New Cohort Starts:

Donate

2E031D Career Guide

Air Force

2E031D: Ground Radar Systems Technician

Career transition guide for Air Force Ground Radar Systems Technician (2E031D)

Translate Your 2E031D Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 2E031D veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license

Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

$68K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Vendor-specific certifications (e.g., Cisco, Juniper)Fiber optic installation and repair

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technician

$72K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

CAD software proficiencyPLC programmingAdvanced circuit analysis

Wind Turbine Technician

$65K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Wind turbine safety certificationClimbing and rescue certificationExperience with hydraulic systems

Radar Technician

$80K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Experience with specific radar systems used in civilian air traffic control or weather forecasting

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 2E031D training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You developed an intricate understanding of complex radar systems, enabling you to predict how changes in one component would affect the overall system performance. You used this skill when troubleshooting malfunctions, planning installations, and optimizing system configurations.

Your ability to grasp complex systems and their interdependencies translates to a valuable skill in understanding and optimizing various business processes and technological frameworks.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You maintained and repaired critical radar systems, even under challenging conditions, often with limited resources or incomplete information. You developed resourceful and adaptive strategies to keep these systems operational.

Your experience in maintaining critical systems under duress equips you with exceptional problem-solving skills, allowing you to quickly adapt to unexpected challenges and maintain operational continuity.

Procedural Compliance

You strictly adhered to technical orders, safety regulations, and maintenance procedures to ensure the reliable and safe operation of ground radar systems. Your attention to detail and adherence to protocol were crucial to mission success.

Your meticulous adherence to procedures and regulations makes you exceptionally reliable and well-suited for roles requiring strict compliance, risk management, and consistent performance.

Resource Optimization

You managed resources effectively, including tools, support equipment, personnel, and supplies, to ensure efficient maintenance and repair operations. You identified and implemented improvements to enhance maintenance effectiveness and reduce downtime.

Your ability to manage resources and optimize processes translates into improved efficiency and cost savings for any organization. Your proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement makes you an asset in any operational environment.

Situational Awareness

You were responsible for maintaining a constant awareness of the operational status of ground radar systems and associated equipment. This awareness allowed you to proactively identify and address potential issues, ensuring continuous operational readiness.

Your ability to maintain a high level of situational awareness and anticipate potential problems will enable you to proactively manage risks and ensure the seamless operation of complex systems and processes in a civilian setting.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security Analyst

SOC 15-1212

You've been hands-on with sophisticated radar systems, giving you an in-depth understanding of how critical infrastructure works. This experience translates perfectly to securing industrial control systems from cyber threats, as you can think like both an operator and a defender. Your experience adapting to degraded-mode operations will also be essential in these environments.

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9062

You've excelled at diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining complex electromechanical systems like radar. That's exactly the skill set needed to keep robotic systems running smoothly in manufacturing, logistics, and other industries. Your experience with procedural compliance and resource optimization will make you a standout in this field.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9099

You've honed your skills in electrical and mechanical systems, troubleshooting, and maintenance with radar systems. These are highly transferable skills to the wind energy sector, where you'll be maintaining and repairing wind turbines, a critical component of renewable energy infrastructure. Your experience with situational awareness and degraded-mode operations will be crucial for success in this role.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Ground Radar Systems Maintenance Course, Keesler AFB, MS

1,120 training hours28 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology and telecommunications.

Topics Covered

  • Radar Theory and Principles
  • Electronic Warfare Systems
  • Antenna Systems and Waveguides
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Troubleshooting and Repair of Radar Systems
  • Air Traffic Control Radar (ATCR) Systems
  • Weather Radar Systems
  • Radar Operator Training Devices Maintenance

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Focus on specific electronics troubleshooting techniques and industry best practices not covered in military training. Review the CET exam blueprint for detailed topics.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Study civilian networking technologies, protocols, and troubleshooting. Focus on current network security best practices and cloud networking concepts.

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)40% covered

Learn cybersecurity fundamentals including risk management, incident response, and security technologies as applied in civilian contexts.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Radar Technician (CRT)CCNA - Routing and Switching

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/TPS-75 Radar SystemModern long-range air surveillance radar systems used at civilian airports and by air traffic control organizations.
AN/GPN-27 Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR)Civilian Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) systems for air traffic control.
AN/TPN-19 Landing Control CentralMobile air traffic control towers and landing systems used at smaller civilian airports or for disaster response.
IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) SystemsSecondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) used in civilian air traffic control to identify aircraft.
Radar Data Remoting SystemsWide Area Network (WAN) systems for distributing radar data to remote air traffic control centers.
ATC Communication Systems (VHF/UHF Radios)Commercial VHF/UHF radio systems used for air traffic control communications.
Ground-to-Air Radio (GATR) systemsLand Mobile Radio (LMR) systems for communication with aircraft.

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 2E031D experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free