Police Officer
$68KHigh match
Stable demand
Live · Guide v1.081170 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 81170Career Guide · Operations · Security · VWC.CG.81170.R.04
81170 · USAF · EnlistedSecurity Forces
Security Forces
Specialist.
Air Force 81170 (Security Forces Specialist). 580 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $35K–$85K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours580DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours in Criminal Justice
Tech roles3mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 81170 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 81170 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have07
- 01Weapons Handling and Qualification (M4, M9)→ Understanding of secure systems and risk mitigation
- 02Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)→ Monitoring and responding to security alerts in SIEM systems
- 03Law Enforcement and Investigation Procedures→ Incident response and digital forensics
- 04Situational Awareness→ Identifying and responding to potential security threats and vulnerabilities
- 05Procedural Compliance→ Adhering to security protocols and regulations
- 06Adversarial Thinking→ Analyzing potential attack vectors and developing proactive security measures
- 07Rapid Prioritization→ Responding to security incidents and prioritizing critical tasks
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cybersecurity fundamentals (CompTIA Security+)+SIEM tools (Splunk, QRadar)+Network security principles+Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools+Threat intelligence platforms+IT support ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira)+Remote desktop support tools+Troubleshooting operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)
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.
Security Guard / Security Officer
$35KHigh match
Growing demand
Criminal Investigator
$85KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Advanced Interview Techniques
- — Digital Forensics
Security Systems Installer
$55KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Electronics Training
- — Networking Certifications
Firearms Instructor
$50KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Civilian Firearms Instructor Certification
- — Advanced First Aid/CPR Instructor Certification
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 81170 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
SF personnel constantly scan their environment for threats, whether on patrol, guarding a base, or responding to an incident. They must identify potential dangers, assess the level of risk, and react accordingly to maintain security and protect lives.
Transfers to
The ability to perceive and understand the surrounding environment, anticipate potential problems, and make quick decisions based on available information is highly valuable in dynamic and unpredictable civilian settings.
Procedural Compliance
SF members adhere to strict protocols and procedures when handling weapons, securing areas, conducting investigations, and responding to emergencies. They understand the importance of following established guidelines to ensure safety, maintain order, and uphold the law.
Transfers to
Meticulous adherence to regulations, standards, and operating procedures translates into efficiency, accuracy, and risk mitigation in many civilian roles. Your commitment to following established protocols makes you a reliable and trustworthy asset.
Adversarial Thinking
SF personnel are trained to anticipate the actions of potential adversaries, assess vulnerabilities, and develop countermeasures to protect assets and personnel. This involves thinking like the enemy to identify weaknesses and develop effective security strategies.
Transfers to
The ability to anticipate and assess threats, understand an opponent's perspective, and develop proactive strategies for risk mitigation is valuable in competitive and security-sensitive civilian industries.
Rapid Prioritization
In dynamic and high-pressure situations, SF members must quickly assess the urgency of different tasks, allocate resources effectively, and make critical decisions under tight deadlines. They must be able to distinguish between essential and non-essential actions to maintain security and control.
Transfers to
The ability to quickly assess situations, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources effectively is critical in fast-paced civilian environments. Your experience in making rapid decisions under pressure translates into valuable leadership and problem-solving skills.
/ 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 handle crisis situations, assess threats, and coordinate resources in high-pressure environments. Your experience in force protection, security protocols, and emergency response makes you an ideal candidate to plan and execute disaster preparedness and recovery efforts for communities or organizations.
Adjacent · MatchCompliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You're intimately familiar with regulations and procedures, and you're adept at ensuring that standards are met. As a compliance officer, you can use your attention to detail and commitment to upholding the law to help companies adhere to industry regulations and internal policies.
Adjacent · MatchFraud Investigator
SOC 13-1070You've developed skills in observation, investigation, and evidence collection. Your experience in security and law enforcement translates well into investigating fraudulent activities, gathering information, and building cases for prosecution in the financial or insurance sectors.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Security Forces Academy
JBSA Lackland580hHours
15wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours in Criminal Justice
Topics · 7
- Basic Security Tactics
- Weapons Handling and Qualification (M4, M9)
- Law Enforcement and Investigation Procedures
- Integrated Defense
- Entry Control Point Operations
- Combat Life Saver Skills
- Military Working Dog Support
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Protection Professional (CPP)60%
Study areas such as security management principles, business continuity planning, and risk assessment methodologies specific to the civilian sector.
- Physical Security Professional (PSP)70%
Focus on civilian-sector physical security measures, vulnerability assessments, and the latest technological advancements in security systems.
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)80%
Review any differences in protocols and update on local regulations.
Recommended next · 04
- Certified in Homeland Security (CHS)Adjacent
- Security+, CASP+Adjacent
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Adjacent
- DoD Security ClearanceAdjacent
/ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| M9 Pistol | Beretta 92FS | Operations |
| M4 Carbine | AR-15 style rifles | Operations |
| M240B Machine Gun | Commercial equivalent belt-fed machine guns | Weapons |
| AN/PVS-14 Night Vision Device | High-end commercial night vision monoculars | Operations |
| Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems | Motorola two-way radio systems | Operations |
| Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) | Commercial security alarm systems (e.g., ADT, SimpliSafe) | Operations |
| Breath Alcohol Testing Devices | Lifeloc FC series breathalyzers | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 81170 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.