Notification of Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Merge of Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) 1316 and 2161 to 1321

1.  IAW Reference (A), the 13XX and 21XX communities
are merging two Primary Military Occupational Specialties (PMOS).  
The Metal Worker (1316) and Machinist (2161) will merge into a 
single MOS, Fabrication Specialist (1321).  Combining these fields
results in a multifunctional, highly skilled Marine who fills a 
current Marine Corps need for a formally trained Advanced 
Manufacturing Specialist by integrating complementary MOS fields 
with overlapping skill sets.  This merger meets the Commandant's 
intent by creating opportunities for "Marines that can do more," 
while enabling the service to retain talent IAW Reference B.  
2.  In coordination with Manpower & Reserve Affairs (M&RA), Training
and Education Command (TECOM), and Combat Development and 
Integration (CD&I), the MOS has been created and is in the FY27 MOS
Manual.  
3.  Marines in PMOS fields of 1316 and 2161 will be recoded to PMOS
1321 (Fabrication Specialist) on 1 Oct 2026. The Table of 
Organization and Equipment Change Request (TOECR) was approved and 
is reflected in the Jan 2026 Authorized Strength Report (ASR).  
4.  M&RA (MMIB) will report unit diary entries to convert active and
reserve component Marines with PMOS 1316 or 2161 to PMOS 1321. These
Marines will be identified in a reclassification spreadsheet 
provided by the (132X/134X) MOS Specialist to MMIB.  
4.a.  All Marines from Pvt – SSgt on a second enlistment term who 
have not been trained in both Fabricator A, Metal Worker A141326, 
and Fabricator B, Machinist A142156 will receive a draw case code. 
This draw case code will be utilized by the 1321 Enlisted Monitor 
and the MOS Specialist to identify Marines who require formal 
training to be fully certified in their new MOS. Upon graduation 
from both courses, the case code will be removed.   
4.a.1.  The following E8s and E9s from the Chiefs MOS of 1316 and 2161
are the only E8s and E9s authorized to make the lateral move to 1321.
Approved selections below (for proper order, read left to right). 
4.a.2.  Selected 1321 Master Gunnery Sergeant and Master Sergeants. 
Rank            Name                    IMOS/MCC 
MGySgt          Gutierrez Jr    CM      1349/1C1 
MSgt            Cureo           MO      1349/1Y8 
MSgt            Reynolds        Q       2181/J78 
5.  Training: 
5.a.  Entry Level Training (ELT)  
5.a.1.  Beginning 1st Qtr FY27, all entry-level students will attend
both Fabricator A Metal Worker A141326 and Fabricator B Machinist 
A142156 and will be assigned to duty stations based on the current 
ASR.  
5.b.  Legacy 1316 and 2161 PMOS. 
5.b.1.  Within five years of re-assignment to 1321 MOS, all second 
enlistment-term Pvt-SSgt will return to the formal school in Ft. Lee
to complete the second half of their training.  All prior 2161 
Machinists will be required to complete Fabricator A (Welding), and
all 1316 Metal Workers will be required to complete Fabricator B 
(Machinist).  Suspense date for this action will be 1 Oct 2030. 
Marines who were unable to complete the training before the cutoff
of 1 Oct 2030, only due to Marine Corps needs (special duty 
assignments, deployments, etc.), will be grandfathered into 1321. 
Marines and commands must make all efforts to ensure Marines are 
trained.  
5.b.2.  1316 who complete the Machinist Technician (A14GMM) course
will not require Fabricator B (Machinist) training.  
5.b.3.  1321 Marines holding the rank of Gunnery Sergeant or above
will be exempt from any additional MOS training from TECOM.
5.c. Training and Readiness 
5.c.1.  1321 is an approved MOS in the Engineer and Utilities 
Training and Readiness Manual, and the T&R events and will be used
to conduct 1000 and 2000 level sustainment training for all 1321 
according to the published intervals.
5.c.2.  The implementation of the 1321 T&R events will start on the
date that this message is published for the MOS of 1321, 1316, and
2161. 
5.c.  Temporary Duty Under Instruction (TEMINS) is authorized as 
needed to ensure Marines arrive at new duty stations fully trained
and mission-ready, fostering career development while generating 
cost savings by consolidating travel and training expenses. MMEA-2
will make the determination of TEMINS approval. 
6.  Performance Evaluation System (PES) or Junior Enlisted 
Performance Evaluation System (JEPES):
6.a.  No fitness report or JEPES is required for Marines who change
MOS from 1316 and 2161 to 1321. 
6.b.  The new and approved JEPES MOS qualifications for 1321 will
take effect on June 15, in time for promotions for July and the 
Authorized Strength Report (ASR).
7.  SNCO Promotions
7.a.  Due to the timing of the merger of the two MOSs and the Force
Structure Realignment Group (FSRG), there will be no promotions for
E8s and E9s FY 2027 for the MOS of 1321.
7.b.  In accordance with paragraph 4 of this message, all 2161 
GySgts will be converted to the new PMOS of 1321 in FY27.  Again, 
due to timing and to maintain expertise in the Fabrication 
Specialist field, no GySgt 2161 will be considered for promotion to
MSgt for the 2181 Ordnance Chief PMOS during the upcoming FY 2027 
promotion board.
7.c.  Eligible GySgts and SSgts in MOS 1321 will be selected for 
Promotion in FY27 if allocations are available. Promotions for E8s
and E9s in the same MOS will resume in FY28 according to published
board schedules.
8.  The above changes are effective as of the release of this 
message and reflected in the FY27 update to Reference (C).  
9.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force. 
10.  Any questions should be directed to the POC 2 as indicated
above.  
11.  Release authorized by LtGen Stephen D. Sklenka, Deputy 
Commandant, Installations and Logistics (L).