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Self-defense officials

How to become a Maritime Self-Defense Force Member

Defends Japan against invasion from the sea and keeps shipping safe in the waters around Japan.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or university is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

You need to graduate from junior high school, high school, university or similar and pass a Self-Defense Forces recruitment exam. University and graduate school graduates can choose the general officer candidate track. Anyone aged 18 to 32 can also sit the exam for the general sergeant candidate or private candidate track, and anyone aged 18 to 22 can sit the exam for the aviation student track, which trains pilots and similar specialists, to join the Maritime Self-Defense Force. You can also join the Maritime Self-Defense Force through the National Defense Academy or the medical or nursing courses at the National Defense Medical College. There is also a sponsored student scheme for students in their third or fourth year of science or engineering at university, or in a master's programme. The Ministry of Defense lends money for study to students who intend to keep working in the Self-Defense Forces after graduating, using what they studied. There is also a skilled reserve candidate scheme, open to people aged 18 or over who hold a national licence or similar qualification (with an upper age limit of under 53 to under 55, depending on the qualification). Eligibility depends on education, licences, age and physical requirements. After joining, members take various training for a few months to a few years, depending on how they joined and the track they chose, and then serve in their units. Self-Defense Forces work is very varied, and many jobs need particular skills or qualifications, but you can learn most of the knowledge and skills at the forces' own training schools. Through exams and courses you can also gain qualifications recognised outside the forces (in driving, piloting, communications, handling hazardous materials, medicine and IT). By its nature the work is mostly done in groups. You need to work together as a unit and act as an organisation. A sense of solidarity, endurance and responsibility for defending the country are also important.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Maritime Self-Defense Force Member?

You need to graduate from junior high school, high school, university or similar and pass a Self-Defense Forces recruitment exam. University and graduate school graduates can choose the general officer candidate track. Anyone aged 18 to 32 can also sit the exam for the general sergeant candidate or private candidate track, and anyone aged 18 to 22 can sit the exam for the aviation student track, which trains pilots and similar specialists, to join the Maritime Self-Defense Force. You can also join the Maritime Self-Defense Force through the National Defense Academy or the medical or nursing courses at the National Defense Medical College. There is also a sponsored student scheme for students in their third or fourth year of science or engineering at university, or in a master's programme. The Ministry of Defense lends money for study to students who intend to keep working in the Self-Defense Forces after graduating, using what they studied. There is also a skilled reserve candidate scheme, open to people aged 18 or over who hold a national licence or similar qualification (with an upper age limit of under 53 to under 55, depending on the qualification). Eligibility depends on education, licences, age and physical requirements. After joining, members take various training for a few months to a few years, depending on how they joined and the track they chose, and then serve in their units. Self-Defense Forces work is very varied, and many jobs need particular skills or qualifications, but you can learn most of the knowledge and skills at the forces' own training schools. Through exams and courses you can also gain qualifications recognised outside the forces (in driving, piloting, communications, handling hazardous materials, medicine and IT). By its nature the work is mostly done in groups. You need to work together as a unit and act as an organisation. A sense of solidarity, endurance and responsibility for defending the country are also important.

Do you need a degree to become a Maritime Self-Defense Force Member?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 18% of workers are university graduates.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026