When you look at the list of Marine Corps careers, one thing is clear: Combat infantry is the beating heart of the Marine Corps.
But it’s not all about combat. Support roles play a huge part in Marine Corps success.
There’s no doubt Marines do fight to win. That’s why a variety of roles have been created to be filled by top-notch individuals who take the Marine Corps oath.
Marine MOS options include:
- Marine Ground Combat
- AAV Crew Roles
- Marine Aviation Combat
- Marine Pilot
- Combat Support Roles
- USMC Landing Roles
No matter which MOS you pick, you’ll be held to the highest of standards. You’ll start your training days early — around 4:45 am — and nothing but excellence is expected from the moment you open your eyes. Any training you go through will push you to your physical and mental limits.
But, aside from hand-to-hand combat, you might be surprised career options exist beyond rifleman duties.
Here’s a look at a few of the most unique opportunities on the Marine jobs list:
1. Air Traffic Controller
Love aircraft? Then you may want to consider working as an Air Traffic Controller in the Marine Corps. Once it’s time to leave the ground, combat-ready Marines need a reliable Air Traffic Controller to direct aircraft. Time is everything in Marine missions and that includes getting aircraft to where they need to go quickly and on time. That means efficient clearance and coordination from an Air Traffic Controller.
What You’ll Do:
- Track, organize and regulate the flow of air traffic
- Communicate information about aircraft movements
- Coordinate and communicate weather and airfield conditions
- Provide pertinent details to direct the action of combat aircraft
Special Perks:
- Well paid position
- Different every day
- Transfers easily to a civilian role
Career requirements include: You must have a hIgh school diploma or GED, along with the ability to obtain security clearance. Depending on what you prefer, your career path can take you on to train with the FAA, private airlines, or a long-term career within the Marines.
Prefer an officer route? Officer roles include flying and piloting aircrafts.
2. Cyber Security Technician
Are computers your thing? If you consider yourself a computer and IT whiz, then a Cyber Security Technician role might be for you. In this role, you’ll develop and implement high-level cyber security plans, policies, and procedures. You’ll spend the vast majority of your days in front of screens, so it’ll be on you to remain active and in shape throughout your career outside of mandatory PT time.
In 2018, the Marines announced they’d also created new MOS positions to work alongside this role. Those include cyberspace officer and cyberspace warfare development officer roles, along with three enlisted options — cyberspace effects operator, cyberspace defensive operator, and cyberspace operations chief.
In the ever-changing world of cyberspace, there is plenty of room to grow in this field.
What You’ll Do:
- Ensure the availability, authentication and confidentiality of Marine Corps information systems data
- Protect networks from unauthorized access
- Create defensive security plans
- Manage use of defensive cyber security assets (people and systems)
- Educate users on cyber security
Special Perks:
- Solid pay
- Specialized training & certifications
- Transfers well to civilian roles
- Work on top-secret projects
- Job satisfaction of an important security role
Career requirements include: You’ll need a high school diploma or GED and the ability to obtain a security clearance. You also must have two years on your contract upon graduating cyber security training.
3. Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Specialist
In this role, you’ll work on classified cases that focus on identifying threats to homeland security. Aside from working well independently, you’ll need to be a team player as you work with others to de-escalate hostile situations with foreign combatants or intelligence organizations. You may collect information in a variety of means, including via debriefings, screenings, and interrogation methods.
Perhaps one of the best benefits of this role is that your skills can be applied to several civilian roles. CIA and FBI are potential employers for those in this MOS.
What You’ll Do:
- Plan and conduct CI and human intelligence operations and activities
- Identify and counteract threats from sabotage, terrorism or other hostile intelligence organizations
- Gather intelligence using humans as the primary method (both sources and collectors)
- Understand foreign intelligence services and terrorist organizations
- May go undercover to achieve objectives
Special Perks:
- Pays well
- Job variety
- Transition into MOS quickly if ready
- May receive special language training
Career requirements include: For this role, you must be 21 and older. This can be a lateral move from any MOS, but you must already be a volunteer Corporal or Sergeant. Senior Lance Corporals and junior Staff Sergeants are considered on a case-by-case basis. You will have to pass an interview and be recommended by a board. You’ll also need to have a high ASVAB score.
4. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician
There’s a science to this role, and if you love taking things apart — safely — then the role of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician may be just what you’re looking for in the Marines. In this position, you do encounter dangerous situations as you’re looking to locate and detonate any hazardous materials including IEDs or other explosives.
This role is in high demand and the need is only expected to grow in the upcoming years, making it an easy position to step into if you can qualify. Plus, thanks to the specialized training, you can find a job in civilian life doing police or protective services work.
What You’ll Do:
- Locating, accessing, identifying, rendering safe, and neutralizing hazards
- Disposing of foreign and domestic hazards
- Hazards removal may include Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRNE) high-yield explosives, UXO-unexploded explosive ordnance, IED-improvised explosive device (IED), and WMD-weapons of mass destruction
Special Perks:
- High-demand career
- Tuition assistance available
- Literally saving lives at work
- Use a range of tools and robotics
Career requirements include: You must be eligible for a security clearance and you can’t have dual citizenship. You also can’t be color blind in this Marine Corps career. And, thanks to a heavy-duty bomb suit, you can’t have any issues with claustrophobia.
5. Combat Photographer
You know those once-in-a-lifetime shots you get? As a combat photographer, you get the opportunity to take those “shots” every day. You’re responsible for capturing daily Marine Corps life in action.
Not only will you get to be out in the field taking photos of all the other MOS positions listed here, but you’ll also get some studio work opportunities as well. Your photos may be used in public relations campaigns, be posted on the Department of Defense website, or be used in marketing materials.
