73X1 Career Guide
73X1: Air Support Control Officer
Career transition guide for Marine Corps Air Support Control Officer (73X1)
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Top civilian roles for 73X1 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Air Traffic Controller
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Director
Skills to develop:
Security Manager
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Intelligence Analyst
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 73X1 training built — and where they transfer.
Situational Awareness
As an air support or air defense controller, you maintained constant awareness of the airspace, identifying friendly and hostile aircraft, potential threats, and the positions of supporting units, often under pressure.
This translates to a strong ability to assess complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and maintain focus on critical details amidst distractions. You can quickly grasp the big picture and understand how different elements interact.
Rapid Prioritization
In dynamic combat scenarios, you were responsible for prioritizing targets, allocating resources, and making split-second decisions to neutralize threats and protect assets.
You excel at quickly assessing the urgency and importance of different tasks, making informed decisions under pressure, and adapting to changing circumstances. You're able to handle multiple competing demands while keeping the most critical priorities in focus.
Team Synchronization
Coordinating with pilots, missile batteries, and other air defense units required seamless communication, precise timing, and a deep understanding of each unit's capabilities and limitations.
You understand how to effectively collaborate with diverse teams, ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal. Your experience in coordinating complex operations means you are adept at communicating clearly, resolving conflicts, and building consensus.
Adversarial Thinking
Anticipating enemy tactics, identifying vulnerabilities in friendly defenses, and developing countermeasures were crucial to your success.
You possess a strategic mindset and an ability to anticipate challenges and opportunities. This allows you to develop robust plans, identify potential risks, and proactively mitigate them.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to manage complex situations under pressure, assess threats, allocate resources, and coordinate diverse teams. Your experience in air defense translates perfectly to planning for and responding to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.04You've been responsible for coordinating the movement of aircraft, missiles, and personnel, ensuring that resources are available when and where they're needed. You are skilled at anticipating potential delays and disruptions, and developing contingency plans to keep operations running smoothly.
Air Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2011.00You've been responsible for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft. Air Traffic Controllers monitor and direct the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air, using radar and other equipment. You've already got the attention to detail and focus to be successful!
Training & Education Equivalencies
Air Support Control Officer Course, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA
Topics Covered
- •Airspace Control
- •Close Air Support (CAS) Procedures
- •Air Interdiction (AI) Tactics
- •Forward Air Controller (FAC) Operations
- •Antiaircraft Missile Systems Integration
- •Joint Fires Integration
- •Radar Systems Operation
- •Communications Equipment and Procedures
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
While military training provides a strong foundation in air control principles, regulations and procedures differ significantly in civilian airspace. Study FAA regulations (FARs), ATC procedures as outlined in FAA Order 7110.65, and phraseology specific to civilian air traffic control.
The CISSP covers a broad range of information security topics. Study areas include cryptography, network security, security assessment and testing, and security operations.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) | Advanced weather and air traffic surveillance radar systems (e.g., those used by FAA or commercial airports) |
| Improved Moving Target Indicator (IMTI) | Advanced civilian radar with moving target indication for vehicle or weather tracking |
| Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) | Civilian equivalents include mapping and route planning software used in logistics and transportation (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS, HERE Technologies) |
| Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) | Air traffic control systems used at commercial airports (e.g., Raytheon AutoTrac, Saab Aerobahn) |
| AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar | Commercial air defense radar systems used for perimeter security or drone detection (e.g., those used at airports or critical infrastructure sites) |
| Stinger Missile System | Equivalent civilian technologies include missile defense systems used to protect critical infrastructure or high-value assets |
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