Marine Corps COOL Summary - MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator

MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator

MOS Description

Critical Skills Operators (CSO) are Marines trained to execute missions in the Special Operations Core Tasks of Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Direct Action (DA), Special Reconnaissance (SR) and Counter-Terrorism (CT), the Secondary Core Task of Information Operations (IO) and tasks in Support of Unconventional Warfare (UW) as part of the Marine Corps component to USSOCOM. CSO Marines possess high levels of maturity, experience, judgment and the ability to rapidly apply critical thought to operational objectives. They are able to quickly achieve a commander's intent through mission orders and the effective application of these traits. They succeed in the face of adversity by being able to make the right decision, at the right place, and at the right time. CSO Marines are team-oriented, but are trained and ready to function as individuals and as members of an element, team, company, battalion or regiment. They are capable of operations across the entire spectrum of Special Operations, from employment in isolated and austere locales with little-to-no conventional support to operations as fully integrated units in a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) or other Joint task organized configurations. To facilitate this, CSOs are also intensively trained as a Subject Matter Expert in advanced communications, engineering, special weapons, intelligence, and advanced special operations, depending on their billet in the MSOT. CSOs operate as cross-cultural diplomats and global scouts, with the unique ability to exert influence in areas and situations that are absent authority. They may also posses advanced language capabilities and cultural familiarity, and are adept at working by, with and through partner nation forces in pursuit of strategic goals and objectives. CSO's possess a naval expeditionary character, and as such provides maximum versatility for Geographical Combatant Commanders. MARSOF Marines are capable of rapid integration and interoperability with the joint force.

National Certifications and Federal Licenses

You selected Early Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E1-E3. To help you focus on the credentials most appropriate for early in your career, the National Certifications list below has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.

Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.

You selected Mid-Career—this applies to Marines in paygrades E4-E5. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.

Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and helps prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.

Once you have found a credential you want to pursue and are eligible for, you can apply for a voucher for COOL funding to pay for the exam. Make sure to check to see that you meet the eligibility requirements for a voucher before you apply. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly.

You selected Late Career-- this applies to Marines in paygrades E6-E9. To help you focus on credentials most applicable to this phase in your career, the certification list has been filtered to only show COOL-funded certifications that are related to Most or Some of the skills and training gained in your MOS. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.

Obtaining credentials related to your MOS helps improve your professionalism and help prepare you for civilian employment when you do transition out.

You chose Transitioning-- this applies to Marines who are not reenlisting and are planning their next steps. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to only show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.

Obtaining a credential can help prepare you for civilian employment, and can demonstrate knowledge and skills in a way civilian employers understand. The Marine Corps will not pay for exams if you have less than six months of service left so you'll want to plan accordingly. If you are already within that six-month timeframe, you can still choose to pursue the credential yourself or explore other funding options to pay for credentials.

As a transitioning Marine, you may also want to visit the Marine Corps' Transition Readiness Program for other guidance regarding reentering the civilian workforce.

You chose Veteran-- veterans are any former Service member who has been discharged from active duty military service. To help you focus on the most applicable credentials, the certification list has been filtered to show in-demand credentials that are GI Bill approved. You can customize your search by clicking Select Filters at the top left of the credentials table or by using the keyword search at the top right of the table.

COOL does not pay for credentialing exams for veterans, but you may be able to get your credential funded through the GI Bill. Explore your funding options to see what funding may be available to you. Also, visit our page of Related Sites and expand the Resource Sites For Veterans section to see what other resources may be available to you

The following civilian credentials are related to MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator. These credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these credentials, click on the credential title below.

For additional credentials related to Free, Necessary, and Exception MOSs, go to the Collateral Duty search feature and explore more opportunities to get certified. (Click the Navigator icon on the upper-right corner of the screen, and then select "Collateral Duty/Out of Billet MOS" or "Go Back" and then "Collateral Duty/Out of Billet MOS"). Only Service members who hold a 03 Primary MOS and who are assigned in writing by their Commanding Officer or have attended related formal school training are eligible for collateral duty/billets.

