Military Occupation Specialties

(Version 1.02 - Last Modified: 10/18/2003)

• Introduction
• Standard Military Skills
• Basic Military Occupation Specialties
• Advanced Military Occupation Specialties

Introduction

Many militaries throughout the megaverse train their soldiers in sets of basic skills, called military occupation specialties by the United States military during the 20^th century on Earth. This name has also been used by many other militaries throughout the megaverse, such as the Coalition States from Rifts Earth and the Armies of the Southern Cross from the Robotech Masters saga of Robotech. This document will present a list of MOS's that can be used by many militaries and uses the list of skills available in the Rifts Game Master Guide.

The Military Occupation Specialties are not meant to replace the special skills of any particular military class; instead, they are intended to allow the creation of a number of military classes from a single basic class. For example, instead of having an Infantry OCC, a Power Armor Pilot OCC, a Robot Pilot OCC, and a Fighter Pilot OCC, there could be a single Military Personnel OCC with different available MOS packages. The MOS's are similar to the skill packages from games like Heroes Unlimited, but they have some differences. Generally speaking, MOS's involve fewer skills and have a specific focus, compared to skill packages that are more generic.

There are three categories of Military Occupation Specialties listed below. The first category is a set of basic skills that all of these specialties assume a soldier possesses. The second category is for basic MOS's that do not require a very long time to learn and do not require a great deal of experience and authority. The third category is for advanced MOS's that require a long time to learn, provide a great deal of responsibility to the solider, or are restricted for other reasons. Advanced MOS's have prerequisites that a soldier must meet before they can be chosen.

Standard Military Skills

All of the MOS's assume that a soldier has the following basic skills. While some are not required for prerequisites, they all contribute to the concept of a trained, professional soldier that is present in most modern militaries.

• Hand-to-Hand: Basic (or better)
• Language: Native Language
• Literacy: Native Language
• Mathematics: Basic
• Military Etiquette
• Radio: Basic
• W.P.: Standard military weapon (example: an assault rifle for the United States Marine)

Basic Military Occupation Specialties

The basic MOS's are easily available for most militaries, although they will be subject to the restrictions of the military. For example, while a spaceship crewman may be common in the Transgalactic Empire from the Three Galaxies, it would be unavailable in the Coalition States. Likewise, some MOS's allow a character to choose a space-related skill, but this skill would not be available on Rifts Earth.

1. Basic Ground Infantry MOS:
• This is the standard MOS for all infantry soldiers. Their main purpose is to assault or defend an area using nothing but what they can carry individually or as a group. All skills have a bonus of +20%.
• Climbing
• First Aid
• Choose two skills from Weapon Proficiencies (Modern)
• Choose one skills from the following list: Basic Electronics, Basic Mechanics, Boxing, Demolitions, Hand-to-Hand: Martial Arts, Parachuting, Sniper, WP: Heavy Weapons, or Wrestling.


2. Communications Expert MOS:
• Soldiers with this MOS are considered to be experts in the art of long distance communication. These soldiers possess many different posts, from frontline units to headquarters staff. All skills have a bonus of +20%.
• Basic Electronics
• Radio: Scrambler
• Read Sensory Equipment
• Choose two skills from Communications


3. Computer Operations MOS:
• In the last decades of the twentieth century on Earth, most militaries discovered how critical computers could be, they allow for incredibly fast calculations and precise weapons targeting. Trained computer users are critical in any military where computers are widespread. All skills have a bonus of +20%.
• Computer Operation
• Computer Programming
• Computer Repair
• Choose one skill from the following list: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Hacking, Cryptography, Cyberjacking (if cybernetics are available), or Research.


4. Electrical Engineer MOS:
• As militaries adopted more and more electrical equipment, the need for a trained electrical engineer grew astronomically, so the Electrical Engineer MOS was born. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Computer Operation
• Computer Programming
• Electrical Engineer
• Mathematics: Advanced
• Robot Electronics


5. Heavy Vehicles Crewman MOS:
• Most modern militaries are equipped with large vehicles, such as tanks, artillery pieces, armored personnel carriers, fighters, and similar units. These vehicles most often require multiple people to operate effectively, and this MOS trains a soldier in all necessary duties related to its operations. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Basic Electronics
• Read Sensory Equipment
• Weapon Systems
• Choose one skill from the following list: Navigation or Navigation: Space.
• Choose two skills from Pilot


