Information Computer Security
Specialist.
Marine Corps 9975 (Information Computer Security Specialist). 320 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$130K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 9975 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
The gap, named.
What 9975 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
- 01Networking Fundamentals→ Network Security
- 02Operating System Security→ Linux System Administration
- 03Risk Management Framework (RMF)→ Compliance Frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001)
- 04Adversarial Thinking→ Threat Modeling
- 05Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems→ Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
- 06Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM)→ Vulnerability management platforms
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
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 →Where your code lands.
Cybersecurity Engineer
$125K- — Cloud security certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Security, Azure Security Engineer)
- — DevSecOps principles
IT Risk Manager
$130K- — Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- — Understanding of risk management frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001)
Compliance Officer
$95K- — Knowledge of specific industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS)
- — Legal and regulatory frameworks
Computer Systems Auditor
$85K- — Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- — Data analytics tools
- — Auditing methodologies
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 9975 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Adversarial Thinking
As an information security specialist, you're constantly anticipating and defending against potential cyber threats, thinking like an attacker to identify vulnerabilities.
This translates to a strong ability to identify risks and weaknesses in any system, process, or plan, allowing you to proactively prevent problems.
Procedural Compliance
You rigorously adhere to security protocols and regulations, ensuring all systems and personnel meet stringent standards.
This demonstrates your unwavering commitment to following established guidelines and maintaining order, crucial for regulated industries.
System Modeling
You develop a deep understanding of complex IT systems, enabling you to identify vulnerabilities and implement effective security measures.
This showcases your ability to analyze and understand intricate systems, a valuable asset in any field that requires problem-solving and strategic thinking.
Situational Awareness
You constantly monitor the security landscape, staying alert to potential threats and vulnerabilities to protect sensitive information.
This translates to a heightened awareness of your surroundings and the ability to anticipate potential problems, crucial for risk management and decision-making.
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've been meticulously enforcing security protocols and regulations, a direct parallel to ensuring a company adheres to legal and ethical standards.
Adjacent · MatchFraud Investigator
SOC 13-2091.00You've been thinking like an attacker to anticipate and defend against cyber threats. This is exactly the mindset needed to uncover fraudulent activities and protect assets.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 29-1129.00You've been coordinating contingency and backup plans, ensuring systems are resilient in the face of disruptions. This translates directly to planning for and responding to various types of emergencies.
Adjacent · MatchWhat you trained on.
Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School
Twentynine Palms, CAUp to 6 semester hours recommended
- Networking Fundamentals
- Operating System Security
- Cybersecurity Principles
- Risk Management Framework (RMF)
- Incident Response
- Security Auditing
- Data Protection and Privacy
- CompTIA Security+70%
While the 9975 role provides strong security fundamentals, studying specific CompTIA Security+ exam topics like cryptography, network security, and risk management frameworks will be necessary.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)40%
The 9975 role provides a foundation in security principles, but the CISSP requires a broader and deeper understanding of all eight domains of information security, including legal, compliance, and business continuity planning.
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)30%
The 9975 role focuses on defensive security. CEH requires study of offensive security techniques, including penetration testing methodologies and common attack vectors.
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Adjacent
- GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC)Adjacent
- AWS Certified Security - SpecialtyAdjacent
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)Adjacent
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS) | Vulnerability scanners (e.g., Nessus, Rapid7, Qualys) | Operations |
| Host Based Security System (HBSS) | Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions (e.g., CrowdStrike, SentinelOne) | Operations |
| Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) | Enterprise network management and security infrastructure | Networking |
| Risk Management Framework (RMF) | Compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001) | Operations |
| Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk) | Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, QRadar) | Operations |
| Information Assurance Vulnerability Management (IAVM) | Vulnerability management platforms | Operations |
Translate 9975 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.