Military Occupational Specialties in the Marines

Military Occupational Specialties in the MarinesMilitary Occupational Specialties in the MarinesThe Marine studentencorps Occupational System uses a four-digit number code constructed on the concept that occupations with similar skill, knowledge, or functional application requirements are grouped into functional areas, known as occupational fields (OccFlds), and skill-knowledge sets, known as Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). All branches of the U.S. military designated different occupations using alphanumeric codes. The Armys MOSare generally two digits followed by a letter (so for example, Army MOS 38B is a Civil Affairs Specialist, MOS 21B is a Combat Engineer, and so on). In the Air Force, jobs are designated with Air Force Specialty Codes, which use a combination of numerals and letters, while the Navy uses its own Navy Enlisted Classification system. In the Marines, MOS aredesignated with a four-digit numeric code. Heres what those numbers mean. U.S. Marines Occupatio nal Fields OccFlds are identified by the first two digits of the four-digit code and a descriptive title. The OccFld is a grouping of related MOSs. The MOS is a four-digit code consisting of the OccFld code completed by two additional digits. It describes a set of related duties and tasks that extend over one or more grades. So for instance, a Marine job that begins with the numbers 03 is in the infantry career field. MOS 0311 is an infantry rifleman, 0331 is a machine gunner, 0341 is a mortarman, and so on. Marines Military Occupational Specialties The Marine Corps used to have two basic types of MOS Primary MOS (PMOS), and Category B MOS. Category B MOSs were sort of a job-within-a job. A Marine who possessed a PMOS and received extra training in a specialized procedure or equipment could then also be awarded the Category B MOS that related to that specialized training. However, in 2007, the Marine Corps eliminated Category B MOS and replaced them with Primary, Necessary, Fr ee, Exception and Additional categories Primary MOS (PMOS) Used to identify the primary skills and knowledge of a Marine. In other words, it is the Marines primary military job.Necessary MOS (NMOS) A non-PMOS that has a prerequisite of one or more PMOSs. This MOS identifies a particular skill or training that is in addition to a Marines PMOS but can only be filled by a Marine with a specific PMOS.Free MOS (FMOS) Non-PMOS that can be filled by any Marine regardless of primary MOS. A free MOS requires skill sets unrelated to primary skills. Exception MOS (EMOS) Non-PMOS that is generally an FMOS, but include exceptions that require a specific PMOS.Additional MOS (AMOS) Any existing PMOS awarded to a Marine who already holds a PMOS. Marines are not promoted in an AMOS.