Ship Captain
$130KHigh match
Stable demand
Live · Guide v1.07117 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 7117Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.7117.R.04
7117 · NAVY · WarrantDeck and Navigation
Deck and Navigation
Officer.
Navy 7117 (Deck and Navigation Officer). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $78K–$130K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours in Maritime Studies
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7117 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 7117 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have04
- 01Situational Awareness→ Quick assessment of complex situations and risk identification.
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Efficiently triaging urgent matters and resource allocation.
- 03Team Synchronization→ Fostering collaboration and effective communication across teams.
- 04System Modeling→ Analyzing complex systems and predicting outcomes based on variables.
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Python (pandas, matplotlib) for data analysis and visualization+Tableau or Power BI for data visualization and reporting+Database Management+Data Modeling+Systems Integration+Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)+Project management tools (Jira, Confluence)
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
$85KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial diving certification (potentially)
- — Specific vessel type certifications
Port Operations Manager
$95KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management knowledge
- — Logistics software proficiency
Maritime Academy Instructor
$78KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Teaching certification
- — Curriculum development experience
Naval Architect
$90KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Naval Architecture Degree
- — CAD software proficiency
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7117 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a Navigation Officer, you constantly maintained a 360-degree understanding of your ship's position, potential hazards, and the surrounding environment, adapting plans on the fly.
Transfers to
This translates to an innate ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions under pressure in dynamic environments.
Rapid Prioritization
In emergencies or during critical maneuvers, you were responsible for quickly assessing competing demands and prioritizing actions to ensure the safety of the ship and crew.
Transfers to
This means you excel at triaging urgent matters, allocating resources efficiently, and maintaining composure when facing multiple high-pressure tasks simultaneously.
Team Synchronization
You coordinated the activities of deck and navigation personnel, ensuring seamless execution of complex maneuvers and navigational tasks.
Transfers to
This demonstrates your capability to foster collaboration, communicate effectively, and synchronize efforts across diverse teams to achieve common goals.
System Modeling
You developed a deep understanding of the ship's operational systems and how they interacted, enabling you to anticipate potential problems and optimize performance.
Transfers to
This skill reflects your ability to analyze and understand complex systems, identify key variables, and predict outcomes based on different inputs or scenarios.
/ 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 precise timing in a constantly changing environment. This makes you exceptionally well-suited to manage the flow of goods, resources, and information in a fast-paced logistics setting. Your ability to anticipate potential disruptions and adapt plans swiftly will be a major asset.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to calmly assess crises, develop response plans, and coordinate teams in high-stakes environments. You can leverage your experience in navigation to understand the movement of people and resources during emergency evacuations, as well as your experience in operating under pressure to ensure the safety of others during times of crisis. This translates perfectly to emergency management, where clear thinking and decisive action are paramount.
Adjacent · MatchAir Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2021.00You've been maintaining situational awareness, prioritizing tasks, and making quick decisions in a dynamic, high-pressure environment. Your proven ability to remain calm under pressure, maintain focus, and coordinate with other team members will make you a highly effective air traffic controller.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS)
Newport, RI240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours in Maritime Studies
Topics · 7
- Navigation and Piloting
- Shiphandling and Maneuvering
- Watchstanding Procedures
- Maritime Law
- Damage Control
- Seamanship
- Naval Leadership
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Survey Technician (CST)60%
Requires additional knowledge in land surveying principles, data collection and processing techniques, and legal aspects of boundary surveying. Study specific CST exam topics.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)40%
Needs formal training in project management methodologies (PMBOK), risk management, and stakeholder communication. Requires documented project management experience.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Port Executive (CPE)Adjacent
- Certified Marine Terminal Operator (CMTO)Adjacent
- Master Mariner License (depending on experience and sea time)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 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Bridge System (IBS) | Integrated marine navigation systems (e.g., Transas, Kongsberg) | Operations |
| Voyage Management System (VMS) | Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) software (e.g., NaviSailor, Rose Point ECS) | Operations |
| Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) | Commercial maritime communication systems (e.g., satellite communication systems from companies like Inmarsat and Iridium) | Operations |
| AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar | Commercial marine radar systems (e.g., Furuno, Raymarine) | Signals |
| Precise Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) | High-precision GPS receivers and navigation apps for maritime use | Operations |
| Stabilized Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) | Radio direction finders used in commercial shipping and aviation for navigation and search/rescue | Operations |
| NAVSSI - Navigation Sensor System Interface | NMEA data multiplexers and distribution systems used in recreational and commercial marine applications | Signals |
/ Translator · Live
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