61B3 Career Guide
61B3: Research Psychologist
Career transition guide for Air Force Research Psychologist (61B3)
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Top civilian roles for 61B3 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Research Scientist
Skills to develop:
Project Manager
Skills to develop:
Management Consultant
Skills to develop:
Data Scientist
Skills to develop:
Market Research Analyst
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 61B3 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
As a research manager, you build models to understand complex systems, predict outcomes, and identify key areas for improvement. You analyze how different components interact within a research project, such as resources, personnel, and timelines, to optimize the overall process.
Your ability to construct and analyze models translates directly into designing and improving complex systems in civilian industries. You can identify bottlenecks, predict system behavior, and implement changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
After-Action Analysis
You meticulously evaluate research projects and psychological operations, identifying successes, failures, and lessons learned. This involves scrutinizing data, understanding causal factors, and developing recommendations to improve future initiatives.
Your expertise in after-action analysis allows you to excel in roles that require continuous improvement and strategic planning. You can systematically analyze performance, extract valuable insights, and implement effective strategies for organizational growth.
Resource Optimization
As a program manager, you optimize the allocation of resources, including funding, personnel, and equipment, to achieve research goals. You must make strategic decisions about resource allocation, balancing competing priorities and maximizing impact.
Your skills in resource optimization are highly valuable in civilian sectors. You can leverage your ability to allocate resources efficiently to drive profitability, improve operational efficiency, and support strategic objectives.
Adversarial Thinking
In psychological operations, you analyze the mindset and behaviors of foreign target audiences to develop effective influence strategies. This requires anticipating their reactions, understanding their motivations, and identifying vulnerabilities.
Your ability to think adversarially and anticipate the actions of others is an asset in civilian roles that require strategic planning and risk management. You can predict potential challenges, develop mitigation strategies, and navigate complex situations with confidence.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Market Research Analyst
SOC 19-3022.00You've been designing and conducting research to understand target audiences. As a Market Research Analyst, you'll apply those same skills to analyze consumer behavior and market trends. You already know how to develop research plans, collect and analyze data, and present findings.
Management Consultant
SOC 13-1111.00You've been managing research projects and programs. As a Management Consultant, you'll use your analytical and problem-solving skills to help organizations improve their performance. You are great at planning, organizing, and directing teams, skills that will make you a successful consultant.
Business Intelligence Analyst
SOC 15-2051.00You've been employing mathematical techniques to analyze data. As a Business Intelligence Analyst, you'll apply those skills to help companies make better decisions. You know how to analyze complex data sets, identify trends, and communicate insights effectively.
Data Scientist
SOC 15-2051.00You've been developing new concepts and methods to solve scientific and operational problems. As a Data Scientist, you'll use your analytical and problem-solving skills to help organizations make data-driven decisions. You are already familiar with computer systems to analyze, depict, and display data and analysis results.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Graduate Level Education and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Mentorship
Topics Covered
- •Research Methodologies (Quantitative & Qualitative)
- •Statistical Analysis & Modeling
- •Experimental Design & Implementation
- •Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Principles
- •Behavioral Analysis & Audience Targeting
- •Program Management & Evaluation
- •Technical Writing & Reporting
- •Interdisciplinary Scientific Knowledge Application
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Formal project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), specific tools and software used in civilian project management, and the PMP exam format.
Grant writing and administration, compliance with specific federal regulations related to research (e.g., FDA, NIH), and intellectual property management.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) | MATLAB or similar numerical computing environments (e.g., Python with NumPy/SciPy) |
| Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters | High-performance computing (HPC) clusters, cloud computing services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) |
| Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC) Analytical Tools | Data analytics platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Splunk) |
| DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) resources | Commercial supercomputing facilities or cloud-based HPC solutions |
| PSYOP Information Management System (PIMS) | Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365) with analytics modules |
| Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) tools for threat assessment | Risk assessment software and modeling tools (e.g., @Risk, Crystal Ball) |
| Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) data analysis systems | Geospatial analysis software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) and remote sensing data processing tools |
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