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Live · Guide v1.01180 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 1180Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.1180.R.04
1180 · NAVY · Officer

Special Warfare
Officer.

Navy 1180 (Special Warfare Officer). 1,680 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $85K–$140K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,680DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 30 semester hours recommended in military science, leadership, and physical fitness
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage1/4direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 1180 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 1180 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05
  • 01
    Rapid PrioritizationCrisis management, incident response
  • 02
    Team SynchronizationCollaborative software development, team leadership
  • 03
    Situational AwarenessThreat intelligence, risk assessment
  • 04
    Adversarial ThinkingPenetration testing, security auditing
  • 05
    Resource OptimizationBudget management, efficient resource allocation
To learn04

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

+Cybersecurity principles, network security, ethical hacking+Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Ansible), CI/CD pipelines+Project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum), technical documentation, stakeholder communication+Data analysis tools (Python pandas, SQL), data visualization (Tableau, Power BI)
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

Security Consultant

$130K
High match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)
  • Specific industry knowledge (e.g., finance, healthcare)
P.02

Project Manager (Construction/Engineering)

$110K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
  • Specific construction/engineering knowledge
P.03

Management Consultant

$140K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • MBA or relevant master's degree
  • Industry-specific expertise
  • Consulting methodologies
P.04

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Emergency Management certifications (e.g., CEM)
  • FEMA training
  • Grant writing
P.05

Entrepreneur/Business Owner

$90K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Business plan development
  • Financial management skills
  • Marketing and sales expertise
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 1180 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing threats and mission objectives in dynamic combat situations to allocate resources and adjust tactics accordingly.

Transfers to

Swiftly triaging critical tasks and making high-stakes decisions under pressure, essential for crisis management and project leadership.

S.02

Team Synchronization

Coordinating movements and actions with a small team to achieve complex objectives in high-stress environments, relying on shared understanding and trust.

Transfers to

Seamlessly integrating individual contributions within a team to drive project success, fostering collaboration and clear communication.

S.03

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the surrounding environment, including enemy positions, terrain, and potential threats, to anticipate and react effectively.

Transfers to

Accurately assessing market trends, competitive landscapes, and internal dynamics to make informed strategic decisions and navigate complex challenges.

S.04

Adversarial Thinking

Anticipating the actions and reactions of adversaries to develop effective countermeasures and exploit vulnerabilities.

Transfers to

Identifying potential risks and challenges in business strategies, allowing for proactive planning and mitigation of negative impacts.

S.05

Resource Optimization

Efficiently allocating and managing limited resources, such as personnel, equipment, and supplies, to maximize mission effectiveness.

Transfers to

Strategically managing budgets, personnel, and assets to achieve organizational goals while minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

/ 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.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been rigorously trained to respond to high-stakes, unpredictable situations. Your ability to prioritize, maintain situational awareness, and lead teams under pressure translates directly to coordinating disaster response and mitigation efforts.

Adjacent · Match

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111.00

You've honed your analytical and problem-solving skills in dynamic combat environments. Your ability to assess complex situations, develop effective strategies, and optimize resource allocation makes you well-suited to advise organizations on improving efficiency and performance.

Adjacent · Match

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've developed a keen ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information to make informed decisions. Your experience in identifying threats, anticipating adversary actions, and maintaining situational awareness is directly applicable to providing actionable intelligence to organizations.

Adjacent · Match

Project Manager

SOC 11-9199.11

You've been responsible for coordinating complex operations and managing diverse teams. Your ability to prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and maintain team synchronization translates directly to successfully managing projects and delivering results on time and within budget.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

Naval Special Warfare Training Pipeline

1,680hHours
70wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 30 semester hours recommended in military science, leadership, and physical fitness

Topics · 8
  • Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training
  • Parachute Jump School
  • SEAL Qualification Training (SQT)
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Close Quarters Combat (CQC)
  • Maritime Operations
  • Land Warfare
  • Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)
Partial coverage · 1
  • Wilderness First Responder (WFR)70%

    While SEAL training provides extensive medical and survival skills, WFR focuses specifically on wilderness medicine protocols, patient assessment in remote environments, and long-term care considerations beyond immediate trauma.

Recommended next · 03
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
  • Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)Adjacent
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

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

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
AN/PVS-15 Night Vision GogglesHigh-end thermal and night vision optics (e.g., FLIR Breach PTQ136)Operations
Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC)Inflatable boat (e.g., Zodiac Milpro boats)Operations
Multi Role Combatant Craft (MRCC)High-speed interceptor boats (e.g., SAFE Boats International)Operations
Draeger LAR V rebreatherClosed-circuit diving equipment (e.g., Hollis Prism 2 rebreather)Operations
AN/PRC-148 MBITR (Multi-Band Inter/Intra Team Radio)Handheld tactical radios (e.g., Motorola APX series)Operations
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS tracking and communication systems (e.g., Garmin inReach, ATAK)Operations
Mk 48 Advanced Technology TorpedoAdvanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for marine exploration or defense (e.g., Hydroid REMUS series)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 1180 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.