Commercial Airline Pilot
$150KHigh match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate
- — Specific aircraft type rating
Live · Guide v1.07516 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/7516
USMC · 7516Career Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.7516.R.04
7516 · USMC · EnlistedFighter Pilot
Fighter Pilot
(VMFA).
Marine Corps 7516 (Fighter Pilot (VMFA)). 1,200 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $95K–$150K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,200DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEVaries; substantial credit recommendations in aviation-related fields (e.g., aviation science, aeronautics) depending on specific flight school and platform. Up to 30 semester hours possible.
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7516 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 7516 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Situational Awareness→ Observability and Monitoring
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Incident Response
- 03System Modeling→ Infrastructure as Code
- 04Adversarial Thinking→ Threat Modeling
- 05Networked Communication (MIDS/Link 16)→ Network Protocols and Security
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools+Scripting languages (Python or Bash)+Containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes)+SQL and NoSQL databases+ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes and tools
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.
Test Pilot
$140KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Experimental flight test techniques
- — Data analysis and reporting
- — Specific aircraft systems knowledge
Air Traffic Controller
$135KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Air Traffic Control certification
- — Specific ATC facility training
- — Enhanced communication skills
Aerospace Engineer
$120KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering
- — CAD/CAM software proficiency
- — Aircraft design principles
Remote Sensing Specialist
$95KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Geospatial data analysis
- — Remote sensing software proficiency (e.g., ArcGIS, ENVI)
- — Understanding of sensor technologies
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7516 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Fighter pilots constantly monitor a dynamic airspace, integrating data from radar, visual cues, and communication systems to maintain a comprehensive understanding of their surroundings, including threats, friendly forces, and mission objectives.
Transfers to
The ability to synthesize information from multiple sources in real-time to anticipate potential problems and opportunities, crucial for effective decision-making in complex and unpredictable environments.
Rapid Prioritization
In combat scenarios, pilots must quickly assess threats and opportunities, prioritizing actions based on mission goals, risk assessment, and available resources, often under intense time pressure.
Transfers to
The capacity to swiftly evaluate competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and make critical decisions when faced with multiple urgent tasks or conflicting priorities.
System Modeling
Pilots develop a deep understanding of aircraft systems, weapon systems, and environmental factors to predict their impact on flight performance and mission outcomes. This includes mentally simulating the effects of weather, terrain, and enemy actions.
Transfers to
The aptitude to create and utilize mental models of complex systems to forecast behavior, troubleshoot problems, and optimize performance, applicable in fields requiring strategic planning and risk management.
Adversarial Thinking
Fighter pilots are trained to anticipate and counter enemy tactics, developing strategies to outmaneuver adversaries and exploit weaknesses in their defenses. This requires understanding enemy capabilities and intentions.
Transfers to
The ability to think strategically from an opposing viewpoint, identifying vulnerabilities and developing countermeasures to mitigate risk or gain a competitive advantage.
/ 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 11-9161You've been rigorously trained to maintain situational awareness under extreme pressure, rapidly prioritize threats, and model complex systems to predict outcomes. As an Emergency Management Director (11-9161), you will leverage these skills to coordinate responses to disasters and protect communities.
Adjacent · MatchAir Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2021Your expertise in managing complex airspaces, making split-second decisions, and ensuring procedural compliance directly translates to air traffic control. You've developed exceptional situational awareness and rapid prioritization skills, making you a natural fit for guiding aircraft safely and efficiently through busy airspace. As an Air Traffic Controller (53-2011) you will ensure the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
Adjacent · MatchManagement Consultant
SOC 13-1111You've honed your system modeling and adversarial thinking skills to anticipate challenges and develop effective strategies. As a Management Consultant (13-1111), you'll use these skills to analyze complex business problems, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend solutions to clients, helping them optimize their operations and achieve their goals.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Flight Training Program
various locations (Pensacola, FL; Kingsville, TX; Meridian, MS)1,200hHours
78wkWeeks
ACECredit
Varies; substantial credit recommendations in aviation-related fields (e.g., aviation science, aeronautics) depending on specific flight school and platform. Up to 30 semester hours possible.
Topics · 8
- Aviation Physiology and Survival
- Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- Instrument Flight Procedures
- Basic and Advanced Flight Maneuvering
- Air-to-Air Combat Tactics
- Air-to-Ground Weapons Delivery
- Carrier Qualification (if applicable)
- Low-Level Navigation and Terrain Following
Partial coverage · 2
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)70%
Differences in civil aviation regulations, specific aircraft type ratings, and instrument proficiency checks will need to be studied and demonstrated.
- Remote Pilot Certification (FAA Part 107)60%
While pilots have extensive flight experience, specific knowledge of FAA Part 107 regulations for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), limitations, and operational procedures is needed.
Recommended next · 04
- Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)Adjacent
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)Adjacent
- Aviation Safety Officer (ASO)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)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 |
|---|---|---|
| F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet | High-performance fixed-wing aircraft (e.g., used for air racing, specialized cargo, or research) | Operations |
| AN/APG-73/79 Radar | Advanced weather and navigation radar systems (e.g., used in commercial aviation or marine navigation) | Signals |
| Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) | Augmented reality headsets for industrial or training applications | Operations |
| Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) | High-resolution thermal imaging systems for security, surveillance, or industrial inspection | Operations |
| Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) | Secure, encrypted data communication networks for financial transactions or emergency services | Operations |
| Link 16 Tactical Data Link | Real-time data exchange platforms for logistics or transportation management | Operations |
| AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air Missile | Guidance and control systems used in autonomous vehicles or robotics | Weapons |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7516 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.