New Cohort Starts:

Donate

1180 Career Guide

Navy

1180: Special Warfare Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Special Warfare Officer (1180)

Translate Your 1180 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1180 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Security Consultant

$130K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)Specific industry knowledge (e.g., finance, healthcare)

Project Manager (Construction/Engineering)

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationSpecific construction/engineering knowledge

Management Consultant

$140K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant master's degreeIndustry-specific expertiseConsulting methodologies

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Emergency Management certifications (e.g., CEM)FEMA trainingGrant writing

Entrepreneur/Business Owner

$90K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Business plan developmentFinancial management skillsMarketing and sales expertise

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

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

Rapid Prioritization

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

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

Team Synchronization

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

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

Situational Awareness

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

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

Adversarial Thinking

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

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

Resource Optimization

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

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

Non-Obvious Career Matches

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.

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.

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.

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.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Special Warfare Training Pipeline

1,680 training hours70 weeksUp to 30 semester hours recommended in military science, leadership, and physical fitness

Topics Covered

  • 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)

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)70% covered

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 Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Technical Systems Translation

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

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

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 1180 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free