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 #33 of 101 by 4-year cost
91M

Firefighter

13-week pipeline · BCT + AIT (IFSAC/Pro Board Certified) · Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Training Pipeline
$31K
13 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$14K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$341K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$31K9%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K74%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$56K16%
Training: 9% · MILPERS: 74% · Equipment: 16%= $341K
By the Numbers

Military firefighters hold nationally recognized certifications worth $5,000–$15,000 in civilian training costs. Post-military employment in municipal fire departments is near-guaranteed — making 91M one of the clearest civilian career pathways in the Army.

Training Pipeline
Duration
13 weeks
Type
BCT + AIT (IFSAC/Pro Board Certified)
Location
Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Pipeline Cost
$31K

91M training results in IFSAC/Pro Board certification — the same national firefighter credentials that civilian departments require. Military firefighters protect both aircraft and structural facilities, making them dual-rated in aircraft rescue and structural fire.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Primary Platform
P-19 ARFF Vehicle — $600,000 per vehicle (4-person crew)
Assigned Equipment
  • ·P-19 Aircraft Rescue Vehicle ($600K)
  • ·Structural Fire Apparatus
  • ·SCBA Equipment
  • ·Firefighting PPE ($5K/person)
  • ·Rescue Tools
Annual Equipment Burden
$14K/yr
P-19 share ($600K / 4 crew / 15yr) + PPE + apparatus share
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~800
Avg Career Length8 years
Annual Training Bill$24.8M
Total Force 4yr Cost$272.4M
Read 91M 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.