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46D Career Guide

Army

46D: Improved HAWK System Mechanic

Career transition guide for Army Improved HAWK System Mechanic (46D)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 46D veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenseSpecific avionics systems training

Industrial Maintenance Mechanic

$65K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) trainingExperience with specific industrial equipment (e.g., robotics)

Field Service Technician

$70K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Excellent customer service skillsStrong communication skillsSpecific product certifications (depending on the industry)

Quality Control Inspector

$55K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

ASQ Certified Quality Inspector (CQI) certificationFamiliarity with ISO 9001 standards

Wind Turbine Technician

$60K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Wind turbine safety trainingClimbing and rescue certificationElectrical troubleshooting in renewable energy systems

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 46D training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 46D, you constantly work with complex electro-mechanical systems, needing to understand how each component interacts to ensure the entire HAWK missile system functions correctly. You are essentially building and maintaining mental models of these intricate systems.

This ability to visualize and understand how complex systems work translates directly to roles that require understanding interconnected processes and identifying potential points of failure.

Procedural Compliance

Your work demands strict adherence to technical manuals, safety regulations, and maintenance procedures. Lives depend on your precise execution of these protocols.

This ingrained discipline in following established procedures is highly valuable in regulated industries where precision and consistency are paramount.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You're skilled at troubleshooting and repairing systems even when facing limited resources, incomplete information, or unexpected challenges in the field. You find workarounds and keep the system running.

Your ability to maintain functionality under duress demonstrates resilience and adaptability, essential for roles requiring quick thinking and problem-solving in challenging situations.

Resource Optimization

You are responsible for managing maintenance equipment, tools, and supplies to ensure efficient repair operations. You understand how to allocate resources effectively to meet mission requirements.

Your experience optimizing resources translates to civilian roles where efficiency and cost-effectiveness are essential, such as operations management or project management.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Building Automation Systems Technician

SOC 49-9012.00

You've been working with complex electro-mechanical systems, including electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical components. Building automation systems require similar skills in troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair. Your familiarity with interpreting schematics and technical manuals will also be highly valuable.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9099.01

You've honed your skills working on the HAWK missile system, involving electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical components. Wind turbines are complex machines requiring similar expertise in maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting. Your experience in interpreting technical manuals and following strict procedures translates directly.

Amusement and Recreation Mechanic

SOC 49-9091.00

You've developed expertise in maintaining complex mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems. Amusement park rides share similar technologies, demanding strong diagnostic and repair abilities. Your experience with safety protocols and preventative maintenance will also be an asset.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Missile and Electronics Maintenance Training, Fort Sill, OK

680 training hours17 weeksUp to 9 semester hours in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • •HAWK missile system overview and components
  • •Electrical and hydraulic systems maintenance
  • •Electro-mechanical troubleshooting
  • •Launcher superstructure repair
  • •Radar system maintenance procedures
  • •Use of diagnostic and testing equipment
  • •Technical manual interpretation
  • •Safety protocols and procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronic Technician (CET)60% covered

Requires studying current electronic theory, troubleshooting techniques, and specific knowledge related to consumer or industrial electronics, depending on the CET specialization.

Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP)40% covered

Requires studying business management, manufacturing process reliability, equipment reliability, and organization leadership as related to maintenance and reliability programs.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)Lean Six Sigma Green BeltAssociate Safety Professional (ASP)

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