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6486 Career Guide

Marine Corps

6486: Advanced Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Technician

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Advanced Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Technician (6486)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 6486 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Electronics Engineering Technician

$72K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Specific experience with commercial electronic systemsCAD software skills

Field Service Engineer

$80K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Strong customer service skillsProject Management Certification

Test Technician

$65K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Experience with specific testing software (LabVIEW, etc.)Quality control procedures

Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

$60K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Networking certifications (CompTIA Network+)Fiber optic splicingKnowledge of telecommunications protocols

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6486 training built — and where they transfer.

Pattern Recognition

Troubleshooting complex electronic systems requires identifying recurring patterns in failures and test results to quickly isolate the root cause.

Analyzing data sets to identify trends, anomalies, and predictive indicators.

System Modeling

Understanding how various electronic components interact within an aircraft's ECM system to predict the impact of a failure in one component on the entire system's performance.

Creating and using models to understand how different elements of a complex system interact and affect overall performance.

Procedural Compliance

Strict adherence to detailed maintenance manuals and testing procedures is crucial to ensure the ECM systems function correctly and safely.

Following established protocols and guidelines meticulously to guarantee quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Maintaining functionality and troubleshooting issues under less-than-ideal conditions with limited resources is critical in deployed environments.

Adapting to unforeseen challenges, resource constraints, and operational disruptions to maintain essential service delivery.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Quality Assurance Analyst

SOC 15-1251

You've been rigorously testing and maintaining complex electronic systems; now, you can apply those skills to ensure the quality and reliability of software or hardware products. Your precision and attention to detail are invaluable.

Technical Trainer

SOC 25-9044

You possess a deep understanding of advanced electronic systems and have the ability to troubleshoot complex problems. You can leverage this experience to teach others how to maintain, repair, and operate similar technologies in a classroom or hands-on environment.

Field Service Engineer

SOC 49-2098

You're experienced in traveling to various locations to troubleshoot and repair complex equipment. As a field service engineer, you'll use your skills to provide on-site support, maintenance, and repairs for specialized equipment, often requiring in-depth knowledge and quick problem-solving.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Advanced Aircraft Electronic Countermeasures Technician School, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC

1,120 training hours28 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • •Electronic Warfare Principles
  • •Countermeasures Systems Theory
  • •Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques
  • •Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) Operation and Maintenance
  • •Weapon Replaceable Assembly (WRA) Repair
  • •Shop Replaceable Assembly (SRA) Repair
  • •Spectrum Analysis
  • •RF Signal Generation and Measurement

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Focus on consumer electronics repair, advanced troubleshooting techniques not covered in military training, and current industry standards for electronic components.

CompTIA Network+40% covered

Study network topologies, protocols, security, and troubleshooting techniques specific to modern computer networks.

IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies)60% covered

While familiar with soldering and component placement, focus on current IPC standards, documentation requirements, and inspection criteria.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)CompTIA Security+Project Management Professional (PMP)Six Sigma Green Belt

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/ALQ-231(V) Intrepid Tiger IIElectronic warfare simulation and testing suites
AN/ALR-76 Radar Warning ReceiverSpectrum analyzers and signal intelligence (SIGINT) platforms
AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing SystemAutomated dispensing systems, robotics in manufacturing
Intermediate Maintenance Activity (IMA) Automated Test Equipment (ATE)Automated Test Equipment (ATE) platforms used in electronics manufacturing, such as those from Keysight or National Instruments
Common Aviation Support Equipment (CASE)General purpose electronic diagnostic tools (multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators) and specialized aviation maintenance equipment
Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS)Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) or Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) software (e.g., IBM Maximo, SAP Plant Maintenance)

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