6520 Career Guide
6520: Supply Corps Officer (Mess Management)
Career transition guide for Navy Supply Corps Officer (Mess Management) (6520)
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Top civilian roles for 6520 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Restaurant Manager
Food Service Director
Skills to develop:
Procurement Manager
Skills to develop:
Hotel General Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 6520 training built — and where they transfer.
Resource Optimization
Managing a mess hall requires balancing budgets, minimizing waste, and ensuring adequate food supplies are available for personnel, especially in austere conditions. You also must predict needs and manage inventory effectively.
This translates to an ability to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and make data-driven decisions about resource allocation in any context.
Procedural Compliance
Naval mess management adheres to strict sanitation, safety, and accounting regulations. You ensure all operations are compliant with relevant policies and guidelines.
This demonstrates a commitment to following established protocols, maintaining high standards, and ensuring regulatory requirements are met.
Team Synchronization
Effectively managing a mess hall requires coordinating and directing a team of cooks, servers, and support staff. This involves delegating tasks, providing training, and ensuring smooth operations during meal services.
This showcases your ability to lead teams, coordinate activities, and create a positive and productive work environment.
Situational Awareness
A Supply Corps officer in mess management needs to constantly monitor food consumption rates, potential supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating personnel numbers to proactively adjust food orders and meal plans.
This translates to a keen ability to assess real-time data, anticipate problems, and adapt strategies to maintain operational effectiveness.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Restaurant Manager
SOC 11-9051.00You've been managing food service operations, inventory, and personnel in a high-pressure environment. Restaurant management requires similar skills in budgeting, staffing, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Logistics Coordinator
SOC 49-3092.00You've been coordinating the supply chain for a mess hall, ensuring timely delivery of provisions. As a logistics coordinator, you would apply these skills to oversee the movement of goods and materials in various industries.
Facilities Manager
SOC 11-3013.00You've been responsible for maintaining a functional and compliant mess hall. As a facilities manager, you can use these skills to manage and maintain buildings, equipment, and other infrastructure for businesses or organizations.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Basic Qualification Course (BQC), Naval Supply Corps School, Newport, RI followed by Food Service Management Training
Topics Covered
- •Naval Supply Systems
- •Financial Management
- •Contracting
- •Food Service Operations
- •Inventory Management
- •Menu Planning
- •Food Safety and Sanitation
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires studying specific local food safety regulations, updates on foodborne illnesses, and restaurant-specific management practices not covered in general supply and mess management.
Needs review of current FDA Food Code, allergen training, and specific procedures for handling food safety crises in a civilian setting.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Food Service Management (FSM) System | Restaurant Management Software (e.g., Toast, Upserve) |
| Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (N-ERP) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) |
| Defense Logistics Management System (DLMS) | Supply Chain Management (SCM) software (e.g., Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates) |
| Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) | Food safety management systems and compliance software |
| Financial Management System (FMS) | Accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero) |
| Automated Business Service System (ABSS) | Business intelligence and data analytics platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) |
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