16R2 Career Guide
16R2: Plans and Programs Specialist
Career transition guide for Air Force Plans and Programs Specialist (16R2)
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Top civilian roles for 16R2 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Management Consultant
Skills to develop:
Program Manager
Skills to develop:
Policy Analyst
Skills to develop:
Business Operations Manager
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Director
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 16R2 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
As a 16R2, you create models of complex systems involving Air Force, joint services, and combined plans to predict outcomes and ensure alignment with defense guidance and war-fighting capabilities.
Your ability to model complex systems translates directly into understanding and optimizing business processes, supply chains, or financial systems in the civilian sector.
Resource Optimization
You program resource allocation according to the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System, analyzing the impact of programming decisions on war-fighting capabilities to ensure efficient use of resources.
Your expertise in resource optimization is highly valuable in civilian roles that require strategic allocation of budgets, personnel, and equipment to achieve organizational goals.
Rapid Prioritization
In developing and executing plans, you constantly prioritize actions based on defense guidance, HQ USAF policies, and the needs of multiple functional areas to satisfy mission objectives.
Your experience in rapid prioritization under pressure equips you to excel in civilian roles demanding quick decision-making and effective management of competing priorities.
Adversarial Thinking
You anticipate potential challenges and develop assumptions upon which the planning process is constrained, ensuring plans are responsive to Air Force doctrine and war-fighting capability.
Your use of adversarial thinking allows you to anticipate risks, develop mitigation strategies, and make informed decisions that protect your organization's interests.
Situational Awareness
You coordinate plans between staff agencies to ensure a coherent planning effort, maintaining a broad understanding of the operational environment and the impact of decisions on war-fighting capabilities.
Your refined situational awareness lets you easily integrate into a team, understanding everyone's roles, responsibilities, and place in the grand scheme of things. You're able to easily adapt to new and ever-evolving environments.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Management Consultant
SOC 13-1111You've been orchestrating complex plans across various Air Force and joint service functions. Management consulting leverages these skills to analyze business problems, develop strategic solutions, and implement improvements for client organizations. Your experience in resource optimization and system modeling will be invaluable.
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161You've been developing and executing plans based on defense guidance and policies. As an emergency management director, you’ll use those skills to prepare for and respond to natural disasters or other emergencies, coordinating resources and personnel to protect communities. Your background in rapid prioritization and situational awareness is crucial in this field.
Business Continuity Planner
SOC 13-1199You've been analyzing the impact of decisions on war-fighting capabilities and coordinating programming actions to ensure timely completion. Business continuity planning involves creating and maintaining plans to ensure business operations can continue in the event of disruptions. Your experience in system modeling and adversarial thinking makes you well-suited for this role.
Policy Analyst
SOC 13-2099You've been writing and developing Air Force, joint services, and combined plans, programs, and policies. A policy analyst researches and analyzes policy issues, develops recommendations, and drafts policy documents. Your ability to synthesize complex information and develop strategic plans will be highly valuable in this field.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Plans and Programs Course, Hurlburt Field, FL
Topics Covered
- •Air Force Planning and Programming
- •Joint Planning Process
- •Defense Planning Guidance
- •Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) System
- •Resource Allocation
- •Contingency Planning
- •Policy Development
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires studying the PMBOK guide, specifically focusing on the 10 knowledge areas, 5 process groups, and project management methodologies outside of the military planning context.
Requires studying the specific requirements and knowledge domains within the CPP certification framework, including business planning, strategic planning, and financial planning aspects that may not be explicitly covered in military planning.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) | Project Management Software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana) |
| Automated Message Handling System (AMHS) | Secure Enterprise Email and Messaging Platforms |
| Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS) | Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Dashboards |
| Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) System | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) |
| Contingency Operations/Mobility Planning and Execution System (COMPES) | Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning Software |
| Global Command and Control System (GCCS) | Integrated Command and Control Platforms (e.g., used in public safety or large-scale logistics) |
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