For more supervisory and managerial credentials, please refer to the LEADER summary page.

Credential	Agency	Related As	Attainability	COOL$	GI Bill^®	Accreditation
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Is In Demand	Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)	Other			GI Bill	Accreditation
General Radiotelephone Operator License (PG) Is Not In Demand	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Some	high	COOL Bucks	GI Bill
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) Is In Demand	Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)	Other			GI Bill	Accreditation
GMDSS Radio Maintainer License (DM) Is Not In Demand	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Other			GI Bill
GMDSS Radio Operator License (DO) Is Not In Demand	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Other			GI Bill
Marine Radio Operator Permit (MP) Is Not In Demand	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Some	high	COOL Bucks	GI Bill
Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR) Is Not In Demand	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Other
Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Is Not In Demand	ASIS International	Other			GI Bill	Accreditation
Certified Mapping Scientist, GIS/LIS (ASPRS) Is Not In Demand	American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)	Other
Certified Mapping Scientist, Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Is Not In Demand	American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)	Other
Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) Is In Demand	American Society for Quality (ASQ)	Other			GI Bill
Master Parachute Rigger Is Not In Demand	Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)	Some	medium	COOL Bucks	GI Bill
Senior Parachute Rigger Is Not In Demand	Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)	Some	high	COOL Bucks	GI Bill
Certified Manager (CM) Is In Demand	Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM)	Other			GI Bill
Project Management Professional (PMP) Is In Demand	Project Management Institute (PMI)	Other			GI Bill	Accreditation
National Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman-Limited Is Not In Demand	United States Coast Guard (USCG)	Some	high	COOL Bucks
National Radio Officer Is Not In Demand	United States Coast Guard (USCG)	Other
Certified Corrections Officer (CCO) Is Not In Demand	American Correctional Association (ACA)	Other			GI Bill
Certified Jail Manager (CJM) Is Not In Demand	American Jail Association (AJA)	Other
Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) Is Not In Demand	ASIS International	Other			GI Bill	Accreditation
Physical Security Professional (PSP) Is Not In Demand	ASIS International	Some	medium	COOL Bucks	GI Bill	Accreditation
Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) Is Not In Demand	International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM)	Other			GI Bill
Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) Is Not In Demand	International Association of Emergency Managers (iAEM)	Other			GI Bill
Certified Corrections Manager (CCM) Is Not In Demand	American Correctional Association (ACA)	Other			GI Bill
Certified Corrections Supervisor (CCS) Is Not In Demand	American Correctional Association (ACA)	Some	medium	COOL Bucks	GI Bill
Certified Corrections Executive (CCE) Is Not In Demand	American Correctional Association (ACA)	Other			GI Bill
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Is In Demand	Project Management Institute (PMI)	Other			GI Bill
Certified GIS/LIS Technologist Is Not In Demand	American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)	Other
Certified Photogrammetric Technologist Is Not In Demand	American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)	Other
Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) Is Not In Demand	Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)	Some	medium	COOL Bucks		Accreditation
Certified Jail Officer (CJO) Is Not In Demand	American Jail Association (AJA)	Other
National Master 200 GL and Inland Is Not In Demand	United States Coast Guard (USCG)	Other
Certified Corrections Officer/Provisional (CCO/P) Is Not In Demand	American Correctional Association (ACA)	Other
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Is In Demand	National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)	Other				Accreditation
Security Program Integration Professional Certification (SPIPC) Is Not In Demand	Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE)	Other				Accreditation
Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC) Is Not In Demand	Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE)	Other				Accreditation
Security Asset Protection Professional Certification (SAPPC) Is Not In Demand	Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE)	Other				Accreditation
General Communications Technician - Level 1 (GCT1) Is Not In Demand	Electronics Technicians Association, International (ETA-I)	Other				Accreditation
Certified Dangerous Goods Professional (CDGP) Is Not In Demand	Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)	Some	medium	COOL Bucks		Accreditation
Industrial Security Oversight Certification (ISOC) Is Not In Demand	Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE)	Other				Accreditation
Physical Security Certification (PSC) Is Not In Demand	Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE)	Other				Accreditation
Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) Is Not In Demand	National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4)	Some	medium	COOL Bucks
Resilience-Building Leadership Professional (RBLP) Is Not In Demand	Resilience-Building Leader Program	Some	medium	COOL Bucks
Resilience-Building Leadership Professional Coach (RBLP-C) Is Not In Demand	Resilience-Building Leader Program	Some	low	COOL Bucks
Resilience-Building Leadership Professional Trainer (RBLP-T) Is Not In Demand	Resilience-Building Leader Program	Some	low	COOL Bucks

