31Q Career Guide
31Q: Tactical Telecommunications NCO
Career transition guide for Army Tactical Telecommunications NCO (31Q)
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Top civilian roles for 31Q veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer
Skills to develop:
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
Skills to develop:
Electronics Engineering Technician
Skills to develop:
First-Line Supervisor of Communications Equipment Installers and Repairers
Skills to develop:
Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 31Q training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
You're responsible for understanding how all the elements of a communications system fit together, from the satellite links down to the individual radios, and how information flows through it all.
You can visualize and understand complex systems, identifying potential bottlenecks and points of failure, and optimizing their performance.
Rapid Prioritization
When communication lines go down, you have to quickly assess the impact, determine which circuits are most critical, and direct resources to restore them first.
You excel at quickly assessing situations, identifying critical tasks, and focusing your efforts on what matters most in high-pressure environments.
Team Synchronization
You're responsible for ensuring that your team members, from the technicians maintaining the equipment to the operators using it, are all working together seamlessly to achieve a common goal.
You are adept at coordinating the efforts of diverse teams, ensuring everyone is on the same page, and driving projects to successful completion.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You're trained to keep communications running even when equipment fails or resources are limited, using backup systems and creative problem-solving to maintain essential services.
You have the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges, find creative solutions when resources are scarce, and maintain operations under difficult circumstances.
Resource Optimization
You constantly manage resources, ensuring equipment is available, maintenance schedules are met, and personnel are efficiently deployed to maintain communication networks.
You are skilled in allocating resources effectively, managing budgets, and streamlining operations to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Logistics Analyst
SOC 13-2081You've been managing the flow of equipment, personnel, and supplies to maintain complex communication systems. Your experience in coordinating logistics requirements translates directly into this role, where you'll analyze and optimize supply chains for businesses.
Emergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161You've been planning for and responding to communications failures in high-pressure situations. Your skills in rapid prioritization, degraded-mode operations, and team synchronization are invaluable in preparing for and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Network Security Analyst
SOC 15-1212You've been implementing COMSEC, SIGSEC, and OPSEC to protect sensitive communications. Your understanding of network vulnerabilities and security protocols makes you well-suited to protecting computer networks from cyber threats.
Technical Trainer
SOC 25-9041You've been developing and delivering training programs on complex communication systems. Your ability to break down technical concepts and explain them clearly makes you an effective instructor for adult learners in various technical fields.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Signal NCO Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Fort Eisenhower, GA
Topics Covered
- •Advanced Satellite Communications Theory and Operation
- •Microwave and Troposcatter Systems Configuration and Troubleshooting
- •Network Management and Optimization
- •Communications Security (COMSEC) Procedures and Protocols
- •Spectrum Management and Frequency Allocation
- •Leadership and Team Management
- •Tactical Communications Planning and Implementation
- •Troubleshooting complex communication systems
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires study of specific wireless networking protocols, troubleshooting techniques, and vendor-specific equipment configurations not covered in general military communications training.
Requires some additional study in areas such as specific networking protocols, cloud concepts, and software-defined networking, as military training is heavily focused on tactical communication equipment.
While military experience provides project management skills, formal PMP certification requires studying the PMBOK guide, project management methodologies, and processes for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| AN/TSC-93E Tactical Satellite Terminal | Satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium) |
| AN/TRC-170 Tropospheric Scatter Radio | Microwave backhaul systems, point-to-point wireless communication |
| Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) | Secure mobile communication devices with anti-jamming capabilities |
| Tactical Communications Security (COMSEC) equipment (e.g., KY-58, KG-84) | Encryption software and hardware (e.g., AES encryption, VPNs, hardware security modules) |
| Joint Automated Management and Accounting System (JAMIS) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for logistics and supply chain management (e.g., SAP, Oracle) |
| Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS) | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) for terrain analysis and route planning |
| AN/PRC-117F Multiband Manpack Radio | Commercial multiband handheld radios used for emergency services |
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