year - hence Needs of the Marine Corps.
Needs are based on the size of an MOS field. Some MOS's such as infantry are large in contrast to the small musician field.
Candidates have very little, if any influence on this factor, but the Recruiter will provide the candidate with a list of options which they qualify for based on their ASVAB scores and what the Corps has available at that time.
What is an Open Contract?
A poolee or recruit who holds an open contract can be considered a gambler putting everything on a roll of the dice. They can be assigned any MOS for which they are eligible for.
Candidates for enlistment who choose this route often seek to ship to Recruit Training at the earliest opportunity, so they will not have an MOS prior to shipping boot camp.
Though the individual's ASVAB score will still weigh into the selection, the ultimate decision for an MOS will be completely at the discretion of the Marine Corps' needs as we discussed before.
In this case however, an Open Contact individual will not know their MOS until late in Recruit Training.
They will not receive a list of options to choose from, but instead they will only receive a notification from their training staff what their occupation will be.
Contract MOS Options
Click on a Contract to See What MOS's You Can Be Assigned
2111 - Small Arms Repairer/Technician MM=95 2131 - Towed Artillery Systems Technician MM=95 2141 - Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) Repairer/Technician MM=105 2146 - Main Battle Tank (MBT) Repairer/Technician MM=105 2147 - Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) Repairer/Technician MM=105 2161 - Machinist MM=105 2171 - Electro-Optical Ordnance Repairer MM=105 2311 - Ammunition Technician GT=100
2811 - Telephone Technician EL=115 2818 - Personal Computer (PC)/Tactical Office Machine Repairer EL=115 2822 - Electronic Switching Equipment Technician EL=115 2831 - Multichannel Equipment Repairer EL=115 2841 - Ground Radio Repairer EL=115 2844 - Ground Communications Organizational Repairer EL=115 2846 - Ground Radio Intermediate Repairer EL=115 2847 - Telephone Systems/Personal Computer Intermediate Repairer EL=115 2871 - Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Technician EL=115 2881 - Communication Security Equipment Technician EL=115 2887 - Counter Mortar Radar Repairer EL=115
3043 - Supply Administration and Operations Clerk CL=110 3051 - Warehouse Clerk CL=90 3052 - Packaging Specialist CL=80 3112 - Traffic Management Specialist CL=90 3361 - Subsistence Supply Clerk CL=90 3381 - Food Service Specialist GT=90 3432 - Finance Technician CL=110 3451 - Fiscal/Budget Technician CL=110
4421 - Legal Services Specialist CL=100 6672 - Aviation Supply Clerk CL=100 6673 - Automated Information Systems (AIS) Computer Operator CL=100
5937 - Aviation Radio Repairer EL=105 5942 - Aviation Radar Repairer EL=105 5952 - Air Traffic Control Navigational Aids Technician EL=105 5953 - Air Traffic Control Radar Technician EL=105 5954 - Air Traffic Control Communications Technician EL=105 5962 - Tactical Data Systems Equipment (TDSE) Repairer EL=105
5963 - Tactical Air Operations Module Repairer EL=105
6311 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Electrical/Weapon Systems Technician EL=105 6312 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Weapon Systems Technician – AV-8 EL=105 6314 - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Avionics Technician EL=105 6316 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation Systems Technician – KC-130 EL=105 6317 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Weapon Systems Technician – F/A-18 EL=105 6322 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Electrical Systems Technician – CH-46 EL=105 6323 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Electrical Systems Technician – CH-53 EL=105 6324 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Electrical/Weapon Systems Technician – U/AH-1 EL=105 6326 - Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Electrical/Weapon Systems Technician – V-22 EL=105 6331 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician-Trainee EL=105 6332 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician – AV-8 EL=105 6333 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician – EA-6 EL=105 6336 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician – KC-130 EL=105 6337 - Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician – F/A-18 EL=105 6386 - Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Systems Technician – EA-6B EL=105
6046 - Aircraft Maintenance Administration Specialist CL=100 6048 - Flight Equipment Technician MM=105 6061 - Aircraft Intermediate Level Hydraulic/Pneumatic Mechanic MM=105 6071 - Aircraft Maintenance Support Equipment (SE) Mechanic MM=105 6072 - Aircraft Maintenance Support Equipment Hydraulic/ Pneumatic Structures Mechanic MM=105 6073 - Aircraft Maintenance Support Equipment Electrician/ Refrigeration Mechanic MM=105 6074 - Cryogenics Equipment Operator MM=105 6091 - Aircraft Intermediate Level Structures Mechanic MM=105 6092 - Aircraft Intermediate Level Structures Mechanic MM=105
6511 - Aviation Ordnance Technician GT=105 6531 - Aircraft Ordnance Technician GT=105 6541 - Aviation Ordnance Systems Technician GT=105
7011 - Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician MM=9
7051 - Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue Specialist MM=95
7041 - Aviation Operations Specialist CL=100 7234 - Air Control Electronics Operator GT=105 7242 - Air Support Operations Operator GT=100
Recruits are guranteed only one call home. This call takes place during Receiving, and it is intended purely to ensure the recruit's family they have arrived safely on the Depot. Additional calls after are rare, but not unheard of.
