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36P3 Career Guide

Air Force

36P3: Personnelist

Career transition guide for Air Force Personnelist (36P3)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 36P3 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Human Resources Manager

$120K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Familiarity with specific HR software (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors)Knowledge of current employment law and regulations

Training and Development Specialist

$85K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design methodologiesE-learning development tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate)Needs assessment and evaluation techniques

Equal Opportunity/Diversity and Inclusion Manager

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Deep understanding of diversity and inclusion best practicesConflict resolution and mediation skillsCertification in diversity and inclusion (e.g., SHRM-SCP, CCP)

Compliance Officer

$80K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of industry-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA, OSHA, environmental regulations)Risk assessment and mitigation strategiesAuditing experience

Management Consultant

$110K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant graduate degreeStrong analytical and problem-solving skillsConsulting experience (internship or project-based work)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 36P3 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a personnel programs administrator, you developed models of how personnel systems function, predicting the impact of policy changes or resource constraints on personnel readiness and effectiveness.

This ability to understand and simulate complex systems translates to analyzing business processes, supply chains, or market dynamics, allowing you to forecast outcomes and optimize performance in various civilian sectors.

Resource Optimization

You determined functional responsibilities, manning requirements, and assignment of personnel, optimizing resource allocation to meet organizational goals.

Optimizing resource allocation directly translates to skills needed in roles that maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall profitability or service delivery in a business environment.

Situational Awareness

You monitored and directed activities to translate program policies into directives, publications, and training manuals while understanding the impact on various stakeholders.

This involves maintaining a broad understanding of the environment and its many factors to make informed decisions. In a civilian context, this heightened awareness is highly valuable for risk management, strategic planning, and adaptive problem-solving.

After-Action Analysis

You evaluated problems identified in course, curriculum, or program reviews and instructional improvement techniques.

This involves the ability to review past events to identify areas of improvement, which translates into skills needed for quality assurance, process improvement, and strategic development in a wide range of industries.

Rapid Prioritization

You consulted with commanders and staff personnel on priority of training programs, enabling focus on the most critical needs.

In many roles, the ability to quickly assess a situation, identify the most important tasks, and allocate resources accordingly is crucial for maintaining efficiency and achieving goals.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Process Analyst

SOC 13-1111

You've been optimizing complex personnel programs and training initiatives. As a Business Process Analyst, you'll apply that same analytical mindset to streamline business operations, identify inefficiencies, and implement improvements. Your knack for understanding and improving systems makes you a natural fit!

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You're already skilled in translating policies into directives and ensuring adherence. As a Compliance Officer, you'll use that experience to develop and implement compliance programs, monitor adherence to regulations, and mitigate risks for organizations. Your attention to detail and commitment to upholding standards will be invaluable!

Training and Development Specialist

SOC 13-1151

You've developed and conducted education and training programs. As a Training and Development Specialist, you will be able to leverage your previous experience to create and deliver employee training programs. Your experience will help you identify the skills and knowledge gaps within an organization and develop effective training solutions to address those needs.

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've formulated programs, plans, and policies at a high level. As a Management Consultant, you will be able to translate that experience into helping businesses solve problems, improve performance, and achieve goals. Your analytical skills, strategic mindset, and ability to work with different stakeholders will allow you to drive significant impact for your clients.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Personnel Apprentice Course, Keesler AFB, MS

280 training hours7 weeksUp to 3 semester hours recommended in Human Resources Management

Topics Covered

  • Personnel Systems Management
  • Military Personnel Data Systems (MilPDS)
  • Personnel Readiness and Contingency Operations
  • Equal Opportunity and Social Actions Programs
  • Training Program Development and Evaluation
  • Air Force Classification and Assignment Procedures
  • Personnel Records Management
  • Human Relations and Substance Abuse Prevention

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

SHRM-CP60% covered

Requires study of US-specific employment law, compensation and benefits strategies, and talent acquisition best practices as defined by SHRM.

Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)70% covered

Requires additional focus on the business side of training, ROI, and advanced training technologies.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Requires structured study of the PMBOK guide, formal project management methodologies, and the PMP exam format.

Recommended Next Certifications

SHRM-SCPCertified Diversity Professional (CDP)Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP)Master's Degree in Human Resources or related field

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
MilPDS (Military Personnel Data System)Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or Oracle HCM Cloud
vMPF (virtual Military Personnel Flight)Employee self-service portals such as those found within ADP or Ceridian Dayforce
LeaveWebTime-off and leave management software like BambooHR or Paycom
Air Force Training Record (AFTR)Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Canvas, or Blackboard
Case Management System (CMS)Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms like Salesforce or Zendesk for managing personnel issues and resolutions
Automated Civil Rights Complaint Processing System (ACRCPS)Case management software like i-Sight or complaints management modules within HR software

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