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18B Career Guide

Army

18B: Special Forces Weapons Sergeant

Career transition guide for Army Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 18B veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Security Consultant

$110K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)Risk management methodologiesSecurity auditing

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-700)Disaster planning softwarePublic administration knowledge

Corporate Security Manager

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project management certification (PMP)Corporate security policies and proceduresOSHA safety standards

Police Officer/Detective

$70K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Law enforcement academy trainingState Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificationCriminal justice education

Private Investigator

$65K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

State-specific private investigator licenseSurveillance techniquesLegal research

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 18B training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a Special Forces Team Sergeant, you constantly monitor your environment, assessing threats, identifying opportunities, and adapting your strategy based on real-time information to ensure mission success and team safety.

This translates to an acute ability to understand the dynamics of any environment, predict potential problems, and proactively adjust plans—a critical skill in fast-paced civilian sectors.

Rapid Prioritization

You routinely make split-second decisions under immense pressure, determining the most critical tasks and allocating resources effectively to maintain operational momentum and achieve objectives.

Your experience enables you to quickly assess competing priorities in a civilian setting, focus on what truly matters, and guide teams to efficient outcomes, even when facing tight deadlines or unexpected challenges.

Team Synchronization

You've mastered the art of coordinating diverse skill sets and personalities within your team, ensuring seamless cooperation and maximizing collective performance in high-stakes scenarios.

This skill directly applies to leading civilian teams, where you can foster collaboration, resolve conflicts, and create a high-performing unit that consistently delivers results.

Resource Optimization

You are adept at creatively managing limited resources—personnel, equipment, and time—to achieve maximum impact, often in austere and unpredictable conditions.

Your ability to do more with less makes you an invaluable asset in any organization, where you can streamline operations, reduce waste, and drive efficiency to improve the bottom line.

After-Action Analysis

You rigorously evaluate past missions to identify lessons learned, refine tactics, and improve future performance, ensuring continuous growth and adaptation.

This skill translates to a data-driven approach to problem-solving, where you can analyze past performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement effective strategies to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been orchestrating complex operations under pressure, assessing risks, and coordinating resources to mitigate threats. Your expertise translates perfectly to managing disaster response and ensuring community resilience.

Logistics Consultant

SOC 13-1199.00

You've been optimizing resource allocation and managing complex supply chains in dynamic environments. This makes you well-equipped to analyze and improve logistics operations for businesses, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 33-1011.00

You've been responsible for the safety and security of personnel and assets in high-risk environments. You can leverage your experience to develop and implement comprehensive security protocols for corporations, protecting them from threats and ensuring business continuity.

Intelligence Analyst (Private Sector)

SOC 19-3099.00

You've honed your skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting intelligence data to make informed decisions. You can apply these skills to the private sector, providing valuable insights to businesses on market trends, competitive landscapes, and potential risks.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), Fort Liberty

2,600 training hours65 weeksUp to 32 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Small Arms Employment (US and Foreign)
  • Crew-Served Weapons Systems
  • Anti-Armor Weapons Systems
  • Close Quarters Battle (CQB)
  • Special Reconnaissance
  • Unconventional Warfare Tactics
  • Mission Planning and Execution
  • Advanced Land Navigation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)60% covered

Requires study of business principles, security management, legal aspects, and emergency planning not explicitly covered in the military description.

OSHA 30-Hour Construction40% covered

Requires additional study of OSHA construction-specific standards, record-keeping, and inspection procedures.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Lean Six Sigma Green BeltSecurity+Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Civilian equivalents include mapping and fire control software used in forestry, firefighting or surveying (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS with specialized extensions)
Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (JADOCS)Advanced planning and collaboration software suites such as those used in logistics, disaster response, or large-scale project management (e.g., Microsoft Project Server, Atlassian Confluence)
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioSatellite communication systems (SATCOM) and long-range radio communication systems used in remote operations or emergency services.
PEO Soldier Systems (e.g., Enhanced Night Vision Goggle - Binocular (ENVG-B))High-end night vision and thermal imaging devices used in security, surveillance, or hunting.
Small Arms Collimating Optic (e.g., Aimpoint CompM4)High-end red dot sights and holographic weapon sights used in competitive shooting or hunting.
Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)Ruggedized GPS devices used in surveying, environmental studies, or outdoor recreation (e.g., Garmin GPSMAP series)
All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE)Backpacking and load bearing equipment used for hiking, camping, and other outdoor recreational activities or by search and rescue teams

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