On occasion training staff may allow a recruit a call home, either as motivation or as a reward for exemplary performance. In some platoons, an SDI may see a recruit struggling and allow a recruit to call their recruiter to receive a little push. In other, an SDI may allow the high PFT or high shooter from the range a call home. In some other situations, if a recruit has a severe issue at home which has arisen, company staff may permit a recruit to handle that business such as with a family member or bank.
This will be different for every Recruit.
Some will struggle with PT while others will struggle with academics. Certain Recruits might face difficulties with Swim Week as others will find Marksmanship training to be problematic. No matter your strengths or weaknesses, the best things to do are to pay attention to your DIs and other instructors, practice when you are provided time to remediate, and last, Never Quit!
This is a question begets an answer which is multilayered.
In all cases, Marines and Medical staff at each Depot will do their best to keep every recruit in training so they may earn the title of Marine. The decision to continue or drop a recruit folllowing injury depends on the severity of the injury, the individual recruit's medical history, and when in the training cycle the injury occurs. For example, an ankle sprain during Range Week may be allowed light duty and some time to heal, but the same injury the day before the Crucible may proclude a recruit from beginning the event.
If a recruit is found unfit to continue training, he or she will find themselves in Support Battalion, and they will no longer continue to matriculate through training with their orginal platoon. Males will be assigned to Medical Rehabilitation Platoon (MRP) and female recruits are assigned to Female Rehabiltation Platoon (FRP). When a recruit is with FRP or MRP, their time will be dedicated to rehabilitation. Doctors appointmenrs, physical therapy, and plain old rest will fill the majority of their days. Recruits will still be responsible to conduct themselves in a professional manner as future Marines, but many of the stressors involved during training will not be present.
Every recruit will have a screening completed during their receiving process. Based on findings from this initial appoinment, Navy and civilian dental professionals may conduct fillings, caps, wisdom teeth removal, or other procedures as required. Recruits will be allowed time to recuperate from any procedures conducted.
There are generally three types of injuries, which we will call: 1) Minor 2) Medium 3) Major
A minor injury is something like a rolled ankle or broken finger, where you can continue in the current training cycle with some minor modifications. You might not be able to fully PT with the platoon, but you won't miss any graduation requirements and can stay on track. These are typically handled by athletic trainers with taping, compression socks, etc.
A medium injury is something like a broken leg, or badly sprained knee. Treating the injury will require physical therapy or a few weeks of recovery. In this case, you will be sent to the Male or Female Rehabilitation Platoon that is part of Support Battalion. You will spend your days doing rehab work and generally waiting to go back to recruit training. When you do, you will typically pick up at the start of whichever phase you left at (i.e. if you were dropped in the middle of second phase, you'll resume training with a company when they are starting second phase).
A major injury is one that requires surgery and long rehabilitation processes, such as a torn ACL. The Marine Corps will fix the injury and put you through rehab. A Medical Review Board will determine if you can still serve in the Marine Corps based on the length of time it will take for you to recover and also the severity of the injury. Some injuries will disqualify you from military service, in which case you will be discharged from the Marines. In other rare instances, you may spend up to a year rehabilitating and then resuming training.
You can enlist at 17 with your parents' permission or 18 on your own, so it depends on your age.
If you are a high schooler whose parents support joining the Marines, reach out to a recruiter around 16 or 17. If your parents are against the military or Marines, you should wait until you're just about to turn 18.
For those prosective Marines that are over 18, contact a Marine at any time, no matter where you are in life.
We can't tell you what to do with your life, but can tell you what you might get out of joining our organization.
Marines are proud, known for being reliable, tough as nails, and the people you call when you're in trouble and absolutely need a job done. We provide the same education, pay, housing, and job benefits as any other branch, but will take you farther than the Army, Navy, or Air Force. We believe in being our best selves and achieving the impossible. It will take more blood, sweat, and tears than any other branch. We do more with less, and don't care about comfort. The Marine Corps is the last bastion of warrior culture in the United States.
If that sounds like something you're interested in, contact a recruiter. If you want an easy way to pay for college and a comfortable lifestyle, we aren't the branch for you.
