Surveyor
$70KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Civil Engineering knowledge
- — Proficiency in surveying software (e.g., AutoCAD Civil 3D)
Live · Guide v1.013D · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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ARMY · 13DCareer Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.13D.R.04
13D · ARMY · EnlistedField Artillery Target Acquisition
Field Artillery Target Acquisition
Officer.
Army 13D (Field Artillery Target Acquisition Officer). 960 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $70K–$95K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours960DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours in Military Science
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 13D 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 13D training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Meteorological Data Collection and Analysis→ Data Analysis, Statistical Modeling
- 02Target Acquisition Technologies (Radar, Acoustic, Electro-Optical)→ Sensor Data Fusion, Signal Processing
- 03Fire Support Systems (e.g., AFATDS, JADOCS)→ Data Management, Systems Integration
- 04Situational Awareness and Rapid Prioritization→ Risk Assessment, Incident Response
- 05Resource Optimization→ Infrastructure Management, Cost Efficiency
To learn04
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Python (pandas, scikit-learn)+SQL, Data Warehousing Concepts+Cloud Computing (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Network Security
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.
Geospatial Analyst
$85KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certification
- — Remote sensing data analysis
- — Proficiency in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)
Intelligence Analyst
$80KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) training
- — Data analysis and visualization tools
- — Cybersecurity fundamentals
Project Manager
$95KModerate match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
- — Agile methodologies
- — Risk management techniques
Meteorologist
$75KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Formal Meteorology degree
- — Weather modeling software experience
- — Understanding of atmospheric science
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 13D training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
As a 13D, you constantly maintain a high degree of situational awareness to effectively deploy sensing devices and ranging systems, understanding the terrain, enemy positions, and environmental factors.
Transfers to
This translates to an ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions based on real-time information in dynamic environments.
System Modeling
You utilize system modeling to understand how different components (sensing devices, ranging systems, meteorological elements) interact to achieve target acquisition. This involves predicting system behavior and optimizing performance.
Transfers to
Your skills in system modeling are valuable in understanding complex interconnected systems, predicting outcomes, and optimizing performance – useful in fields that depend on analyzing data and making accurate projections.
Resource Optimization
You are adept at resource optimization, making critical decisions on how to allocate sensing devices, personnel, and time to maximize target acquisition effectiveness while operating under constraints.
Transfers to
In the civilian world, this skill translates to efficient management of budgets, personnel, equipment, and time, making you adept at finding innovative ways to improve efficiency and meet project goals.
Rapid Prioritization
The 13D role demands rapid prioritization, especially when developing and identifying targets. You quickly assess which targets pose the greatest threat and allocate resources accordingly under pressure.
Transfers to
Your talent for rapid prioritization will help you thrive in high-pressure environments where you will need to quickly assess the importance of tasks, re-allocate resources, and make decisions on the fly.
/ 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.
Logistics Analyst
SOC 13-2081.00You've been orchestrating complex deployments of sensing devices and personnel. As a Logistics Analyst, you can leverage that expertise to optimize supply chains and resource allocation for companies.
Adjacent · MatchBusiness Intelligence Analyst
SOC 15-2051.00You're skilled at gathering and interpreting data from various sources to identify targets. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you'll apply those skills to analyze market trends and customer behavior to inform strategic decisions.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 29-9099.00You're adept at situational awareness and resource optimization in dynamic environments. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you will use these skills to plan and coordinate responses to natural disasters and other crises.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course (FABOLC)
Fort Sill, OK960hHours
24wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours in Military Science
Topics · 8
- Leadership and Ethics
- Fire Support Systems
- Target Acquisition Technologies (Radar, Acoustic, Electro-Optical)
- Meteorological Data Collection and Analysis
- Surveying and Positioning
- Artillery Tactics and Techniques
- Reconnaissance and Surveillance
- Joint Fires Integration
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Survey Technician (CST)60%
Requires study of specific surveying instruments and techniques not directly covered in artillery sensing device deployment, including legal aspects of land surveying and data processing.
- Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP)40%
Needs additional training in advanced GIS software, spatial analysis techniques, cartography principles, and GIS project management.
Recommended next · 03
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)Adjacent
- Lean Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/TPQ-50 Lightweight Counter-Mortar Radar (LCMR) | Acoustic Weapon Locators/ Gunshot Detection Systems | Signals |
| AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar | Advanced perimeter surveillance radar systems | Signals |
| Meteorological Measuring Set - II (MMS-II) | Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model | Operations |
| Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) | Geospatial intelligence and sensor data fusion platforms | Operations |
| Joint Automated Deep Operations System (JADOCS) | Integrated Command and Control Systems | Operations |
| Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) | Robotics engineering and technology | Operations |
| Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3) | High powered binoculars | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 13D 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.