1391 Expeditionary Fuels Technician

A CH-53 lands at the Forward Arming and Refueling Point. The crew chief calls for fuel. You have fifteen minutes before the bird needs to be back in the air. You connect the hose, verify the grounding cable, call out to your partner to open the valve, and watch the meter. When the gallons hit the number on the aircraft’s fuel order, you disconnect, reseal the coupling, and signal ready. The pilot lifts off two minutes ahead of schedule.

That is the 1391 Expeditionary Fuels Technician working close to Marine aviation: not as a maintainer, not as a pilot, but as the Marine who keeps every aircraft flying by making sure the right fuel reaches them in the right condition. Every Marine Corps operation runs on petroleum products, and you are the person accountable for that supply.

Job Role and Responsibilities

The 1391 Expeditionary Fuels Technician handles the receipt, storage, issue, transfer, and quality control of petroleum products in support of Marine Corps aviation, ground, and expeditionary operations. Marines in this MOS operate and maintain fuel distribution systems, conduct fuel quality surveillance, and ensure that fuel reaches aircraft and vehicles in the correct specification and quantity. The work sits at the intersection of engineer-support, logistics, and aviation sustainment.

The day-to-day mission depends on unit type and operational phase, but core responsibilities are consistent:

• Receiving, testing, and issuing petroleum products at bulk fuel points and Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs)
• Operating and maintaining tactical fuel systems including the Tactical Petroleum Laboratory and the Expeditionary Field Fuel System
• Conducting fuel quality surveillance testing to detect contamination and off-specification products
• Establishing, operating, and dismantling bulk fuel storage and distribution systems in expeditionary settings
• Monitoring fuel inventory levels and coordinating resupply with higher logistics echelons
• Maintaining fuel-handling equipment including pumps, hoses, meters, and filtration systems
• Following fire safety and hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling requirements at all fuel operations
• Supporting FARP operations for Marine aviation units
• Completing fuel accountability records, receipts, and issue documents with precision

Specific Roles and Related Codes

Senior NCOs in the 1391 community typically advance into fuels section chief or logistics staff positions within their unit. The MOS does not carry a widely documented AMOS structure in open public sources; advancement follows the standard NCO career model with increasing section leadership and staff responsibilities.

Mission Contribution

Fuel is the resource that determines whether aircraft fly, vehicles move, and generators power command-and-control systems. A Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron at MCAS Miramar requires JP-8 in exact specification for every F-35 and MV-22 on the flight line. A ground unit at 29 Palms running a Combined Arms Exercise requires diesel for dozers, HMMWVs, and generators that run around the clock. The 1391 Marine is the last check before that product enters a $70 million aircraft or a battalion’s vehicle fleet.

Contaminated fuel in an aircraft engine is a catastrophic failure. A fuel accountability discrepancy generates command attention that follows the chain of custody back to the person who signed the receipt document. Precision in quality surveillance and documentation is not optional in this MOS. It is the core job.

Technology and Equipment

1391 Marines work with a range of systems and equipment across aviation and ground fuel operations:

• Expeditionary Field Fuel System (EFFS) and its associated components
• Forward Area Refueling Equipment (FARE) for FARP operations
• Tactical Petroleum Laboratory (TPL) for field quality testing
• 3,000 and 5,000-gallon collapsible fuel bladders
• Commercial and military fuel trucks and pump systems
• Fuel quality surveillance test kits and portable laboratory equipment
• PPE for fuel and HAZMAT environments: chemical-resistant gloves, face shields, and vapor monitoring equipment

Salary and Benefits

Financial Benefits

All Marine enlisted pay is governed by the 2026 DFAS basic pay tables. The table below shows monthly base pay at common grades for this MOS.

Source: DFAS 2026 pay tables. Figures reflect the 2026 pay raise.

On top of base pay:

• Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Varies by installation, pay grade, and dependent status. The 1391 MOS spans both ground and aviation unit assignments. Key installations include Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS Yuma, and Okinawa. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup tool for current figures at your expected duty station.
• Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): $476.95 per month for enlisted Marines (2026 rate).
• HAZMAT and Special Pays: Marines assigned to certain hazardous duty conditions may be eligible for additional special pay. Confirm eligibility through unit administrative channels, as rates and eligibility vary by billet.

Additional Benefits

Active-duty Marines receive TRICARE Prime with no enrollment fee, no deductible, and no copay for in-network primary care. Coverage includes medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescriptions, and hospitalization for the Marine and eligible family members.

