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Live · Guide v1.09907 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9907Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9907.R.04
9907 · USMC · Enlisted

Colonel, Naval Aviator/Naval Flight
Officer.

Marine Corps 9907 (Colonel, Naval Aviator/Naval Flight Officer). 240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $110K–$200K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEVaries by platform and specific curriculum, but may include recommendations in aviation management, leadership, and flight operations.
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 9907 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 9907 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05
  • 01
    Aviation Safety and Survival trainingUnderstanding of risk management and safety protocols in software development and deployment.
  • 02
    Crew Resource ManagementTeam leadership and collaboration in software engineering teams.
  • 03
    Rapid PrioritizationAgile project management and incident response.
  • 04
    AN/APG-73 RadarUnderstanding of data processing and signal analysis.
  • 05
    Tactical Data Link (Link 16)Knowledge of secure data communication and networking.
To learn05

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

+Agile/Scrum methodologies+Project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence)+Cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)+Cybersecurity frameworks and tools (e.g., NIST, SIEM)+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.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Airline Pilot

$200K
High match
Very high demand
P.02

Aerospace Engineering Manager

$165K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
  • Familiarity with civilian aerospace regulations (FAA)
  • Advanced knowledge of specific engineering software (e.g., ANSYS, MATLAB)
P.03

Aviation Safety Inspector

$120K
Good match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • FAA certifications relevant to inspection specialty
  • In-depth knowledge of FAA regulations (FARs)
P.04

Operations Manager

$110K
Moderate match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Supply chain management knowledge
  • Lean Six Sigma certification
  • Experience with civilian business operations software (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
P.05

Management Consultant

$150K
Moderate match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • MBA or relevant business degree
  • Consulting experience through internships or projects
  • Industry-specific knowledge (e.g., healthcare, finance)
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 9907 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Rapid Prioritization

As a Colonel and Naval Aviator/Flight Officer, you're constantly making split-second decisions under immense pressure, prioritizing threats and mission objectives in dynamic, high-stakes environments.

Transfers to

This translates to an exceptional ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify critical priorities, and make decisive choices, even when facing ambiguity and limited information.

S.02

Situational Awareness

Commanding air operations requires maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the battlespace, including aircraft positions, environmental factors, and potential threats, enabling proactive decision-making.

Transfers to

Your heightened situational awareness allows you to anticipate potential problems, identify opportunities, and maintain a clear perspective amidst chaos, a valuable asset in any leadership role.

S.03

Team Synchronization

Leading flight crews and coordinating with ground support necessitates precise communication, clear delegation, and seamless integration of individual efforts to achieve mission success.

Transfers to

You excel at building cohesive teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that everyone is working in concert towards a common goal, vital for achieving complex objectives.

S.04

Resource Optimization

Managing aircraft, personnel, and fuel involves efficient allocation of resources to maximize operational effectiveness while adhering to strict budgetary constraints.

Transfers to

You have a proven ability to optimize resource allocation, streamline processes, and identify cost-saving measures, ensuring maximum efficiency and return on investment.

/ 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.

Hospital Administrator

SOC 11-9111.00

You've been orchestrating complex operations under pressure, managing diverse teams, and prioritizing critical resources – skills directly transferable to overseeing the daily operations of a hospital, ensuring efficient patient care and resource allocation.

Adjacent · Match

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been expertly handling crisis situations, coordinating responses, and making rapid decisions under duress. This makes you ideally suited to develop and implement emergency preparedness plans, ensuring community safety and resilience during natural disasters or other emergencies.

Adjacent · Match

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.04

You've been managing complex supply chains and coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment across vast distances. Your expertise in logistics and resource management makes you an ideal candidate to oversee the flow of goods and materials for a large organization.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Naval Flight Officer/Aviator Qualification and Refresher Training

Various Naval Air Stations
240hHours
6wkWeeks
ACECredit

Varies by platform and specific curriculum, but may include recommendations in aviation management, leadership, and flight operations.

Topics · 8
  • Aviation Safety and Survival
  • Flight Regulations and Procedures
  • Airspace Management
  • Advanced Navigation Techniques
  • Crew Resource Management
  • Tactical Flight Operations
  • Weapons Systems Employment
  • Leadership and Command Responsibilities
Partial coverage · 2
  • Certified Manager (CM)60%

    Requires study of general management principles, human resource management, and business communication, likely focusing on aspects outside direct flight operations.

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)50%

    Requires focused study on project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), tools, and techniques as formalized by PMI, plus a PMP exam prep course.

Recommended next · 03
  • Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)Adjacent
  • Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)Adjacent
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) CertificateAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
AN/APG-73 RadarAdvanced Weather Radar Systems (e.g., used in commercial aviation)Signals
Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)Augmented Reality (AR) Headsets (e.g., Microsoft HoloLens, DAQRI Smart Helmet)Operations
AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ)Cybersecurity intrusion detection and prevention systemsOperations
Tactical Data Link (Link 16)Secure Data Communication Networks (e.g., used in financial transactions)Operations
Advanced Mission Planning System (AMPS)Airline Flight Planning Software (e.g., Jeppesen, Lido Flight)Operations
Global Positioning System (GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM)High-Precision GPS Receivers with Anti-Jamming Capabilities (e.g., used in surveying and critical infrastructure)Operations
IFF (Identification Friend or Foe)ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 9907 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.