Airport Operations Specialist
$75KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Familiarity with FAA regulations
- — Specific airport software systems
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USAF · 1C031Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.1C031.R.04
1C031 · USAF · EnlistedAirfield Management
Airfield Management
Specialist.
Air Force 1C031 (Airfield Management Specialist). 560 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $75K–$138K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours560DoD pipeline
ACE creditACE6 semester hours in aviation management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 1C031 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 1C031 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Situational Awareness→ Understanding the implications of changes in complex systems
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Triaging and responding to critical software issues
- 03Procedural Compliance→ Adhering to coding standards and security protocols
- 04System Modeling→ Visualizing data flows and system interactions
- 05Team Synchronization→ Collaborating with cross-functional teams on development projects
To learn05
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Python for data analysis and scripting+Project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)+Software testing principles and techniques+Test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Cypress)
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.
Air Traffic Controller
$138KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Air Traffic Control certification
- — Extensive practical training
Emergency Management Specialist
$78KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — HAZMAT certification
- — Emergency planning software proficiency
Logistics Manager
$95KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management certification
- — Project management skills
Construction Manager
$98KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Construction management certification
- — Civil engineering knowledge
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 1C031 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Airfield Managers maintain constant awareness of aircraft movements, weather conditions, airfield status, and potential hazards to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Transfers to
This translates to the ability to perceive and understand the environment, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions in dynamic and complex situations.
Rapid Prioritization
Airfield Managers must quickly assess and prioritize tasks when dealing with emergencies, changing weather conditions, or unexpected aircraft diversions to maintain safe airfield operations.
Transfers to
This means you excel at quickly triaging situations, identifying the most critical issues, and allocating resources effectively under pressure.
Procedural Compliance
Airfield management demands strict adherence to regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure safety and operational efficiency.
Transfers to
Your commitment to following established protocols and maintaining standards demonstrates reliability and reduces risk.
System Modeling
Airfield Managers develop mental models of airfield operations, airspace, and interdependencies between various systems to anticipate potential disruptions and coordinate activities effectively.
Transfers to
This demonstrates your ability to visualize complex systems, understand how different components interact, and predict outcomes based on various inputs.
Team Synchronization
Airfield managers work closely with air traffic control, maintenance, and other base agencies, necessitating synchronized actions to ensure safe and efficient airfield operations.
Transfers to
This reflects your aptitude for coordinating with diverse teams, fostering communication, and ensuring everyone works in unison to achieve common goals.
/ 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.
Logistics Coordinator
SOC 43-3071.00You've been orchestrating complex airfield operations, managing resources, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. As a Logistics Coordinator, you can leverage these skills to manage the flow of goods and materials, optimize supply chains, and maintain efficient operations for a company. Your attention to detail and ability to handle multiple tasks will make you a valuable asset.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You're adept at quickly assessing threats, coordinating resources, and implementing emergency protocols. Your experience in airfield management translates directly to the skills needed to develop and execute emergency preparedness plans for communities or organizations. Your calm demeanor and decisive decision-making will be invaluable during crises.
Adjacent · MatchConstruction Project Manager
SOC 11-9021.00You've planned and coordinated airfield construction projects, demonstrating your ability to manage timelines, budgets, and resources. Your experience ensures you can oversee construction projects, manage contractors, and ensure projects are completed safely and on time. Your attention to detail and problem-solving abilities will be highly beneficial in this role.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Airfield Management Apprentice Course
Goodfellow AFB, TX560hHours
14wkWeeks
ACECredit
6 semester hours in aviation management
Topics · 7
- Airfield Safety Inspections
- NOTAM Procedures
- Flight Data Processing
- Airfield Construction Coordination
- Emergency Response Procedures on Airfields
- Airfield Management Publications and Charts
- Aircrew Coordination & Support
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)60%
Focus on the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, with specific attention to planning, resource management, and inter-agency coordination within a civilian context. Study the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) as they are applied in civilian emergency management.
- Airport Certified Employee (ACE) Operations70%
While the military experience provides a solid foundation in airfield operations, this certification requires understanding of the FAA regulations (specifically Part 139), airport security procedures from a civilian perspective, customer service aspects, and business management principles relevant to civilian airport operations.
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry40%
The military experience covers safety aspects, but OSHA focuses on US law and workplace safety in a civilian environment. Study specific OSHA standards, record-keeping requirements, and employee rights.
Recommended next · 03
- Airport Master Planner (American Association of Airport Executives)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Information Publications (FLIP) | Aeronautical charts and navigation databases (e.g., Jeppesen, ForeFlight) | Operations |
| Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System | FAA NOTAM Distribution System, Commercial flight planning software with NOTAM integration | Operations |
| Base Operations Support System (BOSS) | Airport operations management software (e.g., AirSuite, Vaisala AviMet) | Operations |
| Airfield Automation System (e.g., MAJCOM-specific systems) | Airport operational database (AODB) systems | Operations |
| Host Aviation Resource Management System (HARM) | Aviation personnel and training management software | Operations |
| Airfield Suitability and Capability Assessment Program (ASCAP) | Airport pavement management systems (PMS) and airfield inspection software | Operations |
| Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) data | Commercial weather data providers (e.g., AccuWeather Aviation, WSI Pilotbrief) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 1C031 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.