Avionics Technician
$78KHigh match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license
- — Aircraft-specific training
Live · Guide v1.023S · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262027 Cohort · Applications Open
ARMY · 23SCareer Guide · Maintenance · VWC.CG.23S.R.04
23S · ARMY · EnlistedHawk Missile System
Hawk Missile System
Repairer.
Army 23S (Hawk Missile System Repairer). 1,240 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $65K–$82K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours1,240DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 18 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.
Industry tech roles your 23S 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 23S training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Electronic Repair Fundamentals→ Hardware Troubleshooting
- 02Pulse Acquisition Radar Theory and Maintenance→ Systems Analysis
- 03Direct and General Support Maintenance Procedures→ Procedural Compliance
- 04Technical Assistance and Reporting→ Technical Documentation
- 05After-Action Analysis→ Root Cause Analysis
To learn12
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Linux fundamentals+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana)+Scripting (Bash, Python)+CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI)+Configuration management tools (Ansible, Puppet)+Security principles and best practices+Network security+Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing+Operating systems (Windows, Linux)+Networking fundamentals+Virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)
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.
Electronics Technician
$65KHigh match
Stable demand
Radar Technician
$82KHigh match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Specific radar system certifications (e.g., marine, weather)
- — Commercial radar experience
Field Service Engineer
$75KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Strong communication skills
- — Customer service experience
- — Project management skills
Technical Trainer
$68KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Curriculum development
- — Instructional design
- — Excellent presentation skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 23S training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
System Modeling
Maintaining and repairing radar systems requires a deep understanding of how the individual components interact within the larger system. Troubleshooting involves mentally simulating system behavior to isolate the source of a malfunction.
Transfers to
The ability to understand complex systems and predict how changes in one area will affect others is valuable in many fields.
Rapid Prioritization
When multiple radar systems are down or malfunctioning, you have to quickly assess the criticality of each system and prioritize repairs based on mission needs and resource availability.
Transfers to
Quickly assessing needs and determining a course of action is key to success in many complex and fast-paced work environments.
Procedural Compliance
Maintenance and repair work requires strict adherence to technical manuals, safety procedures, and quality control standards. Errors can have severe consequences.
Transfers to
Your experience ensures you understand the importance of following established procedures and maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
Situational Awareness
Understanding the operational environment and how radar systems contribute to overall mission success is essential for effective maintenance and troubleshooting.
Transfers to
You’re skilled at perceiving the bigger picture, understanding how your actions impact overall goals, and anticipating potential problems.
After-Action Analysis
Reviewing maintenance logs, failure reports, and repair processes helps to identify trends, improve procedures, and prevent future malfunctions.
Transfers to
You're adept at analyzing past events to identify areas for improvement and prevent recurrence of problems.
/ 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.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
SOC 49-9041You've been working with complex electromechanical systems, troubleshooting issues, and performing preventative maintenance, which translates perfectly to keeping industrial machinery running smoothly.
Adjacent · MatchWind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9099You've been trained to maintain sophisticated radar systems; now you can apply that expertise to the intricate electrical and mechanical systems within wind turbines, ensuring they generate clean energy efficiently.
Adjacent · MatchAmusement and Recreation Mechanic
SOC 49-9091You've honed your skills in maintaining complex electronic systems. Now apply that to the maintenance of thrilling rides and attractions.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Air Defense Artillery School
Fort Sill, OK1,240hHours
31wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 18 semester hours in electronics technology (estimated)
Topics · 8
- Electronic Repair Fundamentals
- Hawk Missile System Overview
- Pulse Acquisition Radar Theory and Maintenance
- Range Only Radar Systems
- Direct and General Support Maintenance Procedures
- Electronic Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
- Use of Specialized Test Equipment
- Technical Assistance and Reporting
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70%
Requires study of current electronics technology, troubleshooting techniques, and industry standards not specifically covered in legacy radar systems.
- CompTIA Network+40%
Requires study of modern networking concepts, protocols, and security practices beyond the scope of radar-specific networking.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
- DoD 8570 Information Assurance Technical (IAT) Level II certification (e.g., Security+ CE)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Hawk Pulse Acquisition Radar (PAR) | Airport surveillance radar systems | Signals |
| Range Only Radar (ROR) | Industrial rangefinders | Signals |
| AN/MPQ-62 Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (CW acquisition radar) | Weather surveillance radar | Signals |
| AN/MPQ-61 High Power Illuminator Radar (HIPIR) | High-intensity industrial radar systems | Signals |
| Direct and General Support Maintenance Electronic Shops | Specialized electronics repair facilities | Operations |
| Nike Missile System | Legacy air defense systems | Weapons |
| TOE, TD, TA, Supply Manuals | Technical documentation and parts catalogs | Operations |
Cohort 2027 · Intake Open
Ship 23S 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.