Aircraft Mechanic/Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
Live · Guide v1.06013 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/6013
USMC · 6013Career Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.6013.R.04
6013 · USMC · EnlistedBasic Aircraft Maintenance
Basic Aircraft Maintenance
Marine.
Marine Corps 6013 (Basic Aircraft Maintenance Marine). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$125K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 3 semester hours recommended in aviation maintenance technology
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6013 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 6013 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have04
- 01System Modeling→ Understanding complex systems and their interdependencies
- 02Procedural Compliance→ Following guidelines and ensuring adherence to established protocols
- 03Situational Awareness→ Identifying potential risks, anticipating problems, and responding effectively
- 04Degraded-Mode Operations→ Problem-solving under pressure and adapting to unforeseen challenges
To learn07
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Selenium or Cypress+Linux fundamentals+Cloud computing (AWS, Azure, or GCP) basics+CompTIA A+ certification+SQL+Python pandas+Tableau or 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.
Aerospace Engineer
$125KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering
- — CAD software proficiency
- — MATLAB
Wind Turbine Technician
$60KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Renewable energy safety training
- — Climbing certification
- — Electrical troubleshooting
Maintenance Manager
$90KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Project management certification (e.g., PMP)
- — Lean Six Sigma
- — Supervisory experience
Avionics Technician
$78KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FCC license
- — Specific avionics systems certifications (e.g., Garmin, Honeywell)
- — Advanced troubleshooting
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6013 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As an aircraft maintenance technician, you develop a deep understanding of how various aircraft systems (hydraulic, electrical, engine) interact and depend on each other for optimal performance. You troubleshoot issues by mentally mapping the entire system to pinpoint the source of the problem.
Transfers to
This ability to understand complex systems and their interdependencies translates directly to roles that require analyzing and optimizing processes, predicting potential failures, and developing solutions to improve overall efficiency.
Procedural Compliance
Aircraft maintenance is heavily regulated, with strict adherence to maintenance manuals, safety protocols, and quality control procedures. You are trained to follow these procedures meticulously to ensure safety and maintain airworthiness.
Transfers to
Your experience with procedural compliance is highly valuable in industries where safety and regulatory standards are paramount. You bring a disciplined approach to following guidelines and ensuring adherence to established protocols.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining aircraft requires constant awareness of the surrounding environment, potential hazards, and the status of the aircraft. You are trained to observe, analyze, and react quickly to changing conditions to prevent accidents and ensure mission success.
Transfers to
Your enhanced situational awareness makes you adept at identifying potential risks, anticipating problems, and responding effectively in dynamic environments. This skill is highly sought after in roles that demand vigilance and proactive problem-solving.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Aircraft maintenance often involves troubleshooting and repairing systems that are not functioning optimally or have partially failed. You are skilled at identifying the root cause of problems, implementing temporary fixes, and maintaining functionality until permanent repairs can be made.
Transfers to
This ability to work effectively in degraded-mode operations is highly valuable in roles that require problem-solving under pressure, finding creative solutions to keep systems running, and adapting to unforeseen challenges.
/ 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 49-9099.01You've been working on complex mechanical and electrical systems under pressure, often in demanding environments. Your expertise in aircraft engines and systems translates well to maintaining wind turbines, which also require a strong understanding of mechanics, hydraulics, and electrical systems. Plus, your focus on safety and procedural compliance aligns perfectly with the rigorous standards of the wind energy industry.
Adjacent · MatchAmusement and Recreation Mechanic
SOC 49-9091You're skilled in diagnosing and repairing complex mechanical and electrical systems. Amusement park rides are essentially complex machines that require careful maintenance. Your ability to troubleshoot and maintain aircraft systems translates well to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of amusement park rides, and your commitment to safety protocols makes you an ideal candidate.
Adjacent · MatchRobotics Technician
SOC 49-9062You've developed strong troubleshooting and repair skills working with complex aircraft systems. Robotics technicians work with sophisticated robots and automated systems, diagnosing and repairing mechanical, electrical, and electronic components. Your experience in aircraft maintenance provides a solid foundation for understanding and maintaining these advanced technologies.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Air Technical Training Center
Pensacola, FL240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 3 semester hours recommended in aviation maintenance technology
Topics · 7
- Basic electricity and electronics
- Aircraft hardware and materials
- Aircraft hydraulic systems
- Aircraft fuel systems
- Basic engine principles
- Safety procedures and practices
- Use of technical publications
Partial coverage · 2
- Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Certification70%
While military training provides a strong foundation, specific FAA regulations, civil aviation maintenance practices, and practical experience on civilian aircraft types need to be studied. Focus on FAR Part 66 and Part 147 content.
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)30%
This is an aviation MANAGEMENT certification. The 6013's experience counts toward eligibility but gaps include business management, leadership, and strategic planning in a civilian aviation context.
Recommended next · 03
- Inspection Authorization (IA)Adjacent
- FAA Part 147 Instructor CertificationAdjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)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 Technical Data Integration (JTDI) | SAE International standards database | Operations |
| Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS) | Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software | Networking |
| Automated Support Equipment (ASE) | Automated test equipment (ATE) | Operations |
| Aircraft Component Repair Standards (various aircraft-specific manuals) | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) repair manuals and diagnostic software | Aviation |
| Support Equipment Calibration Program (SECAL) | ISO 17025 calibration standards | Operations |
| Oil Analysis Program (JOAP) | Predictive Maintenance software and oil analysis services | Operations |
| Advanced Composite Repair (ACR) techniques | Composite material repair and bonding certifications (e.g., FAA AC 43.13-1B) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 6013 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.