United States Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator

MOS 0372 is the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for Critical Skills Operator. Slated to be active as of October 1, 2011, the MOS was created to act as the primary job field for Special Operations Infantry Marines assigned to Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

MARSOC must hit a target number of close to 850 CSOs to outfit 48 fully operational Marine Special Operations Teams.

Background
After the successful MarDet 1 program the Marine Corps authorized the creation of a Marine Corps contingent at the United States Special Operations Command. The new command, United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) drew substantial numbers from the Marine Corps Recon community at both the battalion level and from Force Reconnaissance Companies. Initially the career path of these Marines was similar to that of the Marines' existing Recon community; Marines were assigned to MARSOC for a period of five years after which they would be rotated to a new unit. The creation of the 0372 MOS was a response to the desire of MARSOC Marines to remain at MARSOC with an MOS that would allow them a Special Operations dedicated career path.