New Cohort Starts:

Donate

9603 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9603: Leadership Development Specialist

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Leadership Development Specialist (9603)

Translate Your 9603 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9603 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Training and Development Manager

$120K
High matchHigh demand

Human Resources Manager

$130K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certificationHR Generalist experience

Academic Dean or Student Affairs Administrator

$95K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Master's or Doctoral degree in Education or related field

Management Consultant

$140K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant advanced degreeConsulting experience

Executive Coach

$110K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

ICF (International Coaching Federation) certificationBusiness development and marketing skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9603 training built — and where they transfer.

Team Synchronization

As a Company Officer, you orchestrate the activities of a diverse group of midshipmen, ensuring they work cohesively towards common goals, from academic pursuits to physical training and leadership exercises.

In the civilian sector, this translates to the ability to manage and coordinate teams effectively, ensuring that individual efforts align with overall organizational objectives. You can foster collaboration and resolve conflicts to optimize team performance.

Situational Awareness

You constantly assess the environment within the Naval Academy, anticipating potential issues among midshipmen, recognizing early signs of distress, and understanding the impact of various factors on their well-being and performance.

This skill allows you to quickly grasp complex situations, identify potential risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions based on a comprehensive understanding of the environment. You are adept at recognizing subtle cues and adapting your approach accordingly.

After-Action Analysis

You regularly evaluate the effectiveness of training programs, leadership initiatives, and disciplinary actions, identifying lessons learned and implementing improvements to enhance the development of future naval officers.

This translates to a strong ability to analyze outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions. You excel at learning from experience and using data-driven insights to optimize performance and achieve desired results.

Rapid Prioritization

In the fast-paced environment of the Naval Academy, you are constantly faced with competing demands and must quickly prioritize tasks, allocate resources, and address urgent issues to ensure the smooth operation of your company.

This means you are highly capable of quickly assessing situations, identifying critical priorities, and allocating resources effectively to meet deadlines and achieve objectives. You remain calm under pressure and make sound decisions in time-sensitive situations.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Training and Development Manager

SOC 11-3131

You've been directly responsible for the leadership development of future naval officers. This experience translates seamlessly into designing and implementing training programs for civilian organizations, where your focus on fostering leadership skills and optimizing individual performance will be invaluable.

Higher Education Administrator

SOC 11-9031

You've gained an intimate understanding of the challenges and opportunities within a higher education setting. This makes you well-suited for administrative roles in colleges and universities, where your experience in student development, program management, and problem-solving will be highly valued.

Human Resources Manager

SOC 11-3121

You've honed your skills in conflict resolution, performance management, and team building. This makes you an ideal candidate for a Human Resources Manager role, where you can apply your expertise to recruit, train, and support employees within an organization.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Company Officer Training Program, United States Naval Academy

80 training hours2 weeksUp to 2 semester hours in Management and Leadership may be recommended

Topics Covered

  • USNA policies and procedures
  • Midshipman leadership development
  • Counseling and mentorship techniques
  • Conduct and discipline
  • Emergency response protocols
  • Officer evaluation and reporting

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)70% covered

Formal project management methodologies, budget management, and specific training ROI metrics.

SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)60% covered

Specific HR laws and regulations, compensation and benefits administration, and talent acquisition strategies.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Manager (CM)Certified Coaching Professional (CCP)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM) CurriculaCorporate Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Cornerstone OnDemand or TalentLMS
Defense Readiness Reporting System-Marine Corps (DRRS-MC)Project Management Software like Asana or Jira for tracking team performance and readiness
Marine Corps Mentorship ProgramExecutive Coaching and Mentorship Platforms such as BetterUp or Ezra
Military Academic Management System (MAMS)Student Information Systems (SIS) like Banner or PeopleSoft
United States Naval Academy Leadership Development FrameworkLeadership Development Programs offered by organizations such as the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
Performance Evaluation System (PES)Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) with performance management modules like Workday or BambooHR

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 9603 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free