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1N030 Career Guide

Air Force

1N030: Imagery Analyst

Career transition guide for Air Force Imagery Analyst (1N030)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1N030 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Civilian GIS Software (ArcGIS, QGIS)Data visualization techniques

Remote Sensing Scientist

$88K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced remote sensing techniquesSpecific experience with civilian remote sensing data (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel)Data processing and analysis using specialized software

Intelligence Analyst (Private Sector)

$82K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of business intelligence techniquesFamiliarity with open-source intelligence (OSINT) toolsIndustry-specific knowledge (e.g., finance, cybersecurity)

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technician

$70K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Part 107 certificationExperience with specific UAS platforms and softwareMaintenance and repair of UAS equipment

Emergency Management Specialist

$75K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Incident Command System (ICS) certificationsEmergency planning and response protocolsHazard mitigation strategies

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1N030 training built — and where they transfer.

Pattern Recognition

You excelled at spotting subtle indicators within complex imagery to identify military activities, equipment, and installations. You adeptly recognized patterns in terrain, structures, and even spectral signatures to derive actionable intelligence.

This translates to a strong ability to identify trends and anomalies in data, a skill highly valuable in analyzing market trends, consumer behavior, or financial data.

Situational Awareness

You maintained a comprehensive understanding of your operational environment, integrating imagery with all-source intelligence to anticipate threats and opportunities. You were constantly aware of the interplay between different elements to make informed decisions.

This translates to a heightened ability to assess complex situations, anticipate potential problems, and make proactive decisions to mitigate risks.

After-Action Analysis

You prepared detailed damage assessment reports, analyzing the effects of weapons and structural damage. This required a systematic breakdown of events, identifying key factors and drawing conclusions to improve future operations.

This translates to a structured and analytical approach to problem-solving, with a focus on identifying root causes and implementing improvements based on past experiences.

Rapid Prioritization

You were responsible for planning missions, maintaining collection lists, and identifying collection sequences for UAV sensor suites, demanding the ability to quickly assess the importance and urgency of different intelligence requirements.

This translates to a demonstrated capacity to quickly evaluate competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and focus on the most critical tasks under pressure.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Market Research Analyst

SOC 19-3022.00

You've been expertly analyzing imagery to identify patterns and extract intelligence. As a Market Research Analyst (19-3022.00), you'll use those same skills to analyze consumer data, market trends, and competitor activities to advise companies on product development and marketing strategies.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-1099.00

You've been trained to recognize anomalies and uncover hidden activities through imagery analysis. As a Fraud Investigator (13-1099.00), you'll leverage your pattern recognition skills to detect fraudulent schemes, analyze financial records, and gather evidence for legal proceedings.

Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-1199.00

You've already got the core skills needed to excel. You are used to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting geospatial data. As a civilian Geospatial Intelligence Analyst (15-1199.00) you will provide insights to various organizations and stakeholders, enhancing your career possibilities.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Imagery Analyst Training Program, Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX

960 training hours24 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in Geography, Remote Sensing, and Intelligence Studies

Topics Covered

  • Imagery Interpretation
  • Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)
  • Remote Sensing Principles
  • Exploitation of Multi-Spectral Imagery
  • Target Analysis
  • Softcopy Exploitation Systems
  • Change Detection Analysis
  • Briefing Techniques

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Geographic Information Professional (GISP)60% covered

Requires knowledge of GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS), spatial data management, cartography principles, and GIS project management. Study these areas to bridge the gap.

Remote Sensing Professional Certification (RSP)70% covered

While experienced in imagery analysis, formal training in remote sensing physics, sensor calibration, and advanced image processing techniques is needed. Focus on these areas.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Intelligence Professional (CIP)DoD Joint Fires Observer (JFO)Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Professional Certification (GPC)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) GEOINT productsEsri ArcGIS, Google Earth Pro, DigitalGlobe imagery
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)Secure virtual private networks (VPNs) and encrypted communication platforms
Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS)Palantir, IBM i2 Analyst's Notebook
SOCET GXPHexagon Geospatial ERDAS IMAGINE, ENVI
NSG (National System for Geospatial Intelligence)Cloud-based geospatial data platforms and services
MIP (Mission Imagery Processing) ToolkitOpenCV, Python image processing libraries (e.g., scikit-image)
RQ/MQ-1 Predator A/B sensor suiteFLIR Systems, drone-mounted camera systems with real-time video analytics

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