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6113 Career Guide

Navy

6113: Seamanship and Navigation Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Seamanship and Navigation Officer (6113)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 6113 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

DevOps Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Good match

Your experience with Naval Tactical Data Systems (NTDS) and Bridge Master Command and Control systems translates to managing complex systems. Your skills in system modeling and situational awareness are directly applicable to DevOps. You can learn to automate deployments and manage infrastructure as code.

Typical stack:

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

Cloud Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1241
Good match

Your background in managing shipboard systems and navigation tools provides a solid foundation for understanding cloud infrastructure. Your leadership and team management skills can be leveraged to manage cloud resources and teams. You can learn cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Typical stack:

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

Security Engineer

Security

SOC 15-1212
Moderate match

Your experience with maritime law, naval operations, and procedural compliance provides a strong understanding of security protocols and risk management. Your system modeling skills are valuable for identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities. You can learn cybersecurity principles, network security, and security tools.

Typical stack:

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

Data Analyst

Data

SOC 15-2051
Moderate match

Your experience with navigation, ship handling, and complex systems means you are comfortable with data analysis and interpretation. Your familiarity with Voyage Management Systems and Automatic Identification Systems gives you a head start in understanding data flows. You can learn SQL, Python (pandas), and data visualization tools like Tableau.

Typical stack:

SQLExcel / Sheets at expert levelOne BI tool (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)Statistics fundamentalsStakeholder communication

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 6113 experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Situational AwarenessAbility to perceive complex environments and anticipate potential problems
  • Team SynchronizationAbility to lead and motivate teams towards common goals
  • Procedural ComplianceUnderstanding the importance of following guidelines and procedures
  • System ModelingAbility to analyze and understand how different parts of a system interact
  • Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS)Experience with integrated data systems

Skills to Learn

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

Linux fundamentalsScripting with Bash or PythonConfiguration management with Ansible or ChefCloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)Containerization with Docker and KubernetesInfrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform or CloudFormationCybersecurity principles and best practicesNetwork security concepts and toolsSecurity Information and Event Management (SIEM) systemsSQL for data querying and manipulationPython (pandas) for data analysisData visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)

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 6113 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Ship Captain/Master

$95K
High matchStable demand

Navigation Officer

$88K
High matchStable demand

Maritime Instructor

$75K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Commercial certificationsTeaching certifications

Port Operations Manager

$90K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Logistics managementSupply chain principles

Technical Writer (Navigation Systems)

$70K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Technical writing certificationSpecific software proficiency

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6113 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

Naval Officers constantly assess their surroundings, factoring in weather, vessel traffic, mechanical status, and team readiness to make informed decisions and maintain safety.

This translates to a keen ability to perceive and understand complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and proactively adjust strategies – a valuable asset in dynamic civilian settings.

Rapid Prioritization

In emergencies or rapidly changing conditions, Naval Officers must quickly assess the urgency and importance of tasks to allocate resources effectively and mitigate risks.

You've honed the ability to swiftly determine what matters most in a crisis, enabling you to make critical decisions under pressure and keep projects on track.

Team Synchronization

Naval Officers coordinate and direct the actions of diverse teams to achieve shared objectives, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration in high-stakes environments.

This demonstrates your capability to lead, motivate, and align teams towards common goals, fostering efficient teamwork and maximizing productivity.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to strict protocols and regulations is paramount in naval operations to ensure safety, prevent errors, and maintain operational effectiveness.

You understand the importance of following established guidelines and procedures, ensuring that tasks are completed accurately and consistently.

System Modeling

These officers develop a deep understanding of how complex systems operate, including navigation, communications, and engineering, allowing them to anticipate potential failures and optimize performance.

You have a proven ability to analyze and understand how different parts of a system interact, enabling you to predict outcomes and troubleshoot issues effectively.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've been managing the flow of resources and personnel in complex naval operations. This directly translates to overseeing supply chains and ensuring efficient distribution in a business setting.

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You're adept at crisis management and rapid decision-making under pressure. Your experience in assessing risks, coordinating responses, and ensuring safety makes you a natural fit for leading emergency preparedness efforts.

Project Manager

SOC 11-9021.00

You've been planning, organizing, and executing complex projects with limited resources and tight deadlines in the Navy. This experience directly translates to managing civilian projects, ensuring they stay on track and within budget.

Business Continuity Planner

SOC 13-1199.05

You are experienced in system modeling and anticipate risks to ensure operational resilience. You will leverage your skills to develop plans for companies to continue operating during disruptions.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), Newport, RI

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in Maritime Studies

Topics Covered

  • Naval Navigation
  • Ship Handling
  • Seamanship Techniques
  • Bridge Resource Management
  • Maritime Law
  • Naval Operations
  • Leadership and Team Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Requires studying project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall), project lifecycle phases, and business analysis, as well as passing the PMP exam.

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)40% covered

Requires studying supply chain management principles, contract negotiation, procurement processes, and strategic sourcing. Specific focus on business and commercial supply management practices is needed.

Recommended Next Certifications

Master Mariner (depending on sea time and specific roles)Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Voyage Management System (VMS)Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
Global Positioning System (GPS) Military VariantCommercial GPS Navigation Systems (e.g., Garmin, Raymarine)
AN/SPS-73 Surface Search RadarMarine Radar Systems (e.g., Furuno, Simrad)
Automatic Identification System (AIS)Commercial AIS Transponders and Monitoring Software
Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS)Integrated Bridge Systems (IBS)
Bridge Master Command and Control SystemIntegrated maritime operations software platforms

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