9960 Career Guide
9960: Acquisition Specialist
Career transition guide for Marine Corps Acquisition Specialist (9960)
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Top civilian roles for 9960 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Contract Specialist
Skills to develop:
Project Manager
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Management Analyst
Skills to develop:
Purchasing Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 9960 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
Acquisition Specialists create models to understand how different components of a weapons system or equipment interact, and how changes in one area might affect others throughout its lifecycle.
You can analyze complex systems, predict outcomes based on various inputs, and understand how different parts of a system interact to achieve a desired result. This is valuable in any environment that requires strategic planning and problem-solving.
Resource Optimization
This role involves strategically allocating resources such as budget, personnel, and time to ensure project goals are met efficiently and effectively within the acquisition process.
You're skilled at maximizing the use of available resources to achieve the best possible outcome. You can identify inefficiencies, streamline processes, and make data-driven decisions about resource allocation.
Procedural Compliance
Acquisition specialists must adhere to strict regulations and procedures governing the acquisition process to ensure accountability, transparency, and legal compliance.
You are highly skilled in understanding and adhering to complex rules and regulations. This makes you exceptionally reliable in roles that require precision and adherence to legal or organizational standards.
After-Action Analysis
Reviewing past acquisition projects to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in future endeavors. This includes analyzing successes, failures, and unexpected outcomes to refine processes.
You are adept at evaluating the effectiveness of projects or processes and identifying areas for improvement. You can analyze data, draw conclusions, and recommend changes that enhance performance and reduce errors.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Business Process Analyst
SOC 13-1111You've been trained to analyze complex systems, optimize resource allocation, and comply with rigorous procedures. As a Business Process Analyst, you’ll use these skills to evaluate and improve business processes, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071You've managed resources, understood system lifecycles, and optimized processes. Your background makes you an ideal Logistics Manager, where you will oversee the flow of goods, information, and resources from point of origin to point of consumption.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041You are deeply familiar with procedural compliance and risk management from your acquisition work. As a Compliance Officer, you'll leverage this expertise to ensure that a company adheres to legal standards and internal policies.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Acquisition Specialist Training Program, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA
Topics Covered
- •Acquisition Planning and Strategy
- •Contract Management Fundamentals
- •Financial Management in Acquisition
- •Systems Engineering Principles
- •Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- •Risk Management in Acquisition
- •Legal and Ethical Considerations in Acquisition
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Formal project management methodologies (PMBOK), predictive planning, risk management, stakeholder management.
In-depth knowledge of federal acquisition regulations (FAR), contract law, negotiation strategies, and contract administration best practices.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Defense Acquisition Management Information Retrieval (DAMIR) | Contract management software (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Unanet) |
| Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) | Needs assessment and requirements gathering platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) |
| Total Force Structure Management System (TFSMS) | Workforce planning and organizational management software (e.g., Oracle PeopleSoft, Workday) |
| Automated Business Services System (ABSS) | Financial management and accounting software (e.g., SAP, Oracle Financials) |
| Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF) | Electronic invoicing and payment systems (e.g., Coupa, Tipalti) |
| Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) | Human resource information systems (HRIS) (e.g., ADP, Ceridian) |
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