Explosives Technician
$65K- — Commercial Blasting License (if applicable to role)
- — HAZMAT Certification
Navy MN (Mineman). 1,200 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $35K–$65K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Industry tech roles your MN background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
What MN training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
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 →Cognitive skills your MN training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Minemen adhere to strict safety protocols and detailed procedures when handling, assembling, and disassembling underwater mines to prevent accidents and ensure operational readiness.
Meticulous adherence to established protocols and regulations, ensuring safety and accuracy in high-stakes environments.
Minemen use system modeling when testing and maintaining underwater explosive devices (mines). They must understand how various electronic components work together to ensure proper repair and functionality.
Understanding complex systems and their interactions to troubleshoot, maintain, and improve performance.
Whether aboard minesweepers detecting underwater mines or ashore handling ordnance, minemen constantly maintain awareness of their surroundings to anticipate threats and ensure the safety of themselves and their team.
Maintaining a high level of awareness of the surrounding environment and potential risks to ensure safety and operational effectiveness.
Minemen are trained to maintain and repair complex systems even under less-than-ideal conditions, such as limited resources, time constraints, or equipment malfunctions.
Ability to effectively troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues even when facing limited resources or adverse conditions.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
You've been meticulously following procedures and ensuring the functionality of complex explosive devices. Now, you can apply this expertise to ensuring the quality and safety of products in various industries, identifying potential defects and implementing corrective actions.
Adjacent · MatchYou've already got the skills to maintain and repair complex electro-mechanical systems. As an Industrial Machinery Mechanic, you'll use that experience to keep factories running smoothly, troubleshooting equipment malfunctions and performing preventive maintenance.
Adjacent · MatchYou're highly trained in the safe handling and storage of dangerous materials. Transition your skills into civilian life as a Hazardous Materials Technician! You will be ensuring the safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials in industrial or environmental settings.
Adjacent · MatchUp to 15 semester hours in basic electronics, ordnance handling, and maritime studies
Requires study of broader electronics principles and troubleshooting techniques beyond specific mine systems.
Requires familiarization with civilian regulations, specific explosives types, and documentation procedures.
Requires additional study of general industry safety standards beyond military-specific safety protocols.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization System | Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) with sonar and video capabilities for underwater inspection and object manipulation (e.g., used in underwater welding or salvage operations). | Operations |
| AN/AQS-20A Sonar Mine Detecting Set | High-resolution sonar systems used in underwater mapping and object detection for offshore oil & gas, or scientific research. | Signals |
| MK 60 CAPTOR Mine | Advanced sensor-activated security systems for perimeter defense or asset protection. | Operations |
| MK 62/63/65 Quickstrike Mines | Large payload delivery systems controlled through electronic detonation, similar to demolition charges in construction. | Operations |
| Mine Handling Equipment (various) | Robotic material handling systems used in manufacturing or warehousing to move heavy or hazardous items. | Operations |
| Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) tools and equipment | Bomb disposal equipment and techniques are directly transferable to hazardous materials handling and disposal in civilian settings. | Operations |
| Naval Ordnance Management System (NOMS) | Inventory management systems for tracking and managing hazardous materials, ammunition and explosives, comparable to those used in mining and construction industries. | Operations |
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.