Airline Pilot
$180KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification
- — Specific aircraft type ratings
Live · Guide v1.07518 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 7518Career Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.7518.R.04
7518 · USMC · EnlistedF/A-18
F/A-18
Pilot.
Marine Corps 7518 (F/A-18 Pilot). 600 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$180K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours600DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEVaries; substantial credit recommended in aviation technology and management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7518 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 7518 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Situational Awareness→ Grasping complex situations, identifying risks, and anticipating events
- 02Rapid Prioritization→ Triaging tasks and making decisions in time-sensitive situations
- 03System Modeling→ Understanding how components of a system interact
- 04Degraded-Mode Operations→ Remaining calm and focused under pressure, adapting to challenges
- 05Operating from Naval Shipping→ Experience working within secure and robust environments.
To learn04
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Kubernetes basics+Network security fundamentals+Python pandas and SQL+Agile Methodologies
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.
Corporate Pilot
$130KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Commercial Pilot License
- — Instrument Rating
- — Customer service skills
Air Traffic Controller
$138KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist training
- — On-the-job training
- — Strong multitasking abilities
Aerospace Engineer
$125KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering
- — CAD software proficiency
- — Knowledge of aerospace materials and manufacturing processes
Flight Instructor
$85KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating
- — Strong communication and teaching skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7518 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a fighter pilot, you maintain constant awareness of your aircraft's status, environmental conditions, potential threats (both airborne and ground-based), and the positions and intentions of friendly forces. This involves processing multiple streams of information simultaneously to make informed decisions under pressure.
Transfers to
This translates directly to the ability to quickly grasp complex situations, identify potential risks and opportunities, and anticipate future events. You can synthesize information from diverse sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of a dynamic environment.
Rapid Prioritization
In dynamic combat scenarios, you must rapidly assess and prioritize threats, mission objectives, and resource allocation. This requires quick decision-making under extreme pressure, often with incomplete information, to maximize mission effectiveness and minimize risk.
Transfers to
You excel at triaging tasks, focusing on the most critical issues, and making decisive choices in time-sensitive situations. You are comfortable managing competing demands and shifting priorities, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to achieve key objectives.
System Modeling
You understand the complex interplay of aircraft systems, weapons systems, sensor technologies, and environmental factors. You use this understanding to predict the impact of your actions on the overall mission and to troubleshoot malfunctions effectively.
Transfers to
You have a knack for understanding how different components of a system interact and influence each other. You can analyze complex processes, identify potential bottlenecks, and develop solutions to optimize performance. You are adept at seeing the big picture and anticipating the consequences of your decisions.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Fighter pilots are trained to effectively manage aircraft malfunctions and other emergencies, such as system failures or battle damage. This requires quick thinking, adaptability, and the ability to maintain control of the aircraft and complete the mission under adverse conditions.
Transfers to
You are resilient and resourceful in the face of adversity. You remain calm and focused under pressure and can quickly adapt to unexpected challenges. You are skilled at finding creative solutions to problems and maintaining productivity even when resources are limited.
/ 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/Supply Chain Consultant
SOC 13-1199.00You've been managing complex systems and resource allocation in a highly dynamic environment. This makes you perfect for optimizing supply chains, predicting disruptions, and ensuring efficient flow of goods and services. Your experience in risk assessment and mitigation is also invaluable.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've honed your skills in situational awareness, rapid decision-making, and crisis management. This makes you an ideal candidate to lead and coordinate emergency response efforts, develop disaster preparedness plans, and ensure the safety and well-being of communities.
Adjacent · MatchAir Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2011.00You have unparalleled experience with airspace management, aircraft operation, and communication protocols. You excel at maintaining situational awareness, prioritizing tasks, and making quick decisions under pressure. This experience translates perfectly to ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Undergraduate Military Flight Officer (UMFO) Program
Naval Air Station Pensacola; Strike Fighter Pilot Training, various locations600hHours
78wkWeeks
ACECredit
Varies; substantial credit recommended in aviation technology and management
Topics · 8
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft Systems (F/A-18 specific)
- Flight Planning and Navigation
- Basic and Advanced Flight Maneuvers
- Weapons Systems and Delivery
- Air-to-Air Combat Tactics
- Air-to-Ground Attack Tactics
- Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Training
Partial coverage · 2
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)70%
Differences in civilian aviation regulations (FAA), specific aircraft type ratings, and potentially some navigation/instrumentation procedures.
- Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)40%
Additional flight hours, specific civilian flight experience requirements, and potentially some differences in multi-engine or transport category aircraft operations.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)Adjacent
- Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)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 | Boeing/Airbus Aircraft Pilot | Operations |
| Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod | High-resolution aerial imaging and targeting systems | Operations |
| Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) | Augmented reality pilot helmet displays | Operations |
| Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) | Encrypted data communication networks | Operations |
| AN/APG-73/79 Radar | Advanced Weather and Navigation Radar Systems | Signals |
| Tactical Data Links (Link 16) | Secure data links (e.g., satellite communication systems for data transfer) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7518 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.