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13D1 Career Guide

Air Force

13D1: Special Tactics Officer

Career transition guide for Air Force Special Tactics Officer (13D1)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 13D1 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Air Traffic Controller

$138K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist certificationSpecific ATC equipment proficiency

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificationFEMA Incident Command System (ICS) training

Wildland Firefighter

$60K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

NWCG certifications (e.g., Red Card)Specific wildland firefighting techniques

Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator

$72K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

NASAR SARTECH certificationsAdvanced medical training (EMT or higher)

Security Consultant

$95K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationCybersecurity knowledgeRisk assessment methodologies

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 13D1 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

In dynamic combat scenarios, 13D1s must rapidly assess threats, allocate resources, and prioritize actions to ensure mission success and personnel safety. This includes deciding who needs immediate medical attention, what routes are safest, and how to allocate limited resources.

This translates to the ability to quickly evaluate complex situations, identify critical issues, and make decisive decisions under pressure in a civilian setting.

Situational Awareness

13D1s maintain constant vigilance over their surroundings, integrating intel, environmental factors, and team status to anticipate threats, adapt to changing conditions, and ensure mission objectives are met while minimizing risk. You are constantly reading the environment, both human and physical.

This skill enables you to synthesize disparate information, understand the big picture, and proactively respond to evolving circumstances in any fast-paced environment.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating diverse teams of specialists across different domains (air, ground, medical) is essential for 13D1s. You ensure seamless communication, shared understanding, and coordinated action to achieve mission objectives, often in high-stress environments. This might involve directing air support while simultaneously coordinating ground movements and medical evacuations.

Your experience fosters exceptional collaboration, communication, and coordination skills, allowing you to lead and integrate diverse teams towards a common goal.

Degraded-Mode Operations

When equipment fails, communication lines are cut, or resources are scarce, 13D1s must adapt and improvise to maintain mission effectiveness. You're trained to find innovative solutions when things go wrong, ensuring the mission continues even under adverse conditions.

This adaptability and resourcefulness makes you adept at problem-solving in challenging and unpredictable civilian environments, where you can maintain productivity and achieve results despite setbacks.

After-Action Analysis

Following missions, 13D1s meticulously review performance, identify areas for improvement, and incorporate lessons learned into future training and operations. This ensures continuous improvement and enhances overall team effectiveness. You are expected to learn from experience and refine tactics based on concrete results.

Your commitment to continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making makes you a valuable asset in any organization seeking to optimize performance and efficiency.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been expertly planning and executing complex operations under pressure, coordinating diverse teams, and making critical decisions in rapidly evolving situations. This background makes you exceptionally well-prepared to lead emergency response efforts, develop disaster preparedness plans, and coordinate resources during crises. Your experience with risk assessment, resource allocation, and team leadership will be invaluable in protecting communities and saving lives.

Logistics/Supply Chain Consultant

SOC 13-1141.00

You've been managing complex logistics and supply chains in high-stakes environments. You excel at optimizing resource allocation, coordinating transportation, and ensuring timely delivery of critical supplies. This experience translates directly to the world of supply chain management, where you can help businesses streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Your ability to analyze complex data, identify bottlenecks, and implement innovative solutions will make you a highly sought-after consultant.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 11-9199.00

You've been responsible for the security and protection of personnel and assets in hostile environments. Your skills in risk assessment, threat analysis, and security planning are highly transferable to the corporate world, where you can develop and implement security protocols, manage security teams, and protect against potential threats. Your experience in emergency response and crisis management will be particularly valuable in ensuring the safety and security of employees and facilities.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Special Tactics Training Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, NC

2,640 training hours66 weeksUp to 24 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Air Traffic Control
  • Terminal Attack Control
  • Personnel Recovery
  • Special Reconnaissance
  • Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Demolitions
  • Airfield Assessment

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)70% covered

Requires study of civilian emergency medical protocols, pharmacology, and practical skills such as patient assessment and ambulance operations specific to civilian EMS standards.

Air Traffic Controller (FAA)60% covered

Requires in-depth study of FAA regulations, procedures, and equipment specific to civilian air traffic control. Practical experience in a certified FAA facility is typically required.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)75% covered

While SERE covers survival skills, WFR requires focus on medical care in remote environments, evacuation techniques, and specific wilderness medical protocols.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Protection Professional (CPP)Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety CertificationSecurity+ (CompTIA)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioMotorola APX series two-way radios
Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS)GPS guided cargo delivery systems
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Civilian weather applications and terrain mapping software
RoverReal-time video streaming and analysis platforms
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems
DAGR (Defense Advanced GPS Receiver)Garmin handheld GPS devices
Night Vision Goggles (NVGs)FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) cameras

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