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13P Career Guide

Army

13P: MLRS Fire Direction Specialist

Career transition guide for Army MLRS Fire Direction Specialist (13P)

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Civilian Career Pathways

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

Logistics Manager

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

APICS certificationSupply chain management software (SAP, Oracle)

Operations Manager

$105K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Lean Six Sigma certificationProject management methodologies

Emergency Management Specialist

$80K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Emergency management certification (e.g., FEMA)HAZMAT training

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R)Intelligence analysis certification

Project Manager

$98K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

PMP CertificationAgile methodologies

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

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

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assess incoming fire requests, prioritizing based on target threat level, mission objectives, and available resources.

Efficiently manage competing demands and deadlines, focusing on the most critical tasks to maximize productivity and minimize potential negative impact.

System Modeling

Understanding the complex interplay of artillery systems, including weapon capabilities, ammunition types, and fire direction procedures, to predict outcomes and optimize fire missions.

Developing a deep understanding of how different components within a larger system interact, allowing for effective troubleshooting, process improvement, and strategic planning.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a constant awareness of the battlefield environment, including friendly and enemy positions, terrain, and weather conditions, to make informed fire direction decisions.

Quickly grasping the current environment and adjusting plans as needed. This is crucial for agile responses and proactive problem-solving in any dynamic work environment.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating the efforts of multiple team members within the fire direction center and firing platoon to ensure accurate and timely execution of fire missions.

Orchestrating team efforts, ensuring everyone is aligned and working together efficiently to achieve common goals, fostering collaboration and maximizing team performance.

Procedural Compliance

Strict adherence to established protocols and safety regulations in the handling of ammunition, operation of equipment, and execution of fire missions.

Consistently following established procedures and guidelines to maintain quality, ensure safety, and minimize errors, demonstrating reliability and attention to detail.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle high-pressure situations, rapidly assess risks, and coordinate resources under duress, making you an ideal candidate to plan and execute disaster response strategies.

Logistics Analyst

SOC 13-2081.00

Your experience managing complex artillery systems, ammunition supplies, and equipment maintenance translates directly to optimizing supply chains and ensuring efficient resource allocation in a logistics setting.

Air Traffic Controller

SOC 53-2021.00

You're skilled in situational awareness, spatial reasoning, and rapid decision-making. The high-pressure environment of directing artillery fire parallels the need to manage aircraft movements safely and efficiently.

Data Center Technician

SOC 49-2021.00

You're proficient in operating and maintaining complex systems while adhering to strict protocols. This skillset is essential for ensuring the smooth operation and security of data centers, which are vital for modern technology infrastructure.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, OK

320 training hours8 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • MLRS Systems Operation
  • Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)
  • Fire Direction Center (FDC) Operations
  • Target Plotting and Acquisition
  • Communications Equipment Operation and Maintenance
  • Ammunition Management
  • Fire Support Planning

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Project+60% covered

Project management methodologies outside of military planning, detailed risk management, stakeholder communication strategies

Certified Planning Professional (CPP)40% covered

Specific civilian planning processes, legal and regulatory frameworks, financial planning aspects

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Military tactical fire support command and control is similar to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for resource management, logistics, and decision support in civilian sectors, such as SAP or Oracle.
Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)Heavy equipment operation and maintenance (construction, mining, or specialized transportation)
Fire Direction System (FDS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping and spatial analysis in urban planning, logistics, or environmental management
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioMotorola MOTOTRBO professional two-way radio systems
Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (JADOCS)Real-time collaborative planning software like Milcord or Here Technologies
Tactical Airspace Integration System (TAIS)Air traffic control systems (e.g., those used by the FAA) or drone management platforms
Meteorological Measuring Set (MMS)Weather stations and environmental monitoring systems used in agriculture, construction, and emergency management

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