New Cohort Starts:

Donate
Live · Guide v1.09913 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/9913
USMC · 9913Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9913.R.04
9913 · USMC · Enlisted

Special Services
Officer.

Marine Corps 9913 (Special Services Officer). 80 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$80K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours80DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 2 semester hours recommended in Recreation Management
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 3

Industry tech roles your 9913 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 9913 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have15
  • 01
    MWR Program ManagementProject management methodologies and software (e.g., Jira, Asana)
  • 02
    Recreation Fund ManagementBudgeting and financial planning in a business context
  • 03
    Special Events Planning and ExecutionEvent coordination and logistics
  • 04
    Resource AllocationResource optimization in a business setting
  • 05
    Liaison with Military and Civilian CommunitiesStakeholder management and communication
  • 06
    Risk Management and Safety in Recreational ActivitiesRisk assessment and mitigation strategies
  • 07
    MCCS Enterprise SystemCRM and POS systems understanding
  • 08
    Defense Travel System (DTS)Travel and expense management software
  • 09
    SharePoint (Marine Corps Enterprise Network)Cloud-based collaboration platforms
  • 10
    Government Purchase Card (GPC) ProgramCorporate credit card programs and expense tracking software
  • 11
    Automated Business Service System (ABSS)Financial accounting software
  • 12
    Recreational Management Information System (RMIS)Recreation management software systems
  • 13
    Team SynchronizationProject coordination
  • 14
    Situational AwarenessStakeholder needs analysis
  • 15
    Rapid PrioritizationResource allocation
To learn08

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Agile methodologies and Scrum framework+Project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana)+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Statistical analysis and data mining techniques+Business process modeling and analysis+IT infrastructure and systems architecture+Cybersecurity fundamentals
How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →
/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Recreation Director

$68K
High match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Budget Management
  • Fundraising
  • Program Development
P.02

Event Planner

$62K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Event Management Software (e.g., Cvent)
  • Negotiation
  • Marketing
P.03

Community Outreach Coordinator

$55K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Grant Writing
  • Public Speaking
  • Community Organizing
P.04

Athletic Director

$75K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Sports Management Principles
  • Coaching Certifications
  • Facility Management
P.05

Corporate Wellness Program Manager

$80K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Wellness Program Design
  • Health Coaching Certification
  • Data Analysis
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 9913 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Resource Optimization

As a Special Services Officer, you managed recreation funds and allocated resources across various programs to maximize participation and satisfaction within budgetary constraints.

Transfers to

This experience translates to efficiently managing budgets, allocating resources effectively, and making strategic decisions to achieve organizational goals in a civilian context.

S.02

Team Synchronization

You coordinated special services activities with various teams, ensuring smooth execution of events and programs for the command.

Transfers to

This demonstrates your ability to work collaboratively, coordinate efforts, and ensure seamless execution of projects, which is valuable in any team-oriented civilian role.

S.03

Situational Awareness

You advised the commander on special services programs, requiring a deep understanding of the needs and interests of the personnel and the command's overall objectives.

Transfers to

This translates to keen observation, the ability to understand and anticipate the needs of stakeholders, and the ability to align activities with broader organizational goals.

S.04

Rapid Prioritization

Faced with numerous recreation activities and limited resources, you consistently had to quickly assess the importance and impact of different programs to allocate time and funding effectively.

Transfers to

In a fast-paced civilian environment, your ability to quickly determine what matters most and allocate resources accordingly makes you highly effective at meeting deadlines and maximizing impact.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Event Marketing Manager

SOC 11-2011.00

You've been planning and executing engaging events for service members; now you can leverage that experience to create memorable marketing events for brands. Your ability to manage budgets and coordinate logistics directly translates to this role.

Adjacent · Match

Community Relations Manager

SOC 11-2011.00

You've been the face of morale and recreation for the command, building relationships and connecting with people. That experience positions you perfectly to foster positive community relationships for a corporation or non-profit.

Adjacent · Match

Employee Engagement Specialist

SOC 11-3111.00

You've spent your time improving the lives of service members through recreation and morale programs. This makes you ready to improve employee satisfaction and engagement in a company setting.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Marine Corps Special Services Officer Course

Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
80hHours
2wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 2 semester hours recommended in Recreation Management

Topics · 6
  • Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Program Management
  • Recreation Fund Management
  • Special Events Planning and Execution
  • Resource Allocation and Budgeting for MWR Programs
  • Liaison with Military and Civilian Communities
  • Risk Management and Safety in Recreational Activities
Partial coverage · 2
  • Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)60%

    Requires knowledge of park and recreation management principles, program planning, and facility operations specific to civilian park and recreation settings. Study the NRPA's Certified Park and Recreation Professional Study Guide.

  • Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)40%

    CMP requires deep knowledge of event planning, budgeting, marketing, and logistics, particularly in a civilian conference/meeting context. Requires significant study of the CMP International Standards manual and practice exams.

Recommended next · 03
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)Adjacent
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
  • Certified Hospitality Professional (CHP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Enterprise SystemCustomer Relationship Management (CRM) and Point of Sale (POS) systems like Salesforce or retail management softwareNetworking
Defense Travel System (DTS)Travel and expense management software like Concur or ExpensifyOperations
SharePoint (Marine Corps Enterprise Network)Cloud-based collaboration platforms like Microsoft 365 or Google WorkspaceNetworking
Government Purchase Card (GPC) ProgramCorporate credit card programs and expense tracking softwareOperations
Automated Business Service System (ABSS)Financial accounting software such as QuickBooks or XeroOperations
Recreational Management Information System (RMIS)Recreation management software systems like RecTrac or PerfectMind for managing facilities, events, and membershipsOperations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 9913 into a resume that ships.

Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.