Is 7316 (Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) Operator) a Good MOS?
United States Marine Corps · Military Occupational Specialty
Quick Facts — 7316 (Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) Operator)
AIT / Training
6 weeks
Training Location
MCCES, Twentynine Palms, CA
Career Field
Aviation
Verdict: Not enough data
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Score Breakdown
About 7316 Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) Operator
Plans, integrates, and executes Small Unmanned Aircraft System operations in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Maintains and remotely pilots small unmanned air vehicles, manages onboard optics and sensors, synchronizes SUAS into unit operations, and serves as the subject matter expert for SUAS operations and capabilities at the company and battalion level. Created as a new primary MOS from lessons learned in Ukraine and two decades of UAS operations. Lateral move only — requires prior MOS, GT score of 110+, and a Secret clearance.
6 weeks
MCCES, Twentynine Palms, CA
Aviation
Recruiter vs. Reality
What the Recruiter Says
You'll be flying drones for the Marine Corps — the future of warfare. Every infantry battalion needs SUAS operators, and you'll be the most in-demand MOS in the MAGTF. The skills transfer directly to the booming commercial drone industry, and you'll have a Secret clearance on top of it. This is the cutting-edge job every Marine wishes they had.
What It's Actually Like
You will fly small drones — RQ-20 Pumas, Skydio X2s, and whatever the next platform is. The tech is genuinely cool and the mission is real. But "operator" means you are also the maintainer, the mission planner, the battery manager, and the person explaining to the company commander why the drone can't fly in 30-knot winds for the fifth time this week. You'll spend more time on pre-flight checklists and sensor calibration than actual stick time. The civilian drone market is real but oversaturated — defense contractor SUAS jobs pay well though. Also: you are a lateral move MOS, which means you already did something else first, and your old unit will never forgive you for leaving.