6672 vs 7315
Aviation Supply Specialist (USMC) vs Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Officer (USMC)
Two MOS codes that share nothing except a fierce, eternal argument about who's more "Marine." Spoiler: neither will concede.
On one side of the military: the supply system is large, bureaucratic, and frequently slow relative to operational demand. The MOS also requires understanding enough about the parts you're tracking to recognize when something is wrong — a component returned from repair that doesn't match the documentation, or a consumable that doesn't match the NSN. Somewhere else on the same installation: your job is to lead an emerging capability that ground commanders are still learning how to use effectively — which means half your job is education and advocacy, not just operations. The RQ-21A Blackjack replaced the RQ-7B Shadow and is itself being evaluated against emerging platforms. The retention rate for both of these tells a story that recruiting isn't allowed to read aloud.
After the Uniform
The part the recruiter skips: what each job actually translates to once you're a civilian — and what it pays.
Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. A guide, not a guarantee.
Recruiter vs. Reality
The pitch versus what people who actually did the job report back.
“Marine aviation runs on parts. As an Aviation Supply Specialist, you are the link between the maintenance department and the supply system — the person who gets the right component, in the right condition, to the right technician before NMCS status turns into a cancelled mission. You manage aviation spare parts inventories for Marine squadrons: ordering, receiving, inspecting, storing, and issuing aircraft components and aeronautical consumables. You interface with Aviation Supply Depots, process requisitions for Not Mission Capable Supply aircraft, manage bench stock so routine items are always on hand, and track high-value assets through the supply chain. Aviation supply is not general supply with a different hat — the urgency is real, the documentation requirements are precise, and the consequences of a wrong part or a lost tracking number show up on the flight schedule.”
Aviation supply at the squadron level means you will be the person maintenance chiefs come to — loudly, urgently — when an aircraft has been down for parts for three days and the CO is asking questions. The supply system is large, bureaucratic, and frequently slow relative to operational demand. Knowing how to navigate NALCOMIS, how to escalate a priority requisition, and how to source a part through lateral transfer when the depot pipeline is dry is what separates a good 6672 from one who just processes paperwork. The MOS also requires understanding enough about the parts you're tracking to recognize when something is wrong — a component returned from repair that doesn't match the documentation, or a consumable that doesn't match the NSN. Deployments mean supporting aviation supply in expeditionary conditions with reduced staffing and compressed timelines. The work is administrative at its surface and operationally critical underneath.
“Marine Corps UAS Officers command and direct unmanned aerial system operations across the MAGTF. You plan and execute ISR missions using the RQ-21A Blackjack and other platforms, integrate UAS into ground and aviation operations, and manage UAS detachments that support battalion and regimental commanders. The Marine UAS community is one of the fastest-growing warfighting functions in the Corps — every major ground operation now expects persistent ISR overhead, and UAS provides it at a fraction of the cost of manned aviation. As a 7315, you sit at the intersection of aviation planning, intelligence operations, and ground force support. You will brief commanders, coordinate airspace with controlling agencies, and build the collection plan that determines what commanders know and when they know it. The community is small, influential, and expanding.”
UAS Officer is a community in transition, and 'transition' in Marine Corps terms means doctrine, equipment, and organizational structure are all moving simultaneously. The RQ-21A Blackjack replaced the RQ-7B Shadow and is itself being evaluated against emerging platforms. Your job is to lead an emerging capability that ground commanders are still learning how to use effectively — which means half your job is education and advocacy, not just operations. Airspace coordination is a constant friction point: small UAS operate in the same airspace as manned aviation, and deconfliction requires persistent coordination with air traffic control and the aviation combat element. The community is also figuring out its own career path — how UAS billets feed into senior leadership, whether 7315 is a terminal assignment or a stepping stone, and how to develop officers who understand both aviation and ground force requirements. Get in early, shape the doctrine, and accept that the playbook is still being written.
The Real Life
Same dimensions, side by side. 6672 on the left, 7315 on the right.
Receiving, storing, issuing, and tracking aviation-specific parts and supplies. Operating aviation logistics information systems, managing repairable components, and supporting aircraft maintenance shops with the parts they need. You work in aviation supply warehouses and tool rooms, interfacing between maintenance Marines and the supply chain.
Installing, operating, and maintaining expeditionary airfield systems — short airfield for tactical support (SATS) equipment including catapults, arresting gear, optical landing systems, runway lighting, and aircraft recovery systems. You make it possible for Marine aircraft to operate from austere, forward airfields that would otherwise be unusable. When a location needs an airfield and there isn't one, your equipment and expertise create one.
The Aviation Supply Specialist Course covers aviation supply procedures, parts identification, hazardous materials handling, and aviation-specific logistics systems. The training is more specialized than general supply — you learn aircraft-specific inventory management and the unique requirements of aviation parts tracking.
MCT at Camp Geiger (NC) or Camp Pendleton (CA) followed by the Expeditionary Airfield Systems Course at MCAS Cherry Point (NC). Training covers expeditionary airfield systems, catapult and arresting gear operations, optical landing system setup, and field maintenance procedures. Duration approximately 10-14 weeks.
Moderate. Aviation supply work involves receiving, storing, and issuing aircraft parts — some of which are heavy and require careful handling. Warehouse work and hazmat handling are part of the job.
High. Installing, maintaining, and repairing heavy airfield equipment in field conditions. The work involves heavy lifting, working outdoors in all weather, and physically demanding equipment operations.
Aviation supply specialists are the enlisted Marines who ensure aircraft maintenance shops have the right parts at the right time. The recruiter won't know what to tell you about this MOS. The honest truth: it's warehouse and logistics work with an aviation specialization that makes it significantly more marketable than general supply. The civilian aviation industry is massive — airlines, defense contractors, MRO facilities, and aircraft manufacturers all need supply chain workers who understand aviation parts. Starting salaries for experienced aviation supply professionals are $45,000-$65,000, with management potential well above that. The work is detail-oriented and the stakes are real — the wrong part on an aircraft can be catastrophic. If you're organized, detail-oriented, and want a career in the aviation industry without being a mechanic or a pilot, this MOS is a solid foundation.
Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician is one of the most niche and underappreciated MOSs in Marine aviation. You install and maintain the catapults, arresting gear, lighting, and recovery systems that allow Marine aircraft to operate from expeditionary airfields — short, rough strips in forward locations that no civilian aircraft would land on. The recruiter probably didn't mention this MOS at all, because it's small and specialized. What they won't tell you: the equipment is heavy, the work is physical, the field conditions are austere, and almost nobody outside of Marine aviation knows you exist. But your work is genuinely critical: without expeditionary airfield systems, Marine aviation is limited to established bases, which defeats the entire purpose of the Marine Corps' expeditionary mission. The civilian career path is narrow but real: naval aviation support contractors, airport operations, and heavy equipment maintenance roles value this specific experience. It's not glamorous, but it's essential.
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