56671 Career Guide
56671: Utilities Systems Journeyman
Career transition guide for Air Force Utilities Systems Journeyman (56671)
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Top civilian roles for 56671 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Plumber
Skills to develop:
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Skills to develop:
Fire Sprinkler System Installer
Skills to develop:
HVAC Technician
Skills to develop:
Facilities Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 56671 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
This role requires understanding how various systems (plumbing, wastewater, fuel distribution) interact and affect each other, as well as how changes in one part of a system will propagate throughout.
Your ability to understand complex systems allows you to predict the impact of changes and optimize performance in various civilian settings.
Procedural Compliance
The job demands strict adherence to environmental, safety, and DoD regulations. Your work is consistently held to external standards, and requires you to understand, implement, and document compliance.
Your commitment to following procedures and regulations makes you an ideal candidate for roles requiring strict adherence to industry standards and legal requirements.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You're trained to maintain critical systems even when some parts fail. This includes troubleshooting malfunctions in mechanical and electrical system controls, using schematics to isolate problems, and finding ways to keep things running smoothly under stress.
Your experience operating and fixing systems under duress means you're great at keeping things running, and your ability to troubleshoot effectively will be valued by employers who need someone who can get the job done no matter what.
Resource Optimization
You're involved in planning activities and cost estimation for projects, which means you are responsible for maximizing the effectiveness of available resources and supplies, while minimizing waste and unnecessary expenditure.
Your ability to plan projects and manage resources effectively means you can excel in roles where efficiency and cost-consciousness are critical.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Energy Auditor
SOC 13-1199.02You've been working with complex systems and regulations your entire career. As an Energy Auditor, you'll use your knowledge of building systems and resource optimization to identify areas for improvement and reduce energy consumption for businesses or homeowners.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've spent years adhering to strict environmental, safety, and DoD regulations. You're already familiar with the detailed procedures and documentation required to maintain compliance, making this a natural fit.
Facilities Manager
SOC 11-3012.00You've been responsible for the smooth operation of utilities, fuel systems, and water treatment. You're well-versed in system maintenance, troubleshooting, and resource allocation, and those are all skills you can leverage in Facilities Management.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Utilities Systems Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
Topics Covered
- •Plumbing Systems Installation and Repair
- •Water and Wastewater Treatment Principles
- •Natural Gas Distribution Systems
- •Fire Suppression Systems Maintenance
- •Backflow Prevention Device Inspection and Repair
- •Fuel Storage and Distribution Systems
- •Environmental Compliance and Safety Procedures
- •Blueprint Reading and System Schematics
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Local plumbing codes, specific pipe fitting techniques, and business/legal aspects of plumbing contracting (depending on the license level).
Specific makes/models of backflow preventers, local testing procedures, and reporting requirements.
Specific water chemistry, local regulations, advanced treatment processes, and lab procedures.
Specific wastewater chemistry, local regulations, advanced treatment processes, and lab procedures.
NFPA 13 standards in detail, specific sprinkler system types, and inspection/testing procedures.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Hydrant Refueling Systems | Aviation Fueling Systems |
| Fuels Mobility Support Equipment (FMSE) | Mobile Fuel Delivery Systems |
| Fuels Operational Readiness Capability Equipment (FORCE) | Rapid Fuel Deployment Systems |
| Backflow Prevention Assemblies | Backflow Preventers |
| Potable Water Treatment Equipment | Commercial Water Filtration Systems |
| DESC (Defense Energy Support Center) Fuel Management Systems | Enterprise Fuel Management Software |
| Cathodic Protection Systems | Corrosion Control Systems |
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