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ARMY · 16LCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.16L.R.04

16L · ARMY · Enlisted

Air Defense Artillery Fire Control
Repairer.

Army 16L (Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Repairer). 1,290 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $75K–$95K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,290DoD pipeline

ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology and leadership.

Tech roles4mapped to your code

Civilian pathways5validated

Cert coverage3/8direct + partial

/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 16L background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending

/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 16L training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have09

01
Radar Systems Operation and Maintenance→ Network monitoring and security information and event management (SIEM) tools
02
Electronic Countermeasures (ECM)→ Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS)
03
Ammunition Handling and Supply Procedures→ Supply chain security, vulnerability management
04
Air Defense Artillery Command Post (AADCP) Operations→ Security Operations Center (SOC) operations
05
Target Acquisition and Identification→ Threat intelligence analysis
06
Situational Awareness→ Security Monitoring
07
Rapid Prioritization→ Incident Response
08
Team Synchronization→ Cross-functional collaboration
09
Degraded-Mode Operations→ Disaster recovery and business continuity

To learn19

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Network protocols and security+Cloud security principles+SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, ELK stack)+Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS)+Cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001)+Python for security automation+Linux server administration+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)+Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)+Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, Ansible)+CI/CD pipelines+Scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash)+Operating systems (Windows, Linux)+Networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS)+Cloud computing concepts+System monitoring and logging tools+Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)+Database management systems (DBMS)+SQL for data querying

How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →

/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5

P.01

Avionics Technician

$75K

Good match

High demand

Skills to develop

— FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification
— Specific avionics system training

P.02

Radar Technician

$82K

High match

Growing demand

Skills to develop

— Advanced electronics troubleshooting
— Civilian radar system certifications

P.03

Security Manager

$95K

Good match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— Security+
— Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

P.04

Intelligence Analyst

$78K

Moderate match

High demand

Skills to develop

— Data analysis software (e.g., Python, R)
— Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
— Critical Thinking

P.05

Logistics Manager

$85K

Good match

Stable demand

Skills to develop

— Supply chain management certification (e.g., CSCP)
— ERP systems training (e.g., SAP)

/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 16L training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

Situational Awareness

Maintaining constant vigilance over airspace, understanding the positions and movements of both friendly and potentially hostile aircraft, and adapting to rapidly changing battlefield conditions.

Transfers to

The ability to perceive and understand the surrounding environment, anticipate potential threats or opportunities, and make informed decisions based on real-time information.

S.02

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing threats, determining the order of engagement, and allocating resources effectively under pressure to neutralize the most immediate and dangerous targets.

Transfers to

The capacity to swiftly evaluate competing demands, rank tasks according to urgency and importance, and allocate resources efficiently to achieve critical objectives.

S.03

Team Synchronization

Coordinating the actions of a gun crew, ensuring seamless communication and cooperation to operate the SGT YORK system effectively, and maintaining a cohesive unit in high-stress environments.

Transfers to

The ability to orchestrate the efforts of a team, fostering clear communication, shared understanding, and coordinated action to achieve common goals, especially in demanding situations.

S.04

Degraded-Mode Operations

Maintaining operational effectiveness even when systems are damaged or malfunctioning, improvising solutions, and adapting tactics to continue the mission despite equipment failures or adverse conditions.

Transfers to

The capacity to maintain performance and achieve objectives even when facing unexpected challenges, resource limitations, or system failures, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been responsible for maintaining constant vigilance and adapting to rapidly changing battlefield conditions. That translates directly to overseeing disaster preparedness plans and coordinating responses to emergencies in civilian settings. Your ability to prioritize threats and synchronize teams will be invaluable in protecting communities.

Adjacent · Match

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've got proven experience in supervising the requisition, receipt, storage, transportation, and distribution of ammunition and other military resources. This makes you an ideal candidate to efficiently manage supply chains and ensure the timely delivery of materials in industries such as manufacturing, retail, or healthcare.

Adjacent · Match

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've honed your skills in collecting, interpreting, evaluating, and disseminating intelligence information and data. Your expertise in recognizing patterns, assessing threats, and communicating critical insights makes you a strong candidate to analyze complex data sets, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations in the corporate world or government agencies.

Adjacent · Match

/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED

Academy