Skip to main content

New Cohort Starts:

Donate
Live · Guide v1.023N · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262027 Cohort · Applications Open
ARMY · 23NCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.23N.R.04
23N · ARMY · Enlisted

NIKE Radar
Repairman.

Army 23N (NIKE Radar Repairman). 1,040 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$82K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours1,040DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 15 semester hours in electronics technology (estimated)
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial

This career guide was generated using AI analysis of military job code data. Salary figures, certification coverage percentages, and career matches are estimates — verify with official sources before making career decisions.

/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 23N background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge

The gap, named.

What 23N training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have07
  • 01
    Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair Techniques→ Debugging and fault isolation
  • 02
    Test Equipment Operation and Calibration→ Using diagnostic tools to identify and resolve issues
  • 03
    System Modeling→ Designing, analyzing, and improving systems
  • 04
    Rapid Prioritization→ Making quick decisions under pressure
  • 05
    Degraded-Mode Operations→ Maintaining productivity and effectiveness when things aren't perfect
  • 06
    Procedural Compliance→ Completing work safely, accurately, and in accordance with standards
  • 07
    Technical Manuals (TMs) and Schematics→ Equipment Documentation and CAD Drawings
To learn08

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Linux server administration+Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Chef, Puppet)+Containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)+Scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash)+Network administration fundamentals+Cybersecurity principles and practices+Security tools and technologies (e.g., SIEM, intrusion detection systems)
How VWC fits

Vets Who Code is a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.

See VWC Programs →
/ 03 · Civilian Pathways

Where your code lands.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Electronics Technician

$75K
High match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • — Specific certifications in commercial electronics repair (e.g., CompTIA)
  • — Familiarity with current industry standards
P.02

Avionics Technician

$82K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • — FAA certification
  • — Experience with modern aircraft systems
P.03

Computer and Network Support Technician

$68K
Good match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
  • — CompTIA A+ or Network+ certification
  • — Experience with current operating systems and networking protocols
P.04

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

$62K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • — Experience with mechanical systems
  • — PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) training
  • — Knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems
P.05

Quality Control Inspector

$55K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • — Knowledge of quality control standards (ISO 9000)
  • — Proficiency in using measurement and testing equipment
  • — Experience in a manufacturing environment
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 23N training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

System Modeling

You developed comprehensive system models of complex radar and computer systems to troubleshoot issues efficiently and ensure optimal performance.

Transfers to

This ability to understand and model complex systems translates directly into designing, analyzing, and improving systems in various civilian industries.

S.02

Rapid Prioritization

You had to quickly assess malfunctions, determine their severity, and prioritize repairs based on mission criticality and available resources.

Transfers to

This skill in rapid prioritization is invaluable in fast-paced civilian environments where you need to make quick decisions under pressure.

S.03

Degraded-Mode Operations

You maintained and repaired systems even when facing limited resources, incomplete information, or non-ideal conditions, ensuring continued functionality.

Transfers to

Your experience with degraded-mode operations shows you can maintain productivity and effectiveness even when things aren't perfect, a highly valued trait in any organization.

S.04

Procedural Compliance

You strictly adhered to technical manuals, regulations, and inspection techniques while performing maintenance and repairs.

Transfers to

Your meticulous approach to procedural compliance ensures that work is completed safely, accurately, and in accordance with industry standards, making you a reliable asset.

/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches

Roles the recruiter won't suggest.

Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9086.00

You've been maintaining complex electronic and mechanical systems under pressure; wind turbines are similar electromechanical beasts requiring similar skills in diagnostics, repair, and maintenance.

Adjacent · Match

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

SOC 49-9041.00

You've honed skills in diagnosing and repairing intricate systems. As an industrial machinery mechanic, you'll leverage this expertise to keep production lines running smoothly, troubleshooting and fixing equipment in manufacturing plants.

Adjacent · Match

Building Automation Systems Technician

SOC 49-9021.00

You're adept at understanding and maintaining complex systems. As a building automation technician, you'll use these skills to manage and optimize building systems, ensuring efficiency and sustainability.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

NIKE Hercules Radar Maintenance Course

Fort Bliss, TX
1,040hHours
26wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 15 semester hours in electronics technology (estimated)

Topics · 8
  • NIKE Hercules System Overview
  • Low Power Acquisition Radar (LPAR) Theory and Maintenance
  • Target Tracking Radar (TTR) Theory and Maintenance
  • Radar Computer Systems Maintenance
  • Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair Techniques
  • Test Equipment Operation and Calibration
  • Preventive Maintenance Procedures
  • Supply and Logistics Procedures for Radar Systems
Partial coverage · 2
  • Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70%

    Requires knowledge of current electronics industry standards, troubleshooting techniques for modern devices, and specific safety protocols not covered in legacy military radar systems.

  • CompTIA Network+40%

    Requires understanding of modern networking concepts, protocols, and security practices. The military training focused on specific radar systems and may not cover general networking principles.

Recommended next · 03
  • CompTIA Security+Adjacent
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Adjacent
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
NIKE Low Power Acquisition Radar (LPAR)Air Traffic Control Radar SystemsSignals
NIKE Tracking Radars (Target Ranging)Industrial Measurement Radar SystemsSignals
Missile Guidance Computers (Analog)Legacy Industrial Control SystemsWeapons
AN/TPM-21 Test SetOscilloscopes and MultimetersOperations
Organizational and Intermediate Maintenance (O/I Level)Tiered Maintenance Programs (OEM)Operations
Technical Manuals (TMs) and SchematicsEquipment Documentation and CAD DrawingsOperations
TOE/TD/TA (Tables of Organization and Equipment/Distribution/Allowances)Bill of Materials (BOM) and Equipment ListsOperations
Cohort 2027 · Intake Open

Ship 23N into a software engineering career.

The pathways above are the destination. Vets Who Code is the route: a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for active duty, veterans, and military spouses. 17 weeks at 20–30 hours a week, and a body of work that ships.

Career guide data last generated: February 22, 2026