23131 Career Guide
23131: Motion Media Specialist
Career transition guide for Air Force Motion Media Specialist (23131)
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Real industry tech roles your 23131 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Technical Writer
Customer / Field
Your experience creating visual information for diverse audiences translates well to creating clear, concise technical documentation. Your storytelling and visual communication skills are directly applicable to explaining complex technical concepts in an accessible manner.
Typical stack:
IT Support Specialist (Help Desk)
Infrastructure
Your experience operating and maintaining motion media systems and troubleshooting technical issues makes you a good fit for IT support roles. Your familiarity with diverse software and hardware, coupled with your problem-solving skills, will enable you to assist users effectively.
Typical stack:
QA / Test Automation Engineer
Engineering
Your attention to detail and experience ensuring equipment is in proper operating condition can be applied to software quality assurance. Your experience with 'After-Action Analysis' to identify areas for improvement translates well to testing and identifying software defects.
Typical stack:
DevOps Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your experience managing complex video systems is analogous to managing cloud infrastructure. Your understanding of networking concepts, coupled with your experience in live event video production, can be valuable in a DevOps environment, especially with some training.
Typical stack:
Skills You Already Have
Concrete bridges from 23131 experience to tech-industry practice.
- Video editing software and workflows→ Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve
- Audio recording and mixing techniques→ Pro Tools, Logic Pro
- Television studio operations and control room procedures→ Blackmagic ATEM, vMix
- Operating video switchers→ Blackmagic ATEM, vMix
Skills to Learn
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not generic.
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code accelerates the parts we teach — software engineering fundamentals, web development, AI tooling. For everything else above, the path is doable independently with the resources we link to.
See VWC ProgramsCivilian Career Pathways
Top civilian roles for 23131 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Video Producer
Broadcast Technician
Skills to develop:
Multimedia Artist/Animator
Skills to develop:
Corporate Communications Specialist
Skills to develop:
Photographer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 23131 training built — and where they transfer.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining awareness of the environment during aerial or ground shoots, coordinating with pilots, and anticipating potential issues to capture the desired footage.
Maintaining a constant awareness of your surroundings and the interplay of multiple factors, allowing you to anticipate problems and adjust plans accordingly.
Resource Optimization
Determining the optimal camera settings, lighting, and equipment placement to achieve the desired visual outcome while efficiently using available resources.
Strategically allocating and utilizing resources, including equipment and personnel, to maximize efficiency and achieve project goals within budgetary constraints.
Team Synchronization
Coordinating with pilots, directors, writers, and other crew members to ensure smooth production and achieve a cohesive final product.
Effectively collaborating with diverse teams, coordinating individual efforts, and maintaining clear communication to achieve shared objectives.
Procedural Compliance
Adhering to established protocols and guidelines for camera operation, safety procedures, and equipment maintenance to ensure mission success and prevent accidents.
Following established procedures and regulations meticulously to ensure accuracy, safety, and compliance in all aspects of your work.
After-Action Analysis
Reviewing footage and production processes to identify areas for improvement, optimize future shoots, and enhance overall performance.
Analyzing past projects and performances to identify areas for improvement, refine strategies, and enhance future outcomes.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Theme Park Ride Designer
SOC 27-1029You've been responsible for camera placement, lighting and special effects. Your experience in media production translates directly to designing immersive and thrilling ride experiences in theme parks. Your understanding of visual storytelling and technical expertise will allow you to create memorable attractions.
Corporate Archivist
SOC 25-4011You've meticulously managed and maintained visual information, adhering to copyright and reproduction guidelines. Your detail-oriented approach and experience in handling sensitive media assets are valuable in preserving a company's history and intellectual property.
Architectural Visualization Specialist
SOC 17-3011You've mastered capturing and manipulating visual information, including lighting and special effects. Your skills are directly applicable to creating realistic 3D renderings and animations of architectural designs, assisting architects and developers in presenting their projects.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Visual Information Course, Defense Information School (DINFOS), Fort Meade, MD
Topics Covered
- •Motion picture camera operation and techniques
- •Lighting principles and practices for video production
- •Audio recording and mixing techniques
- •Video editing software and workflows
- •Storytelling and visual communication principles
- •Television studio operations and control room procedures
- •Live event video production
- •Aerial videography techniques
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
While the military training covers camera operation, lighting, and composition, CPP requires demonstrated knowledge of business practices, legal issues, and advanced artistic vision which would need further study.
The military training provides a strong foundation in video production techniques. However, additional study may be needed in areas such as advanced editing software, project management methodologies specific to civilian video production, and current industry trends.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Avid Media Composer | Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve |
| Pro Tools | Avid Pro Tools, Logic Pro |
| Teleprompters (various models) | Quescript Teleprompter, PromptDog |
| Character Generators (Chyron) | NewBlue Titler Pro, Vizrt |
| Video Switchers (Ross, Grass Valley) | Blackmagic ATEM, vMix |
| Studio Lighting Systems (Arri, Mole-Richardson) | Professional Studio Lighting Kits (various brands) |
| Aerial Camera Platforms (various modified aircraft with camera mounts) | Commercial drones (DJI, Freefly) equipped with professional cameras |
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