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30A Career Guide

Army

30A: Information Operations Officer

Career transition guide for Army Information Operations Officer (30A)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 30A veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Information Security Analyst

$105K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Specific cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM, Security+)Knowledge of current cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilitiesExperience with security information and event management (SIEM) systems

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R)Familiarity with open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniquesUnderstanding of intelligence cycle and methodologies

Project Manager

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile or Scrum methodologiesExperience with project management software

Emergency Management Director

$80K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of FEMA guidelines and disaster response protocolsExperience in risk assessment and mitigationExcellent communication and leadership skills

Public Relations Manager

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Strong understanding of public relations strategiesExcellent written and verbal communication skillsExperience in media relations and crisis communication

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 30A training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As an IO officer, you constantly monitor the information environment, understanding the interplay of various factors (political, social, technological) to anticipate threats and opportunities.

This translates to the ability to quickly grasp complex situations, identify key elements, and predict potential outcomes in a dynamic business environment.

Adversarial Thinking

You are trained to think like the enemy, anticipating their actions and developing countermeasures to protect friendly information and systems.

This skill allows you to identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and develop proactive strategies to mitigate threats in competitive business landscapes.

Team Synchronization

You coordinate diverse teams, including military deception, electronic warfare, and psychological operations specialists, to achieve unified information effects.

This ability allows you to manage diverse teams, coordinate efforts, and ensure that everyone is working towards a common goal, even under pressure.

System Modeling

You develop and maintain mental models of complex information systems to understand how information flows and identify vulnerabilities.

You can analyze complex systems and develop models to predict how they will behave under different conditions, enabling better decision-making and strategic planning.

Rapid Prioritization

In a fast-paced operational environment, you must quickly assess the importance of various tasks and information, prioritizing those that are most critical to mission success.

You can quickly assess the urgency and importance of competing demands, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines and achieve critical objectives.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Market Research Analyst

SOC 19-3022

You've been analyzing complex information environments and anticipating adversary actions. As a Market Research Analyst, you'll use those same skills to analyze consumer behavior, market trends, and competitor strategies to advise companies on product development, pricing, and marketing campaigns.

Intelligence Analyst (Corporate)

SOC 19-3099

You're skilled at gathering and analyzing information to understand threats and opportunities. As a Corporate Intelligence Analyst, you'll be able to identify risks to the company and provide actionable intelligence to protect assets and maintain a competitive edge.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161

You're experienced in planning and coordinating responses to complex situations, bringing together diverse teams to mitigate risks. As an Emergency Management Director, you'll use these skills to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other crises.

Political Risk Analyst

SOC 19-3099

You're familiar with understanding the interplay of political, social, and economic factors in international environments. As a Political Risk Analyst, you will assess and advise businesses on the risks associated with political instability, social unrest, and other factors affecting their international operations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Information Operations Qualification Course (IOQC), Fort Liberty, NC

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended

Topics Covered

  • Information Operations Planning
  • Military Deception (MILDEC)
  • Operations Security (OPSEC)
  • Electronic Warfare (EW)
  • Psychological Operations (PSYOP)
  • Cyberspace Operations Integration
  • Information Environment Assessment
  • Joint Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)60% covered

Requires study of all domains, especially physical (facility) security, cryptography, and software development security. Also requires 5 years of cumulative paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP CBK.

Project Management Professional (PMP)50% covered

Requires formal project management training, documented project leadership experience, and studying the PMBOK guide. Focus on the five process groups and ten knowledge areas.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)40% covered

Requires study of hacking tools and techniques, as well as legal and ethical issues. Experience with network security and penetration testing is helpful.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)CompTIA Security+Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)Secure internet and data communication platforms for handling classified information
DCGS-A (Distributed Common Ground System-Army)Palantir, data fusion and analysis platforms
Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT)Spectrum management and signal analysis software
Joint Information Environment (JIE)Cloud-based enterprise IT infrastructure (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Microsoft Azure Government)
Military Deception (MILDEC) Planning ToolsStrategic communications and public relations campaign management software
Tactical PSYOP Toolkit (TPT)Social media analytics and engagement platforms
Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS)Satellite communication and data broadcasting services

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