Ship Captain
$110KHigh match
Stable demand
Live · Guide v1.07218 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 7218Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.7218.R.04
7218 · NAVY · WarrantSurface Warfare Officer
Surface Warfare Officer
(Seamanship/Navigation).
Navy 7218 (Surface Warfare Officer (Seamanship/Navigation)). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$110K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Maritime Studies or Naval Science
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7218 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 7218 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have04
- 01Situational Awareness→ Monitoring and threat detection
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Incident response and task management
- 03Procedural Compliance→ Security protocols and regulatory requirements
- 04Team Synchronization→ Cross-functional collaboration
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals+Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or CloudFormation)+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) basics+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS)+SQL and data modeling basics+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)
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
- — Marine surveying certification
Maritime Logistics Manager
$95KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management certification
- — Logistics software proficiency
Navigation Officer, Commercial Shipping
$90KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific vessel type certifications (e.g., tanker, container ship)
Port Operations Manager
$105KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Port management certification
- — Project management skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7218 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Naval officers constantly maintain awareness of their ship's position, heading, speed, surrounding maritime traffic, weather conditions, and potential threats to ensure safe navigation and mission execution.
Transfers to
This translates to an exceptional ability to understand complex, dynamic environments, anticipate potential problems, and make proactive decisions to mitigate risks. You can quickly assess a situation, identify key factors, and develop effective strategies.
Rapid Prioritization
In dynamic shipboard environments, officers must quickly assess and prioritize competing demands, such as navigation tasks, equipment malfunctions, personnel issues, and changing mission objectives, to maintain operational effectiveness.
Transfers to
You excel at rapidly triaging critical tasks, delegating responsibilities, and making informed decisions under pressure. This skill is invaluable in fast-paced industries where deadlines are tight and priorities shift rapidly.
Team Synchronization
Naval officers lead and coordinate diverse teams of deck and navigation personnel, synchronizing their efforts to execute complex maneuvers, conduct maintenance tasks, and respond to emergencies effectively.
Transfers to
You possess the ability to foster collaboration, delegate effectively, and ensure that all team members are working in unison towards a common goal. This talent makes you a natural leader who can motivate and inspire others to achieve peak performance.
Procedural Compliance
Officers are responsible for ensuring strict adherence to established naval procedures and regulations related to navigation, safety, and operational protocols to minimize risks and maintain mission integrity.
Transfers to
You have a deep understanding of the importance of compliance and a proven ability to enforce standards and regulations. This is especially valuable in highly regulated industries where precision and attention to detail are paramount.
/ 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 rigorously trained to assess risks, develop contingency plans, and coordinate responses in high-pressure situations. Your experience managing complex operations and leading diverse teams directly translates to the demands of emergency management, where you'll be responsible for protecting communities from natural disasters and other crises.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been responsible for the efficient movement of personnel and resources in challenging environments. Your expertise in planning, coordinating, and executing complex logistical operations makes you ideally suited for managing supply chains and optimizing resource allocation in a variety of industries.
Adjacent · MatchProject Manager
SOC 11-9021.00You've been managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, tight deadlines, and demanding requirements. You're skilled in planning, executing, and monitoring projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. This skillset is highly transferable to project management roles across diverse industries.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS)
Newport, RI240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours recommended in Maritime Studies or Naval Science
Topics · 8
- Shiphandling and Navigation
- Maritime Law and Regulations
- Bridge Resource Management
- Naval Warfare Fundamentals
- Damage Control and Engineering Basics
- Leadership and Teamwork
- Watchstanding Procedures
- Electronic Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar)
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)50%
Requires understanding of advanced safety management systems, legal and regulatory requirements, and hazard control techniques specific to civilian industries. Study OSHA standards, risk assessment methodologies, and safety program development.
- Project Management Professional (PMP)40%
While the military provides project management experience, PMP requires a deep understanding of PMI's PMBOK guide, including specific processes, knowledge areas, and tools & techniques. Study the PMBOK guide and practice with sample PMP exams.
Recommended next · 03
- Master Mariner License (depending on vessel size/type)Adjacent
- Certified Port Executive (CPE)Adjacent
- Global Trade Professional (GTP)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) Military Variant | Commercial GPS navigation systems (e.g., Garmin, Raymarine) | Operations |
| AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radar | Marine radar systems for collision avoidance and navigation | Signals |
| Integrated Bridge System (IBS) | Integrated marine navigation systems | Operations |
| Gyrocompass | Fiber optic gyro compass systems | Operations |
| Automatic Identification System (AIS) | Commercial AIS transponders and tracking systems | Operations |
| NAVSSI (Navigation Sensor System Interface) | NMEA data multiplexers and sensor integration platforms | Signals |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7218 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.