2802 Ground Electronics Maintenance Officer

The 2802 Ground Electronics Maintenance Officer is a technical officer role inside the OccFld 28 community. This is not a broad-access college-to-MOS route. It is a limited duty officer path designed for Marines who already have deep technical experience in ground electronics maintenance and want to move into officer-level leadership. The job bridges hands-on electronics expertise with broader maintenance management responsibility.

Job Role and Responsibilities

A 2802 Ground Electronics Maintenance Officer supervises and directs ground electronics maintenance resources at the maintenance battalion, regiment, or MEF level. The officer manages technical capability, maintenance planning, quality assurance, and readiness reporting for radios, radar systems, data communication equipment, fire control electronics, and related electronic systems. The role requires both technical depth and the ability to lead Marines who perform the actual maintenance work.

The ground electronics maintenance occupational field centers on the 2802 MOS. This is the primary designation for officers managing ground electronics maintenance operations across the operating forces.

Ground electronics maintenance officers contribute directly to MAGTF readiness by ensuring that all ground electronics equipment is operational and combat-ready. The maintenance enterprise covers tactical radios, satellite communications terminals, radar equipment, data network hardware, fire control electronics, and related electronic systems. Without functional electronics systems, the Marine Corps cannot communicate, navigate, or employ precision fires. The 2802 officer ensures that maintenance shops produce equipment that meets Marine Corps standards and that maintenance planning aligns with operational requirements.

The equipment and systems a 2802 officer manages include radios, radar systems, data communication equipment, fire control electronics, and associated electronic hardware. Officers employ maintenance management information systems such as GCSS-MC to track repair status, manage workloads, and report maintenance readiness to higher headquarters. The officer works closely with warrant officers who provide deep technical expertise in specific electronics systems and with enlisted 28XX Marines who perform the hands-on maintenance work.

Salary and Benefits

Marine officers are paid on the standard DoD officer pay scale. Base pay for early-career ground electronics maintenance officers runs as follows.

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

Because 2802 is typically an LDO accession path, most officers enter at the O-3 or O-4 level after significant prior enlisted or warrant service. Officers at these higher entry ranks already earn substantially more than a newly commissioned O-1.

Ground electronics maintenance officers do not receive aviation or diving special pays. Hazardous duty pay may apply depending on specific assignments. Accession and retention bonuses vary by year and Marine Corps manning priorities.

Officers receive full TRICARE Prime health coverage with no enrollment fee, no deductible, and no copays for medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescriptions, or hospitalization. Family members are also covered under TRICARE Prime with zero out-of-pocket costs when using in-network providers. Officers receive a monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence of $328.48 and Basic Allowance for Housing based on their duty location, pay grade, and dependency status.

All officers participate in the Blended Retirement System. After 20 years of service, officers receive a pension equal to 40 percent of their high-36 average basic pay. The government contributes 1 percent of basic pay automatically to the Thrift Savings Plan after 60 days of service, vesting at 2 years. Officers who contribute 5 percent of their own pay receive up to 4 percent in government matching contributions.

Officers earn 30 days of leave per year, accruing 2.5 days per month with a maximum carryover of 60 days. Garrison schedules follow a predictable routine with morning physical training and standard work hours. Field exercises and deployment periods reduce personal time significantly. Maintenance officers face heavy preparation demands during pre-deployment workup cycles, including equipment resets, quality assurance audits, and maintenance backlog clearance.

Qualifications and Eligibility

The 2802 Ground Electronics Maintenance Officer is accessed primarily through the Limited Duty Officer program rather than through standard undergraduate commissioning sources. Public MOS guidance treats this PMOS as a progression path from prior 28XX technical experience. The following commissioning sources exist for Marine officers generally, though most apply to unrestricted officer fields rather than the 2802 specifically.

PLC is the most common undergraduate route for students who want a Marine commission while staying in school. OCC is a 10-week program at Quantico for college seniors and graduates. NROTC Marine Option combines academic study with officer development on campus. The Naval Academy provides a four-year service academy path. MECEP and ECP allow enlisted Marines to earn degrees and commission as officers. OCC and MECEP candidates take the ASVAB as part of their screening process.

For the 2802 specifically, the real gate into this officer path is prior technical service in the 28XX community. Current public sources do not present PLC, OCC, NROTC, or the Naval Academy as direct entry into 2802 itself. The LDO selection board looks for Marines with a proven track record of technical competence, leadership potential, and the ability to transition from enlisted or warrant execution to officer-level management.

MOS assignment at TBS does not apply to 2802 in the standard sense. Officers selected through the LDO program already have their technical background established before commissioning. The LDO board and occupational field sponsor guidance are the authoritative sources for current-year package details and eligibility requirements.

