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290A Career Guide

Army

290A: Electronic Warfare Systems Technician

Career transition guide for Army Electronic Warfare Systems Technician (290A)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 290A veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Information Security Analyst

$105K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, Security+)Specific security tools (e.g., SIEM, intrusion detection systems)

Network Engineer

$90K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalentCloud networking experience (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)Familiarity with intelligence databases and software

Technical Program Manager

$130K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)Experience with software development lifecycles

Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager

$95K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FCC licensingKnowledge of spectrum analysis software and equipment

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 290A training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You built models of electronic warfare systems to predict their performance, identify vulnerabilities, and optimize their deployment in diverse operational environments.

This skill translates directly into designing, analyzing, and improving complex systems in various industries. You can use your expertise to understand how different components interact and identify potential points of failure.

Adversarial Thinking

You routinely anticipated enemy actions and developed countermeasures to neutralize their electronic warfare capabilities. This involved thinking like the adversary to predict their strategies and exploit their weaknesses.

This skillset is highly valuable in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and competitive analysis roles. You can apply your skills to proactively identify and mitigate potential threats to an organization.

Situational Awareness

You maintained a constant awareness of the electronic warfare landscape, understanding the positions of friendly and enemy forces, the capabilities of their equipment, and the environmental factors affecting system performance.

This keen sense of awareness translates into an ability to quickly assess complex situations, identify critical factors, and make informed decisions under pressure. This is valuable in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

Resource Optimization

You were responsible for allocating electronic warfare assets to maximize their effectiveness. This involved balancing competing demands, prioritizing missions, and ensuring that resources were used efficiently.

This skill translates into effective management of budgets, personnel, and equipment to achieve organizational goals. You understand how to maximize output with limited resources, making you a valuable asset to any organization.

After-Action Analysis

You analyzed the effectiveness of electronic warfare operations to identify areas for improvement. This involved collecting data, evaluating performance, and developing recommendations for future operations.

This translates into a capability to critically assess projects and initiatives, identify lessons learned, and implement changes to improve future outcomes. Your analytical skills and attention to detail are highly valuable for continuous improvement.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Cybersecurity Analyst

SOC 15-1212

You've been deeply involved in understanding electronic warfare tactics and systems, which directly translates to identifying and mitigating cyber threats. Your adversarial thinking and system modeling skills are crucial for protecting networks and data.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051

You've honed your skills in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information to develop actionable intelligence. Your background in EW targeting and threat assessment makes you well-suited for providing valuable insights to organizations.

Technical Sales Engineer

SOC 41-9031

You've developed a deep understanding of electronic warfare systems and their capabilities. You can leverage this knowledge to explain complex technical concepts to clients, demonstrate the value of products, and build strong relationships.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 29-9011

You've been trained to handle high-stress situations, develop emergency plans, and coordinate resources during crises. Your expertise in situational awareness and resource optimization is essential for protecting communities from disasters.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Electronic Warfare Warrant Officer Basic Course, Fort Sill, OK

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in electronic technology

Topics Covered

  • Electronic Warfare Planning and Integration
  • EW Targeting
  • Spectrum Management
  • Electronic Attack (EA) Techniques
  • Electronic Protect (EP) Techniques
  • Electronic Warfare Support (ES) Techniques
  • EW System Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  • Mission Planning and Analysis

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)60% covered

Requires studying areas like software development security, cryptography, and legal/ethical considerations in cybersecurity, as the military role focuses more on practical EW systems application.

CompTIA Security+70% covered

Needs to study specific exam objectives not directly covered, such as detailed risk management frameworks and compliance regulations.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Requires formal training in project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), understanding of PMBOK guide principles, and experience documenting projects per PMI standards.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT)Spectrum management and signal analysis software (e.g., Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz)
AN/MLQ-36 Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System (MEWSS)Mobile signal jamming and interference systems
Prophet EnhancedSIGINT and ELINT data analysis platforms
Terrestrial Layer System (TLS)Advanced cyber-electromagnetic activities (CEMA) platforms
Integrated Meteorological System (IMETS)Commercial weather modeling and prediction software (e.g., Baron Lynx, AccuWeather)
Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS)Commercial fire support and battlefield management software
Joint Targeting Toolkit (JTT)Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and mapping software (e.g., Esri ArcGIS, QGIS)

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