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MarinesService SupportRank #45 of 101 by 4-year cost
3531

Motor Vehicle Operator

20-week pipeline · Recruit Training + MCT + Motor Transport School · MCRD + Camp Johnson, NC
Training Pipeline
$34K
20 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$10K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$328K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$34K10%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K77%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$40K12%
Training: 10% · MILPERS: 77% · Equipment: 12%= $328K
By the Numbers

No Marine unit deploys without motor transport. 3531s drove through IED belts in Iraq and Afghanistan because the mission required it — a combat risk that civilian CDL holders are paid very differently to avoid.

Training Pipeline
Duration
20 weeks
Type
Recruit Training + MCT + Motor Transport School
Location
MCRD + Camp Johnson, NC
Pipeline Cost
$34K

Marine motor transport operators drive convoys in both garrison and combat environments. During OIF/OEF, 3531 convoys were among the most frequently IED-targeted missions — and Marines in those trucks were awarded Combat Action Ribbons at high rates.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Primary Platform
MTVR Medium Tactical Vehicle — $350,000 per vehicle
Assigned Equipment
  • ·MTVR 7-Ton Truck ($350K)
  • ·HMMWV ($220K)
  • ·M4A1 Carbine
  • ·Vehicle-Mounted Crew Weapon
Annual Equipment Burden
$10K/yr
MTVR share ($350K / 2 crew / 20yr) + personal equipment
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~2,500
Avg Career Length5 years
Annual Training Bill$85.0M
Total Force 4yr Cost$818.8M
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.