Deck and Navigation
Officer.
Navy 7113 (Deck and Navigation Officer). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $90K–$180K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7113 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
The gap, named.
What 7113 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
- 01Situational Awareness→ Understanding complex systems and anticipating potential issues.
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Managing competing demands and making sound judgments under pressure.
- 03Team Synchronization→ Fostering collaboration and aligning individual efforts towards a common goal.
- 04Resource Optimization→ Streamlining processes and improving overall efficiency.
- 05Experience with Electronic Navigation Systems (RADAR, GPS, ECDIS)→ Familiarity with data collection, processing, and interpretation.
- 06Maritime Law and Regulations→ Understanding compliance requirements
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.
Maritime Pilot
$180K- — Local pilotage certification
Marine Surveyor
$95K- — Marine surveying certification
- — Specialized vessel knowledge
Port Operations Manager
$110K- — Logistics management
- — Supply chain knowledge
Naval Architect
$90K- — Naval architecture degree
- — CAD software proficiency
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7113 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a Navigation Officer, you constantly maintain awareness of your ship's position, heading, speed, surrounding vessels, weather conditions, and potential hazards to ensure safe and efficient navigation.
This translates to a heightened ability to perceive and understand complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on real-time information in dynamic situations.
Rapid Prioritization
On the bridge, you're bombarded with information and must quickly assess its importance to address the most critical issues, whether it's a course correction to avoid a collision or responding to a sudden change in weather.
This skill enables you to quickly evaluate competing demands, allocate your attention and resources effectively, and make sound judgments under pressure, ensuring the most important tasks are addressed first.
Team Synchronization
You are responsible for the seamless coordination of deck and navigation personnel, ensuring that everyone is working together effectively to execute maneuvers and maintain the ship's operational readiness.
Your experience ensures you excel at fostering collaboration, communicating clearly, and aligning individual efforts towards a common goal, resulting in smooth operations and high team performance.
Resource Optimization
You plan and manage resources such as personnel, equipment, and fuel to ensure the ship's operational needs are met efficiently and effectively, minimizing waste and maximizing performance.
This translates directly to the ability to identify and implement strategies that streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency, ensuring resources are used wisely to achieve organizational objectives.
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 managing complex operations and resource allocation on a ship; you already have the core skills to manage supply chains and logistics for a large organization.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to handle crises and maintain calm under pressure in dynamic environments; you're adept at planning, coordinating, and executing emergency response plans.
Adjacent · MatchProject Manager
SOC 11-9021.00You've been overseeing complex projects with many moving parts; this will allow you to effectively manage projects, timelines, and budgets.
Adjacent · MatchMarine Surveyor
SOC 19-4099.03You possess extensive knowledge of ship systems and operations; you can leverage this knowledge to assess the condition and value of vessels for insurance, financing, or sale.
Adjacent · MatchWhat you trained on.
Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS)
Newport, RI; Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Trainer (NSST), Various Locations; On-the-Job Training, Assigned ShipUp to 6 semester hours in navigation and maritime operations
- Navigation Principles and Practices
- Shiphandling and Maneuvering
- Seamanship and Deck Operations
- Bridge Resource Management (BRM)
- Maritime Law and Regulations
- Electronic Navigation Systems (RADAR, GPS, ECDIS)
- Naval Warfare Tactics and Procedures
- Leadership and Team Management
- Certified Manager (CM)50%
While experienced in managing personnel and operations, this role would need to study general management principles, human resources, and business communication for the CM exam.
- OSHA 30-Hour Maritime Training70%
This role likely has experience with safety procedures, but would need to study specific OSHA regulations and record-keeping requirements in detail.
- Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Port Executive (CPE)Adjacent
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 |
| Global Positioning System (GPS) Military variant | Commercial GPS navigation systems (e.g., Garmin, Raymarine) | Operations |
| AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar | Marine radar systems (e.g., Furuno, Simrad) | Signals |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) | Commercial AIS transponders and tracking software | Operations |
| Integrated Bridge System (IBS) | Integrated marine navigation systems | Operations |
| Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) | Advanced maritime traffic management systems | Operations |
| Gyrocompass | Marine gyrocompass systems | Operations |
Translate 7113 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.