If you’re creative and passionate about documenting history and military life, the role of a Marine combat photographer may be your calling. This role can lead to civilian work with publishers, video outlets, or freelance opportunities.
What You’ll Do:
- Support training, recruiting, and communications with imagery
- Visualize final images
- Caption photos
- May experience studio photoshoots, in the field work, and combat environments
- Maintain documentation for administrative, legal, investigative, and combat purposes
- Work on photo finishing, quality control, delivery, and archiving
Special Perks:
- Creative position
- Constant movement
- Tuition assistance available
- Certification opportunities
- Responsible for preserving history
Career requirements include: For this field, you can’t be color blind and you will need security clearance as well.
6. Avionics Maintenance Chief
Because the Marines has its own Air Force, all aircraft must be ready to go at a moment’s notice. The role of aviation crews is strictly to support the boot-on-the-ground.
That’s where mechanics and maintenance crews come into play, but especially the role of the Avionics Maintenance Chief.
If you enjoy working with your hands, consider the Avionics Maintenance Chief as your ideal position in the Marines. Aircraft always need some sort of work done and this role ensures it gets completed on time and to standard. This role is focused on supervising the maintenance and repair of aircraft avionics systems, equipment, and components.
What You’ll Do:
- Maintain equipment
- Organize and maintain all documentation and records
- Manage and train personnel
Special Perks:
- Important and rewarding position
- Can translate to a civilian avionics position
- Receive specialized training
Career requirements include: You can’t be color blind and you’ll also need normal depth perception in this role. This position also requires a security clearance.
7. Fiscal Management Resource Analyst
Love working with money and numbers? This position is what the civilian world might consider an accountant or bookkeeper position. If job satisfaction is a must for you, you’ll find that this important job is critical to Marine Corps success. They can’t operate without a solid budget, so your role is to monitor and keep track of funds and spending.
Most of all, the importance of integrity plays a role here. Your position is to ensure government spending isn’t wasteful and to prevent fraudulent use of funds.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for accounting and budgeting for appropriated funds. You’ll also get a good handle on financial management-related system interfaces and associated computer applications.
What You’ll Do:
- Maintain office accounting records
- Keep general ledger control
- Focus on financial systems analysis and oversight
- Budget planning, monitoring, and reporting
Special Perks:
- Pays well
- Keeps your mind sharp
- Job satisfaction
- Transfers well to civilian high-paying jobs
Career requirements include: This role is open to enlisted Marines from the rank of private to master gunnery sergeant. You’ll need to score 110 or higher on the general technical (GT) segment of the ASVAB. Because you’re dealing with military budgets, you may need a secret security clearance, depending on the assignment.
Marine Corps Pilot
Take to the skies as a Marine Corps pilot if you’re not afraid of heights. You do need a bachelor’s degree for this Marine Corps career, so it isn’t a role that high school students could step right into. As a pilot, your role is critical to supporting the troops on the ground.
On any given day, your aircraft is ready to go and equipped to handle a variety of missions including offensive air support, electronic warfare, assault support, and aerial reconnaissance, for starters.
You’ll fly some of the most advanced aircraft on the globe and get to see the world from a perspective most people never will. Not everyone can be a Marine pilot.
What You’ll Do:
- Support ground troops
- Assist in joint operations with other branches
- Missions include anti-air warfare, control of aircraft and missiles
- Provide a variety of support including air-to-air refueling, assault support, etc.
Special Perks:
- Special training
- Join an elite group
- Additional aviator pay
- Earn up to $280k in bonuses
- Job translates well to civilian life
Career requirements include: In order to be a Marine pilot, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Expect to study for and pass the Navy/Marine Corps Aviation Selection Test Battery to earn your Marine pilot status.
Learn more about becoming a Marine aviator here.
Basic Engineer, Construction, Facilities, And Equipment
If heavy equipment operations and maintenance get you excited, then this MOS arena will get your heart rate going. The roles within this MOS focus on getting engineer-heavy equipment operational through repair, maintenance, welding, and metalworking. Your role here is essential to maintaining the integrity of buildings, roads, and power supplies.
Within this field, not only do you have a wide variety of options on this Marine jobs list, but each one offers skill sets you can take with you into the civilian labor world.
Options for enlisted individuals include:
- Metal Worker
- Engineer Equipment Mechanic
- Small Craft Mechanic
- Assault Breacher Vehicle/Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) Mechanic
- Engineer Equipment Operator
- Engineer Equipment Chief
- Combat Engineer
- Assault Breacher Vehicle
This MOS offers a variety of billets that will challenge you, depending on the career path you’re interested in taking. One role may have you constructing and repairing on-base facilities. You might also work in the storage of bulk fuel products.
What You’ll Do:
- Start with MOS 1300, Basic Engineer, Construction, and Equipment Marine
- May be assigned a variety of roles
- Clear minefields (assault breacher role)
- Opportunity for formal training in welding or metalworking
Special Perks:
- Variety and specialized education
- May be eligible for formal internship program
- Pays well
- Transitions well into a civilian job
Career requirements include: This can lead to a variety of jobs, but most will require no color blindness.
Marine Corps Careers are Plentiful
Being a Marine means being battle-ready and proud to serve at any time.
Ultimately, because Marines are stationed all over the world, a variety of Marine Corps jobs must be filled to support the homeland security mission.
No matter the route you take, you’ll train in some of the toughest military schools around when it comes to your specialty. Aside from the basic eligibility requirements and a dedication to fitness, self-determination and resilience are two skills that every Marine recruit should develop prior and during their service time.
Want to learn more about Marine Corps life? Check out this post: Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island
Discover more details and videos featuring Marine Corps jobs here.
Ready to become one of the few, the proud? Let us know in the comments below which Marine Corps career from this list you might be considering!
Feature image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaiah Campbell
