Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
1371 Combat Engineer – Journeyman
Marine Corps combat engineers are skilled ground forces that provide civil engineering support such as carpentry, fortification, obstacle breaching, bridging, and bunker construction. The MOS includes extensive training in explosives for structural demolition, specialized urban breaching, landmine warfare, and a secondary infantry role.
- Carpentry and construction skills including framework, structures and fixtures, concrete forms, and rigging devices
- Preparation and installation of priming and firing systems for demolition and explosives
- Determining placement and quantity of explosive charges for efficient and effective deployment
- Configuration and application of shaped and counter charges for precision demolitions
- Installation and disarmament of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines
- Construction of fixed and floating bridges for wet- and dry-gap crossings
- Boat operation supporting bridge construction and nautical patrols; obtained Bridge Erection Boat operating license
Leadership
Sergeant (E-5) – Squad Leader
Led a twelve-Marine squad in combat operations and supervised personnel, training, hazardous assets, readiness, and mission execution in garrison and deployed environments.
- Led a squad of twelve Marines during critical and decisive engagements in the Iraq War, including An Nasiriyah, Al Kut, and the fall of Baghdad; the unit received a Presidential Unit Citation
- Supervised Marines in the accomplishment of their duties and provided technical guidance
- Managed squad personnel, including three fire-team leaders, and valuable/hazardous equipment and assets
- Held direct responsibility for the physical and mental wellbeing of Marines in garrison and combat environments
- Ensured fire-team leaders maintained personnel readiness for mission directives
- Conducted comprehensive training in engineering and infantry skillsets including demolition, breaching, explosives, construction, bridging, patrolling, and crisis management
- Rapidly retrained Marines assigned from non-engineering occupational specialties in the days leading up to the Iraq invasion so the squad was prepared for combat-engineering missions