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Live · Guide v1.01B331 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 1B331Career Guide · Cyber · Security · VWC.CG.1B331.R.04
1B331 · USAF · Enlisted

Cyberspace Warfare
Operator.

Air Force 1B331 (Cyberspace Warfare Operator). 1,440 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $95K–$130K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,440DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 1B331 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 1B331 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have15
  • 01
    Network Attack Techniques→ Penetration Testing Methodologies
  • 02
    Network Defense Strategies→ Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
  • 03
    Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis→ Vulnerability Analysis and Exploit Development
  • 04
    Command and Control in Cyberspace Operations→ Incident Response and Security Orchestration
  • 05
    Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS)→ Next-generation firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, Cisco)
  • 06
    Air Force Intranet Control Weapon System (AIC)→ Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
  • 07
    Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter weapon system→ Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools (e.g., Nessus, Metasploit)
  • 08
    Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO) tools→ Penetration testing and exploitation frameworks (e.g., Kali Linux, Cobalt Strike)
  • 09
    Defensive Cyberspace Operations (DCO) tools→ Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions (e.g., CrowdStrike, SentinelOne)
  • 10
    Network Management Systems (NMS)→ Network monitoring and management platforms (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG Network Monitor)
  • 11
    Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS)→ Wireless security and monitoring solutions (e.g., AirMagnet, Ekahau)
  • 12
    Adversarial Thinking→ Threat Modeling and Risk Assessment
  • 13
    System Modeling→ Infrastructure Design and Security Architecture
  • 14
    Situational Awareness→ Incident Detection and Response
  • 15
    Rapid Prioritization→ Triage and Severity Assessment
To learn08

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

+Cloud computing fundamentals (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Scripting languages (Python, Bash) for automation+Advanced penetration testing techniques and tools+Industry standard security certifications (e.g., OSCP, CEH)+SIEM technologies (Splunk, QRadar) and log analysis+Threat intelligence and incident response methodologies+Containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)+Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (Terraform, CloudFormation)
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

Cybersecurity Analyst

$110K
High match
Very high demand
P.02

Network Security Engineer

$125K
High match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
  • — Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security
  • — Experience with specific firewall technologies (e.g., Palo Alto, Cisco ASA)
P.03

Penetration Tester

$120K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • — Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
  • — Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
P.04

Incident Responder

$95K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • — GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
  • — Experience with SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
P.05

Security Consultant

$130K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • — Excellent communication skills
  • — Project management experience
  • — CISSP or similar certification
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 1B331 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Adversarial Thinking

Constantly anticipating and countering the tactics of potential cyber adversaries, simulating attacks, and developing defensive strategies to protect critical networks and systems.

Transfers to

The ability to proactively identify vulnerabilities and potential threats, think like an attacker to understand their methods, and develop strategies to mitigate risks and protect assets.

S.02

System Modeling

Developing comprehensive models of complex network systems to understand their interdependencies, identify potential weaknesses, and predict the impact of cyberattacks or system failures.

Transfers to

The ability to create detailed representations of complex systems, analyze their behavior, and use these models to optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and plan for future needs.

S.03

Situational Awareness

Maintaining constant awareness of the dynamic cyber landscape, including threat actors, vulnerabilities, and the status of defensive measures, to make informed decisions and respond effectively to cyber incidents.

Transfers to

The ability to monitor a complex environment, identify critical events, understand their potential impact, and make timely decisions based on the available information.

S.04

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing the severity and impact of cyber threats and incidents to prioritize response efforts and allocate resources effectively in high-pressure situations.

Transfers to

The ability to quickly evaluate competing demands, assess their importance and urgency, and focus on the most critical tasks to ensure efficient and effective outcomes.

/ 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.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011

You've been trained to think like an adversary and anticipate attacks. As a fraud investigator, you'll use those same skills to uncover fraudulent schemes, analyze financial data, and build cases against perpetrators. Your experience with network analysis translates directly to identifying patterns of fraud.

Adjacent · Match

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051

Your expertise in situational awareness and adversarial thinking is invaluable in intelligence analysis. You're skilled at collecting and analyzing data, identifying threats, and providing actionable intelligence to decision-makers. You'll leverage your knowledge of network systems to assess risks and develop strategies to protect organizations.

Adjacent · Match

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161

You are accustomed to high-pressure situations and resource optimization. As an emergency management specialist, you'll plan and coordinate responses to natural disasters, security threats, and other emergencies. Your skills in system modeling and rapid prioritization will enable you to develop effective emergency response plans and minimize the impact of crises.

Adjacent · Match

Technical Sales Engineer

SOC 41-9031

You understand complex systems and can communicate their value to others. As a technical sales engineer, you'll use your technical knowledge to explain the benefits of cybersecurity products to potential clients. Your ability to model systems and think like an adversary will allow you to anticipate customer needs and demonstrate how your solutions can protect them.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Cyberspace Warfare Operations School

Hurlburt Field, Florida
1,440hHours
36wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 15 semester hours recommended

Topics · 8
  • Network Attack Techniques
  • Network Defense Strategies
  • Network Exploitation Methodologies
  • Command and Control in Cyberspace Operations
  • Vulnerability Assessment and Mitigation
  • Cybersecurity Policy and Implementation
  • Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis
  • Joint and Coalition Cyber Operations
Partial coverage · 3
  • CompTIA Security+70%

    Study specific encryption standards, access control methods beyond the DoD, and risk management frameworks used in the private sector.

  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60%

    Focus on commercial hacking tools, legal aspects of ethical hacking in different jurisdictions, and broader vulnerability assessment methodologies.

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)50%

    Expand knowledge of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks, business continuity planning, and a wider array of security management practices beyond technical implementation.

Recommended next · 04
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Adjacent
  • GIAC Security Expert (GSE)Adjacent
  • AWS Certified Security - SpecialtyAdjacent
  • 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
Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS)Next-generation firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (e.g., Palo Alto Networks, Cisco)Operations
Air Force Intranet Control Weapon System (AIC)Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)Weapons
Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter weapon systemVulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools (e.g., Nessus, Metasploit)Weapons
Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO) toolsPenetration testing and exploitation frameworks (e.g., Kali Linux, Cobalt Strike)Operations
Defensive Cyberspace Operations (DCO) toolsEndpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions (e.g., CrowdStrike, SentinelOne)Operations
Network Management Systems (NMS)Network monitoring and management platforms (e.g., SolarWinds, PRTG Network Monitor)Networking
Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS)Wireless security and monitoring solutions (e.g., AirMagnet, Ekahau)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 1B331 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.

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