Look, recruiters have a job to do - get people to join the Marine Corps. 99% of Recruiters are honest people and telling you the truth. There are a few bad apples here and there, but recruiters are not sketchy.
Typically when you hear that, what you are hearing is someone who didn't listen carefully to what a recruiter told them. "My recruiter lied to me to get me here." No, they didn't. We've seen this a bunch of different times in our careers and when you pull the thread on the story you find out it's just a Marine who wasn't paying attention.
Your life is in your hands - don't sign contracts without reading them, and don't think because something is possible that means you deserve it or get it.
Example: I signed a MG - Marine Guard Contract because my recruiter told me I would get Embassy Duty.
If you sign that contract, you are in fact eligible to be an Embassy Marine on your first tour provided you are a contract PFC and the needs of the Marine Corps require it (heads up, they don't need brand new Marines in high visibility positions like that). More likely, you will get a Security Forces billet after MOS School at the School of Infantry and Guard a Sub Base, Nuclear Warheads, or join a FAST Team. No one lied to you - you took a maybe and decided that was the life you were going to live.
With all this said, read your contract. If you sign a Motor Transport contract because your recruiter said you can switch to Recon later, you better make sure you sign that Recon contract before you ship, otherwise you'll be driving LVSR's and 7-ton trucks until you get out.
Completing the swim qualification during swim week is a graduation requirement. If you don't know how to swim, the swim instructors will teach you basic backstroke.
It is much easier to learn how to swim before getting to boot camp than it is to wait until you get there. Spending an entire week in the pool during boot camp is much less fun than just knocking out the swim portion one morning and being finished.
You will need to be able to swim about 25 yards (one pool width), dunk underwater and remove a helmet and plate carrier, and jump off a diving board that is 5 yards above the water.
Depending on the severity of the injury and when it occurs in training, different things will happen.
If you suffer a minor injury like a sprained ankle during a period in training where there is little going on, you may just see the Athletic Trainer and get taped up but continue training.
If you suffer a more substantial injury, you will be sent to the Male or Female Rehabiliation Platoons in Support Battalion (MRP/FRP) until you can pick back up with a new training company. This includes any possible surgeries and rehabilitation required to be healthy to resume training.
If your injury was extremely severe and precludes future military service, you will still go to MRP or FRP, but will be assigned to a medical review board which handles your medical discharge from the military.
Depending on where you are in your journey, you can reach out to an OSO at any time.
If you are a high school student looking to take advantage of a Marine Corps scholarship commissioning program, you should contact a recruiting station during your Junior year.
If you are already in college or a recent graduate, you can contact an OSO at any time to see which program is right for you.
Active Duty and Reserve Marines can contact OSOs as well, although the best way to apply for a commissioning program is to read the information on our website, research the MARADMINs for the current Fiscal Year, and begin the application process with your chain of command.
We can't tell you what to do with your life, but can tell you what you might get out of joining our organization. As a Leader of Marines, we expect you not only to espouse the traditional values you associate with our institution, but also the integrit and character required to lead men and women into combat. We are the only organization that focuses on training each individual officer to be prepared for the rigors of combat leadership and emphasize leadership development at every stage in your career.
Marines are proud, known for being reliable, tough as nails, and the people you call when you're in trouble and absolutely need a job done. We provide the same education, pay, housing, and job benefits as any other branch, but will take you farther than the Army, Navy, or Air Force. We believe in being our best selves and achieving the impossible. It will take more blood, sweat, and tears than any other branch. We do more with less, and don't care about comfort. The Marine Corps is the last bastion of warrior culture in the United States.
If that sounds like something you're interested in, contact a recruiter. If you want an easy way to pay for college and a comfortable lifestyle, we aren't the branch for you.
Officer contracts are general and have far less flexibility than their enlisted counterparts. Your options are limited to a ground contract, aviation contract, or legal contract.
If you sign a Legal Contract, it is guaranteed you will enter the Marine Corps' Judge Advocate officer population.
Aviation Contracts will compete for their platforms throughout Flight School.
Ground Contracts will compete for an MOS while at The Basic School.
To learn more, check out our Officer Contracts Page.
Regardless of what your enlisted MOS was, once you receive a commission, you will have to compete for a new MOS at The Basic School. Competition is based on your performance on all the graded events at TBS and your lineal standing.
This works out well - if you had an MOS you liked and want to go back to it as an Officer, the chances are you should be able to do that, provided you perform well at TBS. If you have a different MOS you want to commission into, you will have an option to do that as well.
Regardless of what MOS you want, you will be competing against the other officers in your class. Your Staff Platoon Commander (SPC) will try to advocate for you to get the MOS you want related to your preferences.
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