New Cohort Starts:

Donate

3P091 Career Guide

Air Force

3P091: Security Forces Specialist

Career transition guide for Air Force Security Forces Specialist (3P091)

Translate Your 3P091 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 3P091 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Security Manager

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationOSHA safety standards knowledge

Law Enforcement Officer

$65K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Completion of a police academyState-specific law enforcement certification

Corporate Security Specialist

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Security+ certificationKnowledge of corporate security protocolsRisk assessment and management

Military Working Dog Handler (Contractor)

$70K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Updated dog handling certificationsSpecific breed certifications

Emergency Management Specialist

$72K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentialFEMA training coursesDisaster planning and response expertise

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 3P091 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Continuously monitoring surroundings for threats, unauthorized personnel, and unusual activities while on patrol or guarding installations. This extends to understanding the broader operational context and potential impacts on security.

Maintaining a constant awareness of the environment and potential risks, enabling proactive identification and mitigation of hazards in dynamic situations.

Procedural Compliance

Enforcing security protocols, legal regulations, and directives related to access control, use of force, and evidence handling. Strict adherence is crucial for maintaining safety, security, and legal defensibility.

Consistently following established procedures, regulations, and guidelines to ensure accuracy, safety, and compliance in highly regulated environments.

Rapid Prioritization

Responding to alarms, security breaches, or emergency situations, quickly assessing the situation, and allocating resources to address the most critical threats first. This is vital when protecting personnel and assets.

Swiftly evaluating situations, identifying critical issues, and allocating resources to address the most pressing needs in time-sensitive environments.

Adversarial Thinking

Anticipating potential threats and vulnerabilities in security systems and procedures. Developing countermeasures and defensive strategies to protect against potential attacks or breaches of security.

Identifying potential risks and weaknesses in systems or plans, and developing proactive strategies to mitigate threats and ensure resilience.

Team Synchronization

Coordinating with other security forces, law enforcement, and emergency responders during security operations, incident response, and emergency situations. Working together effectively is essential for mission success.

Collaborating effectively with diverse teams, coordinating activities, and ensuring seamless communication to achieve common goals in complex projects or operations.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You've been deeply trained in ensuring adherence to strict rules and regulations. This experience translates directly into the compliance sector, where you will develop, implement, and oversee compliance programs to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161

You're skilled in rapid response, risk assessment, and resource management in high-pressure situations. Your experience in emergency protocols and coordination makes you an ideal candidate to plan and coordinate responses to natural disasters or other emergencies.

Fraud Investigator

SOC 13-2099

You've honed your skills in observation, investigation, and evidence collection while working with law enforcement. This skillset is highly valuable in fraud investigation, where you'll analyze data, conduct interviews, and build cases to uncover fraudulent activities.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051

You're adept at gathering and interpreting information to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. You can leverage your analytical and critical thinking skills to analyze data, identify trends, and provide actionable intelligence in various sectors.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Security Forces Academy, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland

792 training hours11 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Criminal Justice or Security Management

Topics Covered

  • Air Base Ground Defense
  • Weapons Handling and Qualification (M4 Carbine, M9 Pistol, M240B Machine Gun, M203 Grenade Launcher, M249 SAW)
  • Law Enforcement Procedures
  • Security Tactics and Patrolling
  • Use of Force
  • Entry Control and Installation Security
  • Combatives

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)70% covered

Need to study business principles of security management, legal and ethical considerations, and advanced risk management techniques.

Physical Security Professional (PSP)75% covered

May need supplemental study on specialized areas like security lighting design, perimeter security systems involving complex electronic components, and advanced access control methodologies beyond basic entry control.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)60% covered

Needs to bridge the gap between military self-aid buddy care and civilian EMR protocols, focusing on local regulations, documentation, and additional medical skills.

Recommended Next Certifications

Security+ (CompTIA)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Antiterrorism Officer (CAO)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Integrated Entry Control System (IECS)Automated gate control and access management systems
Ground-Based Radar (GBR)Perimeter intrusion detection systems
AN/PRC-152 Multiband Handheld RadioMotorola APX series portable two-way radios
M240B Machine GunFN Herstal FN MAG general purpose machine gun (used by law enforcement and security firms)
Military Working Dog (MWD)K-9 Units
Final Protective Fire (FPF)Automated remote weapon systems
Non-Lethal Weapons (e.g., Taser, OC spray)Law enforcement less-lethal devices (e.g., Taser, Pepper Spray)

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 3P091 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free