New LDO officers are typically appointed at the O-3 or O-4 level. The standard minimum service requirement for commissioned officers is 8 years of active duty. Officers must meet officer fitness, conduct, and board-package expectations for LDO appointment.

Work Environment

A 2802 officer works primarily in maintenance battalion shops, MEF headquarters, and MARFOR G-4 logistics shops. The daily setting is a mix of office-based maintenance planning and shop-floor oversight. The officer moves between maintenance management conferences, quality assurance inspections, and coordination meetings with supported units. Garrison schedules are predictable but demanding. Field exercises require the maintenance section to deploy alongside the supported unit and establish maintenance support in austere environments.

The chain of command for a 2802 officer runs through the maintenance battalion commander, the regimental or MEF logistics officer, and ultimately the commanding general. At the maintenance battalion level, the officer works directly with senior SNCOs who manage individual maintenance shops. The officer-SNCO dynamic is critical. The SNCOs bring years of hands-on technical experience, and the officer brings broader resource management and planning authority. A good working relationship between the two produces a functional maintenance enterprise. A poor one creates bottlenecks and readiness gaps.

Staff positions for 2802 officers include maintenance management officer at the regiment or MEF level, G-4 logistics staff, and technical advisor billets at maintenance support commands. At the MEF or MARFOR level, the officer shifts from direct maintenance supervision to enterprise-level maintenance management, handling broader planning, readiness reporting, and coordination with joint logistics partners. At Headquarters Marine Corps, senior 2802 officers work on maintenance policy, resource allocation, and joint maintenance coordination with other services.

Job satisfaction in field 28 comes from technical depth and visible impact on unit readiness. Officers who value maintenance management, resource planning, and technical leadership tend to stay in the community. The retention picture for LDO officers is strong because the selection process itself filters for Marines who are already committed to the maintenance field. Officers who leave typically do so because they want broader operational assignments outside the maintenance enterprise.

Training and Skill Development

Pre-commissioning preparation for the 2802 path is built on years of prior technical service in the 28XX community. LDO candidates typically hold senior enlisted or warrant officer ranks before selection, meaning they already possess deep technical knowledge of ground electronics systems, maintenance procedures, and quality assurance standards.

All Marine officers attend The Basic School, though LDO appointees may receive modified TBS requirements depending on their prior service and rank at appointment.

TBS covers infantry tactics, leadership, land navigation, planning, Marine Corps history, and values. Every Marine officer goes through the same core curriculum. For LDO officers, TBS focuses on building the officer-level leadership and tactical foundation that complements their existing technical expertise.

After TBS, 2802 officers complete field-specific education tied to ground electronics maintenance leadership. This includes advanced courses in maintenance management, quality assurance procedures, and the logistics information systems used across the operating forces. The training ensures that 2802 officers arrive at their first billet with a working knowledge of the maintenance systems they will be responsible for managing.

Professional Military Education follows as officers progress. Expeditionary Warfare School is a resident Captain-level PME program at MCB Quantico. Command and Staff College serves Majors at Quantico. The School of Advanced Warfighting is a selective program for high-performing Majors. Senior officers attend the Marine Corps War College. LDO officers attend the same PME schools as unrestricted officers, though timing may differ based on their accession point.

Additional schools and training opportunities include maintenance management courses, quality assurance certifications, and joint logistics education. Civilian education opportunities include fully funded graduate school programs and advanced degree programs through Tuition Assistance, which provides up to $4,500 per year and $250 per semester hour.

Career Progression and Advancement

The 2802 career timeline differs from the standard unrestricted officer path because most officers enter at O-3 or O-4 after significant prior service.

An O-3 or O-4 in field 28 typically serves as a maintenance officer in a ground maintenance battalion, a maintenance management officer at the regiment or MEF level, or a technical advisor at a maintenance support command. The job at this rank is applying technical expertise at the officer level by managing maintenance resources, overseeing quality assurance, and advising commanders on maintenance readiness.

An O-5 and above moves into senior maintenance management positions, maintenance chief at a MEF or MARFOR, or staff billets at Headquarters Marine Corps and joint maintenance commands. The work at this level involves maintenance policy, resource allocation, and coordination with other services on joint maintenance operations.

Promotion from O-1 to O-3 is essentially time-based. O-4 and above require selection by promotion boards. Boards review fitness reports, professional military education completion, command performance, and overall record quality. For LDO officers, promotion boards also consider the depth of technical expertise and the value of continued service in the maintenance community.

LDO officers generally do not change MOS. The entire point of the LDO path is to preserve technical depth while raising the level of responsibility. Broadening assignments are less common for 2802 officers than for unrestricted officers, though joint logistics staff positions and maintenance policy billets at HQMC provide variety within the field.

