HonestMOS

Got a wild idea? We build for service members — not the brass, not shareholders. If it's good, it ships.

Suggest a Feature →
← Follow the Money/By MOS
ArmyService SupportRank #41 of 101 by 4-year cost
88K

Watercraft Operator

12-week pipeline · BCT + AIT · Fort Eustis, VA (Fort Gregg-Adams)
Training Pipeline
$30K
12 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$12K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$332K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$30K9%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K76%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$48K14%
Training: 9% · MILPERS: 76% · Equipment: 14%= $332K
By the Numbers

The Army's watercraft fleet enables logistics over shore in contested amphibious environments. 88Ks are rare — fewer than 400 trained annually — and hold credentials (Merchant Mariner License) worth $15K in civilian licensing fees.

Training Pipeline
Duration
12 weeks
Type
BCT + AIT
Location
Fort Eustis, VA (Fort Gregg-Adams)
Pipeline Cost
$30K

88Ks operate Army vessels including the LCU-2000 landing craft capable of carrying 350 tons of cargo. The Army operates more watercraft than most navies — and the 88K is the rating that drives them.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Primary Platform
LCU-2000 — $18M per vessel (10-person crew)
Assigned Equipment
  • ·LCU-2000 Landing Craft ($18M)
  • ·LCM-8 Mechanized Landing Craft
  • ·Navigation Equipment
  • ·Safety/Rescue Equipment
Annual Equipment Burden
$12K/yr
Vessel share ($18M / 10 crew / 30yr) + operational 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~400
Avg Career Length8 years
Annual Training Bill$12.0M
Total Force 4yr Cost$132.6M
Read 88K Reviews →← All MOS ProfilesAverage Per-Soldier Cost →
Other Army Profiles
18X
Special Forces Candidate → 18 Series
$1.1M
4-year total
153A
Rotary Wing Aviator (Warrant Officer)
$825K
4-year total
89D
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist
$617K
4-year total

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.