Specialty Codes — The Skills on Your Record That Actually Matter
Every branch records skills beyond your primary job code differently. Army ASIs and SQIs, Navy NECs, Air Force AFSC prefixes and SDIs, Marine secondary MOSs, Coast Guard specialty quals — these codes drive assignment matching, board standing, and billet eligibility. Most service members don't know what's available.
SQIs (single letter) append to your MOS code on the ERB — 11BR means Ranger-qualified. ASIs (two characters) appear separately and identify supplemental training. Both are searchable fields HRC uses to match assignments.
11B → 11BR (SQI R)Navy Enlisted Classifications are 4-digit codes that identify specific skills beyond a Sailor's rating. NECs drive billet assignment at BUPERS and can be required for special warfare, nuclear, CT, and diving positions.
NEC 5342 — Navy SEALSingle-letter prefixes are added before the AFSC (P1C2X1 = parachutist TACP). Special Duty Identifiers (SDIs) identify specific duty roles like First Sergeant (8F000) or Recruiter (8R000). Applies to Space Force Guardians as well.
P prefix + 8F000 SDIMarines earn Secondary MOSs and Additional MOSs through schools and qualifying courses. These appear in the OMPF and drive assignment eligibility at MMEA (enlisted) and MMOA (officers).
0321 AMOS — Recon ManCG qualifications identify operational skills within and beyond the rating — MLE boarding officer, AST rescue swimmer, STCW maritime licensing. Many translate directly to civilian maritime careers.
AST, MLE, OUPV, STCWCG Boarding Officer: the actual authority.
Most study guides still cite the boarding authority as 14 U.S.C. § 89 — it was renumbered to § 522 in 2018. A 3-page PDF with the corrected citation, the real qualification pipeline, and the governing manuals, with anything unconfirmed labeled as such.
SQIs — Major Qualifications
Appended to the right of your MOS code on your ERB (e.g., 11BR). Denote major qualifications that expand your recognized skill set.
ASIs — Supplemental Skills
Two-character codes identifying training beyond your primary MOS. Appear on your ERB and influence assignment and promotion eligibility.
What is the difference between an ASI and an SQI?
Both are Army skill codes. An SQI (Skill Qualification Identifier) is a single character appended directly to your MOS on your record — 11B plus the "R" SQI reads as 11BR, a Ranger-qualified infantryman. An ASI (Additional Skill Identifier) is a two-character code tracked as a separate field that identifies supplemental training. Both are searchable fields HRC uses to match you to assignments.
What are the equivalents in the other branches?
The Navy uses Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs) — four-digit codes that identify skills beyond your rating and drive billet assignment at BUPERS. The Air Force and Space Force use single-letter AFSC prefixes and Special Duty Identifiers (SDIs). The Marine Corps uses Secondary and Additional MOSs (SMOS/AMOS). The Coast Guard uses specialty qualifications such as boarding officer, rescue swimmer (AST), and STCW maritime licensing.
Where do these codes show up on my record?
They live on your personnel record — the ERB/ORB for the Army, the OMPF for Marines, and the equivalent system in each branch. Because they are searchable fields, they drive assignment matching, board standing, and billet eligibility. That is why an unrecorded qualification is effectively invisible to the detailers and assignment managers deciding where you go next.
Do specialty codes help with assignments and promotion?
Yes — indirectly but materially. These codes are how assignment managers (HRC, BUPERS, MMEA/MMOA) filter for the people qualified to fill a billet, and they factor into how competitive your record looks to a board. Holding the right code can open assignments and schools that are closed to everyone without it. Use the browser above to see the requirements for a specific code.
Which regulation governs each branch’s codes?
Army ASIs and SQIs are defined in DA Pam 611-21. Navy NECs are in NAVPERS 18068. Air Force AFSC prefixes and SDIs are in AFI 36-2101. Marine MOSs are in MCO 1200.17. Coast Guard qualifications are administered by CG-PSC. Those are the authoritative sources — this tool summarizes them so you can find the code fast, then verify against the current manual.