78170 Career Guide
78170: Services Apprentice
Career transition guide for Air Force Services Apprentice (78170)
Translate Your 78170 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 78170 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Technical Program Manager
Product
Your experience translating program policy into directives and managing manpower resources directly aligns with the responsibilities of a Technical Program Manager. Your skills in resource optimization, rapid prioritization, and team synchronization are crucial for managing complex tech projects.
Typical stack:
Computer Systems Analyst
Customer / Field
As a Services Apprentice, you operated and supervised automated information management systems. Your experience in management advisory studies, analyzing and processing organization change actions, and assessing organizational performance are directly applicable to the work of a Computer Systems Analyst.
Typical stack:
Data Analyst
Data
Your experience in financial management, resource allocation, and performance assessment can be leveraged in data analysis. You're used to employing management engineering methodologies to develop manpower determinants and standards.
Typical stack:
Skills You Already Have
Concrete bridges from 78170 experience to tech-industry practice.
- APF/NAF Financial Management→ Financial data analysis using tools like Excel and SQL
- Manpower Programming and Execution System (MPES)→ Workforce management software (e.g., Workday, Oracle HCM)
- Resource Optimization→ Agile project management methodologies
- Situational Awareness→ Risk assessment and mitigation in software development
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 78170 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Hotel Manager
Skills to develop:
Human Resources Manager
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Director
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Recreation Center Director
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 78170 training built — and where they transfer.
Resource Optimization
Managing budgets and resources across various programs like food service, lodging, recreation, and mortuary affairs, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization.
Applying strategic thinking to allocate and manage resources effectively, maximizing output while minimizing waste.
Rapid Prioritization
Quickly assessing and prioritizing tasks and resources during contingency operations, ensuring essential services like feeding, lodging, and casualty reporting are maintained.
Swiftly evaluating situations and prioritizing actions to address urgent needs and maintain operational effectiveness in dynamic environments.
Team Synchronization
Coordinating and synchronizing diverse teams across multiple service programs to ensure seamless operations and effective support to the total force.
Orchestrating diverse teams to achieve common goals, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining a constant awareness of the operational environment, including manpower, equipment availability, and potential threats, to adapt and respond effectively.
Continuously monitoring and understanding the environment to anticipate changes and make informed decisions.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been managing diverse teams and resources under pressure, developing and executing contingency plans. This translates perfectly to coordinating emergency responses and ensuring community safety during crises. Your experience in resource optimization and rapid prioritization will be invaluable.
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00Your experience in overseeing diverse services like lodging, food service, and mortuary affairs has honed your logistical skills. As a Logistics Manager, you’ll use your expertise in resource allocation, supply chain management, and process improvement to optimize the flow of goods and services within an organization.
Facilities Manager
SOC 11-3013.00You've been responsible for maintaining facilities, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with standards. This makes you an excellent fit for a Facilities Manager role, where you'll oversee the maintenance, operations, and improvements of buildings and grounds, ensuring they meet the needs of the occupants.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Services Apprentice Course, Fort Lee, VA
Topics Covered
- •Food Service Operations
- •Lodging Management
- •Recreation Program Management
- •Fitness Center Operations
- •Mortuary Affairs Procedures
- •APF/NAF Financial Management
- •Customer Service Standards
- •Contingency Operations Training
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires study of specific hospitality industry standards, customer service protocols, and financial management within hospitality settings.
Requires focused study on civilian HR laws, talent acquisition strategies, compensation and benefits administration, and employee relations best practices.
Requires a deeper understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum), risk management frameworks, and stakeholder communication strategies as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Automated Business Services System (ABSS) | Restaurant and hospitality management software (e.g., Toast, Upserve) |
| Air Force Training Record and Information Management (AFTRIMS) | Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Skillsoft or Coursera for Business |
| Manpower Programming and Execution System (MPES) | Workforce management software (e.g., Workday, Oracle HCM) |
| Air Force Corporate Facilities Management Information System (AFCIMS) | Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) such as Archibus or Planon |
| Base Support and Expeditionary Planning Tool (BaS&E) | Contingency planning software and risk management platforms |
| Defense Travel System (DTS) | Corporate travel and expense management software (e.g., Concur, Expensify) |
Ready to Translate Your Experience?
Our AI-powered translator converts your 78170 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.
Translate My Resume — Free