61AX Career Guide
61AX: Operations Research Analyst
Career transition guide for Air Force Operations Research Analyst (61AX)
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Top civilian roles for 61AX veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Operations Research Analyst
Data Scientist
Skills to develop:
Management Analyst
Skills to develop:
Statistician
Skills to develop:
Logistics Analyst
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 61AX training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
As a 61AX, you build models to simulate operational scenarios, predict outcomes, and optimize performance across diverse Air Force activities. This involves understanding complex systems and their interactions to improve overall effectiveness.
Your expertise in creating and manipulating system models translates directly to roles where you analyze and improve complex processes or systems. You can readily apply this to fields requiring predictive analysis and optimization.
After-Action Analysis
You're skilled in conducting thorough after-action reviews to identify lessons learned, improve future operations, and ensure continuous improvement in Air Force programs. This means dissecting what went right and wrong, and turning insights into actionable improvements.
Your experience in after-action analysis is invaluable for organizations seeking to optimize their processes, enhance performance, and avoid repeated mistakes. You bring a structured and analytical approach to learning from past experiences and driving future success.
Resource Optimization
Your role involves optimizing resources across various projects and activities, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization to maximize impact. This includes fiscal programming, monitoring, and evaluating resource usage.
Your ability to optimize resources makes you an ideal candidate for roles where efficient allocation and strategic planning are critical. You can leverage your experience to improve resource management in any organization.
Pattern Recognition
In your role, you identify patterns within complex data sets, including test results and operational data, to derive meaningful insights and make informed recommendations. This skill is vital for improving performance and identifying potential issues.
Your pattern recognition skills are highly transferable to civilian roles requiring data analysis and strategic decision-making. You're adept at identifying trends, anomalies, and opportunities within large data sets, providing a competitive edge in various industries.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Management Consultant
SOC 13-1111You've been deeply involved in analyzing complex systems, optimizing resources, and recommending improvements across Air Force operations. This experience directly aligns with the core responsibilities of a management consultant, where you'll advise organizations on enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
Business Intelligence Analyst
SOC 15-2051You've been rigorously trained to recognize patterns, analyze data, and provide actionable insights in your military role. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you'll leverage these skills to help companies make data-driven decisions and improve their competitive edge.
Operations Research Analyst
SOC 15-2031You've honed your analytical and problem-solving abilities through optimizing complex operations and conducting in-depth after-action analyses. In this civilian role, you'll apply these skills to analyze and improve business processes, supply chains, and resource allocation strategies.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Operations Research Analyst Initial Skills Training, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Topics Covered
- •Statistical Analysis
- •Mathematical Modeling
- •Data Mining Techniques
- •Optimization Methods
- •Simulation and Gaming
- •Programming for Data Analysis (R, Python)
- •Research Methodologies
- •Air Force Operational Concepts
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires review of specific analytics methodologies, ethical considerations, and communication strategies relevant to the certification exam.
Requires studying the PMBOK guide, particularly focusing on the 49 project management processes, ITTOs (Inputs, Tools & Techniques, and Outputs), and specific knowledge areas like risk management and procurement.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Air Force Modeling and Simulation (AFMS) | MATLAB, Simulink |
| Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC) models | Commercial simulation software (e.g., AnyLogic, Arena) |
| Data Analytics Reporting Tool (DART) | Tableau, Power BI |
| Next Generation Munitions Analysis Tool (NGMAT) | COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS |
| Geospatial Information and Services (GI&S) tools | ArcGIS, QGIS |
| Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS) | EtQ Reliance, Intelex EHS |
| Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools (ACEIT) | PRICE Systems TruePlanning, SEER by Galorath |
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