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1C471 Career Guide

Air Force

1C471: Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

Career transition guide for Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) (1C471)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1C471 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Air Traffic Controller

$138K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist certificationTower and Approach Control certifications

Emergency Management Specialist

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-200, IS-700)HAZMAT trainingEmergency planning software proficiency

Intelligence Analyst

$82K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Proficiency in intelligence analysis software (e.g., Analyst Notebook)Enhanced analytical and critical thinking skillsFamiliarity with open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques

Security Consultant

$95K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Security certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)Risk assessment and management methodologiesKnowledge of security technologies and protocols

Project Manager

$90K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile project management methodologiesProficiency in project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1C471 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing threats and opportunities on the battlefield to allocate air support where it's most effective, often under pressure and with limited information.

The ability to rapidly assess competing priorities, delegate effectively, and make critical decisions under pressure to maximize resource allocation and achieve desired outcomes.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a constant awareness of the battlefield, including friendly and enemy positions, terrain, and environmental factors, to make informed decisions about air support.

Understanding the complexities of a situation by gathering information from multiple sources, identifying key factors, and anticipating potential consequences to make strategic decisions.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating with ground forces, pilots, and other support elements to ensure seamless integration of air support into the overall combat plan.

Collaborating effectively with diverse teams, understanding individual roles and responsibilities, and coordinating efforts to achieve a common goal efficiently.

Resource Optimization

Managing and allocating air assets effectively to achieve the greatest impact on the battlefield, considering factors like fuel, ordnance, and aircraft availability.

Maximizing the utilization of available resources, including personnel, finances, and technology, to achieve organizational objectives while minimizing waste and inefficiency.

Adversarial Thinking

Anticipating enemy actions and developing counter-strategies to maintain an advantage on the battlefield.

The ability to proactively identify potential risks and challenges, analyze opposing viewpoints, and develop strategies to mitigate threats and achieve desired outcomes.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been orchestrating complex operations under pressure. You're a natural fit for emergency management, where you'll use your planning, coordination, and rapid decision-making skills to prepare for and respond to disasters.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

Your experience in coordinating air assets and integrating them into ground operations translates directly to logistics management. You excel at managing complex supply chains, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring timely delivery of critical resources.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You are trained to collect and interpret battlefield information to inform decisions. As an intelligence analyst, you will leverage these analytical skills to provide assessments and recommendations to leaders and decision-makers. You will feel comfortable and excel at your role.

Project Manager

SOC 11-9021.00

You are adept at planning, coordinating, and executing complex operations. These are transferable skills that will enable you to excel in the civilian sector. Specifically, project management leverages your leadership abilities and experience working with diverse teams to achieve milestones.

Training & Education Equivalencies

TACP Apprentice Course, Hurlburt Field, FL

1,200 training hours30 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Military Science and Air Operations

Topics Covered

  • Air Force Survival Training
  • Special Operations Combat Skills
  • Close Air Support (CAS) Procedures
  • Joint Fires Integration
  • Advanced Communication Systems
  • Land Navigation
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Combat Lifesaving

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Formal project management methodologies, business analysis, risk management, and detailed project lifecycle knowledge. Requires studying the PMBOK guide.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)70% covered

While combat lifesaver training provides a foundation, formal EMT certification requires anatomy, physiology, patient assessment, and pharmacology knowledge, plus practical skills evaluations.

Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)40% covered

In-depth knowledge of 802.11 standards, RF engineering principles, wireless security protocols, and advanced troubleshooting techniques. Requires dedicated study of CWNA certification materials.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)CompTIA Security+GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Controller

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioHarris Corporation Falcon III tactical radio
AN/PEQ-1 SOFLAM Laser MarkerHandheld laser designator/rangefinder
Joint Fires Observer (JFO) Target DesignatorForward Observer equipment and software
mGRS (Military Grid Reference System) GPSCommercial GPS devices with coordinate input
Rover (Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver)Real-time video downlink receiver and display
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Civilian fire control or GIS mapping software
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems

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