noun
Maritime Self-Defense Force member; MSDF official
Refers to a uniformed member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊).
彼は海上自衛官として護衛艦に乗っている。
He serves as a Maritime Self-Defense Force member on a destroyer.
海上自衛隊 is the organization (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force), while 海上自衛官 refers to an individual member of that force.
Compound of 海上 (maritime) + 自衛 (self-defense) + 官 (official).