6120 Career Guide
6120: Surface Warfare Officer
Career transition guide for Navy Surface Warfare Officer (6120)
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Top civilian roles for 6120 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Operations Manager
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Director
Skills to develop:
Training and Development Manager
Skills to develop:
Intelligence Analyst
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 6120 training built — and where they transfer.
Situational Awareness
As a Surface Operations Officer, you maintained a constant awareness of your ship's position, potential threats, and the status of various onboard systems, all while coordinating with other team members. You had to process multiple streams of information simultaneously to make informed decisions under pressure.
This translates directly into the ability to perceive and understand complex environments in real-time, anticipate potential problems, and react accordingly. You're adept at gathering and synthesizing information from diverse sources, a crucial skill in dynamic civilian workplaces.
Rapid Prioritization
In a fast-paced environment like a Combat Information Center, you were constantly bombarded with information and faced with competing demands. You had to quickly assess the situation, identify the most critical tasks, and allocate resources effectively to address the most pressing concerns.
This honed your ability to triage tasks and make quick decisions based on importance and urgency. You excel at handling multiple projects simultaneously and ensuring that critical deadlines are met, even under pressure.
Team Synchronization
Your role required you to seamlessly coordinate the actions of various teams and individuals, ensuring that everyone was working towards a common goal. You facilitated communication, resolved conflicts, and maintained a cohesive team environment, even in high-stress situations.
You possess exceptional collaboration and leadership skills. You understand how to build effective teams, motivate individuals, and foster a culture of cooperation and shared responsibility. You are adept at coordinating complex projects and ensuring that all team members are aligned and working efficiently.
System Modeling
You developed a deep understanding of the complex systems that govern naval operations, including radar, sonar, and weapons systems. You were able to visualize how these systems interacted and predict their behavior in different scenarios.
You have a knack for understanding how complex systems work and how different components interact. You can quickly grasp new technologies and identify potential problems or areas for improvement. This ability allows you to optimize performance and troubleshoot issues effectively.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to maintain situational awareness under pressure, prioritize critical tasks, and coordinate the actions of diverse teams. Your experience in high-stakes environments makes you uniquely qualified to handle emergency situations.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00Your expertise in system modeling and resource optimization makes you an ideal candidate for managing complex supply chains and logistical operations. You're able to anticipate potential disruptions, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that goods and services are delivered on time and within budget.
Business Continuity Planner
SOC 13-1199.05You've honed your skills in degraded-mode operations and risk management, anticipating potential disruptions and developing plans to maintain business operations during emergencies. Your experience in developing contingency plans and coordinating disaster response efforts is invaluable in this role.
Intelligence Analyst
SOC 15-2051.00You've developed strong skills in situational awareness, pattern recognition, and adversarial thinking, analyzing complex information to identify threats and opportunities. Your experience in gathering, processing, and disseminating intelligence is highly valuable in this field.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), Newport, RI
Topics Covered
- •Shipboard Operations
- •Navigation and Piloting
- •Weapons Systems
- •Damage Control
- •Leadership and Team Management
- •Combat Information Center (CIC) Procedures
- •Electronic Warfare
- •Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Duties
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Formal project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), specific PMBOK Guide knowledge areas, and the PMP application process.
In-depth knowledge of all eight CISSP domains, including software development security, cryptography, and legal/regulatory compliance.
Specific OSHA regulations for general industry, hazard recognition, and safety management systems.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Aegis Combat System | Integrated defense systems, air traffic control systems |
| Shipboard Gridlock Technique (SGT) | GIS applications, Esri ArcGIS |
| Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M) | Maritime domain awareness software, vessel tracking systems |
| Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) | Distributed sensor networks, real-time data fusion platforms |
| Naval Tactical Command Support System (NTCSS) | ERP systems for naval operations, IBM Maximo |
| Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT) | Cybersecurity threat analysis and management platforms |
| Link 16 | Military-grade encryption secure communication protocols (e.g., end-to-end encrypted messaging services) |
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