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51D Career Guide

Army

51D: Acquisition Officer

Career transition guide for Army Acquisition Officer (51D)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 51D veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Acquisition Manager

$140K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Specific industry knowledge (e.g., IT, healthcare)Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, FAC-C)

Project Manager

$120K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

PMP CertificationAgile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)

Logistics Manager

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Supply chain management certifications (e.g., CSCP, CLTD)Specific logistics software proficiency (e.g., SAP, Oracle)

Management Consultant

$130K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant advanced degreeConsulting experience (internship or entry-level position)Industry-specific expertise

Government Contracts Manager

$135K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) expertiseContract negotiation skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 51D training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 51D, you developed thorough knowledge of the Life Cycle Systems Management Model and its phases, allowing you to understand and manage complex systems from conception to disposal.

This translates to an ability to understand and optimize complex business processes, identify inefficiencies, and implement improvements by visualizing the entire system.

Resource Optimization

Your broad acquisition knowledge and experience mean you're skilled in allocating resources effectively across various projects and phases, ensuring maximum return on investment.

This ability to strategically allocate resources is highly valuable in civilian business settings for maximizing productivity and achieving cost-effectiveness.

Procedural Compliance

Your role required a thorough knowledge of the Concept Based Requirements System (CBRS) and the materiel acquisition process. You understand the importance of following established procedures to achieve desired outcomes.

This meticulous attention to detail and commitment to following protocol will be invaluable in regulated industries where compliance is essential.

After-Action Analysis

Involved in complex acquisition programs, you've likely participated in after-action reviews to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in future projects.

Your experience translates directly to the civilian world by enhancing your ability to critically evaluate projects, identify areas for improvement, and implement more effective strategies.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been trained to manage complex acquisition programs and understand the entire life cycle of a product. This makes you well-suited to advise businesses on how to improve their operations, optimize resource allocation, and manage projects more effectively.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

You've been immersed in procedural compliance through the CBRS and materiel acquisition processes. You're well-equipped to ensure that businesses are adhering to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies.

Business Process Analyst

SOC 13-1111

You've been modeling complex systems for years, and can bring a valuable understanding of how to improve those systems. As a business process analyst, you'll use these skills to analyze and improve organizational workflows, documentation, and processes.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Army Acquisition Basic Course, Fort Lee, VA

240 training hours6 weeksVaries; typically 3-6 semester hours recommended in business administration or management

Topics Covered

  • •Defense Acquisition System
  • •Contracting Fundamentals
  • •Cost and Financial Management
  • •Program Management
  • •Life Cycle Logistics
  • •Systems Engineering
  • •Test and Evaluation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)70% covered

Study the PMI framework, focusing on stakeholder management, communications, and risk management, and memorize the 49 project management processes as outlined in the PMBOK.

Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM)60% covered

Review the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) in detail, focusing on contract types, pricing, and negotiation strategies specific to federal contracting.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Acquisition Professional (various levels depending on experience)Lean Six Sigma Black BeltCertified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Concept Based Requirements System (CBRS)Requirements Management Software (e.g., IBM Rational DOORS, Jama Connect)
Life Cycle Systems Management ModelProject Lifecycle Management (PLM) software (e.g., Siemens Teamcenter, Dassault Systèmes ENOVIA)
Defense Acquisition System (DAS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) procurement modules (e.g., SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement Cloud)
Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS)Strategic planning and portfolio management software (e.g., Planview Enterprise One, Changepoint PPM)
Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools (ACEIT)Cost estimation software (e.g., Biddingo, CostPerform)
Systems Engineering Management Chart (SEMC)Systems modeling software (e.g., Cameo Systems Modeler, Sparx Enterprise Architect)

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