The United States Marine Corps has a civilian workforce totaling some 25,000 employees. Some of our jobs are unique, but the majority of our positions are similar to those in other larger organizations. Our work environment, however, is unique. As a Civilian Marine, you work side by side with the very best. As you move up in your career, you can expect to be entrusted with unparalleled responsibility, including the opportunity to supervise uniformed personnel. Our goal is to be the employer of choice for civilians seeking challenging and rewarding careers.

Civilian Workforce Core Values

Our Core Values form the bedrock of the character of both our uniformed and Civilian Marines. They give us strength and regulate our behavior; they bond the Marine Corps into a Total Force that can meet any challenge.

Honor.  Honor guides our uniformed and Civilian Marines to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior; to never lie cheat or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; respect human dignity; and respect others. The quality of maturity, dedication, trust and dependability commit uniformed and Civilian Marines to act responsibly; to be accountable for their actions; to fulfill their obligations; and to hold others accountable for their actions.

Courage.  Courage is the mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in uniformed and Civilian Marines. It carries our uniformed Marines through the challenges of combat and helps them overcome fear. It is the inner strength that enables a uniformed or Civilian Marine to do what is right; to adhere to a higher standard of personal conduct; and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure.

Commitment.  Commitment is the spirit of determination and dedication found in uniformed and Civilian Marines. It leads to the highest order of discipline for individuals and units. It is the ingredient that enables 24-hour a day dedication to Corps and country. It inspires the unrelenting determination to achieve a standard of excellence in every endeavor.

Our People

To attain the highest level of performance, the Marine Corps depends on three enablers: people, processes, and technology. The most important of these is people, because our people define our capacity to perform as a fighting force. The Marine Corps employs a diverse and dedicated civilian workforce comprised of individuals with a broad degree of technical, business, and program management skills.

The Marine Corps needs workers with increased technological skills, improved service orientation, the ability to adapt to change and the capacity to do a broad range of things. We strive to infuse our organization with new and creative ideas and develop the skilled civilian workers, managers, and leaders we will need to meet future mission requirements. To meet these challenges, the Marine Corps is giving civilian human capital development and management a higher priority than ever before.

The Civilian-Military Environment

One of the things that makes working as a civilian for the Marine Corps unique is how we treat our employees. We strive to nurture a culture of inclusiveness, a culture where the concept of total force is real. That concept appears in many tangible and intangible ways, from participating in base activities to how we treat civilians with the same decorum as their military rank equivalent. This extends to both ceremonial functions, such as "hail and farewell" and retirement and promotion ceremonies to professional military education seminars that include both civilians and military. Our SES members are extended the same courtesies as General Officers and are included as full participants in our annual General Officers Symposium.

For Grade/Rank Equivalencies click here