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14S Career Guide

Army

14S: Air Defense Enhanced Early Warning System Operator

Career transition guide for Army Air Defense Enhanced Early Warning System Operator (14S)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 14S veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenseSpecific avionics systems training

Electronics Technician

$65K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Associate's degree in Electronics TechnologySpecific certifications (e.g., CompTIA A+, Network+)

Radar Technician

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Specific radar system trainingAdvanced electronics troubleshooting

Maintenance Supervisor

$70K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationLean Six Sigma certificationExperience with civilian maintenance management systems

Emergency Management Specialist

$72K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management or related fieldFEMA certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-200, IS-700)HAZMAT training

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 14S training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining constant vigilance over the airspace, identifying potential threats, and understanding the position and status of friendly forces within a complex battlespace.

The ability to perceive and comprehend the surrounding environment, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of dynamic situations.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing incoming threats and allocating resources to counter the most dangerous ones first, ensuring the defense of critical assets and personnel.

The ability to quickly evaluate competing demands, determine the most important tasks, and allocate time and resources effectively to meet deadlines and achieve goals under pressure.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating the actions of a team to ensure the weapon system is operated effectively, communication is maintained, and the overall air defense mission is accomplished seamlessly.

The ability to orchestrate team efforts, aligning individual contributions to achieve a common goal, fostering clear communication, and ensuring smooth, efficient workflows.

Procedural Compliance

Adhering strictly to established protocols and procedures for operating weapon systems, engaging targets, and maintaining equipment to ensure safety and mission success.

Meticulously following established guidelines and protocols to guarantee accuracy, consistency, and safety in all tasks, minimizing errors and maximizing efficiency.

Resource Optimization

Managing ammunition, fuel, and maintenance resources effectively to ensure the air defense unit remains operational and capable of responding to threats over extended periods.

The ability to maximize the utilization of available resources – time, budget, personnel, and materials – to achieve optimal outcomes and minimize waste.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to maintain situational awareness under pressure, rapidly prioritize threats, and coordinate team responses in high-stakes environments. This translates directly to the skills needed to develop and implement emergency plans, coordinate disaster response efforts, and ensure community safety.

Logistics Analyst

SOC 13-2081.00

You've honed your ability to optimize resource allocation and maintain operational readiness. As a Logistics Analyst, you'll use these skills to analyze supply chains, identify inefficiencies, and develop strategies to improve the flow of goods and materials, ensuring organizations have what they need, when they need it.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

Your experience in tracking and evaluating incoming threats, consolidating intelligence information, and maintaining situational awareness makes you a strong candidate. You will excel at gathering and analyzing data, identifying trends, and providing actionable insights to inform decision-making in various industries, from finance to cybersecurity.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

Your strict adherence to procedures and protocols, combined with your supervisory experience, equips you well to ensure organizations adhere to regulations and internal policies. You'll be able to develop and implement compliance programs, conduct audits, and investigate potential violations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Air Defense Artillery School, Fort Sill, OK

280 training hours7 weeksUp to 3 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) operation
  • Avenger Weapon System operation
  • Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) degraded operations
  • Radio and wire communications
  • Target engagement evaluation
  • Infrared (IR) techniques for target detection
  • Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60% covered

Study civilian electronics principles, troubleshooting, and repair procedures. Focus on broader electronics knowledge outside of specific military systems.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Learn the five process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) and ten knowledge areas as defined by PMI. Study project management methodologies beyond military-specific applications.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)CompTIA Security+GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC)ITIL 4 Foundation

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS)Automated close-in weapon systems for facility defense
Avenger Weapon SystemVehicle-mounted air defense systems
Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS)Shoulder-launched missile systems
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) programmer/chargerTransponder interrogation systems
Handheld Terminal Unit (HTU)Handheld tactical data receivers
AN/VRC series radiosMotorola two-way radio systems

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