Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
$58KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
- — Diesel engine diagnostics & repair
- — Welding
Live · Guide v1.019E · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/19E
ARMY · 19ECareer Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.19E.R.04
19E · ARMY · EnlistedArmor
Armor
Crewman.
Army 19E (Armor Crewman). 420 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $40K–$78K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours420DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended for lower-division studies in Military Science
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 19E 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 19E training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have09
- 01Weapons Systems Operation & Maintenance→ Systems troubleshooting and maintenance
- 02Communications Equipment Operation→ Networking concepts
- 03Ammunition Handling and Procedures→ Strict adherence to safety protocols and documentation
- 04Land Navigation→ Understanding of spatial relationships and data visualization
- 05Situational Awareness→ Monitoring system performance and identifying anomalies
- 06Rapid Prioritization→ Incident response and critical task management
- 07Team Synchronization→ Collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve issues
- 08Degraded-Mode Operations→ Maintaining system functionality under stress or with limited resources
- 09Collecting, interpreting, analyzing, evaluating, and disseminating intelligence information and data→ Data Analysis
To learn13
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Scripting with Python or Bash+Configuration management tools (Ansible, Chef, or Puppet)+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Network security principles+Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing basics+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)+SQL for data querying+Statistical analysis and data modeling+IT support ticketing systems (e.g., Jira, ServiceNow)+Operating system troubleshooting (Windows, macOS, Linux)+Basic networking concepts
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.
Security Officer/Guard
$40KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — State-specific security license
- — De-escalation techniques
- — First Aid/CPR certification
Logistics Coordinator
$52KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management software (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
- — Data analysis
- — Project management
Operations Manager
$78KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field
- — Lean Six Sigma certification
- — Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Emergency Management Specialist
$75KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Emergency management certification (e.g., FEMA courses)
- — Disaster planning and response
- — HAZMAT training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 19E training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Tank crew members must constantly monitor their surroundings, identifying potential threats, understanding the terrain, and anticipating enemy movements to effectively engage targets and maintain battlefield advantage.
Transfers to
The ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of a complex environment and anticipate potential risks or opportunities, enabling proactive decision-making and effective responses.
Rapid Prioritization
In the heat of combat, tank crew members must quickly assess multiple incoming pieces of information (enemy positions, vehicle status, ammunition levels) and prioritize actions to ensure mission success and crew safety.
Transfers to
The capacity to swiftly evaluate competing demands, allocate resources, and focus efforts on the most critical tasks, especially under pressure or in dynamic environments.
Team Synchronization
Tank operation demands seamless coordination among the driver, gunner, and commander. Each crew member must anticipate the others' actions and respond in unison to execute maneuvers, engage targets, and maintain vehicle effectiveness.
Transfers to
The ability to work in close coordination with others, anticipating their needs, and seamlessly integrating individual actions to achieve a shared objective.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Tankers are trained to maintain combat effectiveness even when systems are damaged or malfunctioning. They use backup procedures, improvisational skills, and a deep understanding of the equipment to keep the tank operational under adverse conditions.
Transfers to
The ability to adapt to unexpected challenges, troubleshoot problems, and maintain performance even when resources are limited or systems are not functioning optimally.
/ 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.
Emergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to maintain situational awareness under duress, rapidly prioritize tasks, and coordinate team efforts in high-pressure environments. Your experience in planning and executing complex operations translates directly to emergency response, where you will develop and implement plans to mitigate the impact of disasters and protect communities.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Analyst
SOC 13-2081.00Your experience with managing ammunition resupply, coordinating vehicle movements, and maintaining operational readiness demonstrates your aptitude for logistics. As a logistics analyst, you'll apply your analytical skills to optimize supply chain operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs for businesses.
Adjacent · MatchTechnical Trainer
SOC 25-9041.00You have experience training tank crews and supervising subordinates in maintenance procedures. This makes you well-suited to be a technical trainer for complex machinery or equipment in civilian industries. You'll be responsible for developing training programs, delivering instruction, and assessing the competency of trainees.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Armor Basic Training
Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), GA420hHours
10wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours recommended for lower-division studies in Military Science
Topics · 8
- Tank Gunnery
- Tank Maneuver and Tactics
- Weapons Systems Operation & Maintenance (M1A2 Abrams)
- Ammunition Handling and Procedures
- Communications Equipment Operation
- Vehicle Maintenance (Operator Level)
- Land Navigation
- Combat Simulations
Partial coverage · 2
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction40%
Focus on specific OSHA construction standards, safety management systems, and hazard communication.
- Certified Logistics Associate (CLA)30%
Study the basics of supply chain logistics, including receiving, warehousing, inventory control, and shipping.
Recommended next · 04
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Adjacent
- Lean Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank | Heavy equipment operation and maintenance; diesel engine repair; hydraulics systems; vehicle electronics | Operations |
| AN/VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) | Motorola two-way radio systems; VHF/UHF radio communication; telecommunications equipment operation | Operations |
| Blue Force Tracker (BFT) | Real-time GPS fleet management systems; telematics solutions; asset tracking software (e.g., Samsara, Geotab) | Operations |
| Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) | Civilian equivalent: Mapping and targeting software (ESRI ArcGIS), Fire Support Systems (e.g., used in forestry for controlled burns), Simulation Software | Operations |
| AN/PVS-7 Night Vision Goggles (NVG) | Night vision equipment (e.g., security, hunting, search and rescue); FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) cameras | Operations |
| Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) | Handheld GPS devices (Garmin, Magellan); mapping software (Google Maps, Gaia GPS) for navigation and land surveying | Operations |
| Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) | Remote weapon systems, security camera systems with remote operation, industrial robotic arms with integrated weapon capabilities | Networking |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 19E 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.