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3P072 Career Guide

Air Force

3P072: Security Forces Specialist

Career transition guide for Air Force Security Forces Specialist (3P072)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 3P072 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Police Officer

$68K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Completion of a Police AcademyPeace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification

Security Manager

$95K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certificationProject Management skills

Corrections Officer

$55K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Completion of Corrections AcademyCrisis intervention training

Emergency Management Specialist

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificationHAZMAT trainingIncident Command System (ICS) training

Canine Handler/Trainer

$50K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specialized K-9 handling certificationsExperience with specific breed trainingVeterinary first aid

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 3P072 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

3P072s constantly scan their environment for threats, assess risks, and anticipate potential dangers to maintain security and protect assets.

This vigilance translates directly to the ability to quickly grasp the dynamics of any environment, anticipate problems, and make informed decisions under pressure.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to strict protocols, rules, and regulations is paramount in security operations, ensuring consistent and effective responses.

You understand the importance of following established guidelines and procedures to maintain order, minimize risk, and achieve desired outcomes.

Adversarial Thinking

Security Forces personnel are trained to think like adversaries, anticipating potential threats and vulnerabilities to proactively defend against attacks.

You possess the ability to identify potential weaknesses in systems or plans and develop effective countermeasures to protect against risks or threats.

Rapid Prioritization

Responding to emergencies, assessing threats, and managing resources requires the ability to quickly prioritize tasks and make critical decisions under pressure.

You excel at quickly triaging competing demands, focusing on the most critical tasks, and allocating resources effectively in fast-paced environments.

Team Synchronization

SFs operate as a cohesive unit, coordinating actions and communicating effectively to achieve common objectives, especially in high-pressure situations.

Your experience translates to the ability to seamlessly integrate with a team, coordinate efforts, and communicate effectively to achieve shared goals.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-2005.00

You've been immersed in environments demanding strict adherence to regulations. This makes you exceptionally well-suited to ensure companies follow internal policies and external laws, mitigating risk and maintaining ethical standards. Your experience in security translates directly to ensuring regulatory compliance.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 29-1129.05

You've honed your skills in responding to emergencies, assessing threats, and coordinating resources. You can leverage this experience to plan and coordinate responses to natural disasters, security threats, or other emergencies, safeguarding communities and organizations.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2011.00

You've been trained to observe irregularities, investigate incidents, and gather evidence. This makes you ideally suited to detect and investigate fraudulent activities, protect assets, and ensure ethical business practices. Your adversarial thinking skills will be invaluable in uncovering and preventing fraud.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 11-9199.00

You've led and managed security operations, protected assets, and mitigated risks. Now you can apply your expertise to oversee security measures for corporations, safeguarding employees, property, and information from threats. Your experience in force protection directly translates to ensuring corporate security.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Security Forces Academy, JBSA Lackland, TX

560 training hours14 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Criminal Justice or Security Management

Topics Covered

  • Security Force Operations
  • Law Enforcement Procedures
  • Weapons Handling and Qualification (M4, M240)
  • Air Base Defense
  • Use of Force
  • Combatives
  • First Aid/Self Aid Buddy Care
  • Military Working Dog Support Procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)60% covered

Requires study of business principles, security management concepts, legal aspects of security, and crisis management, which may not be fully covered in the military training.

Physical Security Professional (PSP)70% covered

Requires study of physical security systems, application, and design that are not directly covered by the military training.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)75% covered

Requires study of detailed medical protocols and procedures beyond basic first aid and CPR. Specific focus on patient assessment, airway management, and splinting is needed.

Recommended Next Certifications

Security+ (CompTIA)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)Commercial Security Alarm Systems (e.g., ADT, Vivint)
Land Mobile Radio (LMR) SystemsTwo-way Radio Communication Systems (e.g., Motorola, Kenwood)
M4 CarbineAR-15 style rifles
M240B Machine GunCommercial Equivalent Machine Guns (Law Enforcement/Military Only)
Military Working Dog (MWD) ProgramK-9 Units (Police, Private Security)
Automated Installation Entry (AIE) SystemAccess Control Systems (e.g., Kisi, Brivo)
Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) DevicesCommercial Breathalyzers (e.g., Intoximeter, AlcoMate)

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