6. Mechanical Engineer MOS:
• A trained mechanical engineer is critical in maintaining any functioning modern military, their skills and training ensures that have a respected position. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Basic Electronics
• Mathematics: Advanced
• Mechanical Engineer
• Choose one skill from the following list: Aircraft Mechanics, Automotive Mechanics, Robot Mechanics, Space - Drive Repair, Spaceship Mechanics, or Submersible Vehicle Mechanics.
• Choose two skills from Mechanical


7. Medic MOS:
• Medics are very important to any military and can make the difference between life and death on the battlefield. All skills have a bonus of +10%.
• Field Surgery
• Paramedic
• Choose one skill from the following list: Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Marine Biology, or Xenology.
• Choose two skills from Medical


8. Military Police MOS:
• Military Police are used to guard installations and to enforce the law within a military. Military Police not only function as security guards, they also serve in all roles that a normal police officer serves in civilian society, but a military police officer generally operates only inside the military. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Detect Concealment
• Interrogation Techniques
• Law (General)
• W.P.: Blunt
• Choose one skill from Physical


9. Military Scientist MOS:
• The soldier who elects to have this training is now a qualified field scientist and is trained in the appropriate field techniques. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Computer Operation
• Mathematics: Advanced
• Research
• Choose three skills from Science


10. Ocean Vessel Crewmen MOS:
• There are many roles on an ocean vessel and many types of ocean vessels for a soldier to serve on, but the average crewman will be trained in this MOS, which provides general knowledge on all aspects of an ocean ship. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Swimming
• Choose two skills from the following list: Navigation, Read Sensory Equipment, or Weapon Systems.
• Choose two skills from the following list: Pilot - Boat: Motor & Hydrofoil, Pilot - Boat: Sail Type, Pilot - Boat: Ships, Pilot - Boat: Warships & Patrol Boats, Pilot - Submersibles, or Pilot - Water Scooters.


11. Power Armor and Giant Robot Pilot MOS:
• Suits of power armor gives individual soldiers incredible versatility on a battlefield. Nearly as powerful as an old Earth tank, power armor helped revolutionize modern warfare. All skills have a bonus of +20%.
• Read Sensory Equipment
• Robot Combat: Elite (choose two)
• Weapon Systems
• Choose one skill from the following list: Navigation or Navigation: Space.
• Choose one skill from Pilot


12. Space Marine MOS:
• This is the standard MOS for infantry soldiers trained to operate in space. Their main purpose is to engage in combat in space and on spaceships. All skills have a bonus of +20%.
• First Aid
• Space Movement: Zero Gravity
• Zero Gravity Combat: Advanced
• Choose one skill from Weapon Proficiencies (Modern)
• Choose one skill from the following list: Basic Electronics, Basic Mechanics, Boxing, Demolitions, Hand-to-Hand: Martial Arts, Sniper, WP: Heavy Weapons, or Wrestling.


13. Spaceship Crewman MOS:
• There are many roles on a spaceship, but the average crewman will be trained in this MOS, which provides general and rudimentary knowledge on all aspects of a spaceship. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Space Defense Systems
• Choose two skills from the following list: Navigation: Space, Read Sensory Equipment, or Weapon Systems.
• Choose two skills from the following list: Pilot - EVA, Pilot - Small Spacecraft, Pilot - General Spacecraft, Pilot - Advanced Spacecraft, or Pilot - Starships.


14. Unarmed Combat Specialist MOS:
• While not very common in most modern militaries, unarmed combat specialists can have a very traditional role or even a practical role in the life of a soldier. All skills have a bonus of +10%, where appropriate.
• Athletics (General)
• Choose two skills from Physical
• Choose one skill from the following list: Hand-to-Hand Combat: Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kendo, Ninjitsu / Tai-Jutsu, Teng-Jutsu, Zanji Shinjinken-Ryu, or any other advanced unarmed combat form.


15. Underwater Marine MOS:
• While most military forces operate out of water, there are those that train their soldiers to function and fight underwater. With special training, these soldiers are far more capable of surviving and fighting underwater then most people would expect. Due to their increased training, these soldiers can hold their breath twice as long as a normal member of their race; in the case of Humans that means these soldiers can hold their breath for 2D4 minutes. All skills have a bonus of +10%, where appropriate.
• Swimming
• S.C.U.B.A.
• Choose one skill from Physical
• Choose one skill from Weapon Proficiencies (Modern)
• Choose one skill from the following list: Pilot - Submersibles, Pilot - Water Scooters, or Pilot - Water Skiiing & Surfing.

Advanced Military Occupation Specialties

Advanced MOS's have specific requirements that must be met before they can be taken, but they are larger and contain more skills then the basic MOS's. The requirements for these MOS's vary from one to the next, but they usually require that a specific basic MOS already be chosen.

