Communications Officer
(Submarine).
Navy 6193 (Communications Officer (Submarine)). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $82K–$125K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6193 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
The gap, named.
What 6193 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
- 01Cryptographic Systems→ Cryptography, PKI, and Key Management
- 02Communications Security (COMSEC)→ Security protocols, data protection, and compliance
- 03Submarine Communication Systems→ Network architecture, routing, and protocols
- 04Situational Awareness→ Threat modeling, risk assessment, and incident response
- 05Procedural Compliance→ Security best practices, regulatory requirements, and documentation
- 06Degraded-Mode Operations→ Disaster recovery planning, business continuity, and resilience engineering
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 →Where your code lands.
Telecommunications Specialist
$82KIT Project Manager
$110K- — Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Cybersecurity Analyst
$98K- — Security+
- — Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Technical Sales Engineer
$125K- — Sales Training
- — Specific Product Knowledge
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6193 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a Communications Officer on a submarine, you constantly monitored a complex array of information from internal systems, external communications, and the operational environment to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the vessel's status and its surroundings, crucial for effective decision-making and mission success.
This translates to the ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify potential risks, and anticipate future needs based on available data, enabling proactive problem-solving and strategic planning in dynamic environments.
Rapid Prioritization
In a submarine environment, you had to quickly assess incoming information, malfunctions, or threats, prioritizing actions based on their potential impact on the vessel's safety, operational effectiveness, and mission objectives.
This demonstrates the ability to efficiently manage competing demands, make critical decisions under pressure, and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that the most urgent and impactful tasks are addressed first.
Procedural Compliance
Operating within strict submarine protocols and communication regulations was paramount. You rigorously adhered to established procedures to guarantee secure and reliable communication, prevent errors, and maintain operational security.
This skill set highlights your commitment to accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to follow established guidelines, ensuring consistent quality and minimizing risks in highly regulated environments.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Submarines often operate in austere conditions where equipment malfunctions or systems are compromised. You would have been trained to maintain communication capabilities by working with backup systems, improvisation, and creative problem solving.
Your experience allows you to adapt swiftly when resources are limited or under stress. You are able to maintain functionality and get the job done regardless of setbacks.
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 29-1129.02You've been trained to assess dynamic situations, anticipate risks, and rapidly prioritize actions under pressure. This makes you a natural fit for coordinating emergency response efforts, developing disaster preparedness plans, and ensuring public safety.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Coordinator
SOC 43-3071.00You're accustomed to maintaining situational awareness over intricate communication systems and strict regulatory guidelines. This makes you exceptionally well-prepared to manage and coordinate the distribution of materials and resources, ensuring efficient supply chain operations and minimizing disruptions.
Adjacent · MatchIntelligence Analyst
SOC 13-2099.02You have experience collecting, assessing, and interpreting information from multiple sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of complex environments. As an Intelligence Analyst, you'll leverage these skills to identify patterns, assess threats, and provide valuable insights to decision-makers.
Adjacent · MatchWhat you trained on.
Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC)
Naval Submarine School, Groton, CTUp to 6 semester hours in telecommunications and information systems.
- Submarine Communications Systems
- Satellite Communications
- High Frequency Radio Communications
- Cryptographic Systems
- Communications Security (COMSEC)
- Naval Message Handling
- Emergency Action Procedures
- Operational Risk Management
- CompTIA Network+60%
Study network security, wireless standards, and some updated networking technologies and troubleshooting.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)40%
Study the PMBOK guide, focusing on all knowledge areas, project lifecycles, and Agile methodologies. Focus on the application of project management principles in a civilian context.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Adjacent
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Adjacent
- AWS Certified Security - SpecialtyAdjacent
- GIAC Security Certifications (e.g., GSEC, GCIA, GPEN)Adjacent
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Submarine Communication Systems (e.g., AN/WSC-9) | Satellite communication systems (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium) | Networking |
| NAVSSI (Navigation Sensor System Interface) | Integrated bridge systems (IBS) for commercial vessels | Signals |
| Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) | Oceanographic monitoring and acoustic surveillance systems | Operations |
| Submarine Broadcast Receiver (SBR) | Secure data broadcast systems, financial data feeds | Operations |
| Link 11/16 (NATO Data Exchange) | Tactical Data Links / Secure Data Communication Networks | Operations |
| AN/UYQ-70(V) Advanced Display System (ADS) | Industrial control system (ICS) Human-Machine Interface (HMI) | Operations |
Translate 6193 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.