Education benefits include up to $4,500 per year in Marine Corps Tuition Assistance while on active duty. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits after service cover full in-state tuition at public schools or up to $29,920.95 per year at private institutions (AY 2025-2026 cap), plus a monthly housing allowance and up to $1,000 per year in book stipends. Logistics management, environmental science, and petroleum technology programs pair well with the 1391 background as post-service education targets.

Retirement under the Blended Retirement System (BRS) pays 40% of the high-36 average basic pay as a defined-benefit pension at 20 years of service, plus TSP matching of up to 5% of basic pay starting in year three.

Work-Life Balance

Marines earn 30 days of paid leave per year, accruing 2.5 days per month with a maximum 60-day carryover. Garrison schedules run structured Monday through Friday with early physical training followed by fuel system maintenance, training, and administrative work. Exercise and deployment cycles shift the schedule substantially and extend the workday significantly, particularly during FARP operations and pre-deployment preparation periods when the fuel mission runs continuously.

Qualifications and Eligibility

Basic Qualifications

The MM (Mechanical Maintenance) composite is the primary gate score for 1391. It draws from Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), Auto and Shop Information (AS), and Electronics Information (EI). Prepare specifically for those four subtests using the ASVAB guide or PiCAT guide.

Application Process

1. Contact a Marine Corps recruiter at your nearest Recruiting Station (RSS) or through marines.com.
2. Take the ASVAB or PiCAT. Confirm your MM composite meets the 1391 threshold.
3. Complete MEPS processing, including the full medical examination and physical standards verification.
4. Work with your recruiter to identify available 1391 or OccFld 13 contracts based on current billet availability.
5. Sign your enlistment contract and receive your ship date to Boot Camp.

Meeting the standards and clearing MEPS is the gate. Contract availability and timing are the variables outside your control.

Selection Criteria and Competitiveness

1391 is a steady-demand MOS. Every Marine Corps unit that operates vehicles and aircraft requires fuels support, which creates a persistent need for qualified technicians. Prior experience with petroleum handling, chemical processes, or fuel systems in a civilian or agricultural setting is an asset but is not required for enlistment.

Upon Accession

Marines enter service at Private (E-1). The standard initial active enlistment is four years. After completing Boot Camp and MOS School, you receive your first duty station assignment.

Work Environment

Setting and Schedule

1391 Marines work at bulk fuel points, FARP operations, and expeditionary fuel system sites. In garrison, the work takes place in a fuel facility or motor pool environment with structured hours. In the field, the fuel point goes wherever the fuel system is established. That can be a remote hilltop, a graded airstrip, or a ship’s flight deck during MEU operations.

Aviation-side assignments at installations like MCAS Miramar or MCAS Cherry Point put you close to flight operations. You learn aircraft refueling procedures, fuel system compatibility between aircraft types, and the pace of an active flight line. Ground-side assignments at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton work more closely with vehicle fuel points and the engineer and logistics unit structure. Both environments are demanding in their own ways, and many 1391 Marines experience both over a career.

Leadership and Communication

The chain of command runs from the fuels technician through the fuels section NCO, the fuels officer, and the logistics staff. Fuel accountability is formally documented because fuel is a controlled resource with real financial and operational consequences. When a discrepancy appears in the accountability records, it generates an investigation that starts at the last person who signed for the product. Communication around fuel receipt, transfer, and issue must be precise and documented every time.

Performance is tracked through proficiency and conduct marks for junior Marines and FITREPs for Staff NCOs. Accountability record accuracy and fuel quality surveillance compliance are specifically measured outputs in this MOS. One unexplained discrepancy or a quality surveillance failure generates negative marking that overrides otherwise strong performance.

Team Dynamics and Autonomy

Fuels operations are team efforts, particularly when establishing and operating FARP sites that require multiple technicians working simultaneously on receipt, filtration, storage, and aircraft issue functions. Junior Marines work under direct supervision initially. As experience builds, technicians handle more complex systems independently and take on supervisory responsibilities in small section operations.

The quality surveillance process is often individual work. You test the fuel sample, read the results, and make the go/no-go call. That individual accountability is real from day one.

Job Satisfaction and Retention

Marines who prefer support work with clear operational purpose and measurable outcomes often find 1391 satisfying. The FARP environment places you close to Marine aviation in a way that is distinct from maintenance or supply roles. You are part of the turn cycle that gets aircraft back in the air. For Marines drawn to aviation adjacency without the maintenance specialty or officer pipeline, this is a genuine niche. The accountability and documentation burden is constant, and Marines who find procedural precision tedious will struggle with the rhythm of the work.

