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37F4 Career Guide

Air Force

37F4: Force Support Officer

Career transition guide for Air Force Force Support Officer (37F4)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 37F4 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Human Resources Manager

$120K
High matchHigh demand

Training and Development Manager

$115K
High matchGrowing demand

Management Analyst

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Consulting skillsData analysisMBA or relevant certification

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certificationsLocal government experience

Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner

$60K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certificationEvent planning software proficiency

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 37F4 training built — and where they transfer.

Resource Optimization

Managing manpower, equipment, and financial resources across diverse programs like food service, lodging, recreation, and mortuary affairs, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization to meet mission requirements.

Effectively allocating resources, including personnel, budgets, and materials, to maximize efficiency and achieve organizational goals. This involves strategic planning, cost analysis, and performance monitoring to ensure optimal resource utilization.

Procedural Compliance

Ensuring adherence to Air Force policies, standards, and regulations across a wide range of functional areas, including personnel management, financial operations, and quality of service programs, maintaining accountability and minimizing risk.

Meticulously following established protocols, regulations, and guidelines to ensure consistency, accuracy, and legal compliance in all activities. This involves understanding complex procedures, documenting processes, and maintaining a high level of attention to detail.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating and synchronizing diverse teams and functions, such as food operations, fitness programs, and lodging services, to support the overall mission and ensure seamless delivery of services to Airmen and their families.

Effectively coordinating diverse teams and resources to achieve common goals, ensuring seamless communication, collaboration, and efficient workflow management across different departments or functional areas.

Situational Awareness

Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment, including personnel needs, resource availability, and potential challenges, to anticipate and respond effectively to changing circumstances and ensure mission readiness.

Quickly assessing and understanding complex and dynamic situations, considering various factors and potential risks, to make informed decisions and take appropriate action in a timely manner.

After-Action Analysis

Evaluating the effectiveness of programs and operations, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions to enhance performance and ensure continuous improvement in service delivery and resource management.

Systematically reviewing past events or projects to identify lessons learned, best practices, and areas for improvement, using data and feedback to optimize future performance and prevent recurrence of errors.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Business Operations Manager

SOC 13-1199.00

You've been orchestrating diverse support functions - food, lodging, recreation, and more - all while adhering to strict standards. Now, apply that expertise to optimize business processes, streamline operations, and drive efficiency in a corporate environment. You know how to manage multiple moving parts and that's gold.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You're a master of policy and procedure. You've ensured every program, from personnel to finance, adheres to Air Force regulations. As a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage that skill to ensure companies abide by laws and internal policies, minimizing risk and maintaining ethical standards. Your attention to detail makes you a perfect fit.

Human Resources Manager

SOC 11-3121.00

You've managed the entire employee lifecycle, from accession to retirement, and have a deep understanding of personnel programs and policies. Your skills are directly transferable to HR, where you can lead recruitment, training, and employee relations initiatives, building a thriving workplace. Your skills with SAPR and EO matters are extremely valuable.

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111.00

You've conducted management advisory studies and assessed organizational performance. Now, use your analytical skills and experience to help businesses improve their efficiency, effectiveness, and overall performance. Your ability to identify problems and recommend solutions will make you a valuable asset.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Force Support Officer Initial Skills Training, Maxwell AFB, AL

280 training hours7 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in Human Resource Management and Hospitality Management

Topics Covered

  • Manpower and Personnel Management
  • Food Service Operations
  • Lodging Management
  • Resource Management
  • Fitness and Recreation Programming
  • Mortuary Affairs
  • Casualty Reporting
  • Protocol Fundamentals

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

SHRM-CP70% covered

Requires studying US employment law, employee relations, and talent acquisition best practices as defined by SHRM.

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Requires additional study of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) framework, particularly around risk management, communications management, and stakeholder management.

Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)75% covered

Requires a focus on training methodologies, needs assessments, and evaluation techniques specific to civilian training environments.

Recommended Next Certifications

SHRM-SCPLean Six Sigma Black BeltCertified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Automated Business Services System (ABSS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP or Oracle Financials
Air Force Training Record (AFTR)Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Canvas or Moodle
Manpower Programming and Execution System (MPES)Workforce management software like Workday or ADP Workforce Now
Defense Travel System (DTS)Travel and expense management software like Concur or Expensify
Air Force Fitness Management System (AFFMS)Wellness program management software like WellRight or CoreHealth
Mortuary Affairs Tracking System (MATS)Case management systems with sensitive data handling capabilities
Advanced Distributed Learning Service (ADLS)Online training platforms like Coursera or Udemy for Business

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