1. Military Intelligence MOS:
• Good intelligence can mean the difference between victory and defeat, and soldiers that specialize in this MOS are trained to acquire that intelligence under any circumstances. This MOS requires the soldier to have chosen at least one basic MOS of any type. All skills have a bonus of +10%.
• Intelligence
• Interrogation Techniques
• Choose three skills from Espionage
• Choose three skills from the following list: Language - Any, Literacy - Any, Law - Any, or Lore - Any.


2. Space Special Forces MOS:
• In space, there is always a need for a soldier that is better, faster, and highly trained. These soldiers are considered the elite of the elite of the space marines and receive a bonus of +1 to ME and PE and +2D6 to S.D.C. (or M.D.C. if applicable). This MOS requires the soldier to have chosen the Space Marine MOS. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Depressurization Training
• Oxygen Conservation
• Choose two skills from Military
• Choose two skills from Weapon Proficiencies (Ancient or Modern)
• Choose one skill from the following list: Basic Electronics, Basic Mechanics, Boxing, Hand-to-Hand: Martial Arts, Sniper, WP: Heavy Weapons, or Wrestling.


3. Spaceship Officer MOS:
• Life on a spaceship is often a partnership between the enlisted crewmen and the officers that command them. Without the crewmen, the officers would not be able to run the ship, but without the officers, the crewmen would not be able to organize properly, as crewmen inherintly look after their own departments often to the exclusion of all other departments. Officers are oftened specialized in certain fields, but all are trained to command, although experience determines whether an officer commands a small department or a huge spaceship. This MOS requires the soldier to have chosen the Spaceship Crewman MOS. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Depressurization Training
• Movement in Zero Gravity
• Ship to Ship Combat
• Zero Gravity Combat: Basic
• Choose one skill from the following list: Pilot - EVA, Pilot - Small Spacecraft, Pilot - General Spacecraft, Pilot - Advanced Spacecraft, or Pilot - Starships.


4. Special Forces - Commando MOS:
• Special purpose forces are used for missions beyond simple fighting and they are the masters of unconventional warfare. The Commandos specialize in direct heavy combat in precise assaults. This MOS requires the soldier to have one of the following MOS's: Basic Ground Infantry or Pilot Power Armor and Giant Robot. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Hand-to-Hand: Commando
• Land Navigation
• Choose two skills from Military
• Choose two skills from Weapon Proficiencies (Ancient or Modern)
• Choose one skill from the following list: Basic Electronics, Basic Mechanics, Boxing, Sniper, WP: Heavy Weapons, or Wrestling.


5. Special Forces - Ranger MOS:
• Special purpose forces are used for missions beyond simple fighting and they are the masters of unconventional warfare. The Rangers specialize in wilderness warfare, traps, and ambushes. This MOS requires the soldier to have one of the following MOS's: Basic Ground Infantry or Pilot Power Armor and Giant Robot. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Detect Ambush
• Land Navigation
• Trap Construction
• Wilderness Survival
• Choose two skills from Wilderness
• Choose one skill from the following list: Basic Electronics, Basic Mechanics, Boxing, Parachuting, Sniper, WP: Heavy Weapons, or Wrestling.


6. Special Forces - Sniper MOS:
• Special purpose forces are used for missions beyond simple fighting and they are the masters of unconventional warfare. The Snipers specialize in attacking targets at a distance and using few attacks to register a kill and this MOS gives the soldier an additional +1 to strike with any ranged weapon that they have a Weapon Proficiency for. This MOS requires the soldier to have one of the following MOS's: Basic Ground Infantry or Pilot Power Armor and Giant Robot. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Camouflage
• Sniper
• W.P.: Sharpshooting (choose two)
• Choose one skill from Military
• Choose two skills from Weapon Proficiencies (Ancient or Modern)


7. Underwater Special Forces MOS:
• There are soldiers that are trained to fight underwater and they are often trained well, but to truly become good at fighting underwater, requires a certain level of skill that most people lack. These soldiers have that skill. These soldiers can hold their breath twice as long as a normal member of their race and swim at twice their normal swimming speed. This MOS requires the soldier to have chosen the Underwater Marine MOS. All skills have a bonus of +15%.
• Undersea Survival
• Underwater Navigation
• Choose two skills from Physical
• Choose two skills from Weapon Proficiencies (Modern)
• Choose one skill from the following list: Pilot - Submersibles, Pilot - Water Scooters, or Pilot - Water Skiiing & Surfing.