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Live · Guide v1.01645 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 1645Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.1645.R.04
1645 · NAVY · Officer

Information Warfare Officer
Trainee.

Navy 1645 (Information Warfare Officer Trainee). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$120K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours480DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Military Science.
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 1645 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 1645 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have16
  • 01
    Electronic WarfareCybersecurity protocols and tools
  • 02
    Cyber WarfareNetwork security principles
  • 03
    Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)Data analysis and threat intelligence
  • 04
    Information OperationsRisk management and security awareness
  • 05
    Command and Control (C2) fundamentalsSystems management and orchestration
  • 06
    Operational PlanningStrategic thinking and problem-solving
  • 07
    Adversarial ThinkingVulnerability assessment and threat modeling
  • 08
    Situational AwarenessRisk management and strategic planning
  • 09
    Rapid PrioritizationIncident response and resource allocation
  • 10
    System ModelingSystems architecture and design
  • 11
    AN/SLQ-32(V)6Electronic warfare simulation and testing
  • 12
    Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M)Geospatial intelligence platforms
  • 13
    Joint Regional Security Stack (JRSS)Enterprise cybersecurity suites
  • 14
    Tactical Data Links (Link 16, etc.)Interoperable communication platforms, data exchange protocols (APIs, message queues)
  • 15
    Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) networksSecurity Operations Center (SOC) environments
  • 16
    Cyber Situational Awareness Analytical Tool (CSAAT)SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platforms
To learn12

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Python scripting+Cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Intrusion detection and prevention systems+SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, ELK stack)+Threat intelligence analysis+Incident response methodologies+Cloud computing (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)+Automation tools (Ansible, Terraform)+SQL+Python (pandas, matplotlib)+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →
/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Information Security Analyst

$105K
High match
Very high demand
P.02

Cybersecurity Consultant

$120K
Good match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
  • CISSP Certification
P.03

Network Security Engineer

$110K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • CCNA Security
  • Firewall Management
P.04

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Data Analysis Tools (e.g., Tableau)
  • OSINT Techniques
P.05

IT Project Manager

$95K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • PMP Certification
  • Agile Methodologies
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 1645 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Adversarial Thinking

As an Information Warfare Trainee, you're learning to anticipate the moves of adversaries in the digital realm, understanding their tactics and strategies to defend naval assets.

Transfers to

This translates to the ability to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats in various systems, allowing you to proactively address weaknesses and protect against risks.

S.02

Situational Awareness

You are trained to maintain a constant awareness of the information environment, understanding the flow of data and identifying anomalies or potential threats as they emerge.

Transfers to

This skill enables you to quickly grasp the complexities of any situation, identify key factors, and make informed decisions even under pressure. In civilian life, this is invaluable for strategic planning and risk management.

S.03

Rapid Prioritization

In the dynamic field of information warfare, you must quickly assess and prioritize threats, allocating resources effectively to counter the most pressing dangers.

Transfers to

This skill allows you to quickly assess competing demands, identify the most critical tasks, and allocate resources efficiently to achieve desired outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

S.04

System Modeling

Understanding how complex information systems function, including their vulnerabilities and interdependencies, is critical for effective defense and offense in information warfare.

Transfers to

You can quickly grasp how different components of a system work together, identify potential points of failure, and design solutions to improve overall performance and resilience. This skill is valuable in various fields, from IT to logistics.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Competitive Intelligence Analyst

SOC 13-2099.00

You've been trained to analyze the strategies and tactics of adversaries. This translates directly to analyzing competitors in the business world. You can identify their weaknesses, predict their moves, and help your company gain a competitive edge. Your skills in threat assessment and system modeling are invaluable for understanding complex market dynamics and developing effective counter-strategies.

Adjacent · Match

Cybersecurity Consultant

SOC 15-1212.00

You've been learning to defend against information warfare threats, which makes you well-suited to advise companies on their cybersecurity posture. Your experience in identifying vulnerabilities and understanding system dependencies allows you to develop robust security strategies and protect against cyberattacks.

Adjacent · Match

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011.00

You've honed your adversarial thinking and pattern recognition skills, which are crucial for uncovering fraudulent activities. You can analyze financial data, identify anomalies, and trace the flow of illicit funds. Your ability to think like a threat actor makes you exceptionally effective at detecting and preventing fraud.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Information Warfare Officer Basic Course

Naval Information Warfare Training Command (NIWTC), Corry Station, Pensacola, FL
480hHours
12wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 6 semester hours recommended in Military Science.

Topics · 7
  • Naval Intelligence
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Information Operations
  • Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
  • Command and Control (C2) fundamentals
  • Operational Planning
Partial coverage · 3
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60%

    Requires study of specific hacking tools, methodologies, and legal frameworks not explicitly covered in basic information warfare training. Focus on hands-on labs and current exploit techniques.

  • CompTIA Security+70%

    Requires additional focus on specific compliance regulations (HIPAA, PCI DSS), risk management frameworks, and hands-on experience with security tools such as SIEMs and vulnerability scanners.

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)40%

    Requires extensive knowledge of all eight domains of information security, including policy, law, and incident response. This is an advanced certification that requires significant independent study and experience.

Recommended next · 03
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)Adjacent
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
AN/SLQ-32(V)6Electronic warfare simulation and testing softwareOperations
Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M)Geospatial intelligence platformsNetworking
Joint Regional Security Stack (JRSS)Enterprise cybersecurity suites (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike)Operations
Tactical Data Links (Link 16, etc.)Interoperable communication platforms, data exchange protocols (e.g., APIs, message queues)Operations
Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) networksSecurity Operations Center (SOC) environmentsNetworking
Cyber Situational Awareness Analytical Tool (CSAAT)SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platformsOperations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 1645 into a resume that ships.

Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.