New Cohort Starts:

Donate

9913 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9913: Special Services Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Special Services Officer (9913)

Translate Your 9913 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9913 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Recreation Director

$68K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Budget ManagementFundraisingProgram Development

Event Planner

$62K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Event Management Software (e.g., Cvent)NegotiationMarketing

Community Outreach Coordinator

$55K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Grant WritingPublic SpeakingCommunity Organizing

Athletic Director

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Sports Management PrinciplesCoaching CertificationsFacility Management

Corporate Wellness Program Manager

$80K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Wellness Program DesignHealth Coaching CertificationData Analysis

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

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

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.

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

Team Synchronization

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

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.

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.

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.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Marine Corps Special Services Officer Course, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA

80 training hours2 weeksUp to 2 semester hours recommended in Recreation Management

Topics Covered

  • 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

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)60% covered

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% covered

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 Certifications

SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Hospitality Professional (CHP)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

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

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 9913 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free