New Cohort Starts:

Donate
Logo
2026 Cohort Active

31Y Career Guide

Army

31Y: Information Systems Chief

Career transition guide for Army Information Systems Chief (31Y)

Translate Your 31Y Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 31Y background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Network Engineer

Infrastructure

SOC 15-1241
High match

Your experience directing the installation, operation, and maintenance of communications equipment systems directly translates to the responsibilities of a Network Engineer. You already understand network protocols, communications systems integration, and can plan/prepare communication systems diagrams. Your experience with strategic satellite communications and tropospheric scatter radio aligns with modern network infrastructure.

Typical stack:

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

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
Good match

Your knowledge of COMSEC, SIGSEC, OPSEC, and physical security principles is directly applicable to cybersecurity. As an Information Systems Chief, you planned and implemented security measures for communication systems, which is a core responsibility of a Security Engineer.

Typical stack:

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

Cloud Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1241
Moderate match

Managing communication systems and understanding network architecture provides a solid foundation for cloud computing. Your experience with resource management and systems integration is relevant to cloud infrastructure deployment and maintenance. You have experience with strategic satellite communications, which is analogous to cloud-based communication services.

Typical stack:

One major cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure)Networking (VPC, subnets, routing)IAM and security boundariesCost optimizationInfrastructure as Code

Technical Program Manager

Product

SOC 11-3021
Moderate match

Your experience in directing, coordinating, and supervising the employment of integrated communications systems translates well to a technical program manager role. You're skilled in planning, resource management, and providing technical guidance, which are all essential for managing complex tech projects. Your experience with OPORDs and OPLANs will be helpful for project planning.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacy (read code, read architecture diagrams)Cross-team coordinationRisk and dependency managementWritten communicationStakeholder reporting

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 31Y experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Tactical Communications Planning→ Network Design and Architecture
  • Information Assurance and Security→ Cybersecurity Principles and Practices
  • Communications Systems Integration→ Systems Integration and Engineering
  • Resource Management→ Infrastructure Optimization and Cost Management
  • Rapid Prioritization→ Incident Response and Management
  • Situational Awareness→ Risk Assessment and Threat Analysis
  • Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC)→ Emergency communications systems (satellite/cellular deployable)
  • Tactical Satellite (TACSAT) Communication Systems→ Commercial satellite communication services
  • Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS)→ Two-way radio systems with encryption capabilities
  • Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE)→ Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) for voice and data
  • Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM)→ Wideband satellite internet and communication infrastructure
  • Tropospheric Scatter Radio→ Microwave communication systems for long-distance data transmission
  • Communication Electronic Operating Instructions (CEOI)→ Standard Operating Procedures for IT infrastructure and network security

Skills to Learn

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

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificationAWS Certified Security - Specialty certificationAWS Certified Solutions Architect - AssociateProject management methodologies (Agile, Scrum)Cloud computing fundamentalsPython scripting for network automation

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 31Y veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Network and Computer Systems Manager

$120K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationSpecific vendor certifications (e.g., Cisco, Microsoft)

Telecommunications Manager

$115K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of civilian telecommunications technologies (e.g., VoIP, SIP)Business communication skills

Information Security Analyst

$105K
Good matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certificationUnderstanding of current cybersecurity threats and mitigation techniques

First-Line Supervisor of Communications Equipment Installers and Repairers

$75K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Commercial electrical or telecommunications certificationsExperience with civilian safety standards

IT Project Manager

$95K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationAgile or Scrum methodologiesExperience with specific project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana)

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 31Y training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

31Y personnel create and interpret complex communications systems diagrams, understanding how different components interact and impact overall network performance.

This translates to the ability to understand and design complex systems in various industries, from IT infrastructure to supply chain management.

Rapid Prioritization

When communications systems fail or are compromised, 31Y must quickly assess the situation, determine the most critical issues, and allocate resources to restore functionality.

This skill is crucial in fast-paced environments where you need to make quick decisions under pressure, such as project management, emergency response, or crisis management.

Situational Awareness

31Y maintain communications situation maps, overlays, and briefings, to provide real-time awareness of network status, potential threats, and operational impacts.

In the civilian world, this translates to an ability to understand the bigger picture, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions based on real-time data.

Resource Optimization

This role involves determining and coordinating logistics requirements for integrated communications systems, including personnel, equipment, and supplies, and ensuring efficient utilization of these resources.

You've honed your ability to maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and make the most of available resources - valuable skills in many business settings!

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Logistics Analyst

SOC 13-2081.00

You've been managing complex communication systems and ensuring that resources are delivered where they are needed most. Your expertise in logistics is highly transferable to this role.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 29-9099.01

You've been trained to maintain and quickly restore communication networks. That makes you uniquely qualified to manage emergency response and disaster recovery.

Network Security Analyst

SOC 15-1212.00

You've been responsible for COMSEC, SIGSEC, OPSEC and physical security. Your experience with security protocols makes you an ideal candidate for ensuring the security of computer networks.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Signal Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) at Fort Eisenhower, GA

320 training hours8 weeksUp to 9 semester hours recommended in information technology, networking, or management

Topics Covered

  • •Advanced Network Management
  • •Tactical Communications Planning
  • •Information Assurance and Security
  • •Communications Systems Integration
  • •Leadership and Team Management
  • •Technical Report Writing
  • •Resource Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

CompTIA Network+70% covered

Focus on the latest networking technologies, cloud networking concepts, and some vendor-specific hardware configurations.

CompTIA Security+60% covered

Study the latest cybersecurity threats, vulnerability management, and risk mitigation techniques. Also, review compliance standards and security auditing procedures.

Project Management Professional (PMP)50% covered

Requires formal training in project management methodologies, tools, and techniques as described in the PMBOK guide. Focus on areas like stakeholder management, risk assessment, and project planning.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)ITIL 4 FoundationAWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC)Emergency communications systems (satellite/cellular deployable)
Tactical Satellite (TACSAT) Communication SystemsCommercial satellite communication services (e.g., Inmarsat, Iridium)
Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS)Two-way radio systems (e.g., Motorola, Kenwood) with encryption capabilities
Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE)Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) for voice and data
Strategic Satellite Communications (SATCOM)Wideband satellite internet and communication infrastructure
Tropospheric Scatter RadioMicrowave communication systems for long-distance data transmission
Communication Electronic Operating Instructions (CEOI)Standard Operating Procedures for IT infrastructure and network security

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 31Y experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free