Airline Pilot, Copilot, or Flight Engineer
$203KHigh match
High demand
Live · Guide v1.09808 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9808Career Guide · Aviation · VWC.CG.9808.R.04
9808 · USMC · EnlistedMulti-Engine Transport Aircraft
Multi-Engine Transport Aircraft
Pilot.
Marine Corps 9808 (Multi-Engine Transport Aircraft Pilot). 1,200 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$203K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,200DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 30 semester hours recommended in aviation-related coursework
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 9808 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 9808 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Flight Planning and Navigation→ Understanding of system architecture and data flow
- 02Situational Awareness and Rapid Prioritization→ Incident management and problem-solving
- 03Procedural Compliance→ Adherence to coding standards and best practices
- 04Team Synchronization→ Collaboration in agile development environments
- 05Aviation Safety and Emergency Procedures→ Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cloud computing fundamentals (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or CloudFormation)+Containerization with Docker and Kubernetes basics+CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins or GitLab CI+SQL for data querying and manipulation+Data visualization tools (Tableau or Power BI)+Project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum)+Communication and stakeholder management
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.
Commercial Pilot
$99KHigh match
Growing demand
Air Traffic Controller
$138KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist certification
- — On-the-job training
Flight Instructor
$85KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating
Aerospace Engineer
$128KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering
- — Specialized knowledge of aircraft design and systems
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 9808 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Pilots constantly monitor weather patterns, aircraft systems, air traffic, and crew performance to maintain a comprehensive understanding of their environment and anticipate potential problems.
Transfers to
This translates to an ability to perceive and understand complex, dynamic environments, enabling proactive decision-making and risk mitigation in various professional settings.
Rapid Prioritization
In flight, pilots face constantly evolving conditions and potential emergencies requiring swift assessment of risks and prioritization of actions to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.
Transfers to
This skill involves quickly evaluating competing demands and focusing on the most critical tasks under pressure, essential for efficient problem-solving and effective leadership in fast-paced environments.
Procedural Compliance
Pilots adhere to strict regulations, checklists, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent and safe flight operations.
Transfers to
This translates to a strong understanding of and adherence to protocols, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and safety in process-driven environments.
Team Synchronization
Pilots work closely with co-pilots, flight attendants, and ground control personnel, relying on coordinated communication and shared understanding to execute flight plans effectively.
Transfers to
This involves seamlessly integrating with diverse teams, fostering clear communication, and aligning individual efforts to achieve common goals, essential for collaborative success in project-oriented environments.
/ 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.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been managing complex flight plans with multiple variables, tracking fuel, passengers, and weather, which makes you an ideal candidate to manage the flow of goods and materials for a large organization. Your expertise in coordinating resources will ensure efficient operations.
Adjacent · MatchAir Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2011.00You've spent your career navigating and understanding air traffic patterns, so you have a natural aptitude for the role of Air Traffic Controller. Your understanding of airspace management and safety protocols will allow you to excel in this role.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to handle high-stress situations and make critical decisions under pressure, skills highly valued in emergency management. Your ability to assess risks and coordinate resources will be invaluable in protecting communities during crises.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Naval Aviation Training Program
Various Naval Air Stations1,200hHours
52wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 30 semester hours recommended in aviation-related coursework
Topics · 8
- Aerodynamics and Aircraft Systems
- Flight Planning and Navigation
- Multi-Engine Aircraft Operations
- Instrument Flight Procedures
- Crew Resource Management
- Aviation Safety and Emergency Procedures
- Federal Aviation Regulations
- Advanced Flight Maneuvers
Partial coverage · 2
- FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)70%
Differences training on specific aircraft type, completion of ATP-CTP course (if not already done in the military), and successful completion of the FAA ATP practical exam.
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)40%
Requires demonstrating experience in aviation management, passing a knowledge exam, and meeting specific educational/experiential criteria beyond piloting experience.
Recommended next · 04
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)Adjacent
- Aviation Safety Officer (ASO)Adjacent
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Aviation FocusAdjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)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 |
|---|---|---|
| AN/APN-194 Radar Altimeter | Commercial radar altimeters (e.g., Honeywell, Collins Aerospace) | Signals |
| TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation System) | VOR/DME (VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment) navigation systems | Operations |
| AN/ARN-147 VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Receiver | Commercial VOR receivers (e.g., Garmin, BendixKing) | Operations |
| IFF Transponder (Identification Friend or Foe) | Mode S Transponder with ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) | Operations |
| Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) | Commercial Flight Planning Software (e.g., ForeFlight, Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro) | Operations |
| Satellite Communication Systems (SATCOM) | Commercial satellite communication systems (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium) | Networking |
| AN/ARC-210 RT-1556/ARC Multi-band Radio | Commercial VHF/UHF aviation radios (e.g., Becker, Trig Avionics) | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 9808 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.