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9948 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9948: Foreign Area Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Foreign Area Officer (9948)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9948 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Intelligence Analyst

$95K
High matchHigh demand

International Business Consultant

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant business certificationConsulting experience

Political Risk Analyst

$105K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced degree in political science or international relations

International Aid/Development Worker

$75K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Master's degree in international development or related fieldExperience in grant writing/fundraising

Security Consultant

$90K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Security certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9948 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Foreign Area Officers constantly assess the cultural, political, and economic landscape of their assigned region to anticipate potential threats and opportunities.

This translates to a keen ability to understand the dynamics of complex environments, predicting trends and risks.

Adversarial Thinking

FAO's must understand the motivations, strategies, and capabilities of potential adversaries within their region of focus, including threat finance and supply chains.

This skill becomes invaluable in competitive business environments when anticipating a competitor's actions.

Resource Optimization

FAOs often work with limited resources to achieve strategic objectives, requiring them to be resourceful and creative in their problem-solving.

In civilian settings, this translates to efficiently managing budgets, personnel, and time to maximize output and impact.

After-Action Analysis

Following any engagement or operation, FAOs conduct thorough after-action reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future performance.

This structured approach to continuous improvement is highly valued in project management and strategic planning roles.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Corporate Intelligence Analyst

SOC 19-3099.02

You've been immersed in understanding foreign cultures and potential threats. As a Corporate Intelligence Analyst, you'll leverage your skills to assess market risks, competitive landscapes, and potential vulnerabilities for a company's international operations.

International Political Risk Consultant

SOC 13-1111.00

You've developed an expertise in specific regions of the world and the political and economic risks associated with operating there. As a consultant, you'll advise businesses and organizations on mitigating risks related to political instability, policy changes, and security concerns.

International Trade Compliance Manager

SOC 11-3051.04

You've gained a comprehensive understanding of international regulations and protocols. In this role, you'll ensure a company's import and export activities comply with all applicable laws and regulations, avoiding costly penalties and disruptions.

Training & Education Equivalencies

FAO Qualification Course, Various Locations (Language Schools, In-Region Training)

2,000 training hours104 weeksUp to 30 semester hours recommended in political science, international relations, and foreign language studies.

Topics Covered

  • •Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency (Immersion)
  • •Regional Political-Military Analysis
  • •Cultural Awareness and Cross-Cultural Communication
  • •International Relations and Diplomacy
  • •USMC and Joint Operations Planning
  • •Intelligence Collection and Analysis
  • •Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  • •In-Region Practical Application and Exercises

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified International Trade Professional (CITP)60% covered

Requires specific knowledge of international trade regulations, finance, and marketing principles, which may not be fully covered in military training. Study international business practices and trade law.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

While military experience provides project management skills, formal project management methodologies (PMBOK), stakeholder management, and risk analysis require additional study.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Intelligence Professional (CIP)Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS)Secure cloud-based communication platforms (e.g., Signal, Wickr) for secure information sharing
Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISRE)Data analytics platforms for intelligence analysis (e.g., Palantir)
Tactical HUMINT (Human Intelligence) Targeting Toolkit (THTT)CRM and data mining tools for relationship building and information gathering (e.g., Salesforce, Tableau)
Global Command and Control System - Joint (GCCS-J)Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with logistics and operations modules (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)Language proficiency testing services (e.g., Berlitz, Language Testing International)
Intelligence Information Report (IIR) writingReport writing and intelligence analysis software (e.g., IBM i2 Analyst's Notebook)

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