7011 Career Guide
7011: Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician
Career transition guide for Marine Corps Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician (7011)
Translate Your 7011 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 7011 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your experience with airfield systems maintenance and operation translates well to DevOps principles. You're used to maintaining complex systems (EAF), troubleshooting issues, and ensuring operational readiness. You can apply this to cloud infrastructure by learning tools like Kubernetes and Terraform.
Typical stack:
Network Engineer
Infrastructure
Your experience with airfield communication systems and tactical radios (AN/PRC-117G) lays a foundation for understanding network infrastructure. You can leverage this background to learn networking concepts, protocols, and tools for managing and maintaining networks.
Typical stack:
Systems Administrator
Infrastructure
Your work maintaining airfield systems and AM-2 matting involves maintaining physical infrastructure, and you can extend that to servers and systems in a data center or cloud environment. Learning Linux system administration, scripting (Bash, Python), and server management tools will be key.
Typical stack:
Computer Systems Analyst
Customer / Field
Your experience in conducting Tactical/Assault Landing Zone Assessment Surveys (TALZAS) and preparing airfield operations manuals demonstrates an aptitude for analyzing complex systems and documenting procedures. You can build on this by learning about business process modeling, data analysis, and IT project management methodologies.
Typical stack:
Skills You Already Have
Concrete bridges from 7011 experience to tech-industry practice.
- Expeditionary Airfield Systems Maintenance→ Maintaining and troubleshooting complex systems
- Airfield Communications Systems→ Understanding of communication protocols
- Tactical/Assault Landing Zone Assessment Surveys (TALZAS)→ Systems analysis and documentation
- Procedural Compliance and Airfield Safety Procedures→ Adherence to standards and safety protocols
- Rapid Prioritization→ Project Management
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 7011 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Avionics Technician
Skills to develop:
Electrical Technician
Skills to develop:
Airport Maintenance Technician
Skills to develop:
Wind Turbine Technician
Skills to develop:
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 7011 training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
As an expeditionary airfield systems technician, you develop a mental model of how all the airfield systems (arresting gear, lighting, matting, etc.) interact, allowing you to quickly diagnose and resolve issues when one component malfunctions.
This ability to understand complex systems and their interdependencies translates directly to understanding and troubleshooting complex industrial or technological processes in the civilian world.
Rapid Prioritization
In a dynamic environment, you must quickly assess the urgency of different airfield maintenance needs. You learn to prioritize tasks based on impact to operations, safety considerations, and available resources, ensuring the airfield remains operational.
This skill is crucial for project management and emergency response roles, where you need to quickly evaluate situations, identify critical tasks, and allocate resources effectively under pressure.
Procedural Compliance
Working on and around airfields requires strict adherence to safety regulations and operational procedures to prevent accidents and ensure mission success. You develop a deep understanding of the importance of following protocols and maintaining detailed records.
Your commitment to following procedures makes you well-suited for roles in regulated industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, or aviation, where compliance is paramount.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining constant awareness of the airfield environment, including aircraft movements, weather conditions, and potential hazards, is critical for your safety and the safety of others. You develop heightened senses and an ability to anticipate potential problems.
This skill is valuable in security, logistics, and transportation roles, where you need to observe your surroundings, identify potential risks, and react quickly to changing conditions.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
SOC 49-9041.00You've been maintaining complex airfield systems under pressure, demonstrating a knack for troubleshooting and repair. As an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, you'll use those same skills to keep factories and other industrial facilities running smoothly. Your experience with safety regulations and documentation will also be a great asset.
Wind Turbine Technician
SOC 49-9081.00You've spent your time maintaining complex airfield systems in an outdoor environment. Now, as a Wind Turbine Technician, you'll use your technical expertise to inspect, maintain, and repair wind turbines, ensuring they generate clean energy efficiently. Your experience with electrical systems and troubleshooting will be highly valuable.
Quality Control Inspector
SOC 51-9061.00You've developed a keen eye for detail and a commitment to procedural compliance. As a Quality Control Inspector, you will inspect products and materials to ensure they meet quality standards. Your experience maintaining complex systems and documenting maintenance actions will translate into ensuring the quality of products.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Expeditionary Airfield Systems Technician School, Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, NC
Topics Covered
- •Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) Systems Overview
- •AM-2 Matting Installation and Maintenance
- •Visual Landing Aid Systems (VLAS) Operation and Repair
- •Airfield Lighting and Marking Procedures
- •Emergency Arresting Gear Systems Maintenance
- •Tactical/Assault Landing Zone Assessment Surveys (TALZAS)
- •Airfield Communications Systems
- •Airfield Safety Procedures and Hazardous Zones
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Study aviation business management, safety management systems, and regulatory compliance topics beyond the direct technical aspects of airfield systems.
Focus on construction-specific OSHA regulations, record keeping, and hazard communication standards not fully covered in military training.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Expeditionary Airfield (EAF) AM-2 Matting | Modular portable runway systems, rapid runway repair materials |
| Visual Landing Aids (VLA) | Airport lighting systems, LED runway lighting |
| Tactical Airfield Lighting Systems (TALS) | Portable airfield lighting kits, solar-powered runway lights |
| Field Marker Lights (FML) | Construction site lighting, portable LED marker systems |
| Arresting Gear (e.g., BAK-12) | Emergency aircraft arresting systems, cable arrestor systems |
| AN/PRC-117G Radio | Motorola or Harris Corporation tactical radios |
| Tactical/Assault Landing Zone Assessment Surveys (TALZAS) using survey equipment | Land surveying using GPS and total station equipment. |
Ready to Translate Your Experience?
Our AI-powered translator converts your 7011 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.
Translate My Resume — Free