Coastal Riverine Force Sailor

Also called: Navy Expeditionary Security, Maritime Expeditionary Security Force

Navy sailor who drives fast patrol boats to protect ports, ships, and rivers from attack.

A day in the life

Coastal Riverine sailors patrol harbors in armed boats, escort ships through narrow waterways, and set up security around piers. Most come from Master-at-Arms, Boatswain's Mate, and Engineman ratings. Civilian paths: harbor police, maritime security, boat captain.

Pay over a career

Starting
$48k
Typical
$62k
High
$92k

Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma, then a qualifying rating and expeditionary 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, Marine Transportation.

Outlook

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.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. Robot patrol boats are being tested; armed harbor patrols stay largely human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: PE / swimming, Small engines CTE.

More Military Security & Law Enforcement careers

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.