Commercial Drone Pilot
$75KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Part 107 certification
- — Specific drone platform training
Live · Guide v1.09814 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9814Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9814.R.04
9814 · USMC · EnlistedUAV
UAV
Operator.
Marine Corps 9814 (UAV Operator). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$135K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours480DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended in aviation technology or unmanned systems operation
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage1/4direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 9814 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 9814 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01UAS Flight Principles and Aerodynamics→ Understanding of system design and operational constraints
- 02UAS Communication Protocols and Network Operations→ Networking fundamentals
- 03Mission Planning and Crew Coordination→ Project management and teamwork
- 04Situational Awareness→ Understanding complex systems
- 05Remote Execution→ Remote operation of computers, systems, and networks
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Cloud computing fundamentals (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform or CloudFormation)+Data visualization (Tableau or Power BI)+SQL for data querying and analysis+Python scripting and automation+Linux system administration+Basic cybersecurity principles and threat landscape+Network security concepts and tools
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.
Geospatial Technician
$68KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — GIS software proficiency
- — Data analysis techniques
- — Cartography principles
Remote Sensing Technician
$72KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Remote sensing data processing
- — Image analysis software
- — Understanding of electromagnetic spectrum
Air Traffic Controller
$135KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Air Traffic Control certification
- — Extensive on-the-job training
- — Strong communication skills
Surveillance Systems Operator
$55KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific surveillance technology training
- — Data privacy regulations
- — Incident reporting procedures
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 9814 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
UAV operators constantly monitor flight parameters, environmental conditions, and communication channels to maintain awareness of the aircraft's status and surrounding environment.
Transfers to
The ability to perceive and understand the current environment, anticipate potential changes, and make informed decisions based on that understanding. This translates to a keen sense of surroundings and proactive problem-solving.
Procedural Compliance
UAV operators adhere to strict operational procedures and checklists to ensure flight safety and mission success. They follow established protocols for communication, navigation, and emergency response.
Transfers to
The ability to consistently follow established procedures and protocols with precision and accuracy. This ensures safety, quality, and efficiency in highly regulated environments.
Team Synchronization
UAV operators collaborate closely with payload operators, mission commanders, and other team members to achieve mission objectives. They coordinate actions, share information, and maintain clear communication to ensure seamless teamwork.
Transfers to
The ability to coordinate actions and maintain clear communication with a team to achieve shared goals. This requires understanding roles, responsibilities, and dependencies within the team.
Rapid Prioritization
In dynamic and rapidly evolving situations, UAV operators must quickly assess competing priorities and make critical decisions under pressure. This includes prioritizing mission objectives, managing aircraft resources, and responding to unexpected events.
Transfers to
The ability to quickly assess competing priorities, make critical decisions under pressure, and allocate resources effectively. This is essential for managing complex tasks and responding to unexpected events in fast-paced 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.
Geospatial Intelligence Analyst
SOC 15-1131You've been immersed in real-time imagery analysis, target identification, and relaying crucial information. Your experience in interpreting visual data and communicating time-sensitive intelligence directly translates to geospatial analysis, where you'll be mapping, analyzing, and visualizing geographic data for diverse applications.
Adjacent · MatchSCADA System Operator
SOC 17-3029You're skilled in the remote operation and control of sophisticated systems. This is highly applicable to a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) System Operator, who manages and monitors industrial control systems from a central location. You'll leverage your procedural compliance and system monitoring skills to ensure efficient and safe operation of critical infrastructure.
Adjacent · MatchInsurance Claims Adjuster (Specialty: Aviation)
SOC 13-1031Your experience with UAV operation and potential incident reporting makes you uniquely qualified to handle aviation-related insurance claims. You understand the technical aspects of flight, system failures, and operational protocols, enabling you to accurately assess damage, determine liability, and resolve claims efficiently.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operator Course
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA480hHours
12wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours recommended in aviation technology or unmanned systems operation
Topics · 8
- UAS flight principles and aerodynamics
- UAS pre-flight and post-flight procedures
- UAS emergency procedures and risk management
- UAS communication protocols and network operations
- Payload operations and sensor management
- Mission planning and crew coordination
- Call for fire procedures and target engagement
- Tactical employment of UAS assets
Partial coverage · 1
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate70%
Understanding of FAA regulations, airspace classifications, weather effects, and emergency procedures specific to civilian UAS operations. Focus on sections related to small UAS.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) - Airplane or Drone. After gaining flight experience, becoming an instructor is a great career path.Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP). UAV missions often require strong planning and execution skills, making project management certification valuable.Adjacent
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Given the sensitive nature of data collected and transmitted by UAVs, cybersecurity expertise is crucial.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 |
|---|---|---|
| RQ-21A Blackjack | Commercial drone platforms (e.g., DJI Matrice series) | Operations |
| Ground Control Station (GCS) | Drone ground control software (e.g., DroneDeploy, Pix4D) | Operations |
| Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) | Geospatial targeting and analysis software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS) | Operations |
| Harris AN/PRC-117G Radio | Satellite communication systems (e.g., Iridium, Inmarsat) | Operations |
| Full Motion Video (FMV) exploitation tools | Video analytics software (e.g., BriefCam, Milestone Systems) | Operations |
| Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) | Real-time communication and collaboration platforms for air support | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 9814 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.