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39Y Career Guide

Army

39Y: Field Artillery Tactical Fire Direction Systems Repairer

Career transition guide for Army Field Artillery Tactical Fire Direction Systems Repairer (39Y)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 39Y veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Field Service Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Vendor-specific certifications (e.g., Siemens, GE)Advanced troubleshooting techniques

Computer and Network Support Technician

$65K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

CompTIA Network+Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Avionics Technician

$78K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenseAircraft-specific maintenance training

Technical Trainer

$70K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design principlesCurriculum developmentExcellent communication skills

Electronic Equipment Repairer

$60K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Latest diagnostic software trainingSpecific repair certifications (e.g., IPC)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 39Y training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 39Y, you maintained and supervised maintenance on complex fire direction systems. This required you to understand how all the components interacted, predict potential failures, and troubleshoot effectively.

Your ability to understand complex systems and predict their behavior translates directly to analyzing and optimizing various civilian systems, from supply chains to software architectures.

Rapid Prioritization

When systems went down, you had to quickly assess the severity of the problem, identify the critical components, and prioritize repairs to get the system back online ASAP.

This skill is invaluable in fast-paced civilian environments where you need to make quick decisions under pressure and allocate resources effectively.

Procedural Compliance

Maintaining complex systems requires strict adherence to protocols and procedures. As a 39Y, you ensured all maintenance activities followed established guidelines and safety regulations.

Your commitment to following procedures and maintaining high standards of quality is highly sought after in regulated industries and organizations that value consistency and reliability.

Team Synchronization

You supervised and coordinated teams of technicians to ensure efficient and effective maintenance operations. This required clear communication, delegation, and collaboration.

Your ability to lead and synchronize teams translates to managing projects, coordinating tasks, and fostering collaboration in any civilian organization.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Logistics Analyst

SOC 13-2081.00

You've been managing complex systems and coordinating teams to keep things running smoothly. As a Logistics Analyst, you'll use these skills to optimize supply chains, analyze data, and improve overall efficiency.

Technical Trainer

SOC 25-9041.00

Your experience training junior personnel on complex systems makes you an ideal candidate for a technical trainer role. You already know how to break down complex topics, explain them clearly, and assess understanding.

IT Systems Administrator

SOC 15-1244.00

You have hands-on experience managing complex systems, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring optimal performance. You can leverage that experience as a Systems Administrator, keeping computer systems running smoothly.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

Your dedication to following procedures and maintaining high standards makes you well-suited for a role in compliance. You understand the importance of regulations and can ensure organizations adhere to them.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Electronic Maintenance Course, Fort Sill, OK

680 training hours17 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • Advanced troubleshooting of digital and analog circuits
  • Operation and maintenance of TACFIRE systems
  • Variable Format Message Entry Device (VFME) maintenance
  • System-specific test equipment operation and repair
  • Supervision and technical guidance techniques
  • Networking fundamentals as applied to fire direction systems
  • Advanced diagnostic procedures for FA tactical systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA A+70% covered

Study specific troubleshooting steps for non-military hardware and software, and general IT customer service skills.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

Focus on modern networking technologies and civilian network security practices not covered in military-specific systems.

CompTIA Security+50% covered

Learn about compliance regulations (HIPAA, PCI DSS) and incident response procedures within civilian IT infrastructure.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)ITIL 4 Foundation

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
TACFIRE (Tactical Fire Control System)Military-grade fire control systems; potentially adaptable to industrial process control
AN/GYK-29(V) Variable Format Message Entry Device (VFME)Industrial ruggedized computers with specialized data entry interfaces
Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for TACFIREAutomated testing and diagnostics systems for electronic components (e.g., Teradyne, Keysight)
Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) for terrain analysis
AN/TPQ-50 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar (LCMR)Ground surveillance radar systems used in border security or critical infrastructure protection
Forward Entry Device (FED)Ruggedized handheld computers/tablets for data collection and entry in harsh environments

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