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2E031B Career Guide

Air Force

2E031B: Ground Radar Systems Technician

Career transition guide for Air Force Ground Radar Systems Technician (2E031B)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 2E031B background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
High match

Your experience maintaining ground radar systems, including troubleshooting, repair, and performance testing, translates well to ensuring the reliability and uptime of complex software systems. Your training in Radar Principles, Digital Signal Processing, and Networking equips you to understand system behavior and resolve issues quickly. You are also familiar with degraded mode operations and apply situational awareness.

Typical stack:

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

Network Engineer

Infrastructure

SOC 15-1241
Good match

Your background includes extensive work with radar and communication systems, including assembly, installation, testing, and repair of antenna systems, transmission lines, and waveguides. Your familiarity with networking and communications systems, coupled with your troubleshooting skills, makes you a strong candidate for a network engineer role.

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 in planning, scheduling, and implementing system installations, along with your proficiency in using test equipment and interpreting test results, aligns with the responsibilities of a DevOps engineer. Your work developing methods for improving maintenance effectiveness translates to DevOps principles of automation and optimization.

Typical stack:

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

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
Moderate match

Given experience maintaining systems, you have a good base to learn about security. You have experience identifying problems areas and initiating corrective action. You can take that experience and learn to apply it to security vulnerabilities and exploits, while following all compliance procedures.

Typical stack:

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

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 2E031B experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Radar Principles and Theory→ Understanding of signal processing concepts applicable to data analysis.
  • Digital Signal Processing→ Ability to analyze and interpret complex data patterns.
  • Troubleshooting and Repair Procedures→ Systematic approach to problem-solving and issue resolution.
  • Networking and Communications Systems→ Knowledge of network protocols and communication technologies.
  • Radar System Alignment and Calibration→ Experience in system optimization and performance tuning.
  • System Modeling→ Designing, troubleshooting, and optimizing processes.
  • Degraded-Mode Operations→ Maintaining operational effectiveness in challenging situations.
  • Procedural Compliance→ Commitment to following established protocols and regulations.
  • Situational Awareness→ Assessing dynamic situations and making informed decisions.

Skills to Learn

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

Linux system administration fundamentalsCloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) basicsScripting languages (Python, Bash) for automationConfiguration management tools (Ansible, Chef, or Puppet)Fundamentals of TCP/IP networkingNetwork monitoring and analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark)Network security principles and practicesCloud networking concepts (VPC, VPN, etc.)Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or CloudFormation)Containerization with Docker and Kubernetes basicsContinuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelinesSIEM toolsVulnerability managementCompliance frameworks

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 2E031B veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Avionics Technician

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenseSpecific aircraft type certifications

Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer

$68K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Fiber optic cabling certificationSpecific telecom equipment training (e.g., Cisco, Juniper)

Electronics Engineering Technician

$72K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Associate's degree in Electronics TechnologyProficiency in CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Altium)Advanced troubleshooting methodologies

Wind Turbine Technician

$65K
Moderate matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Wind turbine safety and maintenance certificationClimbing and rescue trainingKnowledge of renewable energy systems

Industrial Maintenance Mechanic

$55K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) certificationHydraulic and pneumatic systems trainingWelding certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 2E031B training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

You routinely use schematics and diagrams to understand the intricate workings of ground radar systems, predicting how changes in one component will affect the entire system.

This ability to visualize and understand complex systems translates directly to designing, troubleshooting, and optimizing processes in various industries.

Degraded-Mode Operations

You're adept at diagnosing and repairing radar systems under pressure, often with limited resources or incomplete information, ensuring critical systems remain operational.

This translates to a strong ability to maintain operational effectiveness in challenging situations, adapting to unforeseen problems, and implementing contingency plans.

Procedural Compliance

You are deeply familiar with strict maintenance and installation policies, technical orders, and safety standards, ensuring all work adheres to these regulations.

This demonstrates a commitment to following established protocols and regulations, a crucial skill in regulated industries where adherence to standards is paramount.

Situational Awareness

You maintain constant awareness of the status of radar systems, environmental factors, and potential threats to ensure optimal performance and security.

This translates to a keen ability to assess dynamic situations, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on real-time information.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security Engineer

SOC 15-1299.02

You've been working with complex, interconnected radar systems, which require strict security protocols. As an ICS Security Engineer, you’ll apply your expertise to protect critical infrastructure systems from cyber threats. Your experience in troubleshooting and maintaining these systems will be invaluable in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities.

Robotics Technician

SOC 49-9062.00

You're skilled in repairing and maintaining sophisticated electronic systems. As a Robotics Technician, you’ll leverage this expertise to work with robots and automated systems in manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics. Your ability to diagnose and fix complex mechanical and electronic issues will make you a highly valued asset.

Wind Turbine Technician

SOC 49-9081.00

You're experienced in working with complex electrical and mechanical systems in outdoor environments. As a Wind Turbine Technician, you'll install, maintain, and repair wind turbines, applying your troubleshooting skills and knowledge of electrical systems to ensure efficient and reliable energy generation.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Ground Radar Systems Maintenance Course, Keesler AFB, MS

1,120 training hours28 weeksUp to 15 semester hours recommended in electronics technology

Topics Covered

  • •Radar Principles and Theory
  • •Digital Signal Processing
  • •Antenna Systems and Waveguides
  • •Transmitter and Receiver Systems
  • •Troubleshooting and Repair Procedures
  • •Networking and Communications Systems
  • •Radar System Alignment and Calibration
  • •Safety Procedures and Regulations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Electronics Technician (CET)70% covered

Formal electronics theory, specific troubleshooting techniques outside of radar systems, and current industry standards may need review.

CompTIA Network+60% covered

While experienced with communication systems, a deeper understanding of modern networking concepts, protocols, and security practices might be needed.

FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL)50% covered

Focus on FCC rules and regulations, as well as broader radio communication principles outside of military radar systems.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
AN/TPS-75 Radar SystemCommercial Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) systems
AN/GPN-27 Airport Surveillance RadarAir Traffic Control Radar systems
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) SystemsAutomatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponders
Ground-to-Air Radio Communication Systems (VHF/UHF)Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems
Radar Data Remoting SystemsRemote telemetry and data acquisition systems
AN/TPN-19 Landing Control CenterMobile Air Traffic Control Towers
Air Route Surveillance Radar (ARSR)Long-range radar used for en route air traffic control

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