Department of Defense (DoD) Certifications

Some of these credentials may be funded thru the Marine Corps COOL program. To find out, search for these credentials in the "National Certifications and Federal Licenses" tab and look for the COOL Bucks icon.

Security Professional Education Development (SPeD) Program

The SPeD Certification Program is part of the Department of Defense's (DoD) initiative to professionalize the security workforce. This initiative is intended to ensure that there is a common set of competencies among security practitioners that promotes interoperability, facilitates professional development and training, and develops a workforce of certified security professionals.

For additional information related to the SPeD Certification Program please visit the website.

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor. For more supervisory and managerial occupations, please refer to the LEADER summary page.

Apprenticeship

The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) is a formal military training program that provides active duty and Full Time Support (FTS) Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while they are on active duty. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides the nationally recognized "Certificate of Completion" upon program completion.

USMAP enhances your job skills and shows your motivation for more challenging military assignments. Having a DOL Certificate of Completion is an advantage in getting better civilian jobs since employers know the value of apprenticeships.

The following USMAP apprenticeship trades are related to MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator:

Computer Operator

Completing an apprenticeship is a process with four major steps. Proceed to Step 1 on the USMAP website to select an apprenticeship trade that is related to your military occupation.

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USCG Licenses General Information

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a civilian mariner when you separate from the military, employment in the Maritime Industry as either a civil service mariner (CIVMAR) or as a Merchant Mariner in the shipping industry, you will likely need to attain credentials from the US Coast Guard through the National Maritime Center (NMC). To evaluate your sea service for Merchant Marine credential eligibility, see the MilGears Mil-2-Mariner (M2M) Tool.

Enlisted US Marine Corps personnel may have the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) fees, application fees, and USCG credentialing exam fees funded through the Marine Corps COOL program. For more detailed information about mariner careers, USCG credentialing requirements, and how to apply for USCG credentials, contact the National Maritime Center.

The following sections outline the USCG credentialing requirements and processes.

Waiver of Merchant Mariner Credential Application Fees for Active Duty Members

Guidance on Waiver of Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Application Fees for Active Duty Members of the Uniformed Services

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-20, titled: Guidance on Waiver of Merchant Mariner Credential Application Fees for Active Duty Members of the Uniformed Services.

Active duty members of the uniformed services are eligible for a waiver of fees for evaluation of an application for an MMC, the administration of an examination required for an endorsement, and for the issuance of an MMC.
The waiver applies to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service. This policy is available on the Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing policy website on the MMC Policy Webpage.

Mariners and other interested parties should contact the Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division at:
MMCPolicy@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2357 with any questions or feedback.

Merchant Marine Credentialing Basics

Merchant Marine Credentials (MMC) are credentials issued by the United States Coast Guard through the National Maritime Center. In general, there are two types of merchant fleets: those that operate in national waters and those that operate in international waters. The type of credential you need depends on the fleet type. There are several credentials for which you may be eligible depending on your military occupation, training, and experience.

The two general types of credentials issued to US mariners corresponding to the two fleet types are:

National Endorsements
National endorsements can be used for positions including passenger for hire vessels, charter boats, offshore supply vessels, tow boats and domestic operations.
Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW)
Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers are internationally recognized endorsements. STCW endorsements grant greater employment flexibility and are highly desired by employers working with large cargo vessels, international tows, tankers, and cruise ships.

Which Credential Is Right For You?

