1371 Career Guide
1371: Combat Engineer
Career transition guide for Marine Corps Combat Engineer (1371)
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Top civilian roles for 1371 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Construction Manager
Skills to develop:
Demolition Worker
Skills to develop:
Carpenter
Skills to develop:
Security System Installer
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Specialist
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 1371 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
Understanding structural engineering principles, demolition calculations, and construction sequences for both building and breaching
Dual understanding of how structures are built and how they fail — the systems thinking used in construction management, structural engineering, and facilities planning
Rapid Prioritization
Assessing obstacles under fire and determining the fastest safe method to breach, bypass, or construct under time pressure
Making engineering decisions under extreme constraints — applicable to emergency construction, disaster recovery, and rapid infrastructure deployment
Resource Optimization
Building defensive positions, roads, and structures with limited materials and equipment in austere environments
Delivering construction outcomes with constrained budgets and materials — valued in construction management, humanitarian engineering, and facilities maintenance
Degraded-Mode Operations
Completing engineering missions when equipment fails, materials are scarce, and the environment is actively hostile
Problem-solving with improvised solutions — the creative engineering mindset behind field service, disaster response, and startup operations
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Construction Project Manager
SOC 11-9021You've planned and executed construction projects in the most demanding conditions imaginable. Commercial construction project management is the same skill set with better equipment and no incoming fire.
Building Inspector
SOC 47-4011Your understanding of both construction and demolition gives you unique insight into structural integrity. Building inspection leverages your engineering knowledge in a regulatory role.
Renewable Energy Installer
SOC 47-2231Your construction skills, comfort with heights and hazardous conditions, and ability to follow technical specs transfer directly to solar and wind energy installation — a rapidly growing field.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Combat Engineer Course, Camp Lejeune, NC
Topics Covered
- •Demolitions
- •Mine and countermine warfare
- •Obstacle construction and breaching
- •Route clearance
- •Basic construction techniques
- •Heavy equipment operation
- •Combat engineering reconnaissance
Certification Pathways
Ready to Certify
Partial Coverage
Focus on scaffolding, excavation, and electrical hazard standards
Construction contract law, project cost estimating, and building code compliance
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| TCMS (Theater Construction Management System) | Construction project management platforms (Primavera, Procore, MS Project) |
| AutoCAD / MicroStation | Computer-aided design (CAD) and engineering drawing software |
| ENFIRE (Engineer Fire Control) | Obstacle planning and geospatial engineering software |
| Blue Force Tracker (BFT) | Real-time GPS fleet and asset management systems |
| DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver) | Precision GPS navigation and positioning systems |
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