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7173 Career Guide

Navy

7173: Naval Special Warfare Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Naval Special Warfare Officer (7173)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7173 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Security Consultant

$130K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Cybersecurity certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)Knowledge of current cybersecurity threatsRisk assessment methodologies

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications (e.g., Incident Command System)Grant writingPublic administration knowledge

Private Investigator

$70K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

State licensure as a Private InvestigatorSurveillance techniquesLegal knowledge related to investigations

Maritime Security Specialist

$95K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Commercial maritime regulationsPort security proceduresISPS Code certification

Corporate Security Manager

$110K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Corporate security protocolsBusiness administration fundamentalsProject management certifications (e.g., PMP)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7173 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a Naval Special Warfare Officer, you constantly maintain a heightened awareness of your surroundings, anticipating threats and opportunities in dynamic operational environments, often under high stress and with limited information. You quickly synthesize intel, environmental factors, and team status to make critical decisions.

This translates to a strong ability to perceive, interpret, and anticipate events in complex and uncertain situations. In civilian life, this skill allows you to quickly grasp the nuances of a business environment, identify potential risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions under pressure.

Rapid Prioritization

In fast-moving special operations, you're constantly triaging competing demands and threats, deciding which tasks and objectives are most critical for mission success at any given moment. You learn to make quick, high-stakes decisions with limited information.

This ability to quickly assess and prioritize tasks translates to effective management and problem-solving in any fast-paced environment. You can efficiently allocate resources and focus on the most crucial issues, ensuring projects stay on track and goals are achieved.

Team Synchronization

Leading small teams in high-stakes environments demands exceptional coordination. You're skilled at fostering communication, trust, and shared understanding among team members to ensure seamless execution of complex operations, even under duress.

Your experience in building cohesive teams translates to a strong ability to lead and motivate diverse groups in a civilian setting. You can foster collaboration, resolve conflicts, and ensure everyone is working towards a common goal, maximizing team performance.

Adversarial Thinking

Planning and executing special operations requires anticipating the actions and reactions of adversaries. You develop a keen ability to think strategically from an opponent's perspective, identifying vulnerabilities and developing countermeasures.

This translates into an ability to anticipate potential challenges and develop proactive solutions in the business world. You can identify weaknesses in strategies, assess risks, and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential problems.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been rigorously trained to manage complex operations under pressure, assess risks quickly, and coordinate teams in high-stress environments. Your experience in planning and executing clandestine operations directly translates to managing disaster response efforts and ensuring community safety.

Corporate Security Manager

SOC 11-9199.02

You've been trained in threat assessment, risk mitigation, and security protocols. Your expertise in protecting personnel and assets in hostile environments translates perfectly to safeguarding corporate facilities, employees, and intellectual property.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've been trained to gather, analyze, and interpret information from various sources to inform decision-making. Your skills in reconnaissance, surveillance, and pattern recognition are highly valuable in identifying and assessing potential threats to businesses.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training, Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado, CA

3,360 training hours48 weeksUp to 20 semester hours recommended in physical education, military science, and leadership

Topics Covered

  • Physical Conditioning and Water Competency
  • Underwater Demolition
  • Land Warfare
  • Close Quarters Combat (CQC)
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)
  • Naval Special Warfare Planning
  • Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) Integration

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Formal project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), detailed understanding of PMI's PMBOK guide, and specific project management tools and software. Requires studying project management knowledge areas and processes as defined by PMI.

Certified Protection Professional (CPP)70% covered

Formal security management principles, risk assessment methodologies beyond tactical scenarios, legal and ethical considerations in corporate security, and business continuity planning. Requires studying ASIS standards and practices.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)75% covered

While possessing extensive medical and survival training, formal WFR certification requires specific protocols for wilderness medical emergencies, including evacuation techniques, environmental medicine, and long-term patient care in remote settings. Requires focused study on civilian wilderness medical protocols.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)OSHA 30-Hour Safety CertificationCertified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Security+Global Security Management (GSM)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/PVS-15 Night Vision GogglesHigh-end commercial night vision binoculars/goggles
AN/PRC-152 Multiband Handheld RadioMotorola APX series or similar professional-grade two-way radios
Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC)Zodiac inflatable boats, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs)
SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV)Diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs), small submersible crafts (research/exploration)
Advanced Maritime Navigation System (e.g., Raytheon Anschütz Integrated Navigation System)Commercial marine GPS and navigation software (e.g., Garmin, Raymarine systems)
MK 48 Advanced Technology TorpedoUnmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) used in commercial or scientific applications
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems

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