Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA certification
- — Specific aircraft system training
Live · Guide v1.023T · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 23TCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.23T.R.04
23T · ARMY · EnlistedHawk Missile System
Hawk Missile System
Repairer.
Army 23T (Hawk Missile System Repairer). 1,120 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$82K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,120DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 20 semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 23T 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 23T training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have07
- 01Troubleshooting and Diagnostics→ Problem Solving
- 02System Calibration and Alignment→ Precision Testing
- 03Component Repair and Replacement→ Hardware Maintenance
- 04System Modeling→ Systems Thinking
- 05Degraded-Mode Operations→ Incident Response
- 06Rapid Prioritization→ Critical Thinking
- 07reading and utilizing TOE, TD, TA, and supply manuals→ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for asset management
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Python fundamentals+Selenium or Cypress for web testing+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Linux server administration+Scripting with Bash or Python+Network fundamentals+SQL+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
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 Technology
- — CAD/CAM software proficiency
Field Service Technician
$65KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Customer service skills
- — Specific product training (e.g., industrial machinery)
Radar Technician
$82KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial radar systems experience
Quality Control Inspector
$55KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Knowledge of quality control standards (e.g., ISO 9000)
- — Inspection certifications (e.g., ASQ)
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 23T training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As a 23T, you built mental models of complex radar systems to troubleshoot and repair them efficiently. You understood how each component interacted within the larger system to ensure optimal performance.
Transfers to
This skill translates to the ability to understand and manage complex systems in a civilian setting, allowing you to predict outcomes, diagnose issues, and optimize performance.
Rapid Prioritization
When maintaining Hawk radar systems, you had to quickly assess the severity of malfunctions and prioritize repairs based on mission criticality and resource availability.
Transfers to
This translates to the ability to quickly assess situations, make critical decisions under pressure, and allocate resources effectively in time-sensitive environments.
Procedural Compliance
Your work demanded strict adherence to technical manuals, safety regulations, and maintenance procedures to ensure the accuracy and safety of radar system repairs.
Transfers to
This translates to a commitment to following established protocols and maintaining high standards of quality and safety in any work environment.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You were trained to maintain system functionality even under duress, working with limited resources and time constraints to keep critical systems operational.
Transfers to
This demonstrates the ability to troubleshoot and find creative solutions to problems when things don't go according to plan, all while maintaining a high level of operational efficiency.
Team Synchronization
As a 23T, you often worked as part of a maintenance team, coordinating tasks and sharing knowledge to ensure efficient and effective repairs of radar systems.
Transfers to
This skill translates to the ability to work seamlessly with others, contributing to a team effort and ensuring smooth operations through effective communication and coordination.
/ 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.
Wind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9086.00You've been trained to maintain complex electromechanical systems, diagnose faults, and perform repairs under pressure, often in challenging environments. Your skills in system modeling, troubleshooting, and procedural compliance are directly transferable to maintaining wind turbines.
Adjacent · MatchAmusement and Recreation Mechanic
SOC 49-9091.00You've developed a knack for diagnosing issues, following procedures, and ensuring safety, your background working on radar systems gives you a unique aptitude for the safety and maintenance of complex recreational equipment.
Adjacent · MatchIndustrial Machinery Mechanic
SOC 49-9041.00You've honed your ability to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain complex systems, you can leverage your skills to keep industrial machinery running smoothly.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Air Defense Artillery School
Fort Sill, OK1,120hHours
28wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 20 semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Basic Electronics Theory
- Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar Fundamentals
- Illuminator Radar Systems Operation
- Hawk Missile System Overview
- Peculiar Test Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
- Component Repair and Replacement
- System Calibration and Alignment
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70%
Focus on consumer electronics and specific troubleshooting techniques not covered in military radar systems.
- CompTIA Network+40%
Study modern networking protocols, topologies, and cloud networking concepts.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hawk Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (CW) | Weather Surveillance Radar | Signals |
| Hawk Illuminator Radar | Automotive Radar for collision avoidance | Signals |
| AN/MPQ-33/39 Radar Set | Air Traffic Control Radar Systems | Signals |
| Organizational Maintenance Test Equipment (Hawk Missile System) | Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for electronics | Weapons |
| Nike Missile System | Legacy Industrial Control Systems | Weapons |
| TOE, TD, TA (Tables of Organization and Equipment, Tables of Distribution, Tables of Allowances) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for asset management | Operations |
| AN/ASM-45G Radar Test Set | Spectrum Analyzers and Signal Generators | Signals |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 23T 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.