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Live · Guide v1.078130 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 78130Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.78130.R.04
78130 · USAF · Enlisted

Services
Specialist.

Air Force 78130 (Services Specialist). 330 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $68K–$85K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours330DoD pipeline
ACE creditACE3 semester hours in Food Service Management, 2 semester hours in Hospitality Management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 78130 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 78130 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have12
  • 01
    Resource OptimizationEfficiently managing budgets, personnel, and materials, ensuring projects stay on track and within budget while maximizing productivity.
  • 02
    Team SynchronizationCoordinating efforts across different departments or teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring smooth operations.
  • 03
    Procedural ComplianceEnsuring adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies.
  • 04
    Situational AwarenessQuickly assessing and understanding complex situations, anticipating potential problems, and making informed decisions to mitigate risks and improve outcomes.
  • 05
    After-Action AnalysisAnalyzing past projects or events, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
  • 06
    Automated Business Services System (ABSS)Restaurant and retail management software (e.g., Toast, Square)
  • 07
    Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS II)Gym and fitness center management software (e.g., Mindbody, Zen Planner)
  • 08
    Manpower Programming and Execution System (MPES)Workforce management software (e.g., Workday, Oracle HCM)
  • 09
    Base-Level Lodging System (BLS)Hotel Property Management Systems (PMS) (e.g., Opera, RoomKeyPMS)
  • 10
    Air Force Training Record and Information Management (TRIM)Learning Management Systems (LMS) (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)
  • 11
    Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) Tracking SystemsEmergency Management Software (e.g., Juvare, Veoci)
  • 12
    Services Readiness Assessment Tool (SRAT)Business Continuity Planning Software (e.g., Fusion Risk Management, Archer IRM)
To learn08

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., Zendesk, ServiceNow)+Remote desktop support tools+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)+Technical documentation and communication+Requirements gathering and analysis techniques+Business process modeling
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.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Hotel/Resort Manager

$75K
High match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Hospitality management certifications
  • Revenue management systems
P.02

Human Resources Manager

$85K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification
  • HRIS software proficiency
P.03

Management Analyst

$80K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Consulting experience
  • Data analysis tools (e.g., Tableau, SQL)
P.04

Emergency Management Director

$78K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Emergency Management certification
  • Incident Command System (ICS) training
P.05

Recreation Director

$68K
High match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP)
  • Fundraising and grant writing
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 78130 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Resource Optimization

This role involves managing and allocating resources across various programs like food service, lodging, recreation, and mortuary affairs, ensuring efficient use of manpower, funds, and equipment.

Transfers to

This translates to efficiently managing budgets, personnel, and materials in a civilian setting, making sure projects stay on track and within budget while maximizing productivity.

S.02

Team Synchronization

You're leading and coordinating diverse teams across multiple service programs, ensuring everyone works together effectively to achieve common goals in both peace and wartime operations.

Transfers to

This means you excel at coordinating efforts across different departments or teams in a civilian organization, fostering collaboration and ensuring smooth operations.

S.03

Procedural Compliance

This role requires strict adherence to regulations, policies, and standards governing various programs, from financial standards to Airman and Family Programs.

Transfers to

Your meticulous approach to following protocols translates to ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies in a civilian organization.

S.04

Situational Awareness

You are responsible for maintaining awareness of the operational environment, including resource availability, personnel readiness, and potential risks in both peacetime and contingency operations.

Transfers to

In a civilian setting, this means you can quickly assess and understand complex situations, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions to mitigate risks and improve outcomes.

S.05

After-Action Analysis

This role involves assessing organizational performance, documenting findings, and recommending process improvements based on past experiences and outcomes.

Transfers to

You can analyze past projects or events, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in future endeavors.

/ 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 11-9161.00

You've been deeply involved in contingency planning and operational readiness. This experience gives you a solid foundation for coordinating responses to emergencies and disasters, developing preparedness plans, and ensuring community safety.

Adjacent · Match

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've honed skills in resource allocation, inventory management, and process optimization. This makes you exceptionally qualified to manage the flow of goods, materials, and information in a supply chain, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Adjacent · Match

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You're adept at enforcing regulations, conducting audits, and ensuring adherence to policies. Your background makes you well-suited to ensuring that organizations comply with legal and ethical standards, mitigating risks and maintaining integrity.

Adjacent · Match

Business Operations Manager

SOC 11-1011.00

Your experience in managing diverse service programs, overseeing financial standards, and implementing strategic plans has equipped you to excel in optimizing business processes, improving efficiency, and driving organizational success.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Services Apprentice Course

Lackland AFB, TX
330hHours
8wkWeeks
ACECredit

3 semester hours in Food Service Management, 2 semester hours in Hospitality Management

Topics · 7
  • Food Service Management
  • Lodging Operations
  • Recreation and Fitness Program Management
  • Mortuary Affairs Procedures
  • APF and NAF Financial Management
  • Customer Service Standards
  • Contingency Operations Support
Partial coverage · 3
  • Certified Hospitality Professional (CHP)70%

    Requires additional focus on front desk operations, housekeeping management, and specific hospitality software systems.

  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)60%

    Requires study of employment law, HR strategic planning, and talent management best practices.

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)50%

    Needs focused study on the PMBOK guide, including all project management process groups and knowledge areas, plus practical application of project management tools and techniques.

Recommended next · 03
  • Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)Adjacent
  • Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)Adjacent
  • Change Management Professional (CMP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
Automated Business Services System (ABSS)Restaurant and retail management software (e.g., Toast, Square)Operations
Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS II)Gym and fitness center management software (e.g., Mindbody, Zen Planner)Operations
Manpower Programming and Execution System (MPES)Workforce management software (e.g., Workday, Oracle HCM)Operations
Base-Level Lodging System (BLS)Hotel Property Management Systems (PMS) (e.g., Opera, RoomKeyPMS)Operations
Air Force Training Record and Information Management (TRIM)Learning Management Systems (LMS) (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard)Data
Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) Tracking SystemsEmergency Management Software (e.g., Juvare, Veoci)Medical
Services Readiness Assessment Tool (SRAT)Business Continuity Planning Software (e.g., Fusion Risk Management, Archer IRM)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 78130 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.