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1B033 Career Guide

Air Force

1B033: Cyber Systems Operations

Career transition guide for Air Force Cyber Systems Operations (1B033)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1B033 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Information Security Analyst

$105K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)Knowledge of current threat landscapeExperience with SIEM tools

Network Engineer

$90K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalentAdvanced networking conceptsCloud networking experience (AWS, Azure, GCP)

IT Manager

$115K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project management skillsITIL certificationTeam leadership experience

Telecommunications Specialist

$75K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific telecom equipment certificationsKnowledge of VoIP systemsCustomer service skills

Help Desk Manager

$65K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Excellent customer service and communication skillsExperience managing a teamFamiliarity with help desk ticketing systems

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1B033 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

Consistently anticipating potential threats and vulnerabilities to Air Force networks and data systems, proactively identifying weaknesses before they can be exploited.

Leveraging a security-focused mindset to identify vulnerabilities and risks in systems and processes, ensuring robust protection against potential threats and attacks.

System Modeling

Developing a deep understanding of complex IT and telecommunications systems, including their interdependencies, to effectively monitor, evaluate, and maintain their security and performance.

Creating mental models of complex systems to understand their behavior, predict potential issues, and optimize their performance.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing and prioritizing security violations, system malfunctions, and other issues to ensure that the most critical problems are addressed first, minimizing potential damage or disruption.

Swiftly evaluating situations and prioritizing tasks based on their urgency and impact, ensuring that critical issues are addressed promptly and effectively.

Procedural Compliance

Enforcing national, DoD, and Air Force security policies and directives, ensuring that all IT and telecommunications operations adhere to established standards and regulations.

Meticulously following established procedures and guidelines to ensure that tasks are completed accurately and consistently, minimizing errors and ensuring compliance.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a constant awareness of the status of IT and telecommunications systems, potential threats, and ongoing incidents to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions.

Staying informed about the surrounding environment and relevant factors to make sound judgments and take effective actions in dynamic situations.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You've been immersed in enforcing strict security policies and directives within the Air Force. This experience translates directly to ensuring organizations adhere to regulatory requirements and internal policies, protecting them from legal and financial risks. Your attention to detail and commitment to compliance will make you a valuable asset.

Technical Sales Engineer

SOC 41-9031.00

Your experience troubleshooting complex network systems and coordinating with various stakeholders gives you a unique ability to understand customer needs and explain technical solutions effectively. You're adept at communicating complex information clearly, a highly valuable skill in technical sales.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 13-2011.00

You're already adept at threat identification and vulnerability assessment. In this role, you would leverage those skills to analyze data, identify trends, and provide actionable intelligence to decision-makers. Your security background and analytical mindset are a perfect fit.

IT Project Manager

SOC 15-1299.09

You have experience managing complex IT projects, coordinating with diverse teams, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. Your ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and communicate effectively will make you an excellent IT Project Manager.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cyber Systems Operations Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, MS

1,100 training hours28 weeksUp to 15 semester hours in Information Technology, Networking, and Cybersecurity

Topics Covered

  • Network Fundamentals
  • Server Administration (Windows & Linux)
  • Cybersecurity Principles and Practices
  • Network Security Monitoring
  • Incident Response
  • Communications Security (COMSEC)
  • Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
  • Scripting and Automation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Study cryptography, access control, and organizational security concepts.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Focus on newer networking technologies, troubleshooting tools, and network security implementation.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)30% covered

Requires significant study in all 8 domains of information security; experience requirement may need to be met.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)Project Management Professional (PMP)ITIL 4 FoundationCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Air Force Information Technology (AF IT) SystemsEnterprise IT infrastructure management (e.g., Cisco, Microsoft, VMware)
Remedy IT Service Management (ITSM)ServiceNow, Jira Service Management
DISA STIGs (Security Technical Implementation Guides)CIS Benchmarks, NIST Cybersecurity Framework
HBSS (Host Based Security System)McAfee Endpoint Security, CrowdStrike Falcon
ACAS (Assured Compliance Assessment Solution)Tenable Nessus, Rapid7 InsightVM
COMSEC Equipment (e.g., KG-175 TACLANE)Commercial encryption appliances (e.g., Thales, Gemalto) and VPNs
EMSEC countermeasuresTEMPEST shielding, Faraday cages

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