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7200 Career Guide

Marine Corps

7200: Air Traffic Control Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Officer (7200)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7200 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Air Traffic Controller

$138K
High matchHigh demand

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificationFEMA Emergency Management Institute courses

Operations Manager

$105K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationLean Six Sigma certification

Intelligence Analyst

$80K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

TS/SCI ClearanceData analysis software (e.g., Python, R)Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Project Manager

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile methodologies

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7200 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

As an Air Traffic Control Officer, you constantly make split-second decisions, prioritizing aircraft movements based on urgency, safety, and operational needs in a dynamic environment.

This translates to the ability to quickly assess situations, identify critical issues, and allocate resources effectively under pressure, a valuable skill in fast-paced civilian roles.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a comprehensive understanding of the airspace, aircraft positions, weather conditions, and potential hazards to ensure safe and efficient air traffic flow.

This skill enables you to perceive and understand your environment, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on a wide range of information, essential for risk management and strategic planning in various sectors.

Team Synchronization

You coordinate seamlessly with pilots, ground crews, and other air traffic controllers to ensure smooth and safe operations, often under high-stress conditions.

This demonstrates your ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and synchronize efforts with diverse teams to achieve common goals, crucial for leadership and project management roles.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to strict regulations, protocols, and safety procedures is paramount in air traffic control to prevent accidents and ensure operational integrity.

Your meticulous attention to detail and commitment to following established procedures translates to a strong ability to maintain compliance, mitigate risks, and ensure quality control in regulated industries.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You are trained to maintain control and ensure safety even when systems fail, adapting to emergencies and implementing backup procedures under pressure.

This showcases your resilience, problem-solving skills, and ability to remain calm and effective in crisis situations, valuable for roles requiring adaptability and quick thinking under duress.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been formulating and implementing emergency plans in the military. Your ability to coordinate emergency response teams and manage critical communication links directly translates to overseeing disaster preparedness and response efforts for civilian communities and organizations.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've honed your skills in coordinating resources, managing operations, and maintaining situational awareness in a dynamic environment. This makes you exceptionally well-suited for overseeing the flow of goods, materials, and information in supply chain operations, ensuring efficiency and minimizing disruptions.

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.00

You've mastered the art of maintaining operational readiness and implementing backup procedures in degraded-mode situations. This experience is invaluable for developing and implementing strategies to ensure business operations continue uninterrupted during emergencies, disasters, or other disruptions.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 13-2011.00

Your background in evaluating command center information, managing surveillance systems, and providing technical advice has equipped you with the analytical and problem-solving skills to excel as an intelligence analyst. You can leverage your expertise to gather, analyze, and interpret data to identify threats, assess risks, and inform decision-making in various sectors.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Air Traffic Control Officer Basic Course, Naval Air Station Pensacola

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 9 semester hours in Aviation Management

Topics Covered

  • Airspace Management
  • Radar Procedures
  • Meteorology
  • Air Traffic Control Regulations
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Communication Procedures
  • Navigation Systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist70% covered

Differences in FAA regulations, phraseology, and equipment. Requires study of FAA Order JO 7110.65, FAA Air Traffic Control Handbook, and practical experience in a civilian ATC environment.

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)40% covered

Focus on civilian emergency management principles, including FEMA's Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and disaster recovery planning in a civilian context. Requires study of relevant FEMA publications and completion of emergency management training courses.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing System (MATCALS)Integrated Air Traffic Control Systems (e.g., used by FAA, large airports)
AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR)Advanced Doppler Weather Radar/Air Surveillance Radar
Joint Airspace Coordination Center (JACC) systemsAirspace management software (e.g., used by aviation authorities)
Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR)Commercial Airport Surveillance Radar systems
Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS)Commercial Air Navigation and Landing Systems
Joint Automated Command and Control System (JACC2C)Command and Control Software Platforms (e.g., used in emergency response)

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