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MarinesCombat ArmsRank #32 of 101 by 4-year cost
1371

Combat Engineer

28-week pipeline · Recruit Training + MCT + Combat Engineer School · MCRD + Camp Lejeune, NC
Training Pipeline
$48K
28 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$10K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$342K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$48K14%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K74%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$40K12%
Training: 14% · MILPERS: 74% · Equipment: 12%= $342K
By the Numbers

Marine combat engineers lead the assault — they go through the breach before anyone else. Their dual mission (build and destroy) makes them one of the most versatile Marines in a combined arms team.

Training Pipeline
Duration
28 weeks
Type
Recruit Training + MCT + Combat Engineer School
Location
MCRD + Camp Lejeune, NC
Pipeline Cost
$48K

Marine combat engineers are trained in breaching, demolitions, obstacle emplacement, and route clearance — a curriculum that consumes $5,000 in demolition materials per trainee before graduation.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Assigned Equipment
  • ·Demolition Kit
  • ·Mine Detection Equipment
  • ·Breaching Equipment
  • ·M4A1 Carbine
  • ·Body Armor/PPE
Annual Equipment Burden
$10K/yr
Demo materials + breaching equipment + detection tools amortized
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~1,200
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$57.6M
Total Force 4yr Cost$409.8M
Other Marines Profiles

Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.