Is 1171 (Water Support Technician) a Good MOS?
United States Marine Corps · Military Occupational Specialty
Quick Facts — 1171 (Water Support Technician)
AIT / Training
9 weeks
Training Location
MCES, Camp Lejeune, NC
Career Field
Utilities
Verdict: Not enough data
Based on 0 community reviews from verified service members
Score Breakdown
About 1171 Water Support Technician
Purifies, stores, and distributes water in field and garrison environments. Operates tactical water purification systems to provide potable water to Marine units.
9 weeks
MCES, Camp Lejeune, NC
Utilities
Recruiter vs. Reality
What the Recruiter Says
Water Support Technicians ensure the most critical resource on the battlefield: clean water. You'll operate advanced purification systems and manage water distribution across expeditionary environments. This MOS develops expertise in water treatment technology -- a booming civilian industry where your skills will be in high demand.
What It's Actually Like
You are a Water Support Technician in the Marine Corps, which means you turn undrinkable water into drinkable water in places where clean water doesn't exist — using Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPUs) that weigh three thousand pounds and were last updated when flip phones were cutting-edge. The recruiter said 'you'll be essential to every operation,' and that's technically true — Marines literally cannot fight without water — but nobody will thank you for it, or even remember you exist, until the water stops flowing. Then you are the single most important Marine in the AO. Your daily life involves maintaining purification equipment that breaks with the reliability of a 1998 Kia, running water quality tests, and explaining to infantry Marines why they absolutely cannot just drink from that creek. You will know more about water chemistry than any civilian plumber, and you'll never be able to explain your job at a party without people losing interest.