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1N171 Career Guide

Air Force

1N171: Imagery Analyst

Career transition guide for Air Force Imagery Analyst (1N171)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1N171 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Remote Sensing Technician

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

GIS Software ProficiencySpecific Remote Sensing Software (e.g., ENVI, ERDAS IMAGINE)

Intelligence Analyst (for Law Enforcement)

$72K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Criminal Justice knowledgeLaw Enforcement procedures

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technician

$70K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Part 107 CertificationDrone maintenance and repair

Imagery Scientist

$110K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced remote sensing knowledgeProgramming skills (Python, R)Master's degree in related scientific field

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1N171 training built — and where they transfer.

Pattern Recognition

You expertly identify patterns in multisensor imagery to discern the type, function, and status of military facilities, equipment, and activities, even when camouflaged or obscured.

This sharp eye for detail translates into the ability to quickly spot trends, anomalies, and deviations from the norm in large datasets or complex systems, making you an invaluable asset in any analytical role.

Rapid Prioritization

In dynamic situations, you swiftly prioritize imagery collection requirements and analysis tasks to support warfighting operations and special operations, ensuring the most critical intelligence is delivered first.

This skill allows you to quickly assess competing demands, identify the most urgent tasks, and allocate your time and resources effectively, making you a highly productive and reliable team member.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment by integrating multisensor imagery with all-source intelligence, enabling you to anticipate threats, identify opportunities, and provide timely warnings.

This heightened awareness of your surroundings and the ability to connect seemingly disparate pieces of information gives you a distinct advantage in fast-paced, complex situations, allowing you to make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.

System Modeling

You develop mental models of military and industrial installations to understand their construction type, functionality, and potential vulnerabilities, enabling you to prepare detailed damage assessment reports.

Your ability to visualize and analyze complex systems, understand their interdependencies, and predict their behavior makes you well-suited for roles that require strategic thinking and problem-solving.

Adversarial Thinking

You apply adversarial thinking by anticipating enemy tactics and strategies, allowing you to effectively monitor counterinsurgency operations and assess the likelihood of potential threats.

Your ability to think like an adversary allows you to anticipate potential problems, identify weaknesses, and develop effective countermeasures, making you a valuable asset in roles that require risk management and strategic planning.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Insurance Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-1031

You've been trained to analyze images and data for anomalies and hidden information. This makes you uniquely qualified to identify fraudulent insurance claims by scrutinizing evidence and uncovering inconsistencies.

Geospatial Data Scientist

SOC 15-2031

You've already have a strong foundation in geospatial data analysis and imagery interpretation. You can leverage these skills to develop algorithms and models that extract valuable insights from geographic data for various applications, such as urban planning or environmental monitoring.

Supply Chain Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You're skilled at assessing potential threats and vulnerabilities. You can apply this expertise to identify risks within global supply chains, using data analysis and intelligence gathering to mitigate disruptions and ensure business continuity.

Financial Crime Investigator

SOC 13-2099

You have experience in identifying patterns and anomalies, skills directly applicable to detecting money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes by analyzing financial transactions and intelligence reports.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Imagery Analyst Training, Goodfellow AFB, TX

960 training hours24 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in Geography, Remote Sensing, or Intelligence Studies

Topics Covered

  • Imagery Exploitation Fundamentals
  • Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Principles
  • Multi-spectral Imagery Analysis
  • Target Identification and Analysis
  • Damage Assessment Reporting
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Sensor Operation
  • Softcopy Exploitation Systems
  • Mensuration Techniques

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Geospatial Technician (CGT)65% covered

Requires study of specific GIS software packages (ESRI ArcGIS, QGIS), advanced cartography principles, and surveying techniques beyond imagery analysis.

Remote Sensing Professional Certification (RSP)70% covered

Requires deeper understanding of remote sensing physics, advanced image processing techniques, and sensor calibration methodologies.

Recommended Next Certifications

Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP)Certified Intelligence Professional (CIP)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
DCGS-AF (Distributed Common Ground System-Air Force)Cloud-based data analytics platforms (e.g., Palantir, AWS GovCloud)
SOCET GXPGeospatial image processing software (e.g., Esri ArcGIS, QGIS)
NSG (National System for Geospatial Intelligence)Commercial satellite imagery providers and geospatial data marketplaces (e.g., Maxar, Planet Labs)
IPL (Imagery Product Library)Digital asset management (DAM) systems for imagery and video (e.g., Adobe Experience Manager, Bynder)
FMV (Full Motion Video) exploitation toolsVideo analytics platforms (e.g., BriefCam, Milestone Systems)
mensuration toolsPhotogrammetry software (e.g. Agisoft Metashape, ContextCapture)
RQ/MQ-1 Predator A/B sensor suiteCommercial drone sensor packages (e.g., FLIR thermal cameras, high-resolution EO/IR sensors)

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