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2E152 Career Guide

Air Force

2E152: Airfield Systems Specialist

Career transition guide for Air Force Airfield Systems Specialist (2E152)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 2E152 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) license

Electronics Technician

$65K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Specialized certifications (e.g., CompTIA)Industry-specific knowledge

Network Engineer

$90K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)CompTIA Network+Cybersecurity skills

Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

$60K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Vendor-specific certificationsAdvanced troubleshooting skills

Wind Turbine Technician

$62K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Safety certificationsMechanical aptitudeClimbing proficiency

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 2E152 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

Airfield Systems specialists analyze complex electronic and mechanical systems to understand their interdependencies and predict their behavior under various conditions. This includes understanding signal flow, power distribution, and environmental impacts on system performance.

This skill translates to the ability to create and use models to predict how complex systems will behave, crucial in fields that involve intricate operations and dependencies.

Procedural Compliance

This role requires strict adherence to detailed maintenance procedures, safety regulations, and operational checklists to ensure the reliable operation of critical airfield systems and the safety of flight operations.

Your meticulous adherence to protocols and regulations translates directly into a strong ability to maintain quality and safety standards in any regulated industry.

Situational Awareness

Airfield Systems specialists maintain constant awareness of the status of airfield systems, environmental conditions, and ongoing maintenance activities to anticipate potential problems and ensure the continuous availability of critical services.

Your ability to monitor complex environments and anticipate potential issues is highly valuable in roles requiring proactive problem-solving and risk management.

After-Action Analysis

This role requires thorough review of equipment performance trends, inspection findings, and maintenance activities to identify areas for improvement and prevent future system failures.

You have a proven ability to analyze past events, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions, a critical skill for continuous improvement in any organization.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9086

You've been maintaining complex electromechanical systems in mission-critical environments. Wind turbines are similar, and your skills in troubleshooting, repair, and procedural compliance are directly transferable.

Industrial Control Systems Technician

SOC 49-9041

Your experience in maintaining and troubleshooting airfield systems translates perfectly to the world of industrial automation. You're already familiar with PLCs, sensors, and communication networks, giving you a head start in this field.

Building Automation Systems Engineer

SOC 17-2199

You've developed a strong understanding of integrated systems through maintaining airfield equipment. Building automation relies on similar principles, making you well-prepared to manage and optimize building systems for efficiency and performance.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Airfield Systems Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, MS

1,152 training hours24 weeksUp to 9 semester hours in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • Airfield Navigation Aids (NAVAIDs) Theory and Maintenance
  • Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radio Systems
  • Meteorological Equipment Maintenance
  • Ground-to-Air Communication Systems
  • Electronic Principles and Troubleshooting
  • Antenna Systems and Transmission Lines
  • Flight Inspection Procedures
  • Preventative Maintenance and Safety Procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Requires study of current civilian electronics standards, troubleshooting techniques specific to non-military equipment, and some hands-on experience with consumer electronics.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Requires studying up-to-date networking technologies, protocols, and security practices commonly used in civilian networks. Focus on cloud networking, software-defined networking (SDN), and network automation.

FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)75% covered

Requires knowledge of FCC rules and regulations, as well as some understanding of modern radio communication systems not used by the military.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)ITIL 4 FoundationCertified Manager (CM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/MRN-68(V) Instrument Landing System (ILS)Commercial Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) used at civilian airports (e.g., Thales, Indra, Siemens)
AN/TRN-48 Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) systemDME (Distance Measuring Equipment) and VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) systems
Ground-to-Air Radio Systems (e.g., AN/GRC-211)Two-way radio communication systems, VHF/UHF radio transceivers (e.g., Motorola, Icom)
Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR)Commercial Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) systems (e.g., Raytheon, Thales)
Navigational Aids Flight Inspection SystemsSpecialized airborne navigation validation and calibration systems
TMOS (Technical Manual Online System)Online technical documentation and maintenance portals (e.g., Bentley, PTC)
Airfield Lighting Systems (e.g., ALSF-2, MALSR)Civilian airport lighting systems (e.g., ADB Safegate, OCEM Airfield Technology)

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