New Cohort Starts:

Donate

9935 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9935: Special Technical Operations Marine

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Special Technical Operations Marine (9935)

Translate Your 9935 Experience Now

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

Start Free Translation

Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 9935 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
High match

Your experience with covert communications techniques, electronic warfare basics, and operational security directly aligns with the responsibilities of a security engineer. Your understanding of systems like the Trojan SPIRIT II and Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-152A gives you a solid foundation for understanding network security principles and secure communication protocols.

Typical stack:

Networking and OS internalsCryptography fundamentalsThreat modelingCloud security (IAM, VPC)Code review for security

Network Engineer

Infrastructure

SOC 15-1241
Good match

Your familiarity with tactical data networks (TDN) and systems like the AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack Radio provides a strong base for understanding network infrastructure. Your training in surveillance and reconnaissance also translates to skills needed in network monitoring and security.

Typical stack:

TCP/IP fundamentalsRouting protocols (BGP, OSPF)Firewall and VPN configurationCloud networkingCisco or Juniper hands-on

Cloud Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1241
Moderate match

Experience with Defense Information System Network (DISN) maps well to private cloud networks and AWS GovCloud. Your experience in degraded-mode operations will be very helpful in troubleshooting cloud infrastructure issues.

Typical stack:

One major cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Networking (VPC, subnets, routing)IAM and security boundariesCost optimizationInfrastructure as Code

Computer Systems Analyst

Customer / Field

SOC 15-1211
Moderate match

Your experience with systems like the Global Command and Control System – Joint (GCCS-J) and tactical data networks involves analyzing complex systems and information flows. Your training in after-action analysis and rapid prioritization are valuable skills for a computer systems analyst role, where you'll evaluate and improve existing systems.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacyProcess mappingRequirements gatheringSQLStakeholder communication

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 9935 experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Covert Communications TechniquesNetwork Security Protocols, Encryption
  • Surveillance and ReconnaissanceNetwork Monitoring, Threat Detection
  • Electronic Warfare BasicsCybersecurity Fundamentals, Intrusion Detection
  • Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)Software Defined Radios (SDR)
  • Defense Information System Network (DISN)Private Cloud Networks, AWS GovCloud
  • After-Action AnalysisRoot Cause Analysis, Systems Improvement
  • Rapid PrioritizationIncident Response, Critical Thinking

Skills to Learn

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not generic.

Python scripting for security automationCloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)Network protocols and security (TCP/IP, DNS, VPNs)SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) toolsData analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)

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 Programs

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9935 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Security Specialist

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Security certifications (e.g., Security+)Knowledge of civilian security protocols

Intelligence Analyst

$85K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Data analysis tools (e.g., Python, R)Familiarity with civilian intelligence databases

Technical Support Specialist

$60K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

IT certifications (e.g., CompTIA A+)Customer service skills

Private Investigator

$65K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

State licensureSurveillance techniquesLegal knowledge

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9935 training built — and where they transfer.

Rapid Prioritization

As a Special Technical Operations Marine, you're constantly triaging tasks and information under pressure, determining which actions have the greatest impact on mission success amidst dynamic and often chaotic environments.

This translates directly to your ability to quickly assess situations, identify critical needs, and focus your efforts where they matter most, even when facing multiple competing demands.

Situational Awareness

You maintain a constant watch on your surroundings and operational landscape, identifying potential threats and opportunities to achieve mission objectives.

In the civilian world, this skill allows you to quickly grasp complex environments, understand the nuances of interpersonal dynamics, and anticipate potential challenges or windfalls.

Degraded-Mode Operations

Operating in special technical operations often means working with limited resources or under adverse conditions, requiring you to adapt and improvise to keep systems running and missions on track.

Your experience in degraded-mode operations has prepared you to troubleshoot problems creatively, make sound decisions under pressure, and maintain productivity even when faced with unexpected obstacles.

After-Action Analysis

Following missions, you participate in detailed debriefs to evaluate performance, identify areas for improvement, and refine strategies for future operations.

Your after-action analysis experience means that you have an innate ability to evaluate projects, understand where improvements are needed, and quickly adapt to new challenges.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to maintain situational awareness and prioritize effectively in high-stress environments. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you'll draw upon these skills to coordinate responses to natural disasters and other emergencies, working to minimize damage and protect lives.

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.05

Your experience in degraded-mode operations makes you uniquely suited for ensuring businesses can weather unexpected disruptions. As a Business Continuity Planner, you'll develop strategies and protocols to keep essential operations running smoothly during crises, leveraging your problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.

Intelligence Analyst

SOC 15-2051.00

You've honed your situational awareness and analytical skills. As an Intelligence Analyst, you can use those skills to identify and assess potential risks, contributing to better decision-making.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Special Technical Operations Training Program, Camp Lejeune, NC

240 training hours6 weeksUp to 3 semester hours in Military Science recommended

Topics Covered

  • Covert Communications Techniques
  • Surveillance and Reconnaissance
  • Electronic Warfare Basics
  • Small Unit Tactics
  • Operational Security (OPSEC)
  • Counter-Surveillance Measures

Certification Pathways

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS)Software Defined Radios (SDR)
AN/PRC-117G Multiband Manpack RadioHarris tactical radios, Motorola APX series
Defense Information System Network (DISN)Private cloud networks, AWS GovCloud
Global Command and Control System – Joint (GCCS-J)Situational awareness dashboards, ESRI ArcGIS
Tactical Data Network (TDN)Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET), mesh networking solutions
Trojan SPIRIT IISatellite communication systems (SATCOM), VSAT terminals
Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-152ALand Mobile Radio (LMR) systems with encryption capabilities

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 9935 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free