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13W Career Guide

Army

13W: Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember

Career transition guide for Army Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember (13W)

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Civilian Career Pathways

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

Meteorologist

$75K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Bachelor's degree in Meteorology or Atmospheric ScienceAmerican Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (if broadcasting)Specific software skills (e.g., GEMPAK, WRF)

Environmental Science Technician

$55K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related fieldKnowledge of environmental regulationsData analysis and reporting skills

Remote Sensing Technician

$62K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certificationProficiency in remote sensing software (e.g., ENVI, ERDAS IMAGINE)Image processing and analysis skills

Data Analyst

$70K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R, SQL)Data visualization skills (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)Strong understanding of statistical methods

Wind Turbine Technician

$58K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Technical certifications in wind turbine maintenanceOSHA safety certificationsElectrical and mechanical troubleshooting skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

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

System Modeling

13W's build and operate models of atmospheric conditions based on collected data to predict weather patterns for artillery fire. This involves understanding complex interactions of temperature, pressure, and other variables.

You can apply your system modeling skills to understand and predict complex systems in various fields, such as logistics or supply chain management, where you analyze data to optimize processes.

Situational Awareness

This role requires continuous monitoring of environmental data, equipment status, and tactical situations to ensure accurate weather forecasting and the safety of personnel and equipment.

Your ability to maintain high situational awareness translates to roles needing constant monitoring of complex environments, such as a control room operator in manufacturing or utilities.

Procedural Compliance

Following detailed procedures for equipment operation, data collection, and reporting is critical to maintaining the integrity of meteorological data and ensuring mission success.

Your strict adherence to procedures is valuable in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or aviation, where compliance with protocols is crucial.

Team Synchronization

As a leader, you synchronize your team's activities to ensure smooth operation of the meteorological station, coordinating data collection, analysis, and reporting to support artillery operations.

Your team synchronization skills are highly transferable to project management roles where coordinating different team members and tasks is essential for successful project completion.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You are trained to maintain operations even when equipment malfunctions or resources are limited. This includes troubleshooting equipment issues and adapting procedures to continue providing essential weather data.

Your ability to maintain functionality under stress is valuable in IT support or emergency response, where quickly resolving problems and adapting to challenges is essential.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Logistics Analyst

SOC 13-2081.00

You've been trained to analyze complex data and coordinate resources effectively, just like logistics analysts who optimize supply chains and distribution networks.

Environmental Compliance Specialist

SOC 19-2041.00

Your attention to detail and procedural compliance will help you succeed in this role ensuring businesses adhere to environmental regulations, collecting and analyzing data to assess their impact.

Control Room Operator (Utilities)

SOC 51-8013.00

You're adept at monitoring complex systems and responding to changing conditions, skills directly applicable to overseeing power generation and distribution.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You excel in high-pressure situations, maintaining situational awareness, and coordinating resources—all essential for planning and responding to emergencies.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Field Artillery Meteorological Crewmember Course, Fort Sill, OK

280 training hours7 weeksUp to 3 semester hours recommended in Meteorology

Topics Covered

  • Meteorological Equipment Operation and Maintenance
  • Radiosonde Assembly and Launch Procedures
  • Ballistic Temperature and Density Calculation
  • Meteorological Data Plotting and Analysis
  • Communication Equipment Operation and Maintenance
  • Emergency Shutdown Procedures
  • Supervision of Meteorological Operations
  • NAVAID Chain Selection

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Survey Technician (CST)60% covered

Requires additional knowledge of surveying principles, legal descriptions, data processing, and boundary law. Focus on land surveying techniques, equipment calibration, and data analysis.

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)40% covered

Requires studying advanced electronics theory, troubleshooting methodologies, and specific electronic components not typically covered in military meteorological equipment training.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP)DoD 8570 Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification (e.g., Security+)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Meteorological Measuring Set (MMS)Weather station equipment (e.g., Vaisala, Campbell Scientific)
Radiosonde Transmitters/ReceiversWeather balloon telemetry systems
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS)
AN/TMQ-53 Tactical Meteorological Observing System (TMOS)Automated weather observation systems (AWOS) used at airports and research facilities
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) dataCommercial weather satellite data providers (e.g., AccuWeather, The Weather Company)
Global Positioning System (GPS)Commercial GPS devices and software (e.g., Garmin, Trimble)
SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System)Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems

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