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152B Career Guide

Army

152B: Special Operations Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot

Career transition guide for Army Special Operations Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot (152B)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 152B veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Helicopter Pilot

$95K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Commercial Pilot CertificateFAA Class 2 Medical Certificate

Aircraft Mechanic / Technician

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification

Aerospace Engineer

$120K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace EngineeringSpecialized knowledge in aircraft design and performance

Aviation Safety Inspector

$90K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Safety Inspector CertificationDetailed knowledge of FAA regulations

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Pilot/Technician

$80K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot CertificateExperience with specific UAS platformsData analysis skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 152B training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a Scout Pilot, you maintained constant awareness of your aircraft's status, the surrounding environment, potential threats, and the mission objectives, all while executing complex maneuvers.

This translates to a heightened ability to perceive and understand complex, dynamic environments, anticipate potential problems, and make proactive decisions.

Rapid Prioritization

In high-pressure situations, you quickly assessed and prioritized competing demands, such as aircraft malfunctions, changes in mission objectives, and emergent threats, to ensure mission success and crew safety.

This skill allows you to effectively manage multiple projects, deadlines, and unexpected challenges in a fast-paced civilian environment, ensuring that critical tasks are addressed first.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You were trained to effectively operate the aircraft and complete the mission even when systems were damaged or not functioning optimally, requiring quick thinking and adaptability.

This experience provides you the ability to remain calm under pressure, troubleshoot problems creatively, and maintain productivity even when resources are limited or unexpected setbacks occur.

After-Action Analysis

You participated in post-mission briefings to critically evaluate performance, identify areas for improvement, and incorporate lessons learned into future operations.

This skillset allows you to objectively assess project outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to optimize future performance.

Team Synchronization

As a pilot, you seamlessly coordinated with ground crews, fellow aircrew, and other support personnel to ensure mission success, requiring clear communication and mutual understanding.

This allows you to effectively collaborate with diverse teams, communicate effectively, and ensure that all members are working towards a common goal.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to think clearly in high-pressure environments, make quick decisions, and coordinate resources effectively. Your experience with risk assessment, planning, and crisis management makes you an ideal candidate to lead emergency response efforts and protect communities.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've managed complex logistical operations, including flight planning, resource allocation, and personnel coordination. Your ability to optimize processes, manage resources efficiently, and ensure smooth operations translates directly to success in supply chain management and logistics.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

Your skills in situational awareness, pattern recognition, and data analysis make you an excellent candidate for an intelligence analyst role. You've already demonstrated the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret information to identify potential threats and provide actionable insights.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Aviation Maintenance Officer Qualification Course, Fort Eustis, VA and Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in aviation management and flight science

Topics Covered

  • Advanced rotary wing aircraft systems
  • Maintenance test flight procedures
  • Aviation safety management
  • Aircrew training program management
  • Tactical flight planning and execution
  • Special operations aviation tactics
  • Emergency procedures and aircraft recovery

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate70% covered

Differences in civilian aviation regulations (FARs), specific aircraft type ratings, and potentially some cross-country flight planning requirements.

Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)50% covered

Focus on business aviation management principles, financial management, and marketing, which may not be fully covered in military aviation management.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Aviation Safety Manager (CASM)Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
UH-60 Black Hawk HelicopterSikorsky S-70 series helicopters (various models)
AH-64 Apache HelicopterBoeing AH-64 Apache (Commercial Variants)
CH-47 Chinook HelicopterBoeing CH-47 Chinook (Commercial Variants)
Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)Long range cruise missile systems (export variants)
Hellfire Missile SystemLaser guided missile systems (law enforcement/security applications)
AN/APR-39 Radar Signal Detecting SetCommercial radar warning receivers
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems
Aviation Mission Planning System (AMPS)Flight planning software (Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight)

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