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NAVY · 7145Career Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.7145.R.04

7145 · NAVY · Warrant

Surface Repair
Technician.

Navy 7145 (Surface Repair Technician). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $50K–$75K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours480DoD pipeline

ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours recommended in basic engineering technology and welding.

Tech roles4mapped to your code

Civilian pathways5validated

Cert coverage2/5direct + partial

/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 7145 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 7145 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05

01
Blueprint Reading and Technical Drawings→ Understanding system architecture and design
02
Pattern Recognition→ Analyzing logs and identifying anomalies in system behavior
03
Rapid Prioritization→ Managing incidents and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment
04
Degraded-Mode Operations→ Troubleshooting and resolving system failures
05
3-M System (Maintenance and Material Management)→ Experience with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)

To learn07

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Linux fundamentals+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Scripting with Python or Bash+Networking basics+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., Jira Service Management)+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+SQL for querying databases

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.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5

P.01

Maintenance Technician

$55K

High match

High demand

P.02

Marine Mechanic

$60K

Good match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Engine repair certification
— Specific marine systems training

P.03

Millwright

$65K

Good match

High demand

Skills to develop

— Industrial maintenance experience
— Precision alignment techniques

P.04

Quality Control Inspector

$50K

Moderate match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— Quality control certifications (e.g., CQT)
— Experience with specific inspection tools

P.05

Facilities Manager

$75K

Moderate match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Project management certification
— Budgeting and financial management
— OSHA safety standards

/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 7145 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Pattern Recognition

Surface Repair Technicians quickly identify patterns in equipment failures to diagnose root causes and predict future issues.

Transfers to

This ability to spot subtle indicators and understand underlying causes translates to analyzing data and identifying trends in various industries.

S.02

Rapid Prioritization

In emergency situations, Surface Repair Technicians must rapidly assess damage, prioritize repairs based on mission impact, and allocate resources effectively.

Transfers to

This skill is directly applicable to managing projects, handling crises, and making critical decisions under pressure in fast-paced environments.

S.03

Degraded-Mode Operations

Surface Repair Technicians are adept at improvising solutions and maintaining operational capability when resources are limited or equipment is malfunctioning.

Transfers to

This resourcefulness translates to being able to troubleshoot problems, adapt to unexpected challenges, and find creative solutions when things don't go according to plan.

S.04

Situational Awareness

These technicians maintain a high level of awareness regarding the operational status of equipment and systems to anticipate potential problems and ensure smooth operations.

Transfers to

This translates into being able to understand the context of a situation, anticipate potential problems, and make proactive decisions.

/ 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.

Quality Control Analyst

SOC 19-4041.00

You've been trained to identify defects, diagnose problems, and ensure equipment meets stringent standards. This experience translates directly into a Quality Control Analyst role where you'll be responsible for maintaining product quality and identifying areas for improvement.

Adjacent · Match

Maintenance Planner

SOC 49-9071.00

You're skilled at predicting equipment failures, planning maintenance schedules, and optimizing resource allocation. As a Maintenance Planner, you will use these skills to develop and implement maintenance strategies to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.

Adjacent · Match

Field Service Technician

SOC 49-9062.00

You possess deep technical knowledge and the ability to troubleshoot and repair equipment in challenging environments. As a Field Service Technician, you will leverage these skills to provide on-site support and maintenance services to customers, ensuring their equipment operates efficiently.

Adjacent · Match

/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED

Academy