Security Guard/Protective Service Worker
$45KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — State-specific security licensing
- — Customer service skills
Live · Guide v1.081190 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 81190Career Guide · Operations · Security · VWC.CG.81190.R.04
81190 · USAF · EnlistedSecurity Forces
Security Forces
Specialist.
Air Force 81190 (Security Forces Specialist). 672 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $42K–$68K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours672DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 81190 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 81190 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have07
- 01Weapons Handling and Maintenance→ Understanding of hardware systems and diagnostics.
- 02Security Tactics and Patrolling→ Situational awareness and threat detection.
- 03Law Enforcement Procedures→ Incident response and procedural compliance.
- 04Integrated Entry Control System (IECS)→ Understanding of Access Control and Alarm Monitoring Systems.
- 05Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS)→ Understanding of Biometric Access Control Systems
- 06Automated Installation Entry (AIE)→ Understanding of License Plate Recognition (LPR) Systems
- 07AN/PRC-152 Radio→ Motorola APX Series Two-Way Radios
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Network fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, routing)+Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools (Splunk, QRadar)+Operating systems (Windows, Linux) administration+Help desk ticketing systems (ServiceNow, Zendesk)+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Scripting languages (Python, Bash)
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.
Police Officer
$68KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Completion of police academy
- — Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification
- — Advanced first aid/CPR certification
Security Systems Installer
$55KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Electronics training
- — Networking skills
- — Vendor-specific certifications (e.g., Honeywell, Bosch)
Loss Prevention Specialist
$48KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Retail experience
- — Investigative skills
- — Conflict resolution training
Range Safety Officer
$42KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Civilian firearms instructor certification (e.g., NRA)
- — First aid/CPR certification
- — Customer service experience
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 81190 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
SF personnel constantly scan their environment for threats, assess risks, and adapt their actions based on real-time information to protect personnel and resources in diverse and potentially hostile settings.
Transfers to
This translates to an ability to quickly assess dynamic situations, identify potential problems, and make informed decisions under pressure in civilian environments.
Procedural Compliance
SF members adhere strictly to established protocols and procedures when safeguarding weapons, responding to incidents, and enforcing regulations, ensuring consistent and reliable execution of critical tasks.
Transfers to
This signifies a commitment to following guidelines and maintaining order, which is valuable in roles requiring adherence to standards and regulations.
Adversarial Thinking
SF personnel anticipate potential threats and vulnerabilities, proactively planning and implementing security measures to defend against hostile actions and protect assets.
Transfers to
This demonstrates the ability to identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, a crucial skill in roles that require problem-solving and risk management.
Team Synchronization
SF members operate in coordinated teams during patrols, security operations, and emergency responses, requiring seamless communication and collaboration to achieve mission objectives effectively.
Transfers to
This translates to strong teamwork skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with others to achieve common goals in a collaborative work environment.
/ 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.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-2000You've been trained to meticulously follow procedures and enforce regulations in high-stakes environments. As a Compliance Officer, you'll use these skills to ensure organizations adhere to legal standards and internal policies. Your experience with security protocols and risk assessment will be invaluable in identifying and mitigating compliance risks.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161You're accustomed to responding to crises and managing emergencies. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you will plan and coordinate responses to natural disasters or other emergencies. Your experience with security, risk assessment, and rapid response protocols makes you exceptionally well-prepared for this role.
Adjacent · MatchInsurance Investigator
SOC 33-9032You've developed keen observational skills and attention to detail through investigations and security operations. As an Insurance Investigator, you'll apply these skills to examine claims, detect fraud, and gather evidence. Your experience with interviewing, evidence collection, and security protocols will be highly transferable to this investigative role.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Security Forces Academy
Lackland AFB, TX672hHours
16wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours recommended
Topics · 8
- Basic Rifle Marksmanship
- Law Enforcement Procedures
- Security Tactics and Patrolling
- Use of Force
- Weapons Handling and Maintenance
- Integrated Defense
- Combatives
- First Aid/CPR
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Protection Professional (CPP)60%
Study business principles, security management, legal aspects, and enterprise security risk management.
- Physical Security Professional (PSP)70%
Study the detailed aspects of physical security design, implementation, and ongoing assessment.
Recommended next · 03
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)Adjacent
- Security Management Professional (SMP)Adjacent
- Certified Law Enforcement Analyst (CLEA)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 |
|---|---|---|
| M240B Machine Gun | Belt-fed machine guns used for security and defense | Weapons |
| M203 Grenade Launcher | 40mm Grenade Launcher | Operations |
| AN/PRC-152 Radio | Motorola APX Series Two-Way Radios | Operations |
| Night Vision Goggles (NVG) | FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) Systems | Operations |
| Integrated Entry Control System (IECS) | Access Control and Alarm Monitoring Systems | Operations |
| Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) | Biometric Access Control Systems | Operations |
| Automated Installation Entry (AIE) | License Plate Recognition (LPR) Systems | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 81190 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.