Ship Captain
$95KHigh match
Stable demand
Live · Guide v1.07115 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 7115Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.7115.R.04
7115 · NAVY · WarrantDeck and Navigation
Deck and Navigation
Officer.
Navy 7115 (Deck and Navigation Officer). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $70K–$110K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours480DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in nautical science and leadership
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7115 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 7115 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Situational Awareness→ Ability to quickly assess complex situations and make informed decisions in dynamic environments.
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Effectively managing multiple projects and remaining calm under pressure.
- 03Team Synchronization→ Orchestrating team efforts and aligning diverse skill sets for successful outcomes.
- 04Procedural Compliance→ Diligent approach to following established protocols and maintaining standards.
- 05Experience with Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS)→ Familiarity with integrated maritime operations software.
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible)+Network security principles+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Agile methodologies+Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana)+Data analysis and visualization+SQL for database querying
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
$80KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification
- — SNAME membership
Port Operations Manager
$110KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management
- — Logistics experience
Maritime Instructor
$70KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Teaching certification
- — Curriculum development
Naval Architect
$90KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Naval architecture degree
- — CAD software proficiency
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7115 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a Navigation Officer, you constantly maintained a 360-degree understanding of your vessel's position, potential hazards, and the surrounding environment to ensure safe and efficient navigation.
Transfers to
This translates to the ability to quickly assess complex situations, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on available information in dynamic environments.
Rapid Prioritization
You routinely made split-second decisions about which tasks and issues to address first, especially during critical evolutions like emergency maneuvers or navigating congested waterways.
Transfers to
In the civilian world, this skill enables you to effectively manage multiple projects, delegate tasks appropriately, and remain calm under pressure when facing competing deadlines and urgent requests.
Team Synchronization
You directly coordinated the actions of deck and navigation personnel, ensuring that everyone worked together seamlessly to achieve common objectives, whether it was docking the ship or conducting search and rescue operations.
Transfers to
This ability to orchestrate team efforts is crucial for project management, where aligning diverse skill sets and personalities is essential for delivering successful outcomes.
Procedural Compliance
Adherence to strict navigational procedures and safety regulations was paramount in your role to minimize risks and ensure the safety of the crew and vessel.
Transfers to
This diligent approach to following established protocols is highly valued in compliance-heavy industries, where attention to detail and consistency are critical for maintaining standards and avoiding costly errors.
/ 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.
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been expertly managing complex operations under pressure, assessing risks, coordinating teams, and making critical decisions in dynamic environments. As an Emergency Management Director (11-9161.00), your deep understanding of situational awareness, rapid prioritization, and procedural compliance would make you a natural leader in preparing for and responding to disasters.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00Your experience in planning, supervising, and directing personnel, combined with your understanding of resource optimization and team synchronization, makes you an ideal candidate for a Logistics Manager (11-3071.00). You've been responsible for the smooth operation of a vessel, now apply those skills to managing supply chains and coordinating the movement of goods and materials, ensuring efficient delivery and minimizing disruptions.
Adjacent · MatchAirfield Operations Specialist
SOC 53-2011.00You're skilled at maintaining situational awareness and directing personnel. You are very comfortable with clear communication using specific terminology. Your mastery of procedural compliance makes you an excellent fit as an Airfield Operations Specialist (53-2011.00), where you would ensure the safe and efficient operation of airfields.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) and Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS)
480hHours
12wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 15 semester hours recommended in nautical science and leadership
Topics · 8
- Shiphandling and maneuvering
- Celestial and electronic navigation
- Maritime law and regulations
- Damage control and firefighting
- Leadership and team management
- Naval weapons systems
- Bridge Resource Management
- Search and Rescue Operations
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Transportation Professional (CTP)60%
Requires study in business logistics, transportation economics, and surface transportation regulations.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)50%
Formal project management training, experience documenting project hours and leading projects, and knowledge of PMBOK guide are needed.
- Certified Professional Logistician (CPL)40%
Requires study in supply chain management principles, forecasting, and inventory control.
Recommended next · 03
- Master Mariner (STCW)Adjacent
- Certified Port Executive (CPE)Adjacent
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)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 |
| Global Positioning System (GPS) with military precision (PPS) | High-precision GPS navigation systems | Operations |
| AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar | Marine radar systems for collision avoidance and navigation | Signals |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) | Commercial AIS transponders and monitoring systems | Operations |
| Gyrocompass | Fiber optic gyrocompass or ring laser gyrocompass | Operations |
| Magnetic Compass | Standard magnetic compass for navigation | Operations |
| Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) | Integrated maritime operations software | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7115 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.