Avionics Technician
$75KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
- — Specific aircraft systems training
Live · Guide v1.094A · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 94ACareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.94A.R.04
94A · ARMY · OfficerMissile Systems Maintenance
Missile Systems Maintenance
Technician.
Army 94A (Missile Systems Maintenance Technician). 920 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$85K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours920DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage3/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 94A 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 94A training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have11
- 01Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair→ Debugging software and hardware issues.
- 02Optical and Infrared Component Alignment→ Precision work with complex systems.
- 03Missile System Diagnostics→ Systematic problem-solving and fault isolation.
- 04Quality Control Procedures→ Adherence to standards and rigorous testing.
- 05Maintenance Documentation and Reporting→ Creating and maintaining clear records.
- 06Supervision and Leadership Skills→ Team coordination and task management.
- 07Calibration and Maintenance of Test Equipment→ Ensuring accuracy and reliability of tools.
- 08System Modeling→ Understanding complex systems and their interactions.
- 09Procedural Compliance→ Following established guidelines and regulations.
- 10Team Synchronization→ Ability to work cohesively within a team to achieve goals.
- 11After-Action Analysis→ Assessing performance and implementing improvements.
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+C/C++ fundamentals+Real-time operating systems (RTOS) concepts+Software testing methodologies+Test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, JUnit)+Robotics Operating System (ROS)+Control systems and algorithms+Linux server administration+Scripting with Bash or Python
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.
Mechatronics Technician
$68KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — PLC programming
- — Robotics certification
Quality Control Inspector
$55KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Six Sigma certification
- — ISO 9001 auditing
Technical Trainer
$70KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Instructional design certification
- — Excellent communication skills
Maintenance Supervisor
$85KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
- — OSHA safety standards training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 94A training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
As a 94A, you diagnose malfunctions in complex missile systems by mentally mapping the interconnectedness of electrical, mechanical, and optical components. You create a model of how the system *should* work to identify deviations and pinpoint the source of the problem.
Transfers to
This translates to a strong ability to understand complex systems, predict how changes in one area will impact others, and troubleshoot issues in interconnected environments.
Procedural Compliance
Your role demands strict adherence to maintenance manuals, safety protocols, and quality control procedures. You understand the importance of following established protocols to ensure the safety and reliability of missile systems.
Transfers to
This demonstrates a commitment to following established guidelines and regulations, a critical skill in fields requiring precision, safety, and adherence to industry standards.
Team Synchronization
Whether leading a team or working within one, you synchronized efforts to ensure missile systems were maintained to standard. You provided guidance to subordinates, assessed the quality of work, and coordinated maintenance activities.
Transfers to
You understand the importance of having each team member contributing to a task and being able to work together. This provides you with a very sought after skill for managerial and leadership roles.
After-Action Analysis
You reviewed completed maintenance tasks and repairs, analyzed the effectiveness of procedures, identified areas for improvement, and shared lessons learned with the team. This continuous improvement cycle ensured peak performance.
Transfers to
This indicates a strong ability to assess performance, identify root causes of problems, and implement solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness, valuable in any field requiring continuous improvement.
/ 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.
Technical Writer
SOC 27-3042.00You've been immersed in complex technical systems, reading and interpreting manuals, and creating reports. You can translate complex information into easily understandable language, making you an ideal technical writer. Many companies need documentation created for use by both internal and external users.
Adjacent · MatchCompliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've mastered the art of procedural compliance and quality control. You understand the importance of adhering to regulations and ensuring standards are met. Compliance Officers monitor and ensure that an organization follows applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies.
Adjacent · MatchQuality Assurance Manager
SOC 11-3051.00You've been responsible for ensuring the quality and reliability of complex missile systems. You can apply this experience to manage quality assurance processes in various industries, ensuring products and services meet the required standards. Given your leadership experience, your transition to this role would be easier.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Patriot System Repairer/Maintainer (94A) Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Fort Sill, OK920hHours
23wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology
Topics · 8
- TOW 2 ATGM System Maintenance
- Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair
- Optical and Infrared Component Alignment
- Missile System Diagnostics
- Quality Control Procedures
- Maintenance Documentation and Reporting
- Supervision and Leadership Skills
- Calibration and Maintenance of Test Equipment
Partial coverage · 3
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70%
Requires study of current electronics technologies, troubleshooting techniques, and industry standards not explicitly covered in the provided military job description. Focus on consumer electronics, industrial controls, and emerging technologies.
- CompTIA A+60%
Requires studying current computer hardware, software, networking, and troubleshooting techniques specific to personal computers and mobile devices. The military training likely focuses on specialized military equipment, so broader IT knowledge is needed.
- Certified Quality Technician (CQT)50%
Requires study of quality control methodologies, statistical process control, and quality auditing techniques according to ASQ standards. The military training focuses on specific equipment, while CQT covers broader quality management principles.
Recommended next · 04
- Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
- Certified Senior Electronic Technician (CSET)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 |
|---|---|---|
| TOW2 ATGM (M-220 Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile system) | Wire-guided missile systems maintenance and repair | Weapons |
| Javelin Missile System | Man-portable anti-tank guided missile systems maintenance | Weapons |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) | Precision Guided Munitions maintenance | Operations |
| High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) | Mobile rocket artillery maintenance and diagnostics | Operations |
| Avenger Air Defense System | Short-range air defense missile systems maintenance | Operations |
| Surface-Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) | Surface-to-air missile systems maintenance | Weapons |
| Slew-to-Cue missile systems | Automated target acquisition and tracking systems maintenance | Weapons |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 94A into a resume that ships.
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