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1B471 Career Guide

Air Force

1B471: Cyberspace Warfare Operator

Career transition guide for Air Force Cyberspace Warfare Operator (1B471)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1B471 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Cybersecurity Analyst

$110K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Specific cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)Familiarity with specific security tools (e.g., SIEM, vulnerability scanners)

Network Security Engineer

$125K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced networking certifications (e.g., CCNA Security, CCNP Security)Experience with network security devices (e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection systems)

Penetration Tester

$120K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) or Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)Experience with penetration testing tools (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite)

IT Project Manager

$105K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile or Scrum methodologiesExperience with project management software

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific intelligence analysis training or certificationsFamiliarity with intelligence analysis tools and techniquesStrong writing and communication skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1B471 training built — and where they transfer.

Adversarial Thinking

This role requires you to constantly think like an attacker to anticipate potential threats and vulnerabilities in networks and systems. You're essentially red-teaming your own defenses, always probing for weaknesses.

This translates to a strong ability to identify risks and anticipate problems in any system or process. You can see potential pitfalls before they materialize, allowing for proactive problem-solving.

System Modeling

You develop a comprehensive understanding of how networks and systems function, including their components, interdependencies, and potential failure points. You're able to visualize the whole system and how changes in one area can impact others.

This skill equips you to analyze complex systems and understand how different parts work together. You can create mental models of processes and identify areas for improvement or optimization.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a constant awareness of the current state of the network, identifying anomalies, tracking threats, and understanding the overall security posture. You're always 'in the know' about what's happening in cyberspace.

This translates into exceptional observation skills and the ability to quickly grasp the context of any situation. You're able to gather information, analyze it, and make informed decisions in dynamic environments.

Rapid Prioritization

When defending networks, you constantly face a barrage of alerts and potential threats. You must quickly assess each situation and prioritize your response based on severity, impact, and available resources.

You excel at quickly evaluating competing demands and focusing on the most critical tasks. You can make tough decisions under pressure and allocate resources effectively.

After-Action Analysis

After every incident or exercise, you conduct thorough reviews to identify lessons learned, improve procedures, and enhance future performance. You are committed to continuous improvement through detailed analysis.

This means you're great at evaluating projects, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to enhance future outcomes. You learn from mistakes and drive continuous progress.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051

You've been analyzing network traffic and system logs to identify threats. As an Intelligence Analyst, you'll leverage those skills to analyze data from various sources, identify trends, and provide actionable insights to decision-makers. Your experience with adversarial thinking and situational awareness is directly applicable.

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.05

You've been protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring network resilience. As a Business Continuity Planner, you'll develop and implement strategies to ensure an organization can continue operating during disruptions. You already excel at system modeling, risk assessment, and rapid prioritization.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011

You've been detecting and mitigating adversarial access to networks and systems. As a Fraud Investigator, you'll use similar skills to identify and investigate fraudulent activity, protect assets, and ensure compliance. Your experience with pattern recognition and adversarial thinking will be invaluable.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161

You've been coordinating with various agencies to defend against cyber attacks. As an Emergency Management Director, you'll plan and coordinate responses to a variety of emergencies, working with diverse stakeholders. Your experience in resource optimization, situational awareness, and team synchronization makes you an ideal candidate.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Cyberspace Warfare Operations Course, Hurlburt Field, FL

1,200 training hours30 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • •Network Attack Techniques
  • •Network Defense Strategies
  • •Cyber Exploitation Methodologies
  • •Command and Control in Cyberspace
  • •Vulnerability Assessment and Mitigation
  • •Reverse Engineering of Network Systems
  • •Cybersecurity Policy and Procedures
  • •Joint and Coalition Cyber Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Review cryptography, access control methods, and security policies and procedures.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)60% covered

Focus on legal and ethical issues, advanced hacking techniques, and the latest hacking tools.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)50% covered

Study all 8 domains of the CISSP CBK, especially governance, risk management, and compliance.

Recommended Next Certifications

GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)AWS Certified Security – SpecialtyOffensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS)Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Air Force Information Warfare Toolkit (AFIWT)Cybersecurity Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing Suites (e.g., Nessus, Metasploit)
Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter Weapon System (CVA/H)Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platforms and Threat Hunting Services
Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS)Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems
Advanced Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (ACSET)Automated security testing and compliance tools
Unified Platform (UP)Cloud-based big data analytics platforms for cybersecurity (e.g., Splunk, ELK Stack)
Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO) toolsPenetration testing and exploit development frameworks

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