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Army MOS · Engineering

12Y Geospatial Engineer

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

Geospatial Engineers manage the enterprise geospatial database and integrate information from agencies, other services, coalition allies, deployed soldiers, and sensors. They maintain the geospatial foundation of the Common Operating Picture, compile data into printable products, and produce maps, overlays, and other hardcopy geospatial information.

Minimum clearance: TS/SCI

Minimum ASVAB: ST 100 and GT 100

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-18

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: smartbook-611-21-ch10c-fy2025 (source date 2025-12). Policy applicability has not been established.

See if you would hit this score: free ASVAB practice test

Core Skills

  • Multi-source enterprise geospatial database management
  • Common Operating Picture geospatial synchronization
  • Printable map and overlay compilation

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Compiling geospatial information from multiple sources and producing maps and overlays transfers directly to civilian cartographic production.

How to prepare: Build a cartography portfolio in ESRI ArcGIS software using public datasets, documenting source selection and completeness checks for each finished map.

What the civilian work involves
  • Compile data required for map preparation, including aerial photographs, survey notes, records, reports, and original maps.
  • Inspect final compositions to ensure completeness and accuracy.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Adobe Illustrator

Database Administrators

Managing an enterprise geospatial database assembled from military, coalition, and sensor sources provides a foundation for civilian database administration.

How to prepare: Build a practice database in Amazon Redshift and document user access settings and tests of database changes to develop administration skills beyond geospatial data compilation.

What the civilian work involves
  • Modify existing databases and database management systems or direct programmers and analysts to make changes.
  • Specify users and user access levels for each segment of database.
  • Test changes to database applications or systems.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Amazon Redshift

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. Army COOL MOC feed: 12Y Geospatial Engineer

    [1] data/authority/army-codes.json entry 12Y (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); DB rank enlisted, authority codeType enlisted

    Supports: Multi-source enterprise geospatial database management, Common Operating Picture geospatial synchronization, Printable map and overlay compilation, Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (O*NET 17-1021.00), Database Administrators (O*NET 15-1242.00)

  2. O*NET: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (O*NET 17-1021.00)

  3. O*NET: Database Administrators

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Database Administrators (O*NET 15-1242.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 12Y

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to 12Y. Each history page explains the change.

21Y1Geospatial Engineer21Y2Geospatial Engineer21Y3Geospatial Engineer21Y4Geospatial Engineer21Y5Geospatial Engineer

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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