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6125 Career Guide

Navy

6125: Surface Warfare Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Surface Warfare Officer (6125)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 6125 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Operations Manager

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Management Analyst

$87K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Data analysis software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)Business process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean Six Sigma)

Training and Development Manager

$92K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional design principleseLearning development tools

Emergency Management Director

$84K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Emergency planning certifications (e.g., FEMA certifications)Hazard mitigation strategies

Aerospace Engineering Technician

$68K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

CAD softwareFAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6125 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a Surface Operations Officer, you constantly monitor and interpret complex data from various sensors and sources to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the operational environment, anticipate threats, and make informed decisions in real-time.

This translates to the ability to quickly assess dynamic situations, identify potential risks and opportunities, and make sound judgments based on incomplete information – a valuable asset in any fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Rapid Prioritization

In high-pressure scenarios, you're responsible for swiftly triaging competing demands, allocating resources effectively, and focusing on the most critical tasks to ensure mission success.

This skill equips you to excel in roles that require quick decision-making under pressure, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and adapting to changing priorities – essential for leadership and project management positions.

Team Synchronization

You orchestrate the actions of diverse teams, coordinating their efforts to achieve common objectives while fostering clear communication and mutual understanding.

This experience directly translates to your ability to lead, motivate, and align teams in a civilian setting, ensuring that everyone is working cohesively towards a shared goal. Your ability to build rapport and maintain open lines of communication will make you a valuable asset to any organization.

System Modeling

Understanding how various systems interact and influence each other is crucial. You're trained to predict the impact of changes or failures within the system and to develop mitigation strategies.

Your ability to model and understand complex systems makes you well-suited for roles that require strategic thinking, problem-solving, and risk management. You can quickly grasp intricate processes and identify potential bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle crisis situations, develop contingency plans, and coordinate resources in high-stress environments. Your experience in surface operations translates seamlessly to managing emergency responses and ensuring community safety.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've been responsible for managing resources, coordinating personnel, and ensuring the smooth flow of operations. This experience makes you well-suited to oversee supply chains, manage inventory, and optimize logistics processes for a variety of industries.

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.05

Your ability to identify potential risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure operational resilience makes you a valuable asset in ensuring that businesses can continue functioning during disruptions. You've been doing this for years in high-stakes environments – now you can apply that skill to help businesses thrive.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), Newport, RI

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Naval Science

Topics Covered

  • Naval Warfare Fundamentals
  • Shipboard Operations
  • Weapons Systems Management
  • Combat Information Center Procedures
  • Leadership and Team Management
  • Damage Control
  • Navigation and Piloting

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Manager (CM)60% covered

The Navy officer likely has experience in operations management, but needs to study specific management principles, HR, finance, and marketing, covered in the CM certification.

Project Management Professional (PMP)50% covered

While the officer has experience in operations planning and direction, they need to formalize this with training in project management methodologies, risk management, and stakeholder communication per the PMP exam.

Recommended Next Certifications

Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Aegis Combat SystemIntegrated defense systems, air traffic control systems
Shipboard Gridlock SystemEnterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
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 Data System (NTDS)SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, real-time data processing systems
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare SuiteCybersecurity threat detection and analysis platforms

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