Also called: Army 88K
Crews the Army's own fleet of landing craft, tugboats, and logistics ships.
Few people know the Army has boats: 88Ks navigate, handle lines, and maintain vessels that haul tanks and cargo to shore. They can earn U.S. Coast Guard mariner credentials. Civilian paths include tugboat, ferry, and merchant mariner careers.
RMC (base pay + housing/food allowances + tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-7 ranks, 2026 estimate, plus the special-duty, hazardous-duty, or skill pays this specialty usually earns. Enlistment/reenlistment bonuses for this field can be $10k-$50k+.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma, then ~10 weeks of watercraft training; Coast Guard credentials possible. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Marine Transportation, Maritime Studies.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Navigation aids help; handling lines and running landing craft stay human.
Classes: PE / swimming, Small engines CTE.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.