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8513 Career Guide

Marine Corps

8513: Combat Instructor

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Combat Instructor (8513)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 8513 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Corporate Trainer

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Instructional DesignE-learning platforms (e.g., Articulate 360, Adobe Captivate)Adult learning principles

Law Enforcement Academy Instructor

$68K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificationSpecific law enforcement tactics and procedures

Technical Training Instructor

$70K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Specific technical skills related to the industry (e.g., IT, manufacturing)Curriculum developmentVendor certifications (e.g., CompTIA, Microsoft)

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Instructor

$62K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

EMT or Paramedic certificationNational Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) instructor certificationTeaching experience in emergency medical services

Substitute Teacher

$35K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

State teaching license or substitute teaching certificateClassroom management techniquesCurriculum knowledge for specific grade levels

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 8513 training built — and where they transfer.

Team Synchronization

As a combat instructor, you orchestrated the actions of a recruit platoon, ensuring everyone moved in unison and understood their roles within the team, maximizing efficiency during training exercises.

This ability to synchronize efforts translates into coordinating diverse teams in a civilian environment, ensuring each member understands their responsibilities and contributes effectively to achieve common goals.

Situational Awareness

You maintained constant vigilance over the training environment, anticipating potential hazards, and adjusting strategies to ensure the safety and effectiveness of training exercises.

Your heightened awareness allows you to quickly assess complex situations, identify potential risks, and proactively adapt strategies to navigate challenges and ensure successful outcomes in dynamic civilian workplaces.

Rapid Prioritization

Instructing a recruit platoon demanded quick decision-making, triaging needs, and focusing efforts on the most critical tasks to ensure training objectives were met effectively and efficiently.

This skill translates to the civilian world as the ability to efficiently manage multiple responsibilities, evaluate competing priorities, and allocate resources effectively to meet deadlines and achieve organizational goals under pressure.

Procedural Compliance

Following strict training protocols, adhering to safety regulations, and enforcing standards were critical aspects of the job, ensuring that recruits followed established guidelines and regulations.

Your experience ensures that you're able to understand, follow, and enforce policies and regulations, contributing to smooth operations, minimizing risk, and maintaining a culture of accountability.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Project Manager

SOC 11-9199.05

You've been managing groups of recruits and directing their activities. As a Project Manager, you will use these same skills to plan, organize, and oversee projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. Your experience in coordinating tasks and directing teams will be invaluable.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been responsible for the safety and well-being of recruits during training. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you will use your skills in preparedness, response, and recovery to help communities and organizations prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041.00

You're accustomed to ensuring that everyone adheres to protocol. As a Compliance Officer, you will leverage this adherence to protocol and deep understanding of regulations to ensure that an organization adheres to legal standards and internal policies.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Combat Instructor School, Camp Pendleton, CA

320 training hours8 weeksUp to 3 semester hours in Principles of Management

Topics Covered

  • Instructional Techniques
  • Supervision and Leadership
  • Physical Training Methods
  • Drill and Ceremonies
  • Marine Corps Values and Ethics
  • Risk Management
  • Mentorship

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP)60% covered

Gaps include advanced instructional design principles, needs analysis, and formal evaluation methodologies beyond basic performance observation.

Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)50% covered

Gaps include managing training budgets, ROI analysis of training programs, and aligning training with overall organizational strategy.

Recommended Next Certifications

Master Trainer CertificationInstructional Design CertificateOnline Teaching Certification

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Improved Moving Target Simulator (IMTS)Advanced firearms training simulators used by law enforcement and private security firms (e.g., VirTra, Meggitt Training Systems)
Marine Corps Common Skills (MCCS)Learning management systems (LMS) for curriculum delivery and tracking (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard)
Tablets for Curriculum DeliveryTablet-based educational platforms (e.g., iPads with educational apps, Google Tablets with Google Classroom)
Range Target SystemsAutomated target retrieval systems at shooting ranges

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