Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
Live · Guide v1.07574 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
Home/Career Guides/7574
USMC · 7574Career Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.7574.R.04
7574 · USMC · EnlistedAviation Operations
Aviation Operations
Specialist.
Marine Corps 7574 (Aviation Operations Specialist). 640 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $65K–$138K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours640DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours in aviation operations and communications
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7574 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 7574 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have04
- 01Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures→ Cybersecurity principles, threat detection, and vulnerability analysis
- 02Aircraft Communications Systems (AN/ARC-210)→ Network configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting
- 03Radar Operation and Interpretation→ Signal processing and data analysis
- 04Situational Awareness and Rapid Prioritization→ Incident response and system monitoring
To learn05
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals and Bash scripting+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools like Splunk or ELK Stack+Network protocols and security (TCP/IP, VPNs, firewalls)+Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or Ansible+Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) basics
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.
Air Traffic Controller
$138KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist certification
- — Strong understanding of air traffic regulations
Telecommunications Equipment Installer/Repairer
$65KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Vendor-specific certifications (e.g., Cisco, Juniper)
- — Networking certifications (e.g., CompTIA Network+)
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technician
$70KGood match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- — Experience with specific UAS platforms
Emergency Management Specialist
$80KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential
- — FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) certifications
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7574 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As an Airborne Sensor Operator, you maintained constant vigilance over a complex and dynamic battlespace, processing multiple streams of information from radar, communications, and visual observation to anticipate threats and identify opportunities.
Transfers to
This translates directly to an ability to quickly assess complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and maintain focus amidst distractions – valuable in fast-paced, high-stakes civilian settings.
Rapid Prioritization
During missions, you were constantly forced to make split-second decisions about what information was most critical, what systems needed immediate attention, and how to allocate resources effectively under pressure.
Transfers to
This experience honed your ability to quickly assess competing priorities, make tough decisions under pressure, and maintain a clear focus on the most important tasks – essential for leadership and management roles.
Team Synchronization
Your role required seamless coordination with pilots, other crew members, and ground personnel to achieve mission objectives. You were a critical link in a complex team, ensuring everyone was on the same page and working together effectively.
Transfers to
This experience has equipped you with exceptional teamwork and communication skills, enabling you to collaborate effectively with diverse groups, build consensus, and achieve shared goals in any civilian organization.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You were trained to maintain mission effectiveness even when systems malfunctioned or were compromised. You developed the ability to troubleshoot problems quickly, adapt to changing circumstances, and find creative solutions under pressure.
Transfers to
This resilience and problem-solving ability are highly valued in the civilian world. You can quickly adapt to unexpected challenges, find creative solutions to complex problems, and maintain productivity even when things don't go as planned.
/ 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 Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to maintain situational awareness under pressure, quickly prioritize tasks during emergencies, and coordinate effectively with diverse teams, which are all crucial skills for emergency response and disaster relief.
Adjacent · MatchAir Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2021.00You've been responsible for tracking aircraft, managing communications, and making critical decisions in real-time. Your ability to maintain focus, prioritize tasks, and coordinate with other professionals in a high-pressure environment makes you a strong candidate.
Adjacent · MatchIntelligence Analyst
SOC 15-2051.00You've been trained to gather and interpret data, identify patterns, and assess threats, which are directly transferable to analyzing market trends, identifying potential risks, and providing strategic insights to businesses.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS)
NAS Pensacola; Aviation Operations Specialist School, MCAS New River640hHours
16wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 9 semester hours in aviation operations and communications
Topics · 8
- Aviation Physiology
- Survival Training (SERE)
- Aircraft Communications Systems
- Radar Operation and Interpretation
- Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures
- Airborne Weapons Systems Operation
- Cargo and Personnel Drop Procedures
- In-Flight Emergency Procedures
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)60%
Study specific WLAN technologies, 802.11 standards, RF principles, and network security protocols relevant to civilian wireless networks.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic40%
Complete the FAA A&P certification process, focusing on civilian aircraft maintenance procedures, regulations, and practical exams.
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL)30%
Study and pass the required CDL exams and driving tests, focusing on regulations for civilian cargo transport.
Recommended next · 03
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Adjacent
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)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 |
|---|---|---|
| AN/ARC-210 Radio | Harris, L3Harris, Collins Aerospace multi-band aviation radios | Operations |
| AN/APX-114/119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) | Civilian Mode S transponders, TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) | Operations |
| AN/ALQ-167 Communication Jammer | Signal jammers, RF interference devices | Networking |
| AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System | Laser warning systems, infrared detectors | Weapons |
| Aircraft integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (IDEWS) | Commercial aircraft countermeasure systems, radar warning receivers | Aviation |
| Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) | Automated cargo delivery systems, GPS-guided parachutes | Operations |
| Marine Air Traffic Control Radar System (MATCARS) | Commercial air traffic control radar, airport surveillance radar | Signals |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7574 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.