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7564 Career Guide

Marine Corps

7564: HMH/M/L/A Pilot

Career transition guide for Marine Corps HMH/M/L/A Pilot (7564)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 7564 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Commercial Airline Pilot

$140K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificateSpecific aircraft type rating

Helicopter Pilot (Tourism/Charter)

$90K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate (Rotorcraft)Specific turbine helicopter experience

Air Ambulance Pilot

$95K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate (Rotorcraft)Instrument rating (Helicopter)Advanced emergency medical training

Law Enforcement Helicopter Pilot

$75K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificationLaw enforcement helicopter flight trainingGovernment security clearance

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Pilot/Operator

$70K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot CertificateSpecific UAS platform trainingData analysis skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 7564 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a helicopter pilot, you constantly maintain 360-degree awareness of your surroundings, including weather, terrain, other aircraft, and ground personnel, to ensure mission success and safety.

This heightened awareness translates to an ability to quickly assess complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions under pressure in any dynamic setting.

Rapid Prioritization

During flight, unexpected events like equipment malfunctions or sudden changes in weather require you to instantly assess the risks, prioritize actions, and execute the most critical tasks to maintain control and safety.

Your experience with rapid prioritization allows you to effectively manage competing demands, allocate resources strategically, and make critical decisions quickly in high-pressure environments.

Team Synchronization

Operating as part of a flight crew and coordinating with ground teams demands seamless communication, shared understanding, and precise execution to achieve mission objectives safely and efficiently.

This ingrained ability to synchronize efforts within a team makes you adept at fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts, and leading groups to achieve common goals.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Helicopter pilots are trained to handle aircraft malfunctions and emergencies, requiring the ability to adapt quickly, troubleshoot effectively, and maintain control in less-than-ideal conditions.

This expertise in degraded-mode operations translates to exceptional problem-solving skills, resilience under pressure, and the ability to maintain composure and effectiveness when things go wrong.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been expertly managing high-stakes situations and coordinating resources under pressure for years. Your ability to rapidly assess threats, prioritize actions, and maintain calm during chaos makes you perfectly suited to lead emergency response efforts and develop effective preparedness plans.

Airfield Operations Specialist

SOC 53-2011.00

Your deep understanding of aviation operations, air traffic control procedures, and safety protocols, honed through years of flying rotary-wing aircraft, equips you with the expertise to manage airfield activities, ensure smooth air traffic flow, and maintain the highest safety standards.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've been responsible for the safe transport of personnel and equipment in demanding environments. As a logistics manager, you can use these skills to manage supply chains, coordinate transportation, and ensure the timely delivery of goods and services.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Flight School, various Naval Air Stations (Pensacola, Whiting Field, Corpus Christi)

480 training hours52 weeksVaries; typically up to 30 semester hours recommended in Aviation Technology and Flight Operations

Topics Covered

  • Aerodynamics and Helicopter Flight Principles
  • Navigation and Instrument Flying
  • Tactical Formation Flying
  • Night Vision Device (NVD) Operations
  • Low Altitude Tactics
  • Search and Rescue Techniques
  • Close Air Support (CAS) Procedures
  • Emergency Procedures and Survival Training

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter)70% covered

While military pilots receive extensive flight training, they typically need to pass FAA written and practical exams, and meet specific flight hour requirements for civilian certification. Differences in regulations and procedures need to be studied.

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) - Helicopter50% covered

Requires demonstrating the ability to effectively teach helicopter flight operations, FAA regulations, and safety procedures to civilian students. Also requires logged flight time requirements.

Recommended Next Certifications

Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate - HelicopterCertified Aviation Manager (CAM)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/ARC-210 RT-1921(C) Airborne RadioCommercial aviation VHF/UHF communication radios (e.g., Garmin GTR series)
AN/AVS-9 Aviator's Night Vision Imaging System (ANVIS)High-end night vision goggles (e.g., those used in search and rescue)
UH-1Y Venom HelicopterBell 412EPX or similar medium-lift utility helicopters
CH-53E Super Stallion HelicopterSikorsky S-92 or similar heavy-lift transport helicopters
H-60 Seahawk (for HMH)Sikorsky S-70 or similar multi-mission helicopters
Blue Force Tracker (BFT)Real-time GPS fleet management systems
Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS)Commercial aviation GPS-based landing systems

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