Which credential to choose is based on your professional experience and the requirements you meet as well as your professional goals. Small and large vessels are used in both national and STCW operation, so the "best" choice will depend on your personal goals and where you want to work. Depending on your military occupation, training and experience, you can be awarded different credits from the National Maritime Center towards your Merchant Mariner Credential. The two primary categories of credentials you would choose from are:

Engine
Engine means the department aboard a ship responsible for the main propulsion and auxiliary systems, and other mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and refrigeration systems, including deck machinery and cargo-handling equipment. For more information and topics on the Engine exam contents, see the USCG Engine Reference Library.
Deck
Deck means the department aboard a ship responsible for navigation, cargo, command, and control functions. Deck crew (excluding individuals serving under their officer endorsement) means, as used in 46 U.S.C. 8702, only the following members of the deck department: able seamen, boatswains, and ordinary seamen. For more information and topics on the Deck exam contents, see the USCG Deck Reference Library.

Some Deck functions currently in relatively high demand are highlighted in the Civilian Mariner Careers tab in the Related Occupations section on this page.

To evaluate your sea service for Merchant Marine credential eligibility, see the MilGears Mil-2-Mariner (M2M) Tool.

Military Training Approved By USCG (NMC)

To determine if your military or civilian training courses have been reviewed and accepted by the USCG National Maritime Center (NMC) for credit towards credentialing standards, review the approved course listings.

How to Apply for a Credential

Step 1: General Items
- Obtain a TWIC card
  Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) is a common identification credential used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), containing biometrics of the cardholder.
- Drug Testing
  Each USCG credential has drug testing requirements. See the USCG National Maritime Center website for specific information. Members can also consider individualizing this sample Drug Testing Participation letter which will be acceptable to the National Maritime Center reviewers. If using the Drug Testing Participation letter format, it must be dated within 180-days of the application. Reservists must have been on active duty for at least 60-days of the previous 180-days.
Step 2: Prepare Sea Service Letter
Marines and Navy Sailors can use the US Navy Vessel Information document and their own sea service record to complete the sea service letter requirement for inclusion in the application package. Service members might find it helpful to refer to these blank sample letters or this completed Navy sample letter as they draft their sea service letter.
Step 3: Submit an Application
On the USCG National Maritime Center (NMC) website follow the instructions for E-mail Submission of Merchant Mariner Credential Applications. NOTE: Final submissions must be completed in person at a regional exam center.
Step 4: Application in Transit Monitor Status
You can check the status of your application. Statuses are updated daily.
Step 5: Application Review/Receipt of Credential
Safety and Suitability, Medical, and Professional Qualification application reviews are completed by TSA and NMC personnel.

For more detailed information on the application process go to the Mariner Credential Application Process website or follow the instructions in the Obtaining a Merchant Mariner Credential brochure.

For more detailed information on mariner credentialing, go to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 46, Chapter 1, Subchapter B, Part 10 "Licensing of Maritime Personnel". Review both Chapter 1 Part 10 for Licensing of Maritime Personnel, and Chapter 1, Part 12 for Certification of Seamen for additional guidance on how to obtain a USCG credential.

Important Links

General Information on Mariner Credentialing - US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation
Applicability of Military Service Towards Merchant Mariner’s Documents - USCG Marine Safety Manual, Chapter 2
Other General Information - The following links are helpful in obtaining additional information on Merchant Marine Examinations/Assessments, Merchant Marine Documentation, Merchant Marine/STCW Credentialing, and Merchant Marine Credential Fees:
- Guide for Administration of Merchant Marine Examinations (Deck and Engineering Guide)
- Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) & STCW Certifications for Unlicensed Personnel
- Merchant Marine Credential Fees
- Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Navy Vessel Information - Marines and Navy Sailors can reference this chart for details on Ship Type, Name, Hull number, Ship Class, GRI ITC Tonnage, GRT Tonnage, Horsepower, and Propulsion Type.
- Sea Service Letter - Marines and Navy Sailors can use the Navy Vessel Information link above to complete the sea service letter requirement.
Civilian Mariner Career Information - For more information on mariner careers and employment opportunities in either government, civilian mariner service or the Merchant Marine Service see the Civilian Mariner Careers tab in the Related Occupations section on this page.