Building a competitive 2802 record requires demonstrated technical mastery, successful maintenance management performance, strong fitness reports, and the ability to advise commanders on maintenance readiness. The officers who advance are the ones who keep the maintenance enterprise running and make the commander’s job easier.

Physical Demands and Medical Evaluations

The physical demands of field 28 match the general Marine officer standard. Officers must pass the PFT and CFT, maintain body composition standards, and complete the same annual training as every other officer. Maintenance officers work around sensitive electronics and in shop environments, so physical fitness matters even though the job has a technical management focus.

The mental demands of the 2802 role are significant. The work requires the ability to plan complex maintenance operations, manage multiple maintenance shops simultaneously, and make resource allocation decisions under pressure. Bad maintenance planning directly affects unit readiness and can leave Marines without the electronics equipment they need to communicate, navigate, and fight.

The LDO selection process itself is demanding because it requires a proven track record of technical competence, leadership potential, and the ability to transition from enlisted or warrant execution to officer-level management. The board looks for Marines who have demonstrated technical mastery and the judgment to lead at a higher level.

2802 officers do not require flight physicals or dive physicals. They must pass the standard commissioning physical examination and maintain medical readiness for field deployment. Any condition that prevents an officer from working in a maintenance shop environment or deploying with their unit would be disqualifying.

Deployment and Duty Stations

Ground electronics maintenance officers deploy with their units on the MEU cycle or as part of larger task force packages. The maintenance officer does not stay behind when the unit deploys. The maintenance section travels with the unit and sets up maintenance support in whatever environment the unit operates in.

The operational tempo for 2802 officers tracks closely with their parent unit. During pre-deployment workup cycles, the maintenance section faces heavy preparation demands including equipment resets, quality assurance audits, and maintenance backlog clearance. During deployment, the tempo stays high because electronics equipment fails and needs repair regardless of the operational environment. Stateside assignments at maintenance battalions or MEF headquarters follow a more predictable schedule but still involve exercise support, maintenance planning conferences, and periodic coordination with joint maintenance agencies.

Primary duty stations for ground electronics maintenance officers include Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; MCB Quantico, Virginia; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; and Camp build, Okinawa. Officer duty station assignments are determined through the monitor system and the Marine Corps assignment process. Officers have fewer but larger installation options compared to enlisted Marines. Preference is considered, but the needs of the Marine Corps drive final assignments.

Risk, Safety, and Legal Considerations

The 2802 officer job carries inherent risks associated with working around sensitive electronics, heavy equipment, and hazardous maintenance environments. Officers face physical hazards in maintenance shops, including heavy lifting, exposure to hazardous materials, and the risk of equipment-related injuries. The risk profile differs from unrestricted officers because the 2802 officer spends more time in shop environments and less time in direct field combat, but the consequences of maintenance failures affect every unit that depends on ground electronics equipment.

Safety protocols follow the Operational Risk Management framework. Maintenance officers conduct ORM assessments before every maintenance evolution, training exercise, and deployment activity. They apply risk controls, brief their Marines on hazards, and maintain accountability for safety compliance. Quality assurance procedures are central to the 2802 role because a single maintenance failure can leave a unit without critical communications or fire control capability.

2802 officers hold command authority under the UCMJ. Platoon commanders exercise nonjudicial punishment authority through their company commander. Company commanders have direct UCMJ authority over their Marines. Command climate surveys and equal opportunity requirements are mandatory. Relief for cause ends an officer’s command career and triggers a formal review process. The 2802 officer is also accountable for maintenance resource management, meaning poor oversight of equipment accountability can result in administrative or financial liability.

Impact on Family and Personal Life

The 2802 lifestyle affects families through frequent moves, deployment cycles, and the demands of a technical management career. PCS tempo for maintenance officers follows the standard Marine Corps rotation schedule, with families moving every two to three years on average. Maintenance battalion assignments tend to be at larger installations, which means better access to schools, healthcare, and spouse employment opportunities.

The Marine Corps provides support through MCCS programs, Military OneSource, Marine Corps Family Team Building, and spouse employment assistance programs. These resources help families manage the demands of military life. Maintenance officers generally have more predictable garrison schedules than combat arms officers, which can benefit family stability during non-deployment periods.

Dual-military couples in field 28 face the same co-location challenges as other Marine officers. The Marine Corps attempts to co-locate dual-military couples through the Joint Domicile program, but operational requirements often override preference. Family support during deployments falls on the at-home spouse, extended family, and unit family readiness programs.

Marine Corps Reserve

Ground electronics maintenance officer billets exist in the Marine Corps Reserve, though the reserve picture for this technical field is narrower than for unrestricted officer communities. Reserve maintenance units maintain readiness through monthly drill weekends, annual training, and periodic mobilizations. The exact billet mix depends on the reserve unit structure and current manning requirements.

