Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
Live · Guide v1.06318 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 6318Career Guide · IT · Comms · VWC.CG.6318.R.04
6318 · USMC · EnlistedAircraft Communications/Navigation/Radar Systems
Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Radar Systems
Technician.
Marine Corps 6318 (Aircraft Communications/Navigation/Radar Systems Technician). 640 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$80K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours640DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours recommended in electronics technology
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6318 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 6318 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have04
- 01Advanced Electronic Troubleshooting→ Debugging complex systems
- 02Use of technical publications and schematics→ Reading and interpreting technical documentation
- 03Pattern Recognition→ Data analysis and anomaly detection
- 04Procedural Compliance→ Quality assurance and regulatory compliance
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cybersecurity fundamentals (CompTIA Security+)+Network protocols and security (CCNA)+C/C++ programming for embedded systems+Linux system administration fundamentals+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Python for scripting and automation
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.
Electronics Technician
$65KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific industry certifications (e.g., CompTIA)
- — Troubleshooting experience on non-aviation systems
Radar Technician
$80KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific radar system training (e.g., marine, weather)
- — Commercial certifications
Field Service Engineer
$78KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Customer service skills
- — Project management basics
- — Specific product knowledge (depending on employer)
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer
$60KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Fiber optic certifications
- — Networking certifications (e.g., CCNA)
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6318 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As an aircraft communications/navigation/radar systems technician, you developed a deep understanding of how various systems interact within the F-35B. You mentally modeled these complex systems to diagnose faults and predict potential failures.
Transfers to
This ability to understand and model complex systems translates directly to roles where you need to grasp intricate processes and predict outcomes, such as in logistics or process optimization.
Procedural Compliance
Your work demanded strict adherence to detailed procedures and technical manuals to ensure the safety and reliability of critical aircraft systems. Deviation from these procedures was not an option.
Transfers to
This unwavering commitment to procedure makes you an excellent candidate for roles requiring precision and adherence to regulations, like quality assurance or regulatory compliance.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You were trained to troubleshoot and repair systems even when they weren't functioning optimally or when resources were limited. This involved improvising solutions and maintaining operational readiness under challenging circumstances.
Transfers to
Your experience in 'degraded-mode operations' highlights your ability to think on your feet and solve problems under pressure. This is valuable in any field where adaptability and resourcefulness are essential, such as crisis management or emergency services.
Pattern Recognition
You routinely identified patterns in system behavior to proactively detect and address potential issues before they escalated into major problems. This involved analyzing data and recognizing anomalies.
Transfers to
Your pattern recognition skills make you well-suited for roles involving data analysis and anomaly detection. This is highly valuable in fields like fraud detection, cybersecurity, or predictive maintenance.
/ 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 Analyst
SOC 13-2081You've been deeply involved in maintaining complex systems, which requires understanding the flow of parts, supplies, and information. Your expertise in ensuring aircraft readiness translates perfectly to optimizing supply chains and logistics operations.
Adjacent · MatchQuality Assurance Specialist
SOC 19-4199You've been trained to uphold the highest standards of quality and reliability in aircraft systems. Your meticulous attention to detail and commitment to procedural compliance make you an ideal candidate for ensuring product quality in various industries.
Adjacent · MatchCompliance Officer
SOC 13-1041You've worked in a highly regulated environment where adherence to procedures is paramount. Your experience in following strict protocols and ensuring compliance with technical standards will be invaluable in helping organizations navigate complex regulations.
Adjacent · MatchData Analyst
SOC 15-2051You've honed your pattern recognition skills through analyzing complex systems. As a data analyst you can leverage that to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies, turning raw information into actionable insights for businesses.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
NC - F-35B Communications/Navigation/Radar Systems Maintenance Course640hHours
16wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 9 semester hours recommended in electronics technology
Topics · 8
- F-35B Aircraft Systems Overview
- Advanced Electronic Troubleshooting
- Communication Systems Maintenance (ARC-210, etc.)
- Navigation Systems Maintenance (GPS, INS)
- Radar Systems Maintenance (APG-81)
- Deceptive Electronic Countermeasures (DECM) Systems
- Use of technical publications and schematics
- Avionics testing and repair procedures
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Aviation Technician (Avionics)70%
Civilian aviation regulations, specific aircraft avionics systems not covered in military training, and FAA certification procedures.
- CompTIA Network+40%
Focus on enterprise networking, subnetting, and wider area networking concepts beyond the scope of military tactical networks.
- CompTIA Security+30%
Broader understanding of cybersecurity principles, risk management, compliance, and governance, as military training is often specific to certain secure systems.
Recommended next · 04
- FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)Adjacent
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)Adjacent
- Aeronautical Radio Inc. (ARINC) certifications related to aircraft communication systemsAdjacent
- CompTIA CySA+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 |
|---|---|---|
| AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar | Advanced weather radar systems, airport surveillance radar | Signals |
| AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) | 360-degree surveillance systems, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) with sensor fusion | Operations |
| AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare system | Commercial RF jammers, signal analysis software, and electronic warfare test equipment. | Operations |
| Multifunctional Advanced Data Link (MADL) | Military-grade encrypted communication systems, secure data transmission protocols | Operations |
| AN/ARC-210 RT-1921(P) Airborne Transceiver | Military-grade VHF/UHF radio systems, aviation communication transceivers | Operations |
| Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) | Satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), ground-based augmentation system (GBAS) for civilian aviation | Operations |
| Deceptive Electronic Countermeasures (DECM) Systems | Cybersecurity intrusion detection and prevention systems, RF signal jamming equipment. | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 6318 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.