Intelligence Analyst
$85KHigh match
High demand
Live · Guide v1.01N491 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 1N491Career Guide · Intelligence · VWC.CG.1N491.R.04
1N491 · USAF · EnlistedIntelligence
Intelligence
Analyst.
Air Force 1N491 (Intelligence Analyst). 1,280 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $70K–$120K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,280DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 1N491 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 1N491 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have06
- 01Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Analysis→ Data Analysis
- 02Communications Network Analysis→ Network Architecture
- 03Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Integration→ Geospatial Data Analysis
- 04Adversarial Thinking→ Risk Assessment
- 05Database Management→ Data Warehousing
- 06Situational Awareness→ Real-time analytics
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL+Python (pandas, matplotlib)+Cybersecurity fundamentals+Network security protocols+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Data modeling+ETL processes+Cloud data warehousing (Snowflake, BigQuery)
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.
Cyber Intelligence Analyst
$110KHigh match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)
- — Specific cybersecurity tools training (e.g., SIEM, intrusion detection systems)
Network Security Engineer
$120KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- — Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- — Experience with network security tools and protocols
Data Analyst
$75KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — SQL
- — Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- — Statistical analysis software (e.g., R, Python)
Technical Writer
$70KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Technical writing certification
- — Experience with documentation software (e.g., MadCap Flare)
- — Portfolio of technical writing samples
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 1N491 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Adversarial Thinking
This role requires anticipating an adversary's actions and intentions by analyzing intelligence information and understanding their communication networks and strategies.
Transfers to
You can apply your analytical skills to predict potential risks, identify vulnerabilities, and develop proactive solutions in competitive business environments.
System Modeling
You create models of global communications structures, target networks, and adversary order of battle to understand their operations and vulnerabilities.
Transfers to
You can visualize and understand complex systems, identify key components and relationships, and use this knowledge to improve processes and outcomes.
Situational Awareness
You maintain a high degree of awareness of geopolitical and operational intelligence, providing real-time threat warnings and supporting strategic decision-making.
Transfers to
You can quickly assess complex situations, identify critical factors, and communicate relevant information to stakeholders, enabling effective decision-making in dynamic environments.
Rapid Prioritization
You're often drafting and disseminating time-sensitive intelligence reports to consumers worldwide, so you have to quickly and accurately assess the level of importance of each incoming data point.
Transfers to
You're able to discern the most important tasks at hand and manage your time effectively in order to meet crucial deadlines.
/ 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.
Market Research Analyst
SOC 19-3022.00You've been expertly analyzing intelligence to understand adversary actions and intentions. This translates perfectly to analyzing market trends and consumer behavior to inform business strategies. Your skills in intelligence gathering and reporting are highly valuable in this field.
Adjacent · MatchFinancial Risk Analyst
SOC 13-2051.00You've honed your skills in identifying and mitigating threats in complex environments. In finance, you can apply this expertise to assess financial risks, develop strategies to minimize potential losses, and ensure the stability of financial operations.
Adjacent · MatchFraud Investigator
SOC 13-2011.00You've developed expertise in recovering, correlating, and fusing technical and operational intelligence information. You can leverage these skills to investigate fraudulent activities, gather evidence, and build cases for prosecution. Your analytical abilities and attention to detail are essential in this field.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Intelligence Analyst Training
Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX1,280hHours
32wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 15 semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Analysis
- Communications Network Analysis
- Targeting Methodologies
- Intelligence Report Writing
- Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Integration
- Threat Warning Systems
- Database Management
- Information Operations Analysis
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)50%
Requires study of formal information security management principles, risk management frameworks, and legal/regulatory compliance, as the military training is heavily focused on the technical aspects of intelligence and exploitation rather than governance and policy.
- CompTIA Security+70%
Requires additional study on compliance and operational security, threats and vulnerabilities, and application, data, and host security.
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60%
Requires a deeper understanding of penetration testing methodologies, advanced hacking techniques, and legal aspects of ethical hacking. Military training provides a strong foundation but lacks the breadth of techniques covered in the CEH.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)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 |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) | Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) | Networking |
| Multimedia Message Manager (MMM) | Secure document and media sharing platforms (e.g., Box, Sharepoint) | Operations |
| Analytic Workspace (AW) | Data analytics and visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) | Operations |
| Targeting Intelligence Workstation (TIW) | Geospatial intelligence software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) | Operations |
| National SIGINT Committee (NSC) | Cyber threat intelligence platforms (e.g., Recorded Future, CrowdStrike Falcon X) | Networking |
| Automated Message Handling System (AMHS) | Secure messaging systems (e.g., Signal, Telegram) | Operations |
| Air Force Integrated Broadcast System (IBS) | Real-time news and information feeds (e.g., Bloomberg Terminal, Reuters) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 1N491 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.