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23N Career Guide

Army

23N: NIKE Radar Repairman

Career transition guide for Army NIKE Radar Repairman (23N)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 23N background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Good match

Your experience with maintaining and repairing complex radar and computer systems, including troubleshooting and diagnostics, translates well to the responsibilities of a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). SREs ensure the reliability and availability of systems. Your background in maintaining military radar systems gives you a solid foundation in system analysis, troubleshooting, and maintenance procedures, all of which are crucial in SRE roles. Your experience with test equipment and calibration is also valuable.

Typical stack:

LinuxOne scripting language (Python or Go)Observability stack (Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry)Incident response practicesCloud platform basics

DevOps Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Good match

Your experience in maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of complex radar and computer systems provides a strong base for a DevOps Engineer role. Your background includes knowledge of system components, electronic theory, and the use of test equipment, which are all valuable for understanding and managing IT infrastructure. Your skills in diagnosing malfunctions and coordinating maintenance activities are directly transferable to DevOps practices.

Typical stack:

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

Systems Administrator

Infrastructure

SOC 15-1244
Good match

As a NIKE Radar Repairman, you're adept at maintaining and troubleshooting radar and computer systems. This experience aligns well with the responsibilities of a Systems Administrator, who manages and maintains IT infrastructure. Your ability to diagnose malfunctions, conduct repairs, and follow maintenance procedures are directly transferable skills. Your experience with test equipment and technical documentation is also relevant.

Typical stack:

Linux and/or Windows ServerScripting (Bash, PowerShell, Python)Backup and DR practicesMonitoringPatch management

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
Moderate match

Your background in maintaining and repairing radar and computer systems, combined with your understanding of electronic theory and troubleshooting, provides a solid foundation for a Security Engineer role. Your experience with identifying and diagnosing malfunctions, as well as following maintenance procedures, can be applied to identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities. You're used to working with complex systems, which is valuable in security roles.

Typical stack:

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

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 23N experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair TechniquesDebugging and fault isolation
  • Test Equipment Operation and CalibrationUsing diagnostic tools to identify and resolve issues
  • System ModelingDesigning, analyzing, and improving systems
  • Rapid PrioritizationMaking quick decisions under pressure
  • Degraded-Mode OperationsMaintaining productivity and effectiveness when things aren't perfect
  • Procedural ComplianceCompleting work safely, accurately, and in accordance with standards
  • Technical Manuals (TMs) and SchematicsEquipment Documentation and CAD Drawings

Skills to Learn

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

Linux server administrationCloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)Configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Chef, Puppet)Containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)Scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash)Network administration fundamentalsCybersecurity principles and practicesSecurity tools and technologies (e.g., SIEM, intrusion detection systems)

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 23N veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Electronics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Specific certifications in commercial electronics repair (e.g., CompTIA)Familiarity with current industry standards

Avionics Technician

$82K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FAA certificationExperience with modern aircraft systems

Computer and Network Support Technician

$68K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

CompTIA A+ or Network+ certificationExperience with current operating systems and networking protocols

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

$62K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Experience with mechanical systemsPLC (Programmable Logic Controller) trainingKnowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems

Quality Control Inspector

$55K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of quality control standards (ISO 9000)Proficiency in using measurement and testing equipmentExperience in a manufacturing environment

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 23N training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You developed comprehensive system models of complex radar and computer systems to troubleshoot issues efficiently and ensure optimal performance.

This ability to understand and model complex systems translates directly into designing, analyzing, and improving systems in various civilian industries.

Rapid Prioritization

You had to quickly assess malfunctions, determine their severity, and prioritize repairs based on mission criticality and available resources.

This skill in rapid prioritization is invaluable in fast-paced civilian environments where you need to make quick decisions under pressure.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You maintained and repaired systems even when facing limited resources, incomplete information, or non-ideal conditions, ensuring continued functionality.

Your experience with degraded-mode operations shows you can maintain productivity and effectiveness even when things aren't perfect, a highly valued trait in any organization.

Procedural Compliance

You strictly adhered to technical manuals, regulations, and inspection techniques while performing maintenance and repairs.

Your meticulous approach to procedural compliance ensures that work is completed safely, accurately, and in accordance with industry standards, making you a reliable asset.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9086.00

You've been maintaining complex electronic and mechanical systems under pressure; wind turbines are similar electromechanical beasts requiring similar skills in diagnostics, repair, and maintenance.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

SOC 49-9041.00

You've honed skills in diagnosing and repairing intricate systems. As an industrial machinery mechanic, you'll leverage this expertise to keep production lines running smoothly, troubleshooting and fixing equipment in manufacturing plants.

Building Automation Systems Technician

SOC 49-9021.00

You're adept at understanding and maintaining complex systems. As a building automation technician, you'll use these skills to manage and optimize building systems, ensuring efficiency and sustainability.

Training & Education Equivalencies

NIKE Hercules Radar Maintenance Course, Fort Bliss, TX

1,040 training hours26 weeksUp to 15 semester hours in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • NIKE Hercules System Overview
  • Low Power Acquisition Radar (LPAR) Theory and Maintenance
  • Target Tracking Radar (TTR) Theory and Maintenance
  • Radar Computer Systems Maintenance
  • Electronic Troubleshooting and Repair Techniques
  • Test Equipment Operation and Calibration
  • Preventive Maintenance Procedures
  • Supply and Logistics Procedures for Radar Systems

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Requires knowledge of current electronics industry standards, troubleshooting techniques for modern devices, and specific safety protocols not covered in legacy military radar systems.

CompTIA Network+40% covered

Requires understanding of modern networking concepts, protocols, and security practices. The military training focused on specific radar systems and may not cover general networking principles.

Recommended Next Certifications

CompTIA Security+Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
NIKE Low Power Acquisition Radar (LPAR)Air Traffic Control Radar Systems
NIKE Tracking Radars (Target Ranging)Industrial Measurement Radar Systems
Missile Guidance Computers (Analog)Legacy Industrial Control Systems
AN/TPM-21 Test SetOscilloscopes and Multimeters
Organizational and Intermediate Maintenance (O/I Level)Tiered Maintenance Programs (OEM)
Technical Manuals (TMs) and SchematicsEquipment Documentation and CAD Drawings
TOE/TD/TA (Tables of Organization and Equipment/Distribution/Allowances)Bill of Materials (BOM) and Equipment Lists

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