Is 1316 (Metal Worker) a Good MOS?
United States Marine Corps · Military Occupational Specialty
Quick Facts — 1316 (Metal Worker)
AIT / Training
10 weeks
Training Location
MCES, Camp Lejeune, NC
Career Field
Engineering Support
Verdict: Not enough data
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Score Breakdown
About 1316 Metal Worker
Performs metal fabrication, welding, and structural metal work in support of Marine Corps engineering and maintenance operations. Manufactures and repairs metal components for buildings, vehicles, and equipment.
10 weeks
MCES, Camp Lejeune, NC
Engineering Support
Recruiter vs. Reality
What the Recruiter Says
Master metalworking, welding, and fabrication skills to support Marine Corps equipment maintenance and construction missions. Work with cutting torches, MIG and TIG welders, and metal fabrication equipment to produce and repair components across every Marine Corps platform.
What It's Actually Like
You are the person who makes the thing that does not exist yet. When a vehicle part fails and supply says the lead time is sixteen weeks and the unit deploys in three, they find you. When the expeditionary camp needs brackets for something that was designed for a building that doesn't exist in theater, they find you. The work is physically demanding, thermally punishing, and requires a level of craft pride that not everyone arrives with. MIG welding is learnable quickly. TIG welding is a skill that takes years to master and the difference is visible. Metal fabrication in a deployed environment means improvising with available material and making it structurally sound enough to carry real loads under combat conditions, which is a different standard than a shop at Lejeune. The civilian trade — structural welder, pipe welder, fabricator — is in perpetual shortage and pays accordingly. Your DD-214 and your AWS certification are worth real money.