The 06XX Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a critical function in the United States Marine Corps.
Communications Marines are highly skilled and trained in both technical and tactical disciplines.
Enlisted Marines earn their title as Marines by going through Recruit Training.
Afterward, they will attend Marine Combat Training, and then they will attend their follow on to MOS school.
Officers attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), followed by The Basic School (TBS) and their MOS school.
The 06XX occupational field provides command and control for commanders on the battlefield.
How that is accomplished changes based on the Marine’s specific MOS.
Below is a list of 22 Marines communications MOSs, as well as a brief description of each.
Table of Contents
1. Transmissions System Operator (MOS 0621)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Commonly known as field radio operators, these Marines provide communication support for ground-side operations.
This includes both manpack radios and vehicle-based radio systems.
0621s provide command and control for Marines on patrols, combat operations, recovery operations, and general support.
2. Troposcatter Transmissions System Operator (MOS 0623)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- Must be a 0621
Troposcatter Transmissions System Operator school is a follow-on school for radio operators to provide them with a more in-depth specialty.
These Marines specialize in providing command and control through troposcatter transmissions.
What this basically means is that they are trained in reflecting transmissions off the atmosphere for long-range communications.
3. Satellite Transmissions System Operator (MOS 0627)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Satellite Transmissions System Operators are experts in providing wideband satellite communications for command and control.
They use various satellite terminals to access satellite networks, enabling communication services in the most isolated regions of the planet.
4. Transmissions Chief (MOS 0629)
Rank: Staff Sergeant through Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Must have previously been a 0621 or 0627
- Secret Clearance Eligible, Some billets require Top Secret Clearance.
A Transmission Chief is a supervisory role for the 0621 and 0627 fields, and they are experts in all things transmissions.
In addition to regular duties, this MOS is critical in the professional development of their junior Marines.
5. Network Administrator (MOS 0631)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Network Administrators maintain and operate Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN).
They install network components, monitor network security, and maintain services to maintain command and control.
6. Network Transport Technician (MOS 0633)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- Must be a 0631
The Network Transport Technician MOS is a follow-on MOS to provide specialized training to 0631s.
0633s have the same responsibilities as 0631, but they have additional training on cable management, cable installation, fiber optics, and coaxial cable.
7. Network Chief (MOS 0639)
Rank: Staff Sergeant through Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Must have previously been a 0631
- Secret Clearance Eligible, Some billets require Top Secret Clearance.
Network Chiefs are the supervisory MOS for 0631s and are experts in network management.
They develop plans and strategies to provide a high level of service and security for command and control.
8. Spectrum Manager (MOS 0648)
Rank: Sergeant through Master Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- GT score of 105 or higher and CL score of 100 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Sergeant or above in the following MOS: 0621, 0627, 0629, 0699, or 5948.
- Secret Clearance Eligible, Some billets require Top Secret Clearance
Spectrum Managers plan and implement policies and frequency management.
To put it simply, they manage radio frequencies for military operations to ensure that Marine Corps units do not use unauthorized frequencies designated for other U.S. military forces and our allies.
9. Data Systems Administrator (MOS 0671)
Rank: Private through Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Normal color vision
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Data Systems Administrators are the Marines responsible for logically managing networks.
This means that they set up and manage logical networks to ensure that people get the services they require.
This would include setting up databases, servers, and DNS, and managing cybersecurity. They administer network access roles and provide support for various operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and Microsoft Windows.
10. Applications Developer (MOS 0673)
Rank: Sergeant through Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- Must be a 0671 or 0679
Applications Developers work with a broad range of computer programming languages to design and manage software.
They develop programs and applications to manage and manipulate databases.
They develop solutions to advanced logical issues to ensure command and control.
11. Data Systems Chief (MOS 0679)
Rank: Staff Sergeant through Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Must be a 0671
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Data Systems Chiefs provide senior leadership to manage logical networks.
They are experts in data systems, disaster recovery, and domain infrastructure.
One of the more important roles of Data Systems Chiefs is providing experienced insight to train and develop junior Marines.
12. Information Security Technician (MOS 0681)
Rank: Staff Sergeant through Master Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- GT score of 100 or higher
- Must be a Staff Sergeant or higher from any MOS
- Top Secret Clearance Eligible
Information Security Technicians play an important role in communications security (COMSEC).
