31S Career Guide
31S: Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer
Career transition guide for Army Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer (31S)
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Real industry tech roles your 31S background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Network Engineer
Infrastructure
Your experience installing, operating, and maintaining satellite communication systems directly translates to network engineering. You understand network protocols, hardware configurations, and troubleshooting techniques. You've worked with equipment equivalent to Cisco and Juniper network devices. You also have experience managing network status in an operational environment, and developing network operations plans.
Typical stack:
Cloud Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your experience with satellite communication systems, network management, and spectrum management provides a solid foundation for cloud engineering. The skills you've honed in system modeling, rapid prioritization, and resource optimization are directly applicable to cloud infrastructure management. Your familiarity with Digital Communications Satellite Subsystems (DCSS) is analogous to experience with commercial satellite communication systems.
Typical stack:
Security Engineer
Security
Your work with cryptographic equipment, Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM), and identifying/reporting electronic jamming and deception aligns well with security engineering principles. Your experience in managing security programs for satellite operations and ensuring compliance with security policies are directly transferable to protecting networks and data in a civilian context.
Typical stack:
DevOps Engineer
DevOps / Platform
Your background in installing, configuring, and maintaining satellite communication systems provides a base for understanding infrastructure and automation. Your experience with network management, troubleshooting, and system monitoring translates to DevOps principles. Your ability to operate in degraded-mode showcases your resourcefulness and ability to adapt to challenging circumstances.
Typical stack:
Skills You Already Have
Concrete bridges from 31S experience to tech-industry practice.
- Satellite Communication Theory and Principles→ Networking fundamentals
- Operation and Maintenance of Tactical Satellite Terminals→ Hardware configuration and troubleshooting
- Network Management and Troubleshooting→ Network monitoring and diagnostics
- Cryptographic Equipment Operation and Maintenance→ Security protocols and encryption technologies
- Antenna Installation and Alignment→ Wireless communication principles
- Power Generation and Distribution→ Power management and backup systems
- Spectrum Management→ Resource allocation and optimization
- Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM)→ Cybersecurity intrusion detection and prevention
- Telecommunications Service Orders (TSO)→ IT service management (ITSM)
- Digital Communications Satellite Subsystem (DCSS)→ Commercial satellite communication systems
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 31S veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Network Engineer
Skills to develop:
Satellite Communications Technician
Skills to develop:
Telecommunications Specialist
Skills to develop:
IT Systems Manager
Skills to develop:
Technical Instructor/Trainer (Communications)
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 31S training built — and where they transfer.
System Modeling
As a 31S, you modeled complex satellite communication systems to understand their interconnectedness and predict potential points of failure, ensuring seamless data transmission.
This translates to an ability to understand complex systems, identify dependencies, and predict outcomes – valuable in any field dealing with intricate processes.
Rapid Prioritization
You regularly prioritized tasks under pressure, whether it was restoring a downed satellite link or allocating bandwidth during peak demand, ensuring critical communications always got through.
This demonstrates an ability to quickly assess situations, identify the most crucial tasks, and allocate resources effectively, especially in time-sensitive scenarios.
Degraded-Mode Operations
You maintained communications even when systems were compromised, employing backup systems and creative solutions to keep data flowing despite degraded capabilities.
This showcases your resourcefulness and ability to adapt to challenging circumstances, maintaining essential functions even when things aren't working as expected. It highlights your problem-solving skills under pressure.
Situational Awareness
You constantly maintained situational awareness of the network's status, potential threats, and user needs, adjusting configurations and protocols proactively to prevent disruptions.
This reflects your ability to monitor complex environments, anticipate problems, and make informed decisions based on a broad understanding of the situation.
Resource Optimization
You optimized the use of satellite bandwidth, power, and personnel to maximize system performance and minimize waste, ensuring efficient communication operations.
This demonstrates an ability to manage resources effectively, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Data Center Manager
SOC 11-9041.00You've been responsible for maintaining communication networks under pressure, much like a data center manager who ensures uptime and reliability of critical IT infrastructure. Your experience managing complex systems, troubleshooting issues, and coordinating teams translates directly to this role.
Emergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've developed expertise in maintaining communication during critical events and degraded modes. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you’ll apply your skills to plan and coordinate responses to disasters, ensuring effective communication and resource allocation.
Logistics Coordinator
SOC 43-3071.00You've coordinated logistics support for C4I network operations and managed resources efficiently. Logistics Coordinators also work with complex systems, optimizing workflows, and ensuring smooth operations, relying on experience of planning, coordinating, and problem-solving under pressure that you have honed.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Signal OSUT, Fort Eisenhower
Topics Covered
- •Satellite Communication Theory and Principles
- •Operation and Maintenance of Tactical Satellite Terminals
- •Network Management and Troubleshooting
- •Cryptographic Equipment Operation and Maintenance
- •Antenna Installation and Alignment
- •Power Generation and Distribution
- •Spectrum Management
- •Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM)
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Some knowledge of specific civilian networking technologies and troubleshooting methodologies will be needed.
Requires studying up on the latest cybersecurity threats, risk management, and compliance regulations in the civilian sector.
Requires familiarity with project management methodologies like Agile and Waterfall and the specific terminology used in the PMBOK guide.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Digital Communications Satellite Subsystem (DCSS) | Commercial satellite communication systems (e.g., Hughes, Viasat) |
| Joint Spectrum Interference Resolution (JSIR) Online System | Spectrum analysis and management software (e.g., ATDI ICS Telecom) |
| Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT) | Mobile satellite communication terminals (e.g., Cobham, AVL Technologies) |
| Baseband equipment (modems, multiplexers, encryption devices) | Telecommunications infrastructure equipment (e.g., Cisco, Juniper Networks) |
| Telecommunications Service Orders (TSO) system | IT service management (ITSM) platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, Remedy) |
| Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) techniques | Cybersecurity intrusion detection and prevention systems |
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