6C0X1 Career Guide
6C0X1: Contracting Specialist
Career transition guide for Air Force Contracting Specialist (6C0X1)
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Top civilian roles for 6C0X1 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Contract Specialist/Contract Officer
Procurement Manager
Skills to develop:
Compliance Officer
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Purchasing Agent
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 6C0X1 training built — and where they transfer.
Procedural Compliance
Strict adherence to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) is essential in every contracting action to avoid legal challenges and ensure fair competition.
Meticulous adherence to established protocols and legal frameworks to guarantee accuracy, transparency, and risk mitigation.
Resource Optimization
Contracting Officers must maximize the value received for every dollar spent, ensuring the government obtains the best possible goods and services within budgetary constraints.
Strategic allocation and management of resources to achieve optimal outcomes and cost-effectiveness.
Adversarial Thinking
Contracting involves constant negotiation and evaluation of proposals, requiring anticipation of potential challenges, risks, and the ability to identify loopholes or unethical behavior from contractors.
Critical assessment and strategic planning to identify potential risks, challenges, or adversarial tactics, enabling proactive countermeasures and protective strategies.
Situational Awareness
In contingency contracting, maintaining awareness of the operational environment, including supply chain vulnerabilities, logistical constraints, and potential threats, is essential for effective support of military operations.
Constant vigilance and understanding of the dynamics of a situation, including potential risks, opportunities, and external factors, to make informed decisions and proactive adjustments.
Rapid Prioritization
During contingency operations, the ability to quickly assess and prioritize urgent requirements, such as food, water, or medical supplies, is critical to supporting mission success.
Efficiently assessing and ranking tasks or needs based on urgency and impact, ensuring that the most critical issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-2001You've been deeply immersed in the intricate world of government regulations, particularly the FAR and DFARS. As a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage that expertise to ensure businesses adhere to laws, regulations, and internal policies, preventing legal and ethical violations. Your experience in interpreting and applying complex rules makes you an ideal candidate.
Purchasing Manager
SOC 11-3061You've honed exceptional negotiation skills and a keen eye for identifying cost-effective solutions while working with vendors and contractors. As a Purchasing Manager, you'll use these skills to secure the best deals for your company, manage supplier relationships, and ensure the timely delivery of goods and services. Your ability to analyze market trends and evaluate proposals will be invaluable.
Fraud Investigator
SOC 13-2099Your experience in adversarial thinking and scrutinizing contracts for compliance has equipped you with a sharp eye for detecting irregularities. As a Fraud Investigator, you'll use these skills to uncover fraudulent activities, conduct investigations, and help organizations prevent financial losses. Your ability to analyze data and interview individuals will be highly valuable.
Logistics Analyst
SOC 13-2081You've managed complex supply chains in demanding environments, understanding the importance of timely delivery and resource optimization. As a Logistics Analyst, you'll apply that experience to analyze and improve supply chain operations, streamline processes, and reduce costs. Your ability to anticipate challenges and develop contingency plans will be highly beneficial.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Contracting Apprentice Course, Lackland AFB
Topics Covered
- •Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
- •Contract Types
- •Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- •Solicitation Preparation
- •Negotiation Techniques
- •Contract Administration
- •Contingency Contracting
- •Ethical Considerations in Contracting
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires focused study on the legal and ethical aspects of contract management, as well as advanced topics in negotiation and dispute resolution beyond standard government contracting practices.
Requires some study focused on changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), DFARs, and other federal contracting laws and policies.
Requires significant study of project management methodologies, Agile, and predictive approaches, as well as the five process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing) as applied to projects outside of government contracting.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) | Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) |
| Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) | Corporate Procurement Policies and Procedures |
| Contract Writing System (e.g., PD2) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) procurement modules (e.g., SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement Cloud) |
| Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF)/ iRAPT | Electronic invoicing and payment systems |
| Joint Contingency Contracting System (JCCS) | Emergency procurement and supply chain management software |
| Government Purchase Card (GPC) Program | Corporate credit card programs |
| System for Award Management (SAM) | Vendor management and registration platforms |
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