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USMC
U.S. MARINE CORPS

0311 Rifleman

U.S. Marine Corps
Equivalent: 11B (Army Infantryman)
The 0311 Rifleman is the foundation of the Marine Corps infantry. Every Marine is a rifleman first. Duties mirror the Army 11B with additional emphasis on amphibious operations, ship-to-shore movement, and the Marine Corps culture of aggressive close combat. Marines in 0311 billets deployed extensively to Iraq (Fallujah, Ramadi, Al Anbar) and Afghanistan (Helmand, Sangin) in some of the most kinetic environments of both conflicts.
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS
-Carrying 80-130 lbs combat load (Marines historically carry heavier loads than Army infantry)
-Extended dismounted patrols (15-25+ miles) in extreme heat and terrain
-Ship-to-shore operations with waterborne equipment exposure
-Weapons fire from M16/M4, M249, M240, AT4, SMAW, grenades at very high rates
-Blast exposure from IEDs — Helmand Province had the highest IED density of any theater
-Sleeping in fighting positions, vehicles, and austere conditions
-Burn pit exposure at FOBs throughout Iraq and Afghanistan
-Extreme cold weather operations (mountain warfare training, Korea deployments)
SERVICE-CONNECTED CONDITIONS (9 MAPPED)
PTSDDC 9411
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%
Combat infantry in the most kinetic environments of Iraq/Afghanistan. Purple Heart, CAR, or combat deployment concedes stressor under 38 C.F.R. 3.304(f)(2).
38 C.F.R. 3.304(f)(2); 38 U.S.C. 1154(b)
TinnitusDC 6260
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%
Higher weapons fire exposure than most Army infantry due to Marine Corps qualification standards and operational tempo. SMAW back-blast is particularly damaging.
38 C.F.R. 4.87, DC 6260
Hearing LossDC 6100
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 0%, 10%, 20%
Same exposure as tinnitus. Marine infantry historically had less consistent hearing protection use than other branches.
38 C.F.R. 4.85, DC 6100
Lumbar SpineDC 5237-5243
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%, 40%
Heavier combat loads than Army counterparts. Longer dismounted patrols. Repetitive heavy lifting in austere conditions.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
Knee Condition (Bilateral)DC 5003/5256-5263
VERY HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Heavy load + aggressive movement tempo. Both knees affected. Bilateral factor applies.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
TBIDC 8045
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 40%, 70%
IED exposure, particularly Helmand Province operations. Blast overpressure from own weapons systems (SMAW, AT4).
38 C.F.R. 4.124a, DC 8045
Shoulder ConditionDC 5200-5203
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Weapons handling, pack carrying, overhead obstacles. Dominant arm rated higher.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
Ankle Condition (Bilateral)DC 5270-5274
MODERATE
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Uneven terrain, heavy load, aggressive movement. Ankle sprains and chronic instability.
38 C.F.R. 4.71a
Radiculopathy (Bilateral Lower)DC 8520
HIGH
Typical Ratings: 10%, 20%
Secondary to lumbar spine. Separately ratable per leg.
38 C.F.R. 4.124a, DC 8520; 38 C.F.R. 3.310
TYPICAL RATING CONSTELLATION
A deployed 0311 commonly has: PTSD (50-70%), lumbar spine (20%), bilateral knee (10% each), tinnitus (10%), hearing loss (10%), shoulder (10-20%), bilateral radiculopathy (10% each). Combined: 80-100%.
KEY CLAIM TIP
Marine 0311s from Helmand Province and Fallujah deployments have some of the strongest combat-related claims in the system. The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) concedes your stressor. Focus on documenting current severity and functional impairment, not re-proving combat exposure.
RELATED MOS
03310341035211B
Secondary Conditions
450+ secondaries mapped
Calculate Your Rating
VA math + dollar impact
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CLAIM RECON 2026