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1C671 Career Guide

Air Force

1C671: Space Systems Operator

Career transition guide for Air Force Space Systems Operator (1C671)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1C671 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Aerospace Engineer

$125K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

MATLABCAD softwareFEA Analysis

Satellite Systems Engineer

$135K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Specific satellite communication protocolsAdvanced orbital mechanics

Network Engineer

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Security+Cloud networking concepts

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Data visualization toolsGeospatial analysisPython or R programming

Air Traffic Controller

$130K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FAA certificationExtensive training program

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1C671 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining constant vigilance over space assets, missile launch events, and potential threats, requiring a broad understanding of the operational environment and the ability to anticipate emerging situations.

The capacity to remain aware of the surrounding environment and potential impacts of events; quickly perceive changes and their implications; proactively identify risks.

System Modeling

Understanding the complex interactions within satellite systems, missile detection networks, and command-and-control architectures to predict behavior and optimize performance.

Creating simplified representations of complex systems to analyze, predict, and optimize performance; identifying key variables and their relationships.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Responding effectively when systems malfunction or are compromised, requiring quick thinking, resourcefulness, and adherence to backup procedures to maintain mission effectiveness.

The ability to maintain operational effectiveness under stress, resource constraints, or system failures; adapting plans and improvising solutions while adhering to safety and compliance standards.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing incoming data from multiple sources (sensors, reports, command directives) to identify critical events and allocate resources accordingly, especially during missile launches or satellite anomalies.

The ability to swiftly evaluate competing demands, assess urgency and impact, and allocate resources to the most critical tasks.

Adversarial Thinking

Replicating adversary space capabilities to identify vulnerabilities and improve combat training, demanding a proactive mindset and ability to anticipate enemy actions.

The ability to anticipate potential threats, vulnerabilities, and counter-strategies, proactively identifying weaknesses and developing defensive measures.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've been monitoring complex systems for anomalies and threats, and you understand how cascading failures can impact a mission. As a Financial Risk Analyst, you can leverage your pattern recognition and system modeling skills to assess financial markets, identify potential risks, and develop mitigation strategies to protect assets.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161

You've honed your ability to react quickly and effectively to unexpected events and system failures. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you can apply your expertise in situational awareness, rapid prioritization, and degraded-mode operations to develop emergency response plans, coordinate resources during crises, and ensure community resilience.

Supply Chain Analyst

SOC 13-1151

You've demonstrated the ability to manage complex operations, identify vulnerabilities, and maintain operational effectiveness under pressure. As a Supply Chain Analyst, you can use your systems thinking and rapid prioritization skills to optimize supply chain performance, mitigate disruptions, and ensure the efficient flow of goods and services.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 13-2011

You've developed a keen eye for detail and an ability to analyze complex data to identify potential threats. As an Intelligence Analyst, you can leverage your skills in pattern recognition and adversarial thinking to gather, analyze, and interpret information from various sources, providing valuable insights to decision-makers and helping to protect national security or organizational interests.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Space Operations Training, Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA

1,200 training hours30 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Space Science, Engineering Technology, or Management

Topics Covered

  • Space Domain Awareness
  • Satellite Command and Control
  • Missile Warning Systems
  • Telemetry Analysis
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Space Control Operations
  • Sensor Operation (Radar/Optical)
  • Contingency Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)40% covered

Requires study of all domains of information security including security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations and software development security.

Project Management Professional (PMP)30% covered

Requires study of the five process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) and ten knowledge areas (Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholder Management) as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Recommended Next Certifications

AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)CompTIA Security+

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Space Surveillance Telescope (SST)Large aperture optical telescopes for astronomical research
Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)Infrared scanning systems for wildfire detection and monitoring
Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite systemCommercial satellite communication systems (e.g., Intelsat, SES)
Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellationCommercial satellite navigation systems (e.g., Galileo, BeiDou)
Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) Mission System (JMS)Command and control software platforms (e.g., Palantir, C3.ai)
Satellite Control Network (SCN)Global network operations centers for satellite communications companies
Cobra Dane RadarEarly warning radar systems used for air traffic control and weather forecasting

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