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1B0X2 Career Guide

Air Force

1B0X2: Cyber Systems Operations

Career transition guide for Air Force Cyber Systems Operations (1B0X2)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1B0X2 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Systems Administrator

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Network Engineer

$102K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certifications (CCNA, CCNP)Cloud Networking (AWS, Azure)

Cybersecurity Analyst

$110K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

CompTIA Security+Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Incident Response Training

Database Administrator

$98K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

SQL Server CertificationOracle CertificationCloud Database Management

IT Project Manager

$105K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP)Agile Methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)ITIL Certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1B0X2 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You build and maintain a mental map of complex network systems, understanding how different components interact and impact overall performance. You anticipate potential points of failure and plan for contingencies.

This translates to the ability to understand and optimize complex systems in any industry, from supply chains to financial markets. You can visualize processes, identify bottlenecks, and design improvements.

Rapid Prioritization

When responding to service outages or security threats, you quickly assess the situation, determine the most critical issues, and allocate resources accordingly to minimize downtime and damage.

This skill allows you to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. You can quickly evaluate competing demands, prioritize tasks, and make critical decisions under tight deadlines.

Adversarial Thinking

You proactively research system threats, develop defensive tactics, and even simulate attacks to identify vulnerabilities and improve network security. You're always thinking one step ahead of potential adversaries.

This translates to a highly valuable ability to anticipate risks and identify potential weaknesses in any system or plan. You can think critically, challenge assumptions, and develop innovative solutions to mitigate threats.

Procedural Compliance

You meticulously follow established protocols and security policies when implementing updates, patches, and security measures. You understand the importance of adhering to regulations and maintaining a secure operating environment.

This demonstrates a strong commitment to accuracy, consistency, and risk management. You're comfortable working within established frameworks and ensuring that all processes are followed correctly.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a constant awareness of the overall network health, monitoring system performance, identifying anomalies, and anticipating potential problems before they escalate.

This skill allows you to stay informed, anticipate challenges, and make proactive decisions. You can quickly assess the context of a situation, identify key factors, and respond effectively.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Continuity Analyst

SOC 15-1299.01

You've been developing and implementing restoral and contingency plans, and that experience gives you a head start in ensuring business operations continue under adverse conditions. Your knowledge of disaster recovery and risk mitigation is directly applicable.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You've been implementing and enforcing national, DoD, and Air Force security policies. This experience will help you thrive in a role focused on ensuring an organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051.00

You've been performing strategic and budget planning for networks, and your adversarial thinking developed from identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities will enable you to predict, analyze, and mitigate financial risks within an organization.

Supply Chain Analyst

SOC 13-1199.00

You've been managing complex data services and optimizing system performance, and that experience will enable you to analyze and improve supply chain efficiency, identify bottlenecks, and reduce costs. You will be able to use your system modeling skills to see how different parts interact.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cyber Systems Operations Course, Keesler AFB, MS

1,280 training hours32 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Information Technology and Cybersecurity

Topics Covered

  • Server Administration (Windows & Linux)
  • Database Administration (SQL, Oracle)
  • Network Security Principles and Implementation
  • Scripting and Automation (PowerShell, Python)
  • System Hardening and Vulnerability Mitigation
  • Incident Response and Forensics
  • Cloud Computing Fundamentals (AWS, Azure)
  • Virtualization Technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Familiarize yourself with specific cybersecurity compliance frameworks and risk management principles not explicitly covered in your military training. Review incident response procedures and penetration testing methodologies.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Study more about cabling, network hardware, and network troubleshooting. Focus on differences between military and civilian networks.

Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate50% covered

Gain hands-on experience with Azure services, focusing on cloud resource management, security configurations, and deployment strategies specific to the Azure environment. Study the Azure CLI and PowerShell cmdlets for automation.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Group Policy Objects (GPO)Active Directory Group Policies
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)Digital Certificates and Encryption
Information Assurance Vulnerability Assessments (IAVA)Vulnerability Scanning and Patch Management (e.g., Nessus, Qualys)
Time Compliance Network Orders (TCNO)Security Patch Management (e.g., SCCM, WSUS)
Combat Information Transport System (CITS)Network Infrastructure (e.g., Cisco, Juniper)
C4 Notice to Airman (C4 NOTAM)IT Service Alerts and Notifications
System Management Server (SMS)Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM)
Classified Message Incidents (CMIs)Data Breach Incident Response Procedures

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