Aircraft Mechanic/Technician
$73KHigh match
High demand
Live · Guide v1.07361 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 7361Career Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.7361.R.04
7361 · NAVY · WarrantAviation Ordnance
Aviation Ordnance
Technician.
Navy 7361 (Aviation Ordnance Technician). 960 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $62K–$78K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours960DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours in basic electronics and weapon systems maintenance
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/4direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7361 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 7361 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Ammunition Handling and Safety Procedures→ Security protocols and threat assessment.
- 02Troubleshooting and Diagnostics→ Software testing and debugging.
- 03Procedural Compliance→ Adherence to coding standards and testing protocols.
- 04System Modeling→ Understanding software architecture and data flow.
- 05NALCOMIS, CAIMS, JDRS→ Experience with data tracking and reporting.
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Python fundamentals+Selenium or Cypress for browser automation+Security principles and best practices+Networking fundamentals+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., Jira Service Management)+Common operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (e.g., 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.
Quality Control Inspector
$65KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — ASQ certification
Explosives Handler/Technician
$68KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial explosives license
- — Safety training
Maintenance Supervisor
$78KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Project management certification
- — OSHA safety standards
Logistics Specialist
$62KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management certification
- — Inventory control software
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7361 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Procedural Compliance
Aviation Ordnance Technicians follow stringent safety protocols and technical manuals for handling and maintaining explosive ordnance, ensuring every step is executed precisely to prevent accidents and maintain operational readiness.
Transfers to
The ability to consistently adhere to complex regulations and standard operating procedures, ensuring safety and quality control in high-stakes environments.
System Modeling
These technicians develop a deep understanding of how various ordnance systems function, interact, and integrate with aircraft. This involves mentally simulating potential failure points and troubleshooting complex issues.
Transfers to
The capacity to understand complex systems, predict their behavior, and diagnose malfunctions based on system-level knowledge.
Resource Optimization
Aviation Ordnance Technicians are responsible for the efficient management of ordnance inventory, ensuring that resources are available when and where they are needed while minimizing waste and adhering to strict budgetary constraints.
Transfers to
Effectively managing and allocating resources to maximize efficiency and minimize waste while adhering to budgetary guidelines.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining a high level of situational awareness is critical when working with explosive ordnance. Technicians must constantly assess their surroundings, anticipate potential hazards, and react quickly to changing circumstances.
Transfers to
The ability to stay alert, assess surroundings, and make informed decisions based on real-time information, especially in potentially hazardous situations.
/ 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 Assurance Specialist
SOC 19-4041.00You've been meticulously following procedures and ensuring ordnance systems meet rigorous standards. Now, you can apply that same attention to detail in a manufacturing or production environment, ensuring products meet quality benchmarks. Your background in safety and adherence to protocols makes you a natural fit.
Adjacent · MatchRisk Management Analyst
SOC 13-2054.00Your experience anticipating hazards, managing risks associated with explosive ordnance, and understanding complex systems translates directly to assessing and mitigating risks in various industries. You've developed a keen eye for potential problems, which is invaluable in this role.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Coordinator
SOC 43-3071.00You have extensive experience managing inventory and optimizing resources in demanding environments. As a logistics coordinator, you can leverage these skills to oversee the efficient movement of goods and materials, ensuring timely delivery and cost-effectiveness.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aviation Ordnance (AO) Technician School
Naval Air Station Pensacola960hHours
24wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 9 semester hours in basic electronics and weapon systems maintenance
Topics · 8
- Basic Electricity and Electronics
- Aircraft Armament Systems
- Ammunition Handling and Safety Procedures
- Weapons Maintenance and Repair
- Explosives Safety
- Troubleshooting and Diagnostics of Ordnance Systems
- Conventional and Guided Missiles
- Small Arms Maintenance
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)60%
Regulations concerning environmental protection, waste management, and site remediation, as well as detailed knowledge of chemical handling procedures outside of aviation ordnance.
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry70%
General workplace safety outside of the aviation ordnance environment, including topics like electrical safety, machine guarding, and confined space entry.
Recommended next · 02
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for aviation maintenance and logistics | Networking |
| Conventional Ammunition Integrated Management System (CAIMS) | Inventory Management Systems for ammunition and explosives | Operations |
| Joint Discrepancy Reporting System (JDRS) | Quality control and defect tracking software | Operations |
| Aviation Ordnance Handling Equipment (e.g., A/S32K-1E Bomb Lift Truck) | Industrial forklifts and heavy material handling equipment | Operations |
| AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader (SKL) | Secure data transfer devices; encryption key loaders | Operations |
| TOPS (Technical Ordnance Publication System) | Digital library of technical manuals and procedures | Operations |
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