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1C431 Career Guide

Air Force

1C431: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

Career transition guide for Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) (1C431)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1C431 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Air Traffic Controller

$138K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FAA certificationExperience with civilian air traffic control systems

Emergency Management Specialist

$85K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-700)Knowledge of local emergency response protocolsProject management skills

Intelligence Analyst

$92K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Familiarity with specific intelligence analysis software (e.g., Analyst Notebook)Understanding of legal and ethical considerations in intelligence gathering

Security Consultant

$98K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)Knowledge of risk management frameworksSales and business development skills

Technical Trainer

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design principlesProficiency in e-learning platformsSubject matter expertise in a specific technical field

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1C431 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

As a 1C431, you constantly assess incoming information in dynamic combat environments, making split-second decisions about which targets to engage and which resources to allocate first to maximize mission success and minimize risk to friendly forces.

This ability to quickly triage and prioritize tasks translates directly to high-pressure civilian roles where you must effectively manage competing demands and make critical decisions under tight deadlines.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of the battlefield, including the location of friendly and enemy forces, the status of available resources, and the overall mission objectives, adapting your actions based on evolving circumstances.

Your highly developed sense of situational awareness allows you to anticipate potential problems, proactively identify opportunities, and make informed decisions in complex and rapidly changing civilian environments.

Team Synchronization

You work closely with ground forces, pilots, and other members of the joint team, coordinating your actions to achieve shared objectives and ensure seamless integration of air and space power into the overall combat plan.

This expertise in team synchronization makes you adept at collaborating with diverse groups of people, facilitating effective communication, and fostering a cohesive work environment to achieve common goals.

Adversarial Thinking

The 1C431 role hones your ability to anticipate enemy actions and develop counter-strategies. You think several steps ahead to disrupt their plans and maintain an advantage during engagement.

Your training in adversarial thinking translates directly into business roles that require strategic planning and competitive analysis, where you will excel at identifying vulnerabilities and developing proactive solutions.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to maintain calm under pressure and rapidly make life-saving decisions during emergencies. Your experience in coordinating complex operations and managing resources in austere environments makes you an ideal candidate to lead emergency response efforts in civilian communities.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

Your experience in planning and coordinating air and space resources to support ground maneuver units means you excel at resource management and supply chain optimization. Your ability to anticipate needs and proactively allocate resources will make you a valuable asset to any logistics team.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've honed exceptional skills in analyzing complex information, identifying patterns, and anticipating enemy actions. These skills are directly transferable to the role of an intelligence analyst, where you will gather and analyze data to identify trends, assess risks, and provide actionable insights to decision-makers.

Training & Education Equivalencies

TACP Initial Qualification Training, Hurlburt Field, FL and various CONUS Field Training Locations

1,100 training hours26 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Military Science, Leadership, and Communications

Topics Covered

  • Airpower Integration
  • Joint Fires Planning
  • Close Air Support (CAS) Procedures
  • Advanced Communications (HF/VHF/UHF)
  • Terminal Attack Controls (TAC)
  • Land Navigation (Mounted and Dismounted)
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Formal project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), business analysis, resource allocation, risk management, and project lifecycle management.

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)30% covered

In-depth knowledge of all domains of information security, including access control, cryptography, security assessment and testing, and software development security.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)60% covered

State-specific protocols, civilian medical procedures, and pharmacology updates. Requires additional training and practical skills assessments.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)DoD 8570 Information Assurance Management (IAM) Level II or III certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM))

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioHarris Falcon III or Motorola APX series P25 Land Mobile Radio
AN/PEQ-1 SOFLAM Laser MarkerIndustrial laser pointer and rangefinder
Joint Fires Observer (JFO) Target DesignatorHigh-precision GPS surveying equipment
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Civilian equivalent: ESRI ArcGIS or similar mapping and data analysis software with real-time data feeds
Rover (Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver)Real-time video streaming and display software (e.g., VLC, QuickTime) with secure network protocols
mGRS (Military Grid Reference System)Latitude/Longitude coordinates in mapping software (Google Maps, GIS)

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