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6190 Career Guide

Navy

6190: Communications Officer (Submarine)

Career transition guide for Navy Communications Officer (Submarine) (6190)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 6190 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 secure communications protocols, information warfare fundamentals, and Submarine Local Area Networks (SubLAN) directly translates to the responsibilities of a Security Engineer. Your procedural compliance and rapid prioritization skills are also highly valuable in this role.

Typical stack:

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

Network Engineer

Infrastructure

SOC 15-1241
Good match

Your experience managing Submarine Communication Systems (SATCOM), understanding of antenna theory, and troubleshooting communication systems align well with the responsibilities of a Network Engineer. Your familiarity with systems like AN/WSC-3 UHF Satellite Communication Set also provides a solid foundation.

Typical stack:

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

DevOps Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Moderate match

Your experience with maintaining and troubleshooting complex communication systems, along with your skills in situational awareness and team synchronization, make you a viable candidate for a DevOps Engineer role. Understanding how systems interconnect and ensuring reliable operation are key in DevOps.

Typical stack:

CI/CD tooling (GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins)Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Pulumi)Containers (Docker, Kubernetes)Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)Linux

Computer Systems Analyst

Customer / Field

SOC 15-1211
Moderate match

Your experience with NAVSSI (Navigation Sensor System Interface) and integrated submarine imaging systems demonstrates an ability to work with complex systems and data. Understanding a user's needs and how systems can be improved translates well to this role.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacyProcess mappingRequirements gatheringSQLStakeholder communication

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 6190 experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Submarine Communications Systems→ Understanding of network architecture and communication protocols.
  • Secure Communications Protocols→ Knowledge of encryption, authentication, and secure data transmission methods.
  • Troubleshooting and Maintenance Procedures→ Ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues in complex systems.
  • Situational Awareness→ Ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of complex, dynamic situations and make informed decisions based on real-time data.
  • Rapid Prioritization→ Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks, identify critical priorities, and make quick, well-reasoned decisions under pressure.
  • Team Synchronization→ Ability to lead, coordinate, and motivate teams to achieve common goals.
  • Procedural Compliance→ Commitment to following established protocols and maintaining compliance to ensure accuracy, consistency, and safety.

Skills to Learn

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

Linux system administration basicsCloud computing concepts (AWS, Azure, or GCP)Common security tools (e.g., Wireshark, Nmap, Metasploit)Network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP)Configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef)Scripting (Python or Bash)Containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) basicsCloud infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform or CloudFormation)Data analysis tools (e.g., SQL, Excel)Systems analysis and design methodologies

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 6190 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Network Engineer

$95K
High matchHigh demand

Telecommunications Specialist

$82K
High matchStable demand

IT Project Manager

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

PMP CertificationAgile Methodologies

Information Security Analyst

$98K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Security+ CertificationCybersecurity Frameworks

Technical Sales Engineer

$125K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Sales TrainingProduct Knowledge

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6190 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a Communications Officer on a submarine, you constantly monitored and assessed the operational environment, including potential threats, communication channels, and the status of various onboard systems to maintain mission effectiveness and safety.

This translates to the ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of complex, dynamic situations, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on real-time data, a skill highly valued in fast-paced civilian environments.

Rapid Prioritization

During critical operations or emergencies, you had to quickly assess competing demands, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources to ensure the most pressing issues were addressed first, maintaining order and control under pressure.

This means you can effectively manage multiple tasks, identify critical priorities, and make quick, well-reasoned decisions under pressure. This is a highly valued skill in any fast-paced professional environment.

Team Synchronization

You coordinated and communicated with various teams onboard the submarine, ensuring everyone was aligned and working together effectively to achieve mission objectives. This required clear communication, delegation, and the ability to motivate others.

This demonstrates your ability to lead, coordinate, and motivate teams to achieve common goals, a highly desirable skill in any collaborative work environment.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to strict communication protocols and operational procedures was paramount to maintaining security and effectiveness. You ensured all actions conformed to established guidelines and regulations.

Your commitment to following established protocols and maintaining compliance ensures accuracy, consistency, and safety, qualities that are highly valued in regulated industries.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to maintain situational awareness under pressure and rapidly prioritize tasks in crisis situations. Your experience in maintaining communication channels and coordinating teams during critical operations directly translates to the skills needed to develop and implement emergency response plans.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

Your experience in coordinating communication systems onboard a submarine has given you the crucial experience of managing and optimizing complex systems. You're adept at maintaining communication channels and coordinating teams effectively, ensuring smooth operations and efficient resource utilization.

Technical Writer

SOC 27-3042.00

You've been trained to understand complex systems and communicate them clearly. Translating complicated information into easy-to-understand documentation is a valuable skill, and your experience ensures you're able to articulate complex concepts in a concise and effective way.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC), Naval Submarine School, Groton, CT

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in telecommunications or electronics.

Topics Covered

  • •Submarine Communications Systems
  • •Antenna Theory and Operation
  • •Secure Communications Protocols
  • •Troubleshooting and Maintenance Procedures
  • •Navigation and Positioning Systems
  • •Emergency Communication Procedures
  • •Information Warfare Fundamentals

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Network+60% covered

While your military training provided a strong foundation in communications, you'll need to study up on current networking technologies, cloud computing, and network security best practices covered in the Network+ exam objectives.

Project Management Professional (PMP)40% covered

Your experience likely includes project work, but formal project management methodologies (PMBOK), Agile, and specific documentation requirements will require study.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)AWS Certified Security - SpecialtyCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Submarine Communication System (SATCOM)Satellite Communication Systems (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium)
Integrated Submarine Imaging System (ISIS)Advanced Imaging and Surveillance Systems (e.g., FLIR, maritime surveillance platforms)
AN/WSC-3 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Satellite Communication SetCommercial UHF radio systems and satellite communication terminals
Submarine Local Area Network (SubLAN)Secure Local Area Network (LAN) infrastructure with cybersecurity protocols
Joint Tactical Terminal/Receive Only (JTT/RO)Real-time data dissemination systems (e.g., financial data feeds, emergency broadcast systems)
NAVSSI (Navigation Sensor System Interface)Integrated bridge systems (IBS) for maritime navigation

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