U.S. Marine Corps MOS Career Guide
5948 — Aviation RADAR
Technician:
Civilian Career Guide
Marine Corps 5948 experience can translate into aviation electronics, field service, communications systems, radar or navigation maintenance, networked equipment support, and maintenance supervision roles. The strongest civilian version shows installation, testing, troubleshooting, alignment, preventive maintenance, software or firmware support, records, parts accountability, safety procedures, and systems restored to service.
NAVMC 1200.1L note
NAVMC describes 5948 Aviation RADAR Technicians as aviation electronics maintainers who survey, site, install, inspect, test, tune, adjust, align, troubleshoot, repair, maintain records, manage parts or technical libraries, and support MACCS air defense radar systems, IFF equipment, fiber optic cables, switched LAN devices, computers, servers, software, and firmware within Marine aviation command and control or air traffic control maintenance environments.
Transition Targeting
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Section 01
Top Civilian Role Matches for 5948
Radar Technician Direct radar match
$55k – $120k
Radar siting, installation, alignment, troubleshooting, and repair translate directly to radar technician roles.
RadarAlignmentIFFRepair
Demand depends on location, credentials, clearance, sector, and documented outcomes
Avionics Technician
$55k – $120k
Aviation radar, IFF, computers, servers, and software support can map to avionics technician roles.
AvionicsIFFSystemsTesting
Demand depends on location, credentials, clearance, sector, and documented outcomes
Field Service Engineer Pathway
$65k – $130k
Experienced radar technicians can target field service roles when they show customer sites, test procedures, and restored uptime.
Field