6672 vs 7532
Aviation Supply Specialist (USMC) vs Pilot, F/A-18 Hornet (USMC)
Both went to Parris Island or San Diego. Everything since has been a choose-your-own-adventure book with no good options.
What the brochure didn't mention about 6672: 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. What the brochure forgot about 7532: carrier qualifications are required — landing a jet on a ship at night in bad weather is exactly as difficult as it sounds. Same military-industrial complex, different floors.
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.
“You'll fly the F/A-18 Hornet — a multi-role fighter that does air-to-air, air-to-ground, and everything in between. Marine Hornet pilots deploy on aircraft carriers alongside Navy squadrons and from expeditionary airfields forward. It's the most versatile tactical jet in the Marine Corps inventory.”
The F/A-18 community is the backbone of Marine fixed-wing tactical aviation. You'll train for air-to-air combat, drop precision munitions in close air support of Marines on the ground, and conduct deep strikes against strategic targets. Carrier qualifications are required — landing a jet on a ship at night in bad weather is exactly as difficult as it sounds. VMFA and VMFA(AW) squadrons deploy frequently and the training tempo between deployments is relentless. The Hornet is being replaced by the F-35B/C, so the community is in transition — but the flying hours and tactical experience are unmatched.
The Real Life
Same dimensions, side by side. 6672 on the left, 7532 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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