Ship or Boat Captain
$85KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial maritime certifications (e.g., USCG)
- — Specific vessel training
Live · Guide v1.06115 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/6115
NAVY · 6115Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.6115.R.04
6115 · NAVY · OfficerSeamanship and Navigation
Seamanship and Navigation
Officer.
Navy 6115 (Seamanship and Navigation Officer). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $65K–$105K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 3 semester hours in Nautical Science or Maritime Studies
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6115 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 6115 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Situational Awareness→ Quickly assess complex environments, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions under pressure.
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Effectively manage multiple projects, delegate tasks, and focus on the most important issues.
- 03Team Synchronization→ Foster collaboration, ensure everyone understands their role, and coordinate efforts to achieve common goals.
- 04Procedural Compliance→ Maintain quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- 05System Modeling→ Analyze and understand intricate systems, predict potential problems, and develop solutions.
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (Terraform, Ansible)+Network infrastructure and security principles+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.
Marine Surveyor
$78KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Marine surveying certification
- — Damage assessment training
- — Report writing
Navigation Officer
$90KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Merchant Mariner Credentials
- — Specific vessel training
Port Operations Manager
$105KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management knowledge
- — Logistics software proficiency
- — Project management certification
Maritime Instructor
$65KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Teaching certification
- — Curriculum development
- — Excellent communication skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6115 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a Naval Officer, you constantly maintain awareness of your ship's position, surroundings, and operational status, anticipating potential hazards and adjusting plans accordingly.
Transfers to
This translates to the ability to quickly assess complex environments, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions under pressure.
Rapid Prioritization
You routinely prioritize tasks related to deck operations, navigation, and personnel management, especially during drills or real-world scenarios where time is critical.
Transfers to
In civilian settings, this skill allows you to effectively manage multiple projects, delegate tasks, and focus on the most important issues to ensure deadlines are met and objectives are achieved.
Team Synchronization
Your role requires coordinating and synchronizing the activities of deck and navigation personnel to ensure seamless operation and maintenance functions.
Transfers to
You're adept at fostering collaboration, ensuring everyone understands their role, and coordinating efforts to achieve common goals.
Procedural Compliance
You are responsible for ensuring strict adherence to naval procedures and regulations in deck and navigation operations, maintaining safety and operational effectiveness.
Transfers to
Your commitment to following established protocols and guidelines translates to a strong ability to maintain quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in civilian industries.
System Modeling
You develop and understand complex systems related to navigation, deck operations, and maintenance procedures, enabling you to troubleshoot and optimize performance.
Transfers to
You can analyze and understand intricate systems, predict potential problems, and develop solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
/ 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.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been orchestrating complex operations involving personnel, equipment, and resources, making you well-prepared to manage supply chains, transportation, and distribution in logistics.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to handle high-pressure situations, coordinate responses, and ensure the safety of personnel and assets, making you ideally suited for managing disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Adjacent · MatchProject Manager
SOC 11-9199.11You've been planning, organizing, and executing complex projects related to deck and navigation operations, making you adept at managing timelines, budgets, and resources to achieve project goals in a variety of industries.
Adjacent · MatchCompliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've been ensuring adherence to naval procedures and regulations. This background makes you ready to implement and monitor compliance programs, ensuring organizations adhere to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS)
Newport, RI240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 3 semester hours in Nautical Science or Maritime Studies
Topics · 7
- Navigation Techniques (Electronic & Celestial)
- Shiphandling and Maneuvering
- Seamanship Fundamentals
- Naval Operations and Tactics
- Maritime Law and Regulations
- Leadership and Team Management
- Damage Control and Emergency Procedures
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Professional Logistician (CPL)60%
Requires additional study in supply chain management, inventory control, and specific logistics software applications used in the civilian sector. Focus on quantitative analysis and forecasting methods.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)50%
Requires additional study in formal project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), risk management, and stakeholder communication. Focus on the PMBOK guide.
Recommended next · 05
- Certified Port Executive (CPE)Adjacent
- Certified Marine Terminal Operator (CMTO)Adjacent
- Master Mariner License (if applicable, depending on sea time)Adjacent
- Six Sigma Green Belt (for process improvement)Adjacent
- OSHA Safety Certifications (relevant to maritime operations)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 |
|---|---|---|
| Voyage Management System (VMS) | Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) | Operations |
| AN/WSN-7 Inertial Navigation System (INS) | Commercial maritime inertial navigation systems | Operations |
| Global Positioning System (GPS) Military Grade Receivers | High-precision GPS receivers for surveying and mapping | Operations |
| Surface Search Radar (e.g., AN/SPS-67) | Commercial marine radar systems | Signals |
| Integrated Bridge System (IBS) | Integrated marine navigation systems | Operations |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) | Commercial AIS transponders and monitoring systems | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 6115 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.