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0311 Career Guide

Marine Corps

0311: Rifleman

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Rifleman (0311)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 0311 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Operations Manager

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project managementBusiness analytics

Security Consultant

$90K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

CPPRisk assessment

Emergency Management Specialist

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications

Corporate Trainer

$65K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional designLMS platforms

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 0311 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

Making split-second tactical decisions during combat — choosing targets, allocating fires, and directing movement under direct threat

Making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information — the same cognitive skill behind emergency response, trading, and crisis leadership

Team Synchronization

Coordinating fire team movements, supporting arms, and adjacent unit actions through verbal commands and hand signals in chaotic environments

Leading teams through ambiguity — directly applicable to project management, event production, and multi-team coordination in fast-paced industries

Situational Awareness

Processing terrain, weather, enemy positions, friendly positions, civilian presence, and mission timeline simultaneously

Maintaining a comprehensive mental model under pressure — valued in operations management, air traffic control, and executive leadership

Degraded-Mode Operations

Continuing to execute the mission when communications are disrupted, leadership is lost, or the original plan fails

Performing without a playbook — the adaptability mindset that defines successful startup operators, field consultants, and crisis managers

After-Action Analysis

Conducting detailed post-patrol and post-operation debriefs focused on identifying tactical improvements and lessons learned

Structured performance review and continuous improvement — the foundation of lean management, agile retrospectives, and quality engineering

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Construction Project Manager

SOC 11-9021

Managing personnel, coordinating logistics, maintaining safety standards, and executing complex plans on a timeline — construction project management is a mission briefing with a different dress code.

Sales Manager

SOC 11-2022

Your leadership style — clear objectives, aggressive execution, team accountability — maps perfectly to sales management. Marines who go into sales consistently outperform because they understand mission focus.

Operations Manager

SOC 11-1021

You've been running operations your entire career — resource allocation, personnel management, timeline execution, and performance standards. The corporate version just has less body armor.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Infantry Training Battalion (ITB), School of Infantry (SOI-East: Camp Geiger / SOI-West: Camp Pendleton)

440 training hours8 weeksUp to 8 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Infantry tactics and maneuver
  • Marksmanship and weapons employment
  • Land navigation
  • Patrolling
  • Urban operations (MOUT)
  • Improvised explosive device awareness
  • Tactical casualty care

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)35% covered

Formal project management methodology, cost management, and stakeholder engagement frameworks

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)45% covered

Enterprise security management, investigations, and corporate physical security

Recommended Next Certifications

PMPCPPOSHA 30-Hour

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet and asset management systems
FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below)Tactical network communication and situational awareness platforms
PRC-117G / PRC-152 RadiosSoftware-defined radio and multiband communication platforms
DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver)Precision GPS navigation and positioning systems
SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System)Encrypted radio frequency communication systems

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