Air Traffic Controller
$138K- — FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist Certification
- — Experience with civilian air traffic control systems
Marine Corps 2669 (Air Support Operations Operator). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $45K–$138K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Industry tech roles your 2669 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
What 2669 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
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 →Cognitive skills your 2669 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
As a 2669, you constantly maintained a comprehensive understanding of ongoing operations across air, ground, and naval domains. This included monitoring real-time data feeds from various sources to anticipate potential threats and opportunities.
This translates directly to the ability to perceive and understand the dynamics of complex environments, predict potential issues, and make proactive decisions in dynamic situations.
You routinely assessed incoming information, differentiating critical updates from routine communications to ensure the most urgent issues received immediate attention. You made split-second decisions about which information to relay and which actions to take first.
This skill demonstrates your capacity to quickly evaluate competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and maintain composure under pressure to address the most critical tasks first.
Operating communications, detection, and weapons systems required a deep understanding of how these systems functioned individually and together. You understood their interdependencies and potential vulnerabilities.
This showcases your aptitude for understanding complex systems, predicting their behavior, and troubleshooting issues. You can analyze how different components interact and optimize system performance.
Your role demanded strict adherence to established protocols for communication, emergency response, and weapons systems operation. Accuracy and consistency were paramount, particularly in high-stakes situations.
This highlights your commitment to following established guidelines and maintaining accuracy in critical processes. You understand the importance of standardization and can ensure consistent results.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
You've been orchestrating complex operations involving air, ground, and naval forces, demonstrating exceptional coordination and resource management skills. As a Logistics Coordinator, you'll leverage these abilities to efficiently manage supply chains, transportation, and inventory for various industries.
Adjacent · MatchYou're experienced in implementing emergency plans for natural and wartime disasters, demonstrating expertise in risk assessment and crisis response. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you can use your knowledge to develop and execute plans that protect communities and organizations from various hazards.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been monitoring surveillance and detection systems, interpreting tactical situations, and making recommendations to superiors, showcasing your analytical and problem-solving skills. As a Network Security Analyst, you can utilize these skills to protect computer networks and data from cyber threats.
Adjacent · MatchUp to 6 semester hours in Military Science recommended
CEM requires specific experience in emergency management and a written exam. Study incident management frameworks and disaster recovery planning.
CPP requires a strong understanding of security management principles, risk assessment, and legal aspects of security. Focus study on business-related security concepts.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) | Advanced weather radar systems used by meteorologists and aviation controllers | Signals |
| AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar | Commercial air traffic control radar systems | Signals |
| Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) | Integrated air traffic management software | Networking |
| Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) | Commercial fire control and ballistics software used in mining and construction | Operations |
| AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack Radio | Motorola or Harris multi-band professional-grade radios | Operations |
| Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (JADOCS) | Geospatial intelligence and data visualization platforms | Operations |
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.