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Navy Rating · Combat & Infantry

MA Master-At-Arms

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

Masters-at-Arms conduct force protection, antiterrorism, physical security, and law enforcement operations at sea, onshore, and in expeditionary environments. They provide mobile and fixed defense, train personnel, and support base defense, corrections, harbor security, special events, and Military Working Dog operations.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Minimum ASVAB: VE+AR+MK+MC 196

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: milpersman-1306-618-rating-list-2026-04 (source date 2026-04). Policy applicability has not been established.

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

Core Skills

  • Layered defense of assets and critical infrastructure
  • Integrated sea, coastal, and landward security
  • Mobile and fixed defensive operations
  • Antiterrorism and weapons proficiency training

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.

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Military law enforcement operations and coordination with civil authorities provide directly relevant experience for civilian patrol work.

How to prepare: Contact a target agency to compare its academy and entry requirements with your documented military law enforcement experience. Most officers complete an agency academy and on-the-job training; candidates usually must be at least 21, meet physical and personal standards, and have a high school diploma or equivalent, with some agencies requiring college education and most state and local jurisdictions requiring U.S. citizenship.

What the civilian work involves
  • Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
  • Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
  • Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Word

Security Managers

Organizing and training security personnel while conducting layered asset protection transfers to coordinating civilian security operations.

How to prepare: Build a sample site-security plan with a budget and contingency procedures to demonstrate how your force-protection experience translates to civilian security management.

What the civilian work involves
  • Develop budgets for security operations.
  • Plan, direct, or coordinate security activities to safeguard company employees, guests, or others on company property.
  • Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Training & Development

Choose credentials for your target role. COOL funding markers describe program listings, not a guarantee of eligibility or funding.

Getting Started

  • Associate Protection Professional (APP) · Funded

    Develop a civilian security foundation covering business operations, risk management, and response management.

    Eligibility and preparation: One year of compensated security experience, potentially reduced to six months with an approved related certification; applicants must have held full-time security-related employment, but current employment is not required.

    For: Security Managers

Career Growth

  • Physical Security Professional (PSP)

    Support progression into security management focused on physical protection of sites and assets.

    Eligibility and preparation: Physical security experience must total five years without a higher education degree, four years with an accredited bachelor's degree or international equivalent, or three years with an accredited master's degree or international equivalent. Holding an APP reduces the no-degree and bachelor's routes by one year. Experience must involve personal engagement in security or loss prevention full time or as a primary duty.

    For: Security Managers

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (7 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol I (NEOCS, Jan 2026 edition): MASTER-AT-ARMS (MA)

    [1] Rating chapter "SCOPE OF RATING"; cached text line 49394; NAVPERS 18068F Vol I, 2026-01 edition

    Supports: Layered defense of assets and critical infrastructure, Integrated sea, coastal, and landward security, Mobile and fixed defensive operations, Antiterrorism and weapons proficiency training, Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (O*NET 33-3051.00), Security Managers (O*NET 11-3013.01)

  2. O*NET: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (O*NET 33-3051.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Police and Detectives

    [3] How to Become, Education, Training and Other Experience; checked September 24, 2026

    Supports: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (O*NET 33-3051.00)

  4. O*NET: Security Managers

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Security Managers (O*NET 11-3013.01)

  5. COOL credential mapping: Associate Protection Professional (APP)

    [5] MA cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Associate Protection Professional (APP)

  6. ASIS International Board Certification Handbook, updated 4 August 2026

    [6] Page 10, APP Board Certification in Security Fundamentals; page 8, eligibility requirements and preparation recommendation (separate passages)

    Supports: Associate Protection Professional (APP)

    [8] Page 30, PSP Eligibility Requirements; page 8, experience definition

    Supports: Physical Security Professional (PSP)

  7. COOL credential mapping: Physical Security Professional (PSP)

    [7] MA cached COOL credential feed

    Supports: Physical Security Professional (PSP)

Defense contractor jobs for MA

Predecessor codes

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

Sp(I)Specialist (Punch Card Accounting Machine Operator)Sp(X)(KP)Specialist (Key Punch Operator and Supervisor)

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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