Training and Skill Development

Initial Training

Total pipeline from enlistment to first fleet assignment typically runs six to eight months.

At MOS School, 1391 students learn:

• Properties of military aviation and ground fuels: JP-8, MOGAS, diesel, and their handling requirements
• Petroleum quality surveillance testing procedures and field laboratory use
• Bulk fuel storage system assembly, operation, and maintenance
• Expeditionary Field Fuel System components and operation
• FARP establishment and refueling procedures for aircraft and vehicles
• HAZMAT handling, spill response, and fire safety procedures
• Fuel accountability documentation and inventory management

Advanced Training

Fleet experience builds on the MOS School foundation. After arriving at the first unit, 1391 Marines develop platform-specific knowledge on the exact equipment sets their unit operates.

Advanced training and development opportunities include:

• Cross-training on aviation-side fuel systems for Marines assigned to FARP and aviation logistics billets
• Hazardous Materials Technician certification through Marine Corps and DoD programs
• Defense Logistics Agency fuels training courses available to senior NCOs
• Petroleum Supply Specialist advanced courses through joint service programs
• Professional military education at Marine Corps University
• HAZMAT Manager certification programs, which carry direct civilian value in energy and defense contracting sectors

Career Progression and Advancement

Career Path

Promotion through E-4 is largely time-based with command endorsement. E-5 and above is competitive, based on fitness reports, composite scores, and cutting scores. A single significant accountability discrepancy or quality surveillance failure on your record will affect promotion scoring in a measurable way.

Role Flexibility and Transfers

1391 Marines interested in lateral moves within OccFld 13 can apply to 1345 or 1371 pathways through the LATMOVE program. The fuels background shares practical overlap with logistics fields, and some Marines successfully move into OccFld 04 Logistics or OccFld 30 Supply Chain fields after building fuels expertise.

Moves outside OccFld 13 require competitive LATMOVE applications and unit release. The logistics and accountability skills from 1391 make it one of the more transferable OccFld 13 backgrounds for moves into the broader Marine logistics community.

Performance Evaluation

Junior Marines receive proficiency and conduct marks from their section leader. E-5 and above receive FITREPs. Fuels technicians who demonstrate strong accountability record discipline, zero quality surveillance failures, HAZMAT compliance, and reliable section operations build competitive evaluations. The inverse is also true: accountability errors and safety violations produce negative markings that persist in the record.

Physical Demands and Medical Evaluations

Physical Requirements

Fuels work is physically demanding in ways specific to the environment. You are not carrying a combat load or running assault courses, but the work involves sustained physical effort in environments where PPE increases heat stress.

Common physical demands on a working day:

• Carrying and positioning heavy hose assemblies, couplings, and filtration equipment across fuel sites
• Assembling and disassembling bulk fuel bladders and storage system components in field conditions
• Working in heat while wearing chemical-resistant PPE for fuel system operations
• Loading and unloading fuel containers from vehicles
• Operating in noise environments near generator sets and pumping systems for extended periods
• Maintaining physical conditioning for field operations that can run 24 hours or longer during exercises

PFT and CFT Standards

All active-duty Marines must pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and Combat Fitness Test (CFT) semiannually. The table below shows minimum passing and first-class scores for the 17-20 age group.

Verify current standards at marines.mil before any training or accession decision.

Medical Evaluations

Annual medical readiness screenings apply to all active-duty Marines. Marines working regularly with JP-8 and other petroleum products may be subject to periodic occupational health monitoring depending on installation and unit programs. JP-8 contains benzene and other compounds that are regulated under occupational health standards, and cumulative exposure over a career is an occupational health concern that the Marine Corps monitors through industrial hygiene programs at major installations. Maintain your medical records and report any exposure incidents promptly.

Deployment and Duty Stations

Deployment Details

1391 Marines deploy with their parent unit on MEU rotations, exercise support missions, and contingency operations. Because fuels support is required wherever Marine aviation and ground vehicles operate, 1391 Marines have deployed to a wide range of environments: ship-based MEU rotations, forward operating bases, and bilateral exercise sites across the Pacific and Atlantic.

MEU rotations typically run six to seven months. Exercise rotations vary from weeks to months. 1391 Marines in FARP support roles may deploy on different timelines from ground engineer units depending on the specific aviation unit support relationship. This variability in deployment timing is one characteristic of the MOS that distinguishes it from MOSs tied exclusively to ground engineer unit cycles.

