Also called: Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT), Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET), Port Security Unit
Members of the Coast Guard's elite teams who board hostile ships, fight terrorism at sea, and protect ports.
DSF members fast-rope from helicopters onto suspect ships, deploy on Navy ships to arrest drug smugglers, and guard ports during major events.
RMC (base pay + housing/food allowances + tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-7 ranks, 2026 estimate, plus the special-duty, hazardous-duty, flight, dive, jump, or language pays this specialty usually earns. Enlistment/reenlistment bonuses for this field can be large.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. Enlist in the Coast Guard (often as Maritime Enforcement Specialist), then screening and advanced tactical training. 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: Criminal Justice.
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. Drones scout targets; fast-roping onto hostile ships stays human.
Classes: PE / strength training, PE / swimming.
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.