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Marine Corps MOS · Engineering

1321 Fabrication Specialist

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

A Fabrication Specialist manufactures, repairs, and modifies components using 3D printing, machining, and welding, combining the former Metal Worker and Machinist specialties. The specialist works from drawings and specifications, operates additive, CNC, welding, and water jet equipment, verifies quality with precision measurement and non-destructive testing, and produces parts at the unit level in the field.

Minimum ASVAB: MM 105

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-30

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: navmc-1200-1m-fy27 (source date 2026-10). Policy applicability has not been established.

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

Core Skills

  • Computer-aided design of repair parts
  • Precision measurement and machine-control adjustment
  • Liquid penetrant and magnetic particle inspection
  • Shop equipment maintenance for sustained serviceability

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.

Machinists

Military experience selecting stock, manufacturing repair parts, adjusting machine controls, and checking dimensions directly supports precision machining work.

How to prepare: Assemble a portfolio of documented machining work, including materials, machines operated, tolerances achieved, and inspection results, for an employer skills assessment.

What the civilian work involves
  • Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
  • Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
  • Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Autodesk AutoCAD

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Military use of liquid penetrant and magnetic particle inspection to control fabrication quality transfers directly to work in those NDT methods.

How to prepare: Have a prospective employer assess your documented method-specific training, experience, and existing certifications against its qualification requirements before selecting additional training. Jobs using SNT-TC-1A require certification under the employer's written practice; ASNT 9712 is a separate third-party program requiring documented method-specific training and experience, examinations including practical testing, and visual-acuity documentation, with employer authorization remaining separate.

What the civilian work involves
  • Interpret or evaluate test results in accordance with applicable codes, standards, specifications, or procedures.
  • Prepare reports on non-destructive testing results.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (6 documents)
  1. NAVMC 1200.1M (FY27 MOS Manual): MOS 1321, Fabrication Specialist

    [1] Enclosure (1) Chapter 3, OccFld 13 (3117), section '3. MOS 1321, Fabrication Specialist (MGySgt to Pvt) PMOS, DC I&L', p. 3-112; cached text lines 32292-32338; TOC entry line 58320

    PDF page 530 (opens in a new tab) Original publication (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Computer-aided design of repair parts, Precision measurement and machine-control adjustment, Liquid penetrant and magnetic particle inspection, Shop equipment maintenance for sustained serviceability, Machinists (O*NET 51-4041.00), Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (O*NET 17-3029.01)

  2. O*NET: Machinists

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Machinists (O*NET 51-4041.00)

  3. O*NET: Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (O*NET 17-3029.01)

  4. American Society for Nondestructive Testing: Compare ASNT Certifications

    [4] Preparation, Level II and ASNT NDT versus ASNT 9712 sections; retrieved 23 September 2026

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (O*NET 17-3029.01)

  5. ASNT: Explaining Employer-Based Certification Programs (SNT-TC-1A)

    [5] ASNT Certificate Compared to SNT-TC-1A-Based Certificate and The Written Practice sections; ASNT Pulse article dated 2020-10-29, retrieved 2026-09-23

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (O*NET 17-3029.01)

  6. ASNT Certification Services: ASNT 9712 Level II Certification

    [6] Experience, training, documentation and FAQ sections; retrieved 23 September 2026

    Open source document (opens in a new tab)

    Supports: Non-Destructive Testing Specialists (O*NET 17-3029.01)

Defense contractor jobs for 1321

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to 1321. Each history page explains the change.

1316Metal Worker2161Machinist

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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