They provide oversight, management, and enforcement of communication security policies.
This is to ensure that sensitive information is not mishandled.
13. Communications Training Instructor (MOS 0691)
Rank: Staff Sergeant through Master Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- Must have been a 0629, 0639, 0679, 0681, or 0699
- Secret Clearance Eligible
Communications Training Instructor develops training and curriculum to ensure that units can complete their mission.
They ensure force modernization and certify Marines to serve in critical billets.
14. Communications Chief (MOS 0699)
Rank: Master Sergeant through Master Gunnery Sergeant
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- EL score of 105 or higher
- Must have been a 0629, 0639, 0679
- Secret Clearance Eligible. Some billets require Top Secret.
A Communications Chief is the senior enlisted advisor for Communications in a command.
They have a vast amount of experience in planning operations, manpower management, and training.
To ensure mission accomplishment, they work internally and externally to ensure secure communications and seamless communications.
15. Communications Officer (MOS 0602)
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Rank: Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- Top Secret Clearance Eligible
Communications Officers are responsible for the deployment, installation, planning, operations, maintenance, and accountability of communication networks.
They ensure that their commands are following the proper guidelines put in place for communications.
16. Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Communications Planner (MOS 0603)
Rank: Captain to Lieutenant Colonel
Prerequisites
- U.S. Citizenship
- Must be a 0602
- Top Secret Clearance Eligible
A Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Communications Planner coordinates with other elements to ensure that information is passed clearly through all stages of the planning process for military operations.
17. Cyber Network Operations Officer (MOS 0605)
Rank: Captain to Lieutenant Colonel
Prerequisites
- Top Secret Clearance Eligible
A Cyber Network Operations Officers’ main duty is to implement Department of Defense Network Operations policies and guidance to mitigate possible cybersecurity risks.
They coordinate with other agencies internally and throughout the DOD to mitigate risk to ensure command and control.
18. Space and Waveform Integration Officer (MOS 0620)
Rank: Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer 5
Prerequisites
- Must have been a 0621, 0627, or 0629 when enlisted.
- Secret Clearance is required. Some billets require Top Secret.
Space and Waveform Integration Officers manage, plan, design, and engineer Over-The-Air (OTA) communication networks.
They ensure integration with the Department of Defense Network Operations.
19. Network Engineering Officer (MOS 0630)
Rank: Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer 5
Prerequisites
- Must have been a 0631, 0639, 0671, or 0679 when enlisted.
- Secret Clearance required. Some billets require Top Secret.
To enable command and control Network Engineering Officers manage, design, maintain, and deploy network infrastructure.
Their main responsibilities are to ensure quality control, operations, planning, budgeting, and technical analysis.
20. Strategic Electromagnetic Spectrum Officer (MOS 0640)
Rank: Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer 4
Prerequisites
- Must have been a 0648 with a minimum of 2 years experience.
- Top Secret
Strategic Electromagnetic Spectrum Officers manage and plan the use of electromagnetic spectrum systems to support operations.
They also develop policies on the proper use and deployment of electromagnetic spectrum systems.
21. Data Systems Engineering Officer (MOS 0670)
Rank: Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer 5
Prerequisites
- Must have been a 0631, 0639, 0671, or 0679 when enlisted.
- Secret Clearance required. Some billets require Top Secret.
Data Systems Engineering Officers ensure that command and control is maintained by designing, deploying, analyzing, maintaining, and managing services to support operations.
22. Communications Training Instructor (MOS 0691)
Rank: Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer 5, or Captain through Lieutenant Colonel
Prerequisites
- Must be a 0602, 0620, 0630, 0640, or 0670.
- Secret Clearance eligibility
The last Marines communications MOS on our list is a communications training instructor, or MOS 0691.
Communications Training Instructors plan unit training, certify Marines to serve in critical billets, and develop personal and skillset evaluations.
They are experts in their field and use their knowledge of equipment capabilities and employment strategies to develop training curriculums.
See Also
Marine Corps Cyber Network Operator (MOS 0651)
Air Force Radio Frequency Transmission Systems (3D1X3)
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