Related Civilian Occupations

The following civilian occupations are similar to the duties performed by MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below. For more supervisory and managerial positions, please refer to the LEADER summary page. To search for related civilian job opportunities, go to the Veteran’s Employment Center.

Civilian Job	Duties Matched	Bright Outlook	Registered Apprenticeship	Local Salary Info
Bailiffs	Some			find local salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	Some			find local salary
Construction Laborers	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers	Some		Apprenticeship	find local salary
Emergency Management Directors	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers	Some			find local salary
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
General and Operations Managers	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Intelligence Analysts	Some			find local salary
Motorboat Operators	Some			find local salary
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	Some		Apprenticeship	find local salary
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
Private Detectives and Investigators	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists	Some			find local salary
Remote Sensing Technicians	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
Security Guards	Some	Bright Outlook	Apprenticeship	find local salary
Security Managers	Some	Bright Outlook		find local salary
Surveying and Mapping Technicians	Some		Apprenticeship	find local salary
Transit and Railroad Police	Some			find local salary
Transportation Security Screeners	Some			find local salary
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	Some			find local salary

Other Career Considerations

A wide range of civilian job opportunities is available within the private and public sectors that align with MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator military training and experience. More information about these opportunities and other considerations concerning occupations related to MOS MOS 0372 Critical Skills Operator can be found below.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

0132: Intelligence Research Specialist

Overview: This job series covers positions located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Intelligence Enterprise (IE). Specialty areas for this position include research, analysis, evaluation, coordination, and dissemination of intelligence information; assessment and hypothesis testing regarding known or emerging border security threats; and maintenance and control of classified material and derivative classification requirements that apply to national security.

Duties at CBP: Work within this job series requires an Intelligence Research Specialist to apply a full range of analytical knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide finished intelligence and intelligence products in support of operations to enhance the agency mission. Typical work assignments may include:

Execution of all-source intelligence compilation, analysis, production and dissemination;
Timely assimilation of disparate data; rendering of knowledgeable and accurate assessments regarding the intelligence implications of such data; and effective presentation;
Sourcing reliability and information validating determinations; incorporation of information from multiple sources into intelligence products;
Synthesis of information into coherent and meaningful pictures or visualization of trends and patterns to convey intelligence to the appropriate audience for awareness, status updates or to inform operations;
Identifying intelligence gaps, problems or potential difficulties; and
Assessment, estimation, and forecasting regarding evolving or emerging border security threats; recommendation of appropriate courses of action to counter those threats; and successful execution of intelligence initiatives.

Locations: Various

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Civilian Mariner Careers

Active Duty and Reserve U.S. military personnel can explore the wide range of post-service career opportunities for civilian mariners within the maritime industry. The two primary employment sectors for civilian mariners are government and commercial industry, described below in the "Military Sealift Command (MSC)" section and the "Merchant Marine Industry" section. For detailed information about mariner careers, United States Coast Guard (USCG) credentialing requirements, and how to apply for USCG credentials through the National Maritime Center (NMC), U.S. Marine Corps personnel can review the Merchant Mariner Credentialing Information section below.

For personalized information on Merchant Mariner credentials that may be attainable or nearly attainable based on your specific military experience and how to navigate the process, visit the Mil-2-Mariner (M2M) Tool on the MilGears website. The M2M Tool analyzes your entries and uploaded service records for creditable sea service, training and assessments that you completed during your military service and compares your results against the standard for an original or upgraded Merchant Mariner Credential to determine which credentials you may be able to pursue based on your specific military experience.

Military Sealift Command (MSC)

One way to continue your service to your nation is through the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC). As an MSC civil service mariner, you join the premier provider of ocean transportation for the Department of Defense which operates over 100 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships in support of the US Navy, deployed US forces, and coalition partners around the world. Learn more about Military Sealift Command at the "About MSC" page on their website. You can learn more about which MSC occupations might relate to your military experience on the MSC Veterans employment page.

