United States Coast Guard careers
ME
law enforcement
United States Coast Guard

Maritime Enforcement Specialist

Perform Coast Guard law enforcement and maritime security.

Difficulty · moderateFitness · high Requirements being verified
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Job Overview

MEs execute the Coast Guard's law enforcement mission.

Maritime Enforcement Specialists conduct boardings, drug and migrant interdiction, port security, and antiterrorism operations.

History & Deep Dive

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Daily Responsibilities

  • Boarding operations
  • Weapons handling
  • Investigations
  • Port security
  • Training
Work schedule
Rotational duty; underway boardings
Environment
Cutters, ports, deployable teams
Supports
US ports, waterways, and offshore zones

Training Pipeline

  1. 1
    Basic Training
    8 weeks
  2. 2
    ME A School
    Charleston, SC · ~10 weeks

Official Qualification Requirements

Coast Guard composite

Requirements being verified against the official service publication. We do not display unofficial or estimated scores — contact a recruiter for the current minimum.

Security clearance

SECRET

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-08-14

Requirements are subject to change by the Department of Defense and each service. Always confirm the current standard with an official recruiter before making a decision.

U.S. citizenship
Verify with a recruiter

May be required. The branch's published enlistment rules allow green card holders, but some units or assignments in this field need a security clearance, and only U.S. citizens are eligible for one (32 CFR 117.10, SEAD-4). Confirm the specific assignment with a recruiter. Verified August 2026.

Physical requirements
Good fitness. Must pass USCG fitness standards.
Required skills
WeaponsDe-escalationReport writingMaritime knowledge
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Video Library

Official recruiting video for Maritime Enforcement Specialist coming soon.

Career Progression

E-1→
E-4→
E-5→
E-6→
E-7

Boarding officer, ME chief.

Assignments & Special Schools

Duty stations
  • Charleston, SC
  • Miami, FL
  • San Diego, CA
  • Boston, MA
Special schools
Boarding OfficerCoxswainMSRT crossover

Deployment: Deployable teams support DoD and international missions.

Advantages

  • Federal LE experience
  • Unique maritime mission
  • Fed hire preference

Disadvantages

  • Shift and underway work
  • High-stakes boardings

Civilian Career Equivalents

Federal Law Enforcement
Police Officer
Border Patrol
Career Match Scores
Physical Demand85
Mental Demand80
Leadership78
Technical Level65
Travel75
Deployment Potential70
Civilian Transferability95
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Context: ME Maritime Enforcement Specialist
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