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USMC0351

Infantry Assaultman

Operates assault and breaching weapons including the SMAW rocket and M3 MAAWS recoilless rifle. Provides direct fire anti-armor and breaching capability to Marine rifle units in combat.

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Recruiter vs. Reality
What they tell you

“Employ the SMAW rocket launcher and AT4 anti-armor system to defeat enemy fortifications and armored vehicles. You are the infantryman's answer to hardened positions and light armor, providing organic anti-armor capability at the squad level.”

What it's actually like

The SMAW is a beautiful weapon that makes a sound like the world ending and produces a backblast signature visible from a neighboring country, which is to say that the moment you fire it everyone on the battlefield knows exactly where you are. The AT4 is single-shot disposable, which means you train with expensive simulators and hope your muscle memory transfers. The MOS is being restructured as the Corps modernizes, which means you may spend significant portions of your contract doing regular infantry things while waiting for the assault missions that don't come. "Assaultman" at the squad level means you are also expected to breach, blow, and destroy things with demolitions — the engineering-adjacent portion of the job that requires a comfort with explosives that not everyone arrives with and some people never develop. When you get to fire the real thing on a live-fire range, the physics of what these systems do to hard targets is genuinely awe-inspiring. Worth it.

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MOS Intel

ClearanceSecret
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PromotionSlow
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Deploy TempoHigh
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BonusVaries by enlistment program
Career Intel
Duty StationsCamp Pendleton (CA) · Camp Lejeune (NC) · MCB Hawaii · 29 Palms (CA)
Daily LifeDemolitions training, breaching exercises, rocket live fires, and standard infantry operations. Assault Marines are the unit's experts on obstacles, fortifications, and how to destroy them. You train on explosive charges, mechanical breaching, and anti-armor weapons. Garrison life includes demolition certification maintenance and equipment upkeep.
AIT / SchoolSOI followed by the Assault Marine Course. Training covers demolitions (military and improvised), the SMAW rocket launcher, mine warfare, urban breaching, and obstacle reduction. The demolitions training is hands-on and intense — you work with live explosives regularly.
Physical DemandsVery high. Standard infantry load plus demolitions, rockets, and breaching equipment. You carry the SMAW, AT4s, demolition charges, and breaching tools in addition to your personal gear.
DeploymentsDeploys with infantry battalions; assault Marines are critical for breaching and demolitions in any operation
Certifications
Demolitions qualifiedSMAW gunnerBreaching certificationsMine/countermine warfareCombat Lifesaver
Pro Tips
  1. 1The demolitions qualification is your golden ticket. Civilian demolition and explosive ordnance careers pay extremely well and your military training is the foundation.
  2. 2Learn urban breaching techniques cold — this is the most in-demand assault skillset in modern operations.
  3. 3Get every demolition certification the Marine Corps offers. Each one adds to your post-service value.
The Honest Truth

The 0351 is being restructured under Force Design 2030, so check current status before committing. Historically, assault Marines were the infantry's demolition and anti-armor experts — the Marines who blow things up and breach obstacles. The recruiter might not mention this MOS exists separately from 0311. The training is genuinely interesting: live demolitions, rocket systems, and breaching operations. The civilian translation is actually better than standard infantry — demolition, mining, and explosive safety are in-demand skills. The caveat: the Marine Corps is reorganizing its infantry structure, and some of these billets are being absorbed or realigned. Ask your recruiter specifically about the current status of the 0351 MOS and where it fits in the new force structure.

Training Pipeline
1
Recruit Training13w
Parris Island (SC)
2
SOI — ITB8w
Camp Geiger (NC)
3
Infantry Assault Course4w
Camp Lejeune (NC)
SMAW, Javelin, MAAWS anti-armor weapons, breaching. Combined arms focus.
On the Outside

What this actually is in the real world

Your skills translate. Here's what civilian employers call this job — and what they pay.

Law Enforcement Officer

Strong match
$66,000$45,000 – $98,000/yr median
Job market: Average

Demolition Technician

Strong match
$72,000$52,000 – $105,000/yr median
Job market: Average

Security Manager

Related field
$78,000$55,000 – $115,000/yr median
Job market: Average
Salary data estimated from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and comparable civilian roles. Figures are approximations — use as a guide, not a guarantee.
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