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Live · Guide v1.024U · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 24UCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.24U.R.04
24U · ARMY · Enlisted

Air Defense Missile System
Repairer.

Army 24U (Air Defense Missile System Repairer). 1,240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $72K–$98K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics, leadership, and information systems.
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 24U 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 24U training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have10
  • 01
    NIKE-HERCULES missile systems maintenanceUnderstanding of complex electromechanical systems
  • 02
    Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS) operationsExperience with command and control software
  • 03
    AN/MPQ-61 Radar maintenance and troubleshootingRadar systems and signal processing basics
  • 04
    Advanced Air Defense C4I systemsKnowledge of networked communication systems
  • 05
    Custodial team operations and security protocolsSecurity procedures and compliance
  • 06
    Team SynchronizationCollaboration and coordination of tasks
  • 07
    Resource OptimizationEfficient allocation of resources
  • 08
    Situational AwarenessMonitoring system status and identifying potential issues
  • 09
    Procedural ComplianceAdherence to established processes
  • 10
    After-Action AnalysisTroubleshooting and process improvement
To learn16

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

+Linux server administration+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible)+Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)+Cybersecurity fundamentals (CompTIA Security+)+Network security protocols+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS)+Networking fundamentals (CCNA)+Routing and switching protocols+Network security principles+Network monitoring tools+Operating system administration (Windows, Linux)+Virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)+Scripting (Bash, Python)+Configuration management tools (Ansible, Chef, Puppet)
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

Quality Assurance Manager

$95K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Six Sigma certification
  • ISO 9001 knowledge
P.02

Logistics Manager

$85K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Supply chain management certification
  • APICS certification
P.03

Emergency Management Specialist

$78K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • HAZMAT certification
  • Emergency planning software proficiency
P.04

Technical Trainer

$72K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Instructional design certification
  • E-learning development skills
P.05

Operations Manager

$98K
High match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
  • Lean Management principles
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 24U training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Situational Awareness

Maintaining constant awareness of the status of ADA systems, potential threats, and the readiness of personnel and equipment within the NIKE-HERCULES unit.

Transfers to

The ability to perceive and understand the surrounding environment and potential threats, enabling proactive decision-making and risk mitigation.

S.02

Procedural Compliance

Strictly adhering to established protocols and safety regulations during the assembly, monitoring, and maintenance of warheads and missiles to prevent accidents and ensure operational readiness.

Transfers to

Meticulously following procedures and regulations to maintain safety, accuracy, and consistency in high-stakes environments.

S.03

Team Synchronization

Coordinating the efforts of assembly, monitoring, security, and field feeding teams to ensure seamless and efficient operations within the custodial support team.

Transfers to

Orchestrating the activities of diverse teams to achieve common goals, optimizing performance and minimizing conflicts.

S.04

Resource Optimization

Managing resources effectively, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, to support the battery mission and ensure the readiness of the NIKE-HERCULES unit.

Transfers to

Strategically allocating and managing resources to maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and achieve organizational objectives.

S.05

After-Action Analysis

Analyzing the outcomes of ADA operations, training exercises, and maintenance activities to identify areas for improvement and enhance future performance.

Transfers to

Evaluating past performance to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth, leading to continuous improvement and innovation.

/ 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.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been responsible for the operational readiness of critical defense systems and teams. Your ability to coordinate diverse teams, maintain situational awareness under pressure, and meticulously follow procedures translates directly to managing emergency responses and ensuring community safety.

Adjacent · Match

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

Your experience in maintaining strict procedural compliance with warhead and missile custody makes you an ideal candidate for ensuring that organizations adhere to industry regulations and internal policies. You are adept at identifying risks and implementing corrective actions.

Adjacent · Match

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.04

You've honed your resource optimization skills by managing the logistics of a NIKE-HERCULES unit, including personnel, equipment, and supplies. You excel at planning, coordinating, and supervising activities to support the mission, making you well-suited to manage the flow of goods and materials in a civilian setting.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Air Defense Enhanced Operator/Maintainer (AD EOM)

Fort Sill
1,240hHours
31wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics, leadership, and information systems.

Topics · 8
  • NIKE-HERCULES missile systems maintenance
  • Warhead assembly and monitoring procedures
  • Air and Missile Defense Workstation (AMDWS) operations
  • AN/MPQ-61 Radar maintenance and troubleshooting
  • Parts Load List (PLL) management
  • Advanced Air Defense Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems
  • Custodial team operations and security protocols
  • Supervisory and leadership skills
Partial coverage · 3
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)30%

    Requires studying information security governance, risk management, software development security, cryptography, and telecommunications.

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)40%

    Requires studying the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guide, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling, and closing projects.

  • CompTIA Security+60%

    Requires studying more modern network security, cryptography, and risk management concepts. Some hands-on experience with security tools is recommended.

Recommended next · 03
  • ITIL 4 FoundationAdjacent
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Adjacent
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
NIKE-HERCULES Missile SystemLegacy missile defense systems, museum displays, historical analysis of missile technologyWeapons
AN/TSQ-73 Missile MinderEarly computerized tracking and engagement systems, relatable to modern air traffic control or industrial process control systemsWeapons
Air Defense Artillery Tactical Command and Control System (ADATCC)Integrated defense systems management softwareNetworking
Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) Battle Command SystemNetworked sensor and shooter platformsNetworking
Tactical Data Links (e.g., Link 11, Link 16)Secure data communication protocols and networkingOperations
AN/MPQ series radar systemsAdvanced radar systems for weather forecasting, air traffic control, or scientific researchSignals
/ Translator · Live

Translate 24U 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.