Merchant Marine Industry

Another way to serve as a civilian mariner outside of government service is as a US Merchant Marine. The merchant mariner industry consists of privately-owned, US registered merchant ships and a variety of towing, offshore supply, and passenger vessels which provide waterborne transportation for passengers and cargoes moving in domestic and international commerce. Primary shipboard employment categories include deep sea, Great Lakes, towing and barges, inland and coastal waters, passenger vessels, and offshore and mineral operations. Other areas of employment in the maritime industry include shipbuilding and repair, longshoring (cargo handling), port terminal administration, and intermodal logistics.

General information about the maritime industry can be found in the Maritime Careers Brochure and the Maritime Careers Resources Guide. The Maritime Industry website also includes numerous informative links to maritime companies, schools, and seaports.

In Demand Jobs in the Mariner Industry

Specific Deck functions currently in demand include:

Electronics Technician (ET)
An electronics technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair and management of sophisticated electronic equipment, including:
- command and control systems;
- shipboard weapons;
- guidance and fire-control systems;
- communications receivers and transmitters;
- data and voice encryption equipment;
- navigation and search radar;
- tactical electronic detection systems;
- and electronic navigation equipment.
For applicable entry-level credential checklist information, see the USCG National Maritime Center website. Go to the "Renewal/Entry/Duplicate" tab and select "National Entry Level Ratings" from the drop-down.
Storekeeper
Storekeepers are responsible for:
- performing all supply department functions assigned;
- directives and program specific directives;
- maintenance records;
- correspondence, reports, and returns;
- material identification for both government and commercial items;
- material expenditures, shipments, and surveys;
- processing Material Requirements External (MRE) transactions, which include logging onto the data system, processing customer requirements, issuing for own ship's use and completing transactions via warehouse processing.
For applicable entry-level credential checklist information, see the USCG National Maritime Center website. Go to the "Renewal/Entry/Duplicate" tab and select "National Entry Level Ratings" from the drop-down.
Medical
Medical Department Representatives (MDR) are:
- responsible for the health of all embarked personnel aboard the vessel;
- act as the vessel’s agent in all aspects of health, including health care, preventative medicine, environmental health, occupational health, and medical administration;
- trained as a Professional Nurse, Physician Assistant, or Hospital Corpsman with IDC Endorsement.
For the MDR license checklist information, see the USCG National Maritime Center website. Go to the "Deck Officers" tab and select "National Staff Officers" in the "National Officer Endorsements (licensed) for Deck" drop-down.
Culinary Professionals
Culinary professionals are responsible for:
- efficient operation of the galley/kitchen;
- progressive cooking techniques, menu development, and healthy recipe preparation;
- using the Armed Forces Recipe Service and local recipes and instructions;
- safely operating various food service equipment and instruments;
- following health and sanitation protocols associated with food service storing, use of leftovers and unused portions, thawing frozen foods, and other food safety procedures;
- maintaining inventory of galley equipment and utensils, and reporting discrepancies.
For applicable entry-level credential checklist information, see the USCG National Maritime Center website. Go to the "Renewal/Entry/Duplicate" tab and select "National Entry Level Ratings" from the dropdown.

Merchant Mariner Credentialing Information

Employment in the maritime industry as either a Military Sealift Command civil service mariner (CIVMAR) or a merchant mariner requires credentialing from the US Coast Guard through the National Maritime Center. Enlisted Active Duty and Reserve US Navy personnel in eligible ratings may have the credentialing fees and exams funded via Navy COOL. See the USCG Credentialing tab in the Related Credentials section of this page for more details about how to attain USCG credentials related to your Navy Rating or Collateral Duty. To evaluate your sea service for Merchant Marine credential eligibility, see the MilGears Mil-2-Mariner (M2M) Tool.

Additional Career Opportunities

There are numerous other good sources of information about career opportunities within the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the US Merchant Marine industry. You can learn more at the following links:

Military to Mariner page maintained by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD)
There are also career opportunities available for prior military as civilian mariners in the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Continuing Education

In addition to obtaining certifications in your field, advanced education is another way to enhance job performance.

For help in making informed choices on schools and education programs when using tuition assistance, see:

Tuition Assistance (TA) DECIDE