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1T271 Career Guide

Air Force

1T271: Pararescue

Career transition guide for Air Force Pararescue (1T271)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1T271 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) / Paramedic

$45K
High matchHigh demand

Search and Rescue Technician

$60K
High matchGrowing demand

Wildland Firefighter

$55K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

NWCG certifications (e.g., S-130, S-190, S-290)Physical fitness standards

Security Specialist

$70K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Security ClearanceSurveillance Training

Corporate Emergency Response / Safety Manager

$85K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

OSHA certificationsProject ManagementCommunication Skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1T271 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

In emergency situations, quickly assessing injuries, threats, and available resources to determine the most critical actions to take.

Quickly and accurately triaging tasks and information to focus on the most urgent and impactful priorities, especially under pressure.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the environment, including terrain, weather, threats, and the status of team members, to make informed decisions.

Continuously monitoring and interpreting complex information to anticipate potential problems and opportunities, ensuring proactive decision-making.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating the actions of a team under high-stress conditions to achieve a common objective, often involving complex maneuvers and communication.

Orchestrating collaborative efforts among team members, ensuring clear communication, shared understanding, and efficient execution of tasks.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Effectively performing duties and maintaining mission effectiveness even when equipment malfunctions, resources are limited, or communication is disrupted.

Maintaining composure and problem-solving abilities in challenging situations, adapting strategies and finding alternative solutions when faced with obstacles or setbacks.

After-Action Analysis

Conducting thorough reviews of missions to identify areas for improvement, capture lessons learned, and refine future strategies.

Systematically evaluating past performance to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth, leading to continuous improvement and enhanced effectiveness.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to rapidly assess critical situations, coordinate resources, and lead teams in high-pressure environments. This makes you exceptionally well-prepared to develop and implement emergency response plans for communities or organizations.

Wilderness Therapy Guide

SOC 21-1015.00

Your experience in survival, SERE, and operating in diverse environments makes you uniquely qualified to guide individuals through challenging outdoor experiences, fostering resilience and personal growth.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 11-9199.00

You've been responsible for providing security in hostile environments, risk assessment, and access control. This translates directly into the skills needed to protect corporate assets and personnel from threats, both internal and external.

Search and Rescue Coordinator

SOC 33-2011.00

Your experience in search and rescue, medical care, and coordination of efforts makes you a perfect fit to manage search and rescue operations. You will be able to strategize and efficiently manage resources to save lives.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Pararescue Training Program, Lackland Air Force Base and Kirtland Air Force Base

2,700 training hours54 weeksUp to 22 semester hours recommended in emergency medical technology, rescue operations, and physical education

Topics Covered

  • Water Confidence and Survival
  • Combat Medic Skills
  • Parachuting Operations (Static Line and Freefall)
  • Advanced Trauma and Life Support
  • Rope Rescue Techniques
  • Weapons and Small Unit Tactics
  • Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)
  • Mountain Rescue Operations

Certification Pathways

Ready to Certify

EMT-B

Partial Coverage

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)70% covered

Focus on wilderness-specific medical protocols, environmental hazards, and extended patient care scenarios.

Certified Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic (EMT-P)40% covered

Advanced pharmacology, advanced airway management, EKG interpretation, and complex trauma management are areas requiring further study.

Diver Rescue Specialist60% covered

Requires additional training in advanced diving techniques, rescue equipment, and dive-related medical emergencies specific to civilian diving operations.

Recommended Next Certifications

Critical Care Paramedic Certification (CCEMT-P)Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C)Tactical Paramedic Certification (TP-C)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioMotorola APX series P25 radios with AES encryption
Advanced Airborne Parachuting Systems (e.g., MC-4)High-performance skydiving parachute systems
MEDEVAC Equipment Sets (oxygen, ventilators, monitoring)Paramedic advanced life support (ALS) equipment
GPS Navigation Devices (DAGR, PLGR)Garmin GPSMAP series, handheld GPS devices
M4 Carbine with optics (e.g., Aimpoint, EOTech)AR-15 platform rifles with red dot sights
Night Vision Devices (AN/PVS-14)FLIR handheld thermal imagers
Personnel Recovery Mission Software (e.g., PRISM)Search and rescue mission planning software (e.g., SARMAP)

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