Location Flexibility

The 1391 MOS spans both ground engineer and aviation logistics unit assignments, which produces a broader range of duty stations than most OccFld 13 positions:

• Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: II MEF ground engineer and logistics units, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing logistics support
• Camp Pendleton, California: I MEF ground engineer and logistics units, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing logistics support
• MCAS Miramar, California: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing aviation logistics and FARP support billets
• MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina: 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing aviation logistics billets
• MCAS Yuma, Arizona: air wing installation with fuels support billets
• Okinawa, Japan: III MEF, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing logistics support

First-duty-station assignments are driven by billet availability. Subsequent assignments balance Marine preferences with unit needs and manpower requirements.

Risk, Safety, and Legal Considerations

Job Hazards

The 1391 work environment carries specific hazards that require constant attention:

• Fire and explosion risk from fuel vapors during receipt, storage, and issue operations. JP-8 vapor in an enclosed space is explosive.
• Skin and respiratory exposure to petroleum products including JP-8, which contains benzene and other regulated compounds
• Static electricity discharge during fueling operations. Bonding and grounding are mandatory procedures, not optional steps.
• Hydraulic pressure hazards from pump systems and hose assemblies under operating pressure
• HAZMAT spill and environmental compliance: fuel spills trigger immediate reporting requirements and environmental remediation obligations
• Aircraft and vehicle proximity hazards during active refueling operations near operating propulsion systems

Safety Protocols

Fuels operations are governed by Marine Corps publications, installation fire safety requirements, and DoD fuel-handling standards. Bonding and grounding procedures, vapor monitoring, and no-ignition-source requirements are mandatory during fuel system operations. Fire extinguishers, HAZMAT spill kits, and PPE are required equipment at all fuels sites. They are staged and ready at the point of operations, not available somewhere nearby.

A fuel fire or spill at a FARP site has immediate operational consequences and generates command attention at every level simultaneously. Safety compliance in fuels is not bureaucratic procedure. It is the difference between a functioning fuel site and an incident report.

Security and Legal Requirements

The basic 1391 MOS does not require a security clearance. Some unit assignments or positions near classified aviation programs may require a Secret clearance through normal investigation procedures. Standard UCMJ obligations and enlistment contract terms apply.

Impact on Family and Personal Life

Family Considerations

Family life for a 1391 Marine spans the range of installation types, from aviation-heavy duty stations near large metro areas to ground-support assignments in smaller military communities. At MCAS Miramar, families have access to the San Diego metro and its employment market, schools, and housing options, but at higher cost than most military communities. At Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton, the cost of living outside the gate is more manageable, and the military family infrastructure is well established.

The fuels mission tracks with both aviation and ground unit deployment schedules. At aviation installations, deployment timing often follows the wing’s exercise and deployment cycle, which can differ from the ground engineer battalion cycle. At ground units, the MEU float and combined arms exercise calendar drives the separation pattern. Understanding which type of unit your billet is attached to helps you and your family plan around the deployment cycle accurately.

Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), Military OneSource, and the Marine Corps Family Team Building program provide family support resources at all major installations. Each unit’s Family Readiness Officer is the point of contact for family support during training and deployment.

Relocation and Flexibility

PCS moves every two to four years are standard. The 1391 MOS has a broader set of potential duty stations than many OccFld 13 positions because fuels support exists at both ground and aviation installations across the Marine Corps structure. That variety can be a benefit for families looking for different environments across assignments, or a challenge for families who prefer predictability.

Marine Corps Reserve

Component Availability

The 1391 MOS is available in the Marine Corps Reserve. Reserve engineer and logistics units maintain fuels capability for training and mobilization readiness. Billet availability depends on the specific unit and reserve center location nearest you.

Drill Schedule and Training Commitment

The standard reserve commitment is one weekend per month plus two weeks of Annual Training per year. For 1391 Reserve Marines, drill weekends involve fuel system maintenance, quality surveillance refresher training, HAZMAT certification maintenance, and readiness preparation. Annual Training typically includes a field exercise or logistics support mission where the fuels capability is exercised in a realistic operational environment.

Additional days may be required for HAZMAT certification renewals and equipment-specific qualifications that the unit’s assigned equipment set requires.

Part-Time Pay

An E-4 Corporal drilling with the reserve earns approximately four periods of pay per drill weekend. At 2026 E-4 rates, that works out to roughly $419-$509 per weekend depending on years of service. The active-duty E-4 monthly base pay of $3,142.20 to $3,815.40 per month provides the comparison baseline.

