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USMC · 9813Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9813.R.04

9813 · USMC · Enlisted

Ground Sensor
Operator.

Marine Corps 9813 (Ground Sensor Operator). 320 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $60K–$85K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours320DoD pipeline

ACE creditACEPending evaluation by ACE

Tech roles4mapped to your code

Civilian pathways5validated

Cert coverage2/5direct + partial

/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 9813 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 9813 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have06

01
Situational Awareness→ Risk management, proactive problem-solving
02
Pattern Recognition→ Analyzing data sets, identifying trends
03
Procedural Compliance→ Precision, accountability, regulatory compliance
04
Degraded-Mode Operations→ Creative problem-solving, resilience in crisis situations
05
Sensor Employment→ Remote monitoring and threat detection
06
Imagery Interpretation→ Analyzing visual data and identifying anomalies

To learn06

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Cybersecurity fundamentals+SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Python programming+Robotics software frameworks (e.g., ROS)+Embedded systems programming (C/C++)

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.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5

P.01

Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

$85K

High match

High demand

P.02

Remote Sensing Technician

$68K

Good match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Specific software proficiency (e.g., ENVI, ERDAS IMAGINE)
— Civilian remote sensing certifications

P.03

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot/Operator

$72K

Good match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— FAA Part 107 certification
— Specific drone platform training

P.04

Surveillance Systems Installer/Technician

$60K

Moderate match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— Electronics certifications
— Networking skills
— Specific surveillance system training

P.05

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician

$62K

Moderate match

High demand

Skills to develop

— GIS software proficiency (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)
— Data analysis skills

/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 9813 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Situational Awareness

As a GCS sensor operator, you maintained constant awareness of the operational environment, identifying potential threats and relaying critical information to decision-makers in real time.

Transfers to

This ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and anticipate potential problems is crucial for roles requiring risk management and proactive problem-solving.

S.02

Pattern Recognition

You were trained to identify patterns in sensor data, differentiating between normal activity and anomalies that could indicate a threat or system malfunction.

Transfers to

This skill translates directly to analyzing data sets to identify trends, detect fraud, or predict potential issues in a variety of industries.

S.03

Procedural Compliance

Operating the GCS sensor required strict adherence to established protocols and procedures to ensure data accuracy, system integrity, and mission success.

Transfers to

Your commitment to following established procedures and maintaining high standards of performance is invaluable in roles requiring precision, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

S.04

Degraded-Mode Operations

You were prepared to maintain sensor functionality and provide critical information even when systems were compromised or operating under duress.

Transfers to

Your experience in maintaining functionality under pressure makes you extremely valuable in roles requiring creative problem-solving and resilience in crisis situations.

/ 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.

Financial Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've been trained to analyze complex data patterns to identify threats, which translates perfectly to detecting financial anomalies and forecasting market trends. Your focus on procedural compliance also ensures accuracy and diligence in financial reporting.

Adjacent · Match

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011

You're skilled at identifying unusual patterns and anomalies, just as you did with sensor data. This ability, combined with your commitment to procedure, makes you well-suited to investigating fraudulent activity.

Adjacent · Match

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051

You have experience making sense of large amounts of information quickly and under pressure. You've been trained to identify patterns that are critical to decision-making. This ability is directly transferable to success as a data scientist.

Adjacent · Match

/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED

Academy