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Navy NEC · Support

855A Marine Mammal Systems Operator

Current service use not established

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

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A marine mammal systems operator cares for assigned marine mammals and conducts continuous training to maintain their physical condition and behavioral proficiency. The operator also handles navigational equipment and small craft, performs diving duties, and maintains administrative reports and animal health records.

Core Skills

  • Small craft operation and navigation
  • Diving support for marine mammal operations
  • Animal health records and operational reporting

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.

Animal Trainers

Continuous training of assigned marine mammals to maintain behavioral proficiency transfers directly to developing and maintaining animal behaviors.

How to prepare: Prepare a portfolio of releasable examples showing how you maintained animal behaviors and physical condition, tailored to the species handled by prospective employers.

What the civilian work involves
  • Conduct training programs to develop or maintain desired animal behaviors for competition, entertainment, obedience, security, riding, or related purposes.
  • Observe animals' physical conditions to detect illness or unhealthy conditions requiring medical care.
  • Feed or exercise animals or provide other general care, such as cleaning or maintaining holding or performance areas.

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Responsibility for marine mammal welfare, physical condition, and animal health records provides a foundation for animal care support in veterinary or laboratory settings.

How to prepare: Seek a supervised animal-care placement to practice species-specific handling and sanitation procedures in a veterinary or laboratory setting.

What the civilian work involves
  • Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  • Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC 855A

    [1] NEC entry "855A - Marine Mammal Systems Operator"; cached text line 22280; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Small craft operation and navigation, Diving support for marine mammal operations, Animal health records and operational reporting, Animal Trainers (O*NET 39-2011.00), Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (O*NET 31-9096.00)

  2. O*NET: Animal Trainers

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Animal Trainers (O*NET 39-2011.00)

  3. O*NET: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (O*NET 31-9096.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 855A

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Similarity is a browsing aid, not documented equivalence or transfer eligibility.

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