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13F Career Guide

Army

13F: Joint Fire Support Specialist

Career transition guide for Army Joint Fire Support Specialist (13F)

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Civilian Career Pathways

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

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Palantir, Analyst's Notebook)Enhanced knowledge of intelligence databases and methodologies

Emergency Management Specialist

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certification in Emergency Management (e.g., Certified Emergency Manager)Knowledge of disaster response protocols and resource management

Operations Manager

$95K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationExperience with civilian supply chain and logistics systems

Geospatial Analyst

$82K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

GIS (Geographic Information System) software proficiency (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS)Remote sensing and spatial data analysis skills

Security Consultant

$88K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certificationKnowledge of corporate security protocols and risk assessment methodologies

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

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

System Modeling

Integrating air, artillery, naval gunfire, and mortar assets into a unified fire support plan while deconflicting airspace and ground operations

Coordinating complex, multi-system operations — the integration skill used in program management, systems engineering, and multi-vendor IT projects

Rapid Prioritization

Triaging fire support requests from multiple units while managing limited assets and avoiding fratricide

Allocating scarce resources across competing demands under time pressure — applicable to incident command, resource management, and portfolio prioritization

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a real-time picture of friendly positions, enemy positions, available fire support assets, and airspace restrictions simultaneously

Synthesizing multiple data feeds into actionable intelligence — valued in operations centers, trading floors, and air traffic control

Team Synchronization

Coordinating between infantry, artillery, aviation, and headquarters elements across different radio nets and communication systems

Bridging organizational silos and communication gaps — the cross-functional coordination skill essential in program management and systems integration

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Program Manager

SOC 11-9199

Coordinating multiple teams, managing resources across organizations, and deconflicting competing priorities — you've been doing program management under the most demanding conditions possible.

Air Traffic Controller

SOC 53-2021

Your experience managing airspace deconfliction, processing multiple simultaneous requests, and maintaining real-time situational awareness maps directly to ATC.

Event Production Manager

SOC 13-1121

Coordinating dozens of moving parts across different teams with precise timing and zero margin for error — live event production is a fire support coordination exercise.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Joint Fire Support Specialist AIT, Fort Sill (BCT + AIT)

1,040 training hours20 weeksUp to 10 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Fire support planning
  • Call for fire procedures
  • Target acquisition
  • Close air support coordination
  • Digital fire support systems
  • Joint terminal attack controller fundamentals
  • Map reading and land navigation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Planning Professional (CPP)60% covered

CPP focuses heavily on project planning methodologies, risk management, and stakeholder communication, requiring additional study for someone with a military fires background.

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)50% covered

The CAP certification emphasizes statistical analysis, data mining, and predictive modeling techniques. The military background provides experience in data processing and analysis but will require further study of statistical methods and software.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)CompTIA Security+Lean Six Sigma Black BeltCertified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AFATDS (Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System)Automated mission planning and fire coordination software
LLDR (Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder)Laser rangefinding and precision measurement systems
PFED (Pocket-Sized Forward Entry Device)Handheld tactical data entry and communication terminals
JADOCS (Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System)Cross-organizational operational coordination platforms
AMDWS (Air and Missile Defense Workstation)Air traffic and threat monitoring workstations
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet and asset management systems

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