The Communications occupational field includes the design, installation,interconnection, operation and defense of networks in support of data systemsto provide secure, nonsecure, and coalition information exchange requirementsin a tactical or garrison environment. Additional responsibilities include, tooperate and perform preventive maintenance on both hardware and softwaresystems; including radio, telephone, cryptographic, network and data systems,which are essential links in the overall functions of communication andcommand and control. Marines serving in the communications field face thechallenge of operating in a technological innovative environment whereemerging capabilities and requirements demand highly skilled operators. Theopportunity to participate in the Northern Virginia (NOVA) Community Collegeadvanced standing credit program in order to achieve a Cybersecurity Associateof Applied Science degree is available in some MOSs within occupational field 0600. Additionally, some MOSs within the 0600 occupational field qualify forapprenticeship or certification credentials provided by the Department ofLabor Apprenticeship or the Marine Corps COOL program.
What is an 0602?
Communications Officers command or assist in commanding, a communication unitor element in the MAGTF. They are responsible for all aspects of the planning,installation, operation, displacement and maintenance of network, transmissionand data systems to support the command and control of the MAGTF. They areresponsible for directing Department of Defense Information Operations andDefensive Cyberspace Operations planning and implementation in support ofoperations and exercises.
Are there any prerequisites to becoming a Communications Officer
(1) Must be a U.S. Citizen.
(2) Must be eligible for a Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI accesseligibility.
Where do I go after TBS?
After TBS, officers must complete the 129 day Basic Communications OfficerCourse (BCOC) at the Marine Corps Communications-Electronics School (MCCES)aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, CA. The purpose of the course it to provideleadership and technical training in communication and data systems in orderto prepare company grade officers for entry level billets at the battalion andsquadron level. Primary emphasis is given to the mastery of fundamentaltechniques and skills required for the planning and employment of Marine Corpscommunications systems in both the tactical and garrison environment. Thecourse covers the duties and responsibilities of the Communications PlatoonCommander and S-6 staff officer to include the preparation of command andcontrol plans and orders used by the MAGTF. This course stresses leading aplatoon of communications Marines in the planning, installation, operation andmaintenance (PIOM) of communications systems organic to the battalion andsquadron units within the Operating Forces. This is accomplished byfamiliarizing the student with the operational characteristics ofcommunications systems and the techniques for their employment at thebattalion and squadron communications platoon level.
What is it like being a Communications Officer?
The support provided by Communications Officers is required aboard every majorMarine Corps installation and in units across the MAGTF. A typical first tourassignment for a Communications Officer may be within a CommunicationsBattalion as part of the CE of the MAGTF. There is one CommunicationsBattalion subordinate to each MEF Information Group (MIG): 9th CommunicationsBattalion aboard MCB Camp Pendleton, CA (I MIG); 8th Communications Battalionaboard MCB Camp Lejeune, NC (II MIG); and 7th Communications Battalion aboardMCB Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan (III MIG). Communications Officer in theirfirst tour may serve as either the unit Communications Officer or AssistantCommunications Officer (S-6 or S- 6A) or Network Operations Officer within anO-5 (Lieutenant Colonel) level command at either a squadron or battalion.
Additionally, Communications Officers may serve or in a G-6 at a MAW, MARDIV,or MLG or at a MEF-level command in support of a Major or Lieutenant Colonelon a General Officer staff. Communications Officers may also serve within theMarine Wing Communication Squadrons (MWCS) subordinate to each Marine WingControl Group (MWCG) as part of the ACE of the MAGTF. There is one MWCS withineach MAW: MWCS-38 aboard MCAS Miramar, CA (3rd MAW); MWCS-28 aboard MCASCherry Point, NC (2nd MAW); MWCS-18 aboard MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan (1stMAW).
Recommended reading for Communications Officers
The Inevitable: Understanding the Technological Forces that will Shape ourFuture. Kevin Kelly
Command in War. Martin Van Creveld
Secret and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World. Bruce Schneier
The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created theDigital Revolution. Walter Isaacson
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. LauraHillenbrand
Related occupations
- 0602, Communications Officer (I) (LtCol to 2ndLt) PMOS
- 0603, Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Communications Planner (I) (LtCol to Capt) NMOS (0602)
- 0605, Cyber Network Operations Officer (II) (LtCol to Capt) PMOS
- 0620, Space and Waveform Integration Officer (SWIO) (III) (CWO5 to WO) PMOS
- 0621, Transmissions System Operator (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0623, Troposcatter Transmissions System Operator (Sgt to Pvt) NMOS (0621)
- 0627, Satellite Transmissions System Operator (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0629, Transmissions Chief (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0630, Network Engineering Officer (III) (CWO5 to WO) PMOS
- 0631, Network Administrator (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0633, Network Transport Technician (Sgt to Pvt) NMOS (0631)
- 0639, Network Chief (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0640, Strategic Electromagnetic Spectrum Officer (III) (CWO4 to WO) PMOS
- 0648, Spectrum Manager (MSgt to Sgt) NMOS (0621, 0627, 0629, 0699)
- 0670, Data Systems Engineering Officer (III) (CWO5 to WO) PMOS
- 0671, Data Systems Administrator (Sgt to Pvt) PMOS
- 0673, Applications Developer (GySgt to Sgt) NMOS (0671, 0679)
- 0679, Data Systems Chief (GySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0681, Information Security Technician (MGySgt to SSgt) PMOS
- 0688, Defensive Cyberspace Operator (GySgt to Sgt) PMOS
- 0689, Defensive Cyberspace Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
- 0691, Communications Training Instructor (LtCol to Capt) and (CWO5 to WO) NMOS (0602, 0605, 0620, 0630, 0640, 0670)
- 0691, Communications Training Instructor (MGySgt to SSgt) NMOS (0629, 0639, 0679, 0681, 0688, 0689, 0699)
- 0699, Communications Chief (MGySgt to MSgt) PMOS
Sources/Credits: Please note that the information above was derived from andin most cases taken directly from the "Marine Officer MOS AssignmentHandbook". The Basic School. Camp Barrett. March 3, 2019. All credit goes tothe great staff at TBS for putting this together.
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