7508 Career Guide
7508: Attack Pilot
Career transition guide for Marine Corps Attack Pilot (7508)
Translate Your 7508 Experience Now
Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.
Start Free TranslationCivilian Career Pathways
Top civilian roles for 7508 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Commercial Airline Pilot
Skills to develop:
Corporate Pilot
Skills to develop:
Air Traffic Controller
Skills to develop:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot/Operator
Skills to develop:
Aerospace Engineer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 7508 training built — and where they transfer.
Situational Awareness
Pilots constantly monitor their surroundings – aircraft status, weather, enemy threats, and wingman positions – to maintain mission effectiveness and safety.
This translates to a strong ability to perceive and understand complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make proactive decisions in dynamic situations.
Rapid Prioritization
In fast-moving aerial combat or close air support scenarios, pilots must quickly assess threats, prioritize targets, and adapt their strategy in real-time.
This skill enables you to quickly evaluate competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and make critical decisions under pressure in time-sensitive situations.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Pilots are trained to handle emergencies and equipment malfunctions while maintaining control of the aircraft and completing the mission, showcasing adaptability and problem-solving.
This demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming unexpected obstacles, maintaining composure under duress, and finding alternative solutions when systems fail.
System Modeling
Pilots understand the complex interplay of aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and environmental factors to predict performance and respond effectively to changing conditions.
You can analyze how different components interact within a larger system, forecast potential outcomes based on various inputs, and optimize performance through informed adjustments.
After-Action Analysis
Pilots participate in debriefings to review mission performance, identify areas for improvement, and refine tactics based on empirical data.
This reflects a commitment to continuous learning, the ability to objectively evaluate successes and failures, and the capacity to translate lessons learned into actionable strategies.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to maintain situational awareness and make life-or-death decisions under pressure. Your experience in degraded-mode operations will enable you to calmly assess and mitigate risks in disaster scenarios.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been responsible for coordinating air support, understanding how individual parts of a mission impact the whole. This experience makes you an ideal candidate to manage complex supply chains, optimize resource allocation, and ensure timely delivery in challenging conditions.
Management Consultant
SOC 13-1111.00You've conducted after-action analyses to improve tactics and strategies. Your analytical skills and systems thinking will make you well-suited to advising organizations on how to improve their efficiency and performance.
Air Traffic Controller
SOC 53-2011.00You've maintained constant situational awareness in a dynamic, high-pressure environment. Your ability to manage multiple variables simultaneously and make quick decisions makes you an ideal candidate to control the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Naval Flight School, Various Locations
Topics Covered
- •Aerodynamics and Flight Theory
- •Aircraft Systems (AV-8B Harrier or F-35B)
- •Tactical Flight Maneuvers
- •Close Air Support (CAS) Procedures
- •Weapons Employment (Bombs, Rockets, Guns)
- •Night Vision Operations
- •Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)
- •Aviation Physiology
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Study civilian aviation regulations (FAR/AIM), specific aircraft systems differences, and complete FAA written and practical exams.
Focus on business management principles, financial management, and human resources as they apply to civilian aviation operations.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening Targeting Pod | FLIR Systems, targeting and surveillance systems |
| Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) | Laser-guided rockets/missiles, precision guided munitions kits |
| M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Cannon | Rotary cannons, high-rate-of-fire Gatling guns (used in some civilian defense systems) |
| Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) | Augmented reality (AR) aviation helmets, heads-up displays |
| AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) | Electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems, radio frequency jammers |
| Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) | Civilian aviation navigation systems (VOR/DME), GPS-based navigation |
| Link 16 | Military-grade encrypted communication networks |
Ready to Translate Your Experience?
Our AI-powered translator converts your 7508 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.
Translate My Resume — Free