mos.directory

Army MOS · Logistics

88K Watercraft Operator

Current service use not established

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

Browse Army

Overview

A Watercraft Operator performs mariner duties on Army watercraft and amphibians. They also supervise other personnel assigned to these craft.

Minimum ASVAB: MM 99

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

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

  • Personnel supervision aboard watercraft and amphibians

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.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Army mariner duties and personnel supervision aboard watercraft and amphibians transfer to civilian vessel operations and crew oversight.

How to prepare: Choose a target vessel and route, then submit an official sea-service transcript or assignment history, including vessel tonnage, routes, propulsion power, time underway and duties, for USCG evaluation toward the appropriate Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) officer endorsement; a DD-214 is not acceptable sea-service evidence. Plan for qualifying sea time, typically several years, approved training, medical and professional examinations, drug testing, age and citizenship requirements, and a TWIC where required; open-ocean service requires USCG-verified STCW training, and maritime pilot work may also require a state license.

What the civilian work involves
  • Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
  • Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. Army COOL MOC feed: 88K Watercraft Operator

    [1] data/authority/army-codes.json entry 88K (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); DB rank enlisted, authority codeType enlisted

    Supports: Personnel supervision aboard watercraft and amphibians, Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (O*NET 53-5021.00)

  2. O*NET: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (O*NET 53-5021.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Water Transportation Workers

    [3] How to Become; training, licenses and related experience; updated August 27, 2026, checked September 23, 2026

    Supports: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (O*NET 53-5021.00)

  4. USCG: 46 CFR 10.232 military sea-service evidence and credit

    [4] Paragraphs (a) and (d)(1), official eCFR snapshot September 21, 2026; retrieved September 24

    Supports: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (O*NET 53-5021.00)

  5. USCG: 46 CFR 11.201 officer-endorsement requirements

    [5] Paragraph (a), official eCFR snapshot September 21, 2026; retrieved September 24

    Supports: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (O*NET 53-5021.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 88K

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to 88K. Each history page explains the change.

61BWatercraft Operator88Y5Marine Senior Sgt

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

Report an error on this page