The Ground Supply Officer MOS is a challenging and constantly changing duty in the Marine Corps. Supply officers often report directly to the commanding officer and are responsible for managing the three "M’s" - Manpower, Materiel and Money. You will learn how to predict and respond to customer requirements in a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) environment.

If you like the thought of controlling and distributing mission essential assets for any warfighting organization in the Marine Corps, you may like the Ground Supply MOS. Warehouse space management, inventory control and records/files management are areas of responsibility in this MOS.

You will be involved with purchasing and contracting at the user unit level as a supply officer. You will be directly involved with the fiscal considerations of the supported unit. Your fiscal responsibility will include annual budget management and the development of spending plans to ensure funds are not wasted or abused, as well as to ensure funds are available for maintenance and readiness at the user unit level.

You will be responsible for the training of your Marines and, indirectly, for all Marines at the supported unit level when you consider the supply officers’ control of materiel for the unit and sufficient funding available to conduct training.

Supply officers must be organized, proactive and enjoy working with people, including civilians. A basic knowledge of computers and the information systems available, i.e., internet, will be helpful in the efficient performance of supply officer duties. You will need to think outside the box, be innovative to assert yourself as a combat multiplier for the MAGTF. There are no prerequisites for this MOS.

The 3002 field is changing now, and will continue to change, due to its connection with technology. This MOS depends on various systems for task completion, i.e. ordering supplies/parts, records management systems and inventorying property for both storage and movement.

After TBS you will attend Ground Supply Officers Course (GSOC). GSOC is a two-month school at Marine Corps Service Support Schools (MCSSS), Marine Corps Base, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Waiting periods for this MOS school are rare; there are four classes offered during the year. If there is a waiting period you may go to your initial billet for OJT. This course will provide you with the basics of managing a ground supply account.

You will most likely be an OIC for a supply section including 12 to 20 Marines. Supply officers are required at every major Marine Corps duty station. The division, force service support group (FSSG) and wing all have supply officer billets. You could be the OIC of various service sections at the FSSG.

As a battalion supply officer, deployment predictability corresponds to deployment cycles of the infantry battalion. Other billets are less predictable due to the deployment methodology of detachments – they may or may not include the supply officer. The primary billets available to you are:

Infantry battalion supply officers are responsible for inventory control of battalion assets; you will manage the sub-custody of gear to Marines and handle the budget management for the battalion. You will conduct daily/weekly training with your Marines, pre/post deployment operations and monitor asset readiness. You will spend 2 to 3 years in this billet. You will develop skills in supply account and budget management, warehouse space control and inventory accountability.

FSSG supply officer or an OIC of one of several customer service sections at the FSSG where your daily routine is focused on customer service in your area of responsibility. You will spend 2 to 3 years in billet and develop skills in supporting the infantry or wing units and learn how the FSSG fits into a MAGTF.

Wing supply officer for one of several support squadrons. This billet will be similar to the battalion supply officer. This billet will provide you insight on how Marine aviation works within the MAGTF.

Schools: You can apply for Naval Post Graduate School, the Funded Law Program or other school programs. You could be selected for the Combined Captains Career Logistics Course at Fort Lee, Va. You could also be selected for Amphibious Warfare School (AWS) or Command and Control Systems Course (CCSC) in Quantico, Virginia.

Command: Opportunities for command are limited. You must be proactive and energetic in seeking command opportunities.

B-billet: This is possible, but due to the MOS being short, it will likely be a supply MOS billet in a non-operating force unit, i.e. supply officer for a recruiting district headquarters.

Lateral moves are rare in this MOS because supply officers are in short supply.

1. GSOC http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/mcsss/SUP/index.htm

Ground Supply is a vital combat support MOS in the Marine Corps. Fundamentally, you will be responsible for a unit’s asset control and distribution, budget management and your Marines. You will be the Commanding Officer’s advisor for asset management and replacement. You will be in an MOS that will allow you to grow as a Marine and a professional leader. You will play an integral part in the successful operations of the MAGTF.