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United States military occupation code

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A Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a job classification in use in the U. S. Army and the U. S. Marine Corps.

In the U. S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) are used. In the U. S. Navy, a system of Naval ratings are used.

The system uses a system of letters and numbers to identify the job of personnel. Different branches of the military use different alphanumeric systems, but all differentiate between Comparative military ranks (enlisted personnel), warrant officers, and commissioned officers.

Air Force AFSC

For more information, please see the List of U. S. Air Force AFSC.

Enlisted personnel

The U. S. Air Force structures its AFSC designations in a 5-digit alphanumeric pattern (e.g., 2M0X1). The first digit is a "Career Group designator and ranges from 1 to 9 (from Operations to Special Reporting Identifiers). The second digit (alphabetic) designates the "Career Field" (e.g., 1A is Aircraft Operations). The third digit (numeric) indicates the career field subdivision (the specific job). The fourth digit indicates the skill level of the person ranging from 1 to 9 ("helper" to "superintendent"). The final digit is a numerical designator for even more specific jobs. For example, the AFSC 1N351 means that the person in question is in the Career Group of Operations (1), the Career Field of Intelligence (1N), is a Crypographic Linguist (1N3), is at a "Journeyman" level of skill (1N35), and is specifically a Germanic Crypotgraphic Linguist.

Commissioned Officers

Commissioned Officers in the Air Force are desgnated by a four digit system. The first two digits represent "Career Field" (ranging from 11 - Pilot Field to 8XX - Special Duty). The third digit indicates a specialty sub-field. For example, in field 11 (Pilot), the Subfield B indicates a Bomber pilot. The fourth digit indicates rank/level of experience (ranging from 1 - Student to 4 - Staff).

Army MOS

NOTE: The U. S. Army is currently restructuring its designations. Major changes have been made and will continue to be made into 2007.

For more information, please see the List of U. S. Army MOS.

Enlisted personnel

The U. S. Army separates occupational specialties into "Occupational Fields" ranging from 11 to 98 (Infantry to Communications Intelligence). Inside of the Occupational Field designation, it lists pertinent MOS codes in a 3-digit alphanumeric system. For example, in the Occupational Field 31 (Law Enforcement) there are 3 MOS codes: 31B (Military Police), 31D (Criminal Investigation Special Agent), and 31E (Corrections Specialist).

Within each MOS, there is a ranking of "Skill Levels". These designate the different jobs that are assigned with rank in that MOS. For example, in the 31B (Military Police) MOS, there are 5 Skill Levels ranging from #1 (team member - most junior) to #5 (Staff supervision, Planning - most senior).

Commissioned Officers

In regards to Commissioned Officers, occupational codes are structured a bit differently. A new Army officer first receives his/her "Career Branch". This is similar to the Occupational Fields of the enlisted personnel. They range from 11 to 68 (Infantry to Medical Service Corps). Inside of their Occupational Field, there are usually several codes available. For example, in Field 12 (Armor) there are 3 specialties available: 12A (Armor, General), 12B (Armor), and 12C (Cavalry). After an Officer's fifth or sixth year of service, he/she will receive a "Functional Area" designation. More broad than a "Career Branch", this is a general skill set that the Officer is proficient in. For example, an Artillery Officer who has had schooling in communications and public speaking could end up with a Functional Area in Public Affairs (designated number 46).

Marine Corps MOS

The U. S. Marine Corps begins by separating all jobs into "occupational fields" (OccFld), in which no distinction is made between officers and enlisted Marines. The fields are numbered from 01 to 99 and include general categories (Infantry, Logistics, Public Affairs, Ordnance, etc.) that specific jobs fall under.

Each field contains multiple MOS's, each designated by a four-digit numerical indicator and a job title. For example, the infantry field (03) has seven enlisted classifications: Rifleman (MOS 0311), LAV Crewman (MOS 0313), Reconnaissance Man (MOS 0321), Mortarman (MOS 0341), Assaultman (MOS 0351), Antitank Assault Guided Missileman (MOS 0352), and Infantry Unit Leader (MOS 0369).

Each of the jobs have authorized ranks associated with them. For example, anyone raking from Private to Sergeant can be a Rifleman (0311), but only Marines ranking from Staff Sergeant to Master Gunnery Sergeant can be an Infantry Unit Leader (0369).

Duties and tasks are identified by rank because the Marine Corps MOS system is designed around the belief that increased duties and tasks accompany promotions. The first two digits designate the field and, the last two digits identify the promotional channel and specialty. For example, the MOS 0311 indicates that it is in Occupational Field 03 (Infantry) and designates the "Rifleman" (11) MOS. For warrant officers, the MOS 2305 indicates that it is in Occupational Field 23 (Ammunition and Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and designates the "Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer" (05) MOS. For officers, the MOS 0802 idicates that it is in Occupational Field 08 (Field Artillery) and designates the "Field Artillery Officer" (02) MOS.

For more information, please see the List of U. S. Navy Ratings.

Enlisted Personnel

The U.S. Navy designates its "Ratings" by a two or three digit alphabetical code. It ranges from ABE (Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Equipment) to YN (Yeoman - Submarine).

Commissioned Officers

Officers in the Navy have a designator. It is similar to an MOS but is less complicated and has fewer categories. For example a Surface Warfare Officer with a regular commission has a designator of 1160; a reserve officer would have an 1165 designator. A reserve surface warfare officer specializing in Nuclear training (ie: Engineer on a carrier) would have a designator of 1165N. Navy officers also have one or more 3-character Additional Qualification Designator(s) that reflect completion of requirements qualifying them in a specific warfare area or other specialization; in some senses this functions more like the MOS in other services. An officer with the Naval Aviator designator of 1310 might have an AQD of DV3, SH-60F carrier anti-submarine warfare helicopter pilot, or DB4, F-14 fighter pilot. An officer designated 2100, Medical Corps Officer (physician) may hold an AQD of 6CM, Trauma Surgeon, or 6AE, Flight Surgeon who is also a Naval Aviator. Some AQDs may be held by officers in any designator, such as BT2, Freefall Parachutist, or BS1, Shipboard Tomahawk Strike Officer. Navy officer designators and AQD codes may be found in NAVPERS 15839I, The Manual of Navy Officer Manpower and Personnel Classification.

See also

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