Chef
$58KHigh match
Growing demand
Live · Guide v1.094B · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 94BCareer Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.94B.R.04
94B · ARMY · EnlistedFood Service
Food Service
Specialist.
Army 94B (Food Service Specialist). 170 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$65K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours170DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 3 semester hours in Food Service Management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 94B 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 94B training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have06
- 01Resource Optimization→ Budget and Resource Management
- 02Procedural Compliance→ Quality Control and Standards Adherence
- 03Team Synchronization→ Collaboration in Team Environments
- 04Situational Awareness→ Proactive Problem-Solving
- 05Operation and maintenance of field kitchen equipment→ Hardware troubleshooting
- 06Army Food Management Information System (AFMIS)→ Data entry and management
To learn11
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)+Basic Python for data analysis+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow)+Remote desktop support tools+Operating system fundamentals (Windows, Linux)+Software testing methodologies+Test automation frameworks (Selenium, JUnit)+Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) concepts+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Scripting languages (e.g., 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.
Restaurant Manager
$65KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Business management
- — Customer service management
- — Marketing and sales
Food Service Manager
$62KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Budget management
- — Inventory control
Caterer
$55KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Business management
- — Marketing and sales
Food Safety Specialist
$60KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Food safety certification (e.g., HACCP)
- — Auditing
- — Regulatory compliance
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 94B training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Resource Optimization
As a 94B, you are constantly managing and optimizing food supplies, equipment, and personnel to ensure meals are prepared efficiently and on time, even with limited resources.
Transfers to
This translates directly to managing budgets, inventory, and staff in any industry, ensuring maximum output with minimal waste.
Procedural Compliance
Following strict recipes, health codes, and safety regulations is paramount in military food service. You're trained to adhere to standards meticulously.
Transfers to
This discipline ensures consistent quality and safety, highly valued in roles requiring adherence to protocols, like quality control or regulatory compliance.
Team Synchronization
Whether preparing meals in the field or supervising a large kitchen, coordinating with fellow cooks and support staff is crucial for efficient meal service.
Transfers to
This ability to work in sync with others translates to success in any team-oriented environment, fostering collaboration and achieving shared goals.
Situational Awareness
You constantly monitor the kitchen environment, anticipate potential problems (equipment malfunctions, supply shortages), and proactively adjust plans to maintain operations.
Transfers to
This proactive approach to problem-solving is invaluable in dynamic environments, allowing you to anticipate challenges and implement solutions effectively.
/ 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.
Restaurant Manager
SOC 11-9051.00You've been managing food service operations and personnel in demanding conditions. Your experience translates perfectly to overseeing all aspects of a restaurant, from staff management to inventory control and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Adjacent · MatchFood Safety Inspector
SOC 13-1041.00You've been rigorously adhering to health and safety standards in food preparation. This experience makes you an ideal candidate to inspect food establishments, ensuring compliance and protecting public health.
Adjacent · MatchCatering Manager
SOC 11-9051.00You've been planning and executing food service for large groups under pressure. Now, you can leverage these skills to manage catering events, coordinating logistics, staff, and menus to create memorable experiences.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
94B Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
Fort Gregg-Adams, VA170hHours
4wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 3 semester hours in Food Service Management
Topics · 7
- Basic food preparation techniques
- Menu planning and nutrition
- Food safety and sanitation standards
- Operation and maintenance of field kitchen equipment
- Inventory management and supply procedures
- Field feeding operations
- Baking principles
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM)70%
Study specific local health and safety regulations, and focus on the latest updates in food safety practices as defined by organizations like the FDA.
- Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM)60%
You will need to study specific food safety management principles, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) implementation, and auditing procedures in depth.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Dietary Manager (CDM)Adjacent
- Certified Executive Chef (CEC)Adjacent
- ServSafe InstructorAdjacent
/ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT) | Mobile catering trailers, food trucks | Operations |
| Containerized Kitchen (CK) | Commercial kitchen setups, modular kitchen units | Operations |
| Field Sanitation Team Equipment | Commercial food safety and sanitation equipment (e.g., sanitizing stations, water purification systems) | Operations |
| Army Food Management Information System (AFMIS) | Restaurant management software (e.g., inventory management, recipe costing) | Operations |
| Tactical Field Feeding System (TFFS) | Large-scale catering equipment, industrial cooking equipment | Operations |
| Tray Ration Heater (TRH) | Commercial food warming equipment, industrial ovens | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 94B 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.