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1140 Career Guide

Navy

1140: Special Operations Officer (EOD/Diver)

Career transition guide for Navy Special Operations Officer (EOD/Diver) (1140)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1140 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Demolition Expert

$85K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Commercial blasting certificationsOSHA safety standards

Underwater Robotics Technician

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

ROV operation and maintenance certificationSpecific industry software proficiency

HAZMAT Technician

$65K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

HAZWOPER certificationDOT regulations knowledge

Diving Supervisor

$95K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Commercial Diving Supervisor certificationAdvanced safety management training

Security Consultant

$90K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP)Business acumenConsulting experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1140 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

As an EOD officer, you constantly assess threats and allocate resources in high-pressure situations, determining the order in which to neutralize explosive hazards to maximize safety and mission success.

Your ability to quickly assess risk, weigh options, and make critical decisions under pressure translates directly to environments where time is of the essence and consequences are significant.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of your surroundings, including environmental factors, potential threats, and team capabilities, to make informed decisions during complex operations like underwater mine countermeasures.

Your heightened awareness of subtle cues and your ability to integrate information from multiple sources allows you to anticipate problems, adapt to changing circumstances, and proactively mitigate risks.

Degraded-Mode Operations

EOD officers are trained to operate effectively even when equipment malfunctions or communication is lost, adapting procedures and improvising solutions to complete the mission under adverse conditions.

Your experience in maintaining effectiveness and problem-solving under pressure ensures you can adapt, maintain composure, and find innovative workarounds when unexpected challenges arise.

Procedural Compliance

Working with explosives demands strict adherence to safety protocols and standardized procedures to prevent accidents and ensure consistent, reliable outcomes.

Your disciplined approach to following established guidelines and your commitment to maintaining high standards of safety and quality are highly valuable in regulated industries.

Team Synchronization

Leading EOD detachments requires coordinating the actions of diverse specialists, from divers to technicians, to achieve a common goal while minimizing risk and maximizing efficiency.

Your talent for fostering collaboration, delegating tasks effectively, and ensuring seamless communication enables you to orchestrate complex projects and drive team success.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle high-pressure situations, assess risks, and coordinate resources during crises. Your experience in EOD and underwater mine countermeasures equips you with the skills to develop and implement emergency response plans, ensuring community safety and resilience in the face of natural disasters or other emergencies.

Construction Manager

SOC 11-9021.00

You've been responsible for the safety and execution of complex underwater and explosive-related operations, requiring you to manage teams, adhere to strict procedures, and solve problems under pressure. This translates into the ability to effectively manage construction projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and according to safety regulations.

Quality Assurance Manager

SOC 11-3051.00

You've been trained to uphold the highest standards of safety and reliability while working with explosives. Your experience in procedural compliance and attention to detail makes you well-suited to oversee quality control processes, identifying and resolving potential defects to ensure product excellence.

Security Consultant

SOC 13-1199.00

You've developed strong situational awareness and risk assessment skills as an EOD officer. Your ability to identify potential threats, analyze vulnerabilities, and implement security measures makes you an ideal candidate to advise businesses and organizations on how to protect their assets and personnel from harm.

Training & Education Equivalencies

EOD Officer Pipeline

2,500 training hours60 weeksUp to 24 semester hours recommended in leadership, engineering, and hazardous materials management.

Topics Covered

  • Surface Warfare Officer Indoctrination
  • Navy Diving Officer Training
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School
  • Underwater Mine Countermeasures
  • Diving and Salvage Techniques
  • Leadership and Command
  • EOD Tactics and Procedures
  • Hazardous Materials Handling

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

OSHA 30 Hour Construction70% covered

General workplace safety standards, hazard communication, fall protection, and other construction-specific topics not explicitly covered in EOD training.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Formal project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), project lifecycle phases, stakeholder management, and detailed knowledge areas outlined in the PMBOK.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Certified Explosives Expert (CEE)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/AQS-20A Sonar MinehunterHigh-resolution underwater sonar imaging systems
Remus 100 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV)Commercial UUVs for underwater inspection and survey
MK 16 Mod 1 Underwater Breathing ApparatusClosed-circuit rebreather diving systems
EOD Bomb SuitAdvanced bomb disposal suits with blast protection
ANDROS F6A RobotRemote controlled robots for hazardous material handling
Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Planning ToolsGeospatial analysis and route planning software
Naval Oceanography PortalOceanographic and weather data services

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