Navy FC (Fire Controlman). 1,040 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $75K–$98K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
This career guide was generated using AI analysis of military job code data. Salary figures, certification coverage percentages, and career matches are estimates — verify with official sources before making career decisions.
Industry tech roles your FC background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
What FC training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
Vets Who Code is a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →Cognitive skills your FC training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Understanding complex weapons control systems including radar, computer, and missile guidance system interactions
Comprehending multi-layered technical systems — the systems thinking used in aerospace engineering, defense contracting, and advanced manufacturing
Processing multiple threat tracks and engaging targets based on priority while managing weapons system readiness
Making time-critical decisions with multiple competing inputs — applicable to operations centers, incident management, and real-time systems control
Identifying and classifying radar contacts, distinguishing threats from clutter, and recognizing electronic warfare signatures
Signal classification and anomaly detection — transferable to cybersecurity, radar engineering, and data analysis
Following strict weapons safety and employment procedures where errors can cause catastrophic collateral damage
Operating safety-critical systems under strict rules — transfers to nuclear operations, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and aviation safety
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Your operational knowledge of weapons control systems makes you valuable for testing and validating the next generation of defense technology.
Adjacent · MatchYour radar interpretation skills, ability to track multiple contacts, and training in real-time decision-making under strict procedures maps directly to ATC.
Adjacent · MatchYour experience with complex control systems, sensor fusion, and real-time decision support positions you for the growing field of autonomous vehicle and drone operations.
Adjacent · MatchUp to 18 semester hours recommended (estimated)
Commercial electronics standards and FCC compliance
Commercial IT hardware, operating systems, and software troubleshooting
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Aegis Combat System / SPY-1 Radar | Integrated control systems and phased array radar technology | Signals |
| SSDS (Ship Self-Defense System) | Automated threat detection and response control systems | Operations |
| MK 160 / MK 34 Gun Weapon Systems | Precision electromechanical control and servo systems | Weapons |
| AN/SWG-1 Harpoon Fire Control | Automated targeting and fire control computation systems | Weapons |
| TMDE (Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment) | Electronic test and calibration instruments (oscilloscopes, multimeters) | Operations |
The pathways above are the destination. Vets Who Code is the route: a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for active duty, veterans, and military spouses. 17 weeks at 20–30 hours a week, and a body of work that ships.