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29Y Career Guide

Army

29Y: SATCOM Ground Station Equipment Operator/Maintainer

Career transition guide for Army SATCOM Ground Station Equipment Operator/Maintainer (29Y)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 29Y veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Network Engineer

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)CompTIA Network+

Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

$72K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific equipment certifications (e.g., Ericsson, Nokia)Fiber optic splicing certification

Electronics Engineering Technician

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Associate's degree in Electronics TechnologyProficiency in CAD software

IT Manager

$110K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationITIL certification

Technical Trainer

$65K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Professional in Training and Development (CPTD)Instructional design principles

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 29Y training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You constantly build mental models of complex SATCOM systems to understand signal flow, identify potential points of failure, and predict the impact of maintenance or upgrades on overall network performance.

This ability to create and manipulate system models translates directly to understanding complex business processes and designing efficient solutions in various industries.

Rapid Prioritization

When equipment fails, you rapidly assess the impact, prioritize tasks based on mission criticality, and allocate resources to restore functionality as quickly as possible under pressure.

Your experience in rapid prioritization makes you adept at handling crises, managing competing demands, and making critical decisions in time-sensitive environments.

Procedural Compliance

You adhere to strict technical and administrative procedures for equipment maintenance, operation, and documentation, ensuring consistent performance and regulatory compliance.

This rigorous approach to procedural compliance ensures quality, consistency, and accountability – highly valuable in regulated industries and quality-focused organizations.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating maintenance tasks, troubleshooting issues, and implementing upgrades requires precise communication and synchronization with your team and other support elements.

Your talent for team synchronization makes you highly effective in coordinating complex projects, managing diverse teams, and achieving shared goals.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a high level of awareness regarding equipment status, network performance, and potential threats to ensure the integrity and availability of communication systems.

This keen situational awareness makes you an asset in dynamic environments where you can anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and make proactive decisions.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Network Security Analyst

SOC 15-1212

You've been monitoring networks for anomalies and potential threats, and you understand the importance of maintaining secure and reliable communication channels. Your expertise in SATCOM systems gives you a unique perspective on potential vulnerabilities, making you well-suited to protecting networks from cyberattacks.

Technical Trainer (Telecommunications)

SOC 25-9041

You've been training junior personnel on complex SATCOM equipment and procedures. Your ability to explain technical concepts clearly and effectively makes you a great fit for developing and delivering training programs for telecommunications technicians.

Logistics Coordinator

SOC 43-3071

You've been managing equipment inventories, coordinating maintenance schedules, and ensuring that resources are available when and where they are needed. This experience translates directly to logistics coordination, where you can use your organizational skills and attention to detail to optimize supply chains and streamline operations.

Field Service Technician (Renewable Energy)

SOC 49-9071

You've been working with complex electronic systems in remote locations, often under challenging conditions. This experience is highly valuable in the renewable energy sector, where field service technicians install, maintain, and repair solar panels, wind turbines, and other equipment in remote and often harsh environments. Your troubleshooting skills and ability to work independently make you a great fit for this role.

Training & Education Equivalencies

SATCOM Ground Station Equipment Operator/Maintainer Course, Fort Gordon, GA

920 training hours23 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in electronics or telecommunications

Topics Covered

  • Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Theory and Principles
  • Operation and Maintenance of AN/TSC-93E
  • Operation and Maintenance of AN/TSC-167
  • Operation and Maintenance of AN/GSC-39B
  • Network Management and Troubleshooting
  • Antenna Theory, Operation, and Maintenance
  • Cryptographic Equipment Operation and Maintenance
  • Power Generation and Distribution Systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Network+70% covered

Focus on advanced networking concepts like routing protocols, network security, and troubleshooting specific to enterprise environments. Review the latest networking standards and technologies.

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)60% covered

Study specific electronic components, advanced troubleshooting techniques, and industry standards related to electronics repair beyond military applications. Focus on consumer and industrial electronics systems.

Project Management Professional (PMP)30% covered

Learn the five project management process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) and the ten knowledge areas as defined by PMI. Study earned value management, risk management, and stakeholder management in depth.

Recommended Next Certifications

CompTIA Security+Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)ITIL 4 Foundation

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/TSC-93E Satellite Communications TerminalCommercial satellite communication terminals (e.g., those used by Hughes, Viasat)
AN/GSC-39B Satellite Ground TerminalLarge-scale satellite earth stations for data and voice communications
Joint Network Node (JNN)Enterprise network management systems (e.g., Cisco DNA Center, SolarWinds)
Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT)Mobile satellite internet systems (e.g., Starlink, Inmarsat BGAN)
Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)Wide area network (WAN) technologies and services (e.g., MPLS, VPNs)
Integrated Network Management System (INMS)Network monitoring and management software (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix)
Spectrum Analyzers (e.g., Agilent, Rohde & Schwarz)RF spectrum analyzers used in telecommunications and broadcast industries

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