Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
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ARMY · 22NCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.22N.R.04
22N · ARMY · EnlistedNike-Hercules Missile System Maintenance
Nike-Hercules Missile System Maintenance
Technician.
Army 22N (Nike-Hercules Missile System Maintenance Technician). 1,600 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$78K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,600DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 30 semester hours recommended in electronics and electromechanical technology.
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 22N 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 22N training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have09
- 01Radar Systems Maintenance (LOPAR, HIPAR, TTR, TRR, MTR)→ Network troubleshooting and diagnostics
- 02Missile System Theory & Maintenance→ Systems analysis and problem-solving
- 03Electronic Test Equipment Calibration and Repair→ Hardware diagnostics and repair
- 04Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures→ Testing and validation of systems
- 05Troubleshooting and Diagnostics→ Root cause analysis
- 06System Modeling→ Understanding of system architecture
- 07Procedural Compliance→ Adherence to standards and protocols
- 08Team Synchronization→ Collaboration in a technical environment
- 09Degraded-Mode Operations→ Adaptability under pressure
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux system administration fundamentals+Scripting with Bash or Python+Networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP)+Network security principles+Test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, JUnit)+CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI)+Data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Excel)+Business process modeling
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.
Electronics Engineering Technician
$70KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Associate's degree in electronics or related field
- — Proficiency in CAD software
Quality Assurance Specialist
$65KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Six Sigma certification
- — Knowledge of ISO 9000 standards
Wind Turbine Technician
$60KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Safety training (OSHA 30)
- — Technical certifications in wind turbine maintenance
First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
$78KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Project management skills
- — Advanced leadership training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 22N training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
Maintaining the Nike-Hercules missile system requires a deep understanding of how its many components interact. You had to mentally model the system to troubleshoot and repair complex issues.
Transfers to
This ability to understand complex systems translates to strong analytical and problem-solving skills, valuable in any technical field.
Procedural Compliance
Maintenance on the Nike-Hercules system demanded strict adherence to detailed procedures to ensure safety and effectiveness. One misstep could have catastrophic consequences.
Transfers to
Your ingrained understanding of the importance of following protocols makes you highly reliable and effective in regulated environments.
Team Synchronization
As a supervisor, you coordinated teams performing maintenance on the missile system, ensuring everyone worked together efficiently and safely. This required clear communication and a focus on shared goals.
Transfers to
Your experience in coordinating teams in high-stakes environments makes you a strong leader, capable of motivating and guiding others to achieve complex objectives.
Degraded-Mode Operations
The description mentions maintaining and troubleshooting the system even when components fail. You had to find ways to keep the system operational under duress, even if at a reduced capacity.
Transfers to
Your ability to adapt and problem-solve under pressure, finding solutions even when resources are limited, is highly valuable in dynamic and challenging environments.
/ 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.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
SOC 49-9041.00You've been working on complex mechanical and electrical systems for years. Your experience troubleshooting and repairing the Nike-Hercules missile system directly translates to maintaining and repairing industrial machinery. Your understanding of hydraulics, electronics, and system-level diagnostics will be invaluable.
Adjacent · MatchWind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9099.01You've been responsible for maintaining complex electromechanical systems in the Nike-Hercules missile system. Wind turbines have similar components, including hydraulics, gearboxes, and electronic controls. You will be able to quickly learn the specifics and apply your existing skills to keep these systems running smoothly.
Adjacent · MatchRobotics Technician
SOC 49-9062.00You've been working on complex systems involving electronics, mechanics, and hydraulics, just like robots. You're familiar with troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining sophisticated equipment, making you a natural fit for this field. Your procedural compliance experience will also be valuable.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Nike-Hercules Missile System Maintenance Course
Fort Bliss, TX (historical)1,600hHours
40wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 30 semester hours recommended in electronics and electromechanical technology.
Topics · 8
- Missile System Theory
- Radar Systems Maintenance (LOPAR, HIPAR, TTR, TRR, MTR)
- Launcher and Launcher Control Maintenance
- Electronic Test Equipment Calibration and Repair
- Hydraulic Systems Maintenance
- Missile Handling Procedures
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures
- Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60%
Requires study of current electronics technology, troubleshooting techniques, and industry standards not specific to the NIKE-HERCULES missile system. Focus on digital circuits, microprocessors, and modern communication systems.
- Certified Missile Facilities Technician (CMFT)75%
Requires study of facility safety regulations, modern missile systems, and maintenance management not specific to the NIKE-HERCULES missile system.
Recommended next · 03
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)Adjacent
- Lean Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
/ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NIKE-HERCULES Missile System | Legacy missile defense systems; potentially related to historical aerospace engineering or museum curation | Weapons |
| LOPAR (Low-Power Acquisition Radar) | Early warning radar systems; potentially related to air traffic control radar | Signals |
| HIPAR (High-Power Acquisition Radar) | Long-range radar systems; potentially related to weather surveillance radar | Signals |
| TTR (Target Tracking Radar) | Precision tracking radar; potentially related to surveying or high-end sports tracking systems | Signals |
| TRR (Target Ranging Radar) | Distance measurement radar; potentially related to automotive radar systems | Signals |
| MTR (Missile Tracking Radar) | Guided missile tracking systems; equivalent civilian applications are rare | Signals |
| Director-Station Group | Centralized control and command systems; similar to industrial process control systems | Operations |
| Radar Target Simulator | Electronic warfare simulation and testing equipment; potentially related to software testing and hardware simulation | Signals |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 22N 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.