1173 Career Guide
1173: Submarine Officer
Career transition guide for Navy Submarine Officer (1173)
Translate Your 1173 Experience Now
Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.
Start Free TranslationTech Roles You Could Aim For
Real industry tech roles your 1173 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Site Reliability Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your experience with submarine systems (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic), damage control, and emergency procedures translates well to ensuring system uptime and reliability. Your training in submarine operations and safety aligns with the core responsibilities of an SRE.
Typical stack:
DevOps Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your experience managing teams and coordinating complex operations within the submarine environment demonstrates strong leadership and team synchronization skills. Your background in weapons systems operation and maintenance, as well as navigation subsystems, provide you with a solid understanding of complex systems.
Typical stack:
Security Engineer
Security
Your experience with Submarine Tactical Warfare System (STAWS) and AN/WLR-9A Acoustic Countermeasures System reflects experience with security-relevant systems. Your rapid prioritization and procedural compliance skills developed in high-pressure submarine operations are critical in security engineering.
Typical stack:
Technical Program Manager
Product
Your role as a Division Officer involved managing teams of submariners, coordinating maintenance, and executing complex operations. The 'team synchronization' cognitive transfer skill maps directly to program management. You can leverage this experience to manage complex technical projects and teams.
Typical stack:
Skills You Already Have
Concrete bridges from 1173 experience to tech-industry practice.
- Submarine systems operation and maintenance→ Systems thinking and troubleshooting
- Rapid Prioritization→ Prioritizing tasks in software development and incident response
- Team Synchronization→ Collaboration in Agile development environments
- Situational Awareness→ Monitoring system performance and security
- Procedural Compliance→ Adhering to security protocols and coding standards
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 1173 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Project Manager
Skills to develop:
Operations Manager
Skills to develop:
Engineering Manager
Skills to develop:
Management Consultant
Skills to develop:
Technical Sales Engineer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 1173 training built — and where they transfer.
Rapid Prioritization
As a Division Officer on a submarine, you constantly faced rapidly evolving situations, demanding immediate and critical decisions about resource allocation, maintenance, and operational tactics to ensure the safety and mission success of your team and vessel.
In the civilian world, this translates to the ability to quickly assess complex problems, identify the most critical tasks, and allocate resources effectively under pressure. You excel at making tough decisions with limited information, ensuring projects stay on track and crises are averted.
Team Synchronization
Leading a team of highly trained Enlisted Submariners requires precise coordination and communication. You orchestrated their actions to achieve complex objectives within the confined environment of a submarine, ensuring seamless teamwork during patrols, maintenance, and emergency situations.
This skill demonstrates your capacity to build and manage high-performing teams. You're adept at fostering collaboration, setting clear goals, and synchronizing individual efforts to achieve collective success, making you an effective leader in any collaborative setting.
Situational Awareness
Operating a submarine demands constant vigilance and a deep understanding of your surroundings. You maintained a comprehensive awareness of the submarine's position, systems status, and potential threats, enabling you to anticipate and respond effectively to any situation.
In the civilian sector, this translates to a keen ability to perceive and interpret complex environments, anticipate potential risks, and make informed decisions. Your heightened awareness makes you invaluable in roles requiring strategic thinking and proactive problem-solving.
Procedural Compliance
Submarine operations are governed by strict procedures and protocols to ensure safety and mission success. You rigorously adhered to these guidelines, demonstrating a commitment to precision and attention to detail in every aspect of your work.
This rigorous adherence to procedure showcases your reliability and dedication to quality. You understand the importance of following established protocols and consistently deliver accurate, dependable results, making you an asset in regulated industries or any role requiring meticulous attention to detail.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Project Manager, Construction
SOC 11-9021.00You've been managing complex projects in a high-stakes environment, coordinating teams, and ensuring strict adherence to protocols. This mirrors the demands of construction project management, where you'll oversee budgets, schedules, and safety regulations while leading diverse teams to successful completion.
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00Your experience maintaining situational awareness and making rapid decisions under pressure is directly applicable to emergency management. You've been trained to assess threats, coordinate responses, and manage resources effectively during crises, making you well-prepared to lead community responses to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.04You've been entrusted with the management of critical resources and intricate systems. This translates seamlessly to logistics management, where you'll optimize supply chains, coordinate transportation, and ensure the efficient delivery of goods and services.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC), Naval Submarine School, Groton, CT
Topics Covered
- •Submarine operations and safety
- •Damage control and fire fighting
- •Submarine systems (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic)
- •Nuclear reactor principles (if applicable)
- •Weapons systems operation and maintenance
- •Navigation and piloting
- •Leadership and team management
- •Emergency procedures
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Formal project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), specific project management tools and software (e.g., MS Project, Jira), and detailed understanding of PMI's framework and terminology.
Formal management and leadership training, HR regulations, and specific business administration topics not covered in submarine officer training.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| AN/BQQ-5E Sonar System | Advanced acoustic analysis software and hydrophone arrays used in oceanographic research and marine mammal monitoring |
| MK 48 Advanced Technology (ADCAP) Torpedo | Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) used for deep-sea exploration and resource mapping |
| Submarine Tactical Warfare System (STAWS) | Integrated maritime domain awareness platforms used for port security and coastal surveillance |
| AN/WLR-9A Acoustic Countermeasures System | Acoustic signal processing and analysis software for noise cancellation and signal detection in underwater environments |
| Navigation Subsystem (NAVSUB) | Inertial navigation systems (INS) used in commercial aviation and autonomous vehicles |
| Ship Control System (SCS) | Automated process control systems used in industrial plants and manufacturing facilities |
Ready to Translate Your Experience?
Our AI-powered translator converts your 1173 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.
Translate My Resume — Free