Benefits Differences

Deployment and Mobilization

Reserve fuels technicians have been mobilized for named operations and exercises at varying rates. Fuels capability is required wherever the Marine Corps deploys ground and aviation forces, which creates periodic mobilization demand for 1391 reservists. Mobilization periods typically run six to twelve months on Title 10 active orders. USERRA protections require civilian employers to maintain the position and restore seniority during military service.

Civilian Career Integration

The 1391 skill set pairs well with civilian petroleum distribution, bulk fuel terminal operations, fuel-handling contractor work, and DoD installation fuels management positions. Government contracting firms that support DoD fuel operations specifically seek candidates with 1391 experience, and that credentialed background often skips the entry-level tier entirely. The reserve commitment of one weekend per month and two weeks per year is generally compatible with civilian fuels industry employment schedules.

Post-Service Opportunities

Transition to Civilian Life

The 1391 MOS prepares Marines for civilian careers in petroleum distribution, bulk fuel terminal operations, and logistics support roles in the energy and defense sectors. The skill set is most directly recognized in defense contracting and government fuel management environments, but the technical foundation also transfers to civilian energy and environmental sectors.

The Transition Readiness Program (TRP) provides pre-separation workshops and employment resources. Marines who add HAZMAT Manager certification, petroleum supply professional credentials, or logistics management training before separating significantly strengthen their civilian employment position.

Civilian Career Prospects

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov). Figures are national medians. DoD contractor positions in fuels and logistics operations typically pay above the national median for this background. Logistics analyst roles at the upper end generally require post-service education beyond the MOS baseline. Marines who transition into defense contractor fuels positions often find their 1391 background is understood and valued without the translation burden that some military backgrounds carry in purely commercial environments.

Is This a Good Job for You? The Right (and Wrong) Fit

Ideal Candidate Profile

1391 fits Marines who:

• Want a support-engineering career with a clear operational purpose and measurable daily outcomes
• Are comfortable working around fuel systems, HAZMAT environments, and controlled materials with strict procedures
• Want to work close to Marine Corps aviation without being in an aviation maintenance or aircrew specialty
• Are disciplined about accountability and documentation because errors in fuel management have direct operational consequences
• Want the sustainment side of engineer work rather than the combat-facing or construction-operation sides

Marines who are genuinely interested in petroleum systems and the logistics of keeping an expeditionary force fueled find 1391 a natural fit. The FARP environment is distinctive and rewarding for the right Marine. Marines who come to this MOS primarily as a fallback when combat-engineer or equipment-operator options are unavailable may find the accountability burden and documentation discipline less engaging in practice than they expected.

Potential Challenges

Fuels work is procedural by design. The documentation discipline is constant and non-negotiable. HAZMAT compliance adds a layer of procedural rigor that some Marines find tedious but that is not optional in this environment. The work can become repetitive during sustained field operations where the fuel mission runs continuously on the same procedures day after day.

Marines who want the combat-engineer field-forward identity will find 1391 a poor substitute. The mission is sustainment support, and it is worth being honest with yourself about whether that aligns with what you want from service.

Career and Lifestyle Alignment

For Marines interested in defense contracting, DoD logistics, or petroleum-industry careers after service, 1391 provides a practical and direct foundation. The active-duty career builds technical proficiency and accountability discipline that matter in those civilian environments. GI Bill benefits can fund additional education in logistics management or environmental science that broadens the post-service career picture significantly.

Marines who want the construction side of engineer work should compare this against 1345 Engineer Equipment Operator and 1371 Combat Engineer. Marines who want a broader logistics specialty should compare this against OccFld 04 and OccFld 30 options at those career hubs.

This site is not affiliated with the U.S. Marine Corps or any government agency. Verify all information with official Marine Corps sources before making enlistment or career decisions.

More Information

Contact a Marine Corps recruiter at your local Recruiting Station (RSS) or visit marines.com to confirm current 1391 billet availability, verify the training timeline, and understand your enlistment options. Your recruiter can confirm current ASVAB line score requirements and which OccFld 13 contracts are available in your enlistment window.

Explore more OccFld 13 Engineer, Construction, Facilities, and Equipment careers such as 1371 Combat Engineer and 1345 Engineer Equipment Operator.

Need score context? Review the ASVAB guide and the PiCAT guide before publishing permanent MOS content.