Commissioning and Service Commitment

Reserve commissioning for the 2802 path follows the same LDO selection process as active duty. Active-duty officers can transfer to the reserve after completing their minimum service requirement. PLC-R serves reserve-component candidates, and NROTC students can sign reserve contracts, though these paths lead to unrestricted officer fields rather than the 2802 specifically.

The standard drill commitment consists of one weekend per month and two weeks of annual training. Maintenance officers may require additional training days for certifications, multi-week exercises, and pre-mobilization workups.

Pay and Benefits

An O-3 Captain in the Marine Corps Reserve earns drill pay based on the same pay table as active duty, prorated for drill periods. At the under-2-years rate of $5,534.10 monthly base pay, one drill period equals approximately $184.47, and a standard four-drill weekend totals roughly $737.88 in base pay before allowances. Annual training adds two weeks of full active-duty pay.

Reserve officers enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select, with a monthly premium of approximately $53 for individual coverage. This costs significantly less than civilian health insurance but requires premium payments that active-duty families do not face. Education benefits include Federal Tuition Assistance and GI Bill eligibility based on qualifying service.

The reserve retirement system is points-based. Twenty qualifying years are required for retirement, collected at age 60, reducible by 90 days for each 90 consecutive days of qualifying active duty. Reserve pensions are typically smaller than active-duty pensions due to fewer points accumulated per year.

Training, Promotion, and Command

Reserve 2802 officers have access to professional military education schools including Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College. Promotion timing follows reserve boards, which may differ in tempo from active-duty boards. Command billets exist at the company and battalion level within reserve maintenance units, though the number of billets is limited.

Mobilization and Civilian Careers

Mobilization frequency varies. Reserve maintenance officers can expect periodic Active Duty for Operational Support tours, operational support assignments, and potential deployments with typical mobilizations running 9 to 12 months.

Reserve service pairs well with civilian careers in electronics maintenance management, quality assurance, technical operations, and federal maintenance positions across DoD and other agencies. USERRA protects reserve officers from employment discrimination and guarantees reemployment rights.

Post-Service Opportunities

The 2802 skill set translates directly into electronics maintenance management, quality assurance, and technical operations roles in the civilian sector. Officers who have managed ground electronics maintenance operations understand resource allocation, quality control, team leadership, and technical management at a level that most civilian maintenance managers never reach.

Common civilian career paths include electronics maintenance management, quality assurance, technical operations, and federal maintenance positions across DoD and other agencies. The combination of technical expertise, leadership training, and maintenance management experience makes the 2802 background competitive in the electronics and defense job markets.

The GI Bill covers full in-state tuition at public universities and up to $29,920.95 per year at private institutions. Officers who served on active duty qualify for the full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, which includes a monthly housing allowance at the E-5 with dependents rate for the school ZIP code, plus an annual book stipend of $1,000. Many former 2802 officers pursue graduate degrees in electrical engineering, electronics management, or business administration to complement their military experience.

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

The ideal 2802 candidate is a Marine who already has deep technical experience in the 28XX community and wants to move into officer-level leadership without leaving the maintenance field. You should be comfortable managing resources, planning complex maintenance operations, and advising commanders on readiness. You need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to lead Marines who may have more hands-on technical experience than you do.

The job is not for candidates who want a standard unrestricted officer path or who prefer tactical field leadership over technical management. If you are a college student looking for a direct commission into a combat arms field, the 2802 is not your route. This MOS requires prior technical service and LDO selection.

Candidates who thrive in this role value technical depth, maintenance planning, and the satisfaction of keeping equipment operational. The work is less visible than combat arms leadership but equally important to Marine Corps readiness. Officers who want predictable schedules and minimal technical responsibility will find better fits in other occupational fields.

For long-term career planning, the 2802 path leads to senior maintenance management positions, joint logistics staff roles, and HQMC policy billets. The civilian career transfer value is strong in electronics maintenance management, quality assurance, and technical operations. If you want to stay in the maintenance community and grow into broader leadership responsibility, this is a solid path.

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

Talk to a Marine Officer Selection Officer at your nearest Officer Selection Station to discuss commissioning paths, eligibility requirements, and application timelines. If you are an enlisted Marine in the 28XX community considering the LDO route, an OSO can walk you through the board process and help you prepare a competitive package. If you need to take the ASVAB as part of your screening, start studying early so you put your best score on the application.

Explore more Marine officer careers such as Cyberspace Warfare Officer and Communications Officer.

Commissioning routes still depend on score planning. Start with the ASVAB guide, and use the ASTB-E guide for aviation pipelines when applicable.