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
Coast GuardCombat SupportRank #58 of 101 by 4-year cost
ME

Maritime Enforcement Specialist

20-week pipeline · Recruit Training + A-School + LE Certification · Cape May, NJ + TRACEN Yorktown, VA
Training Pipeline
$38K
20 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$6K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$316K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$38K12%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K80%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$24K8%
Training: 12% · MILPERS: 80% · Equipment: 8%= $316K
By the Numbers

MEs are federal law enforcement officers who work in one of the most physically dangerous LE environments — boarding hostile vessels at sea. Their federal LE credentials transfer directly to DEA, CBP, and other federal agencies on separation.

Training Pipeline
Duration
20 weeks
Type
Recruit Training + A-School + LE Certification
Location
Cape May, NJ + TRACEN Yorktown, VA
Pipeline Cost
$38K

Coast Guard MEs are federal law enforcement officers with full Title 14 arrest authority — the same power as FBI agents — executing boardings on vessels at sea in rough water. Over 100 drug seizures per year involve ME boarding teams.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Assigned Equipment
  • ·M18 Pistol
  • ·M4 Carbine
  • ·Body Armor
  • ·Boarding Team Equipment
  • ·Maritime Law Enforcement Kit
Annual Equipment Burden
$6K/yr
LE equipment + personal gear + boarding 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~800
Avg Career Length7 years
Annual Training Bill$30.4M
Total Force 4yr Cost$252.4M
Read ME Reviews →← All MOS ProfilesAverage Per-Soldier Cost →
Other Coast Guard Profiles
GM-CG
Gunner's Mate (Coast Guard)
$371K
4-year total
BM-CG
Boatswain's Mate (Coast Guard)
$334K
4-year total
HS-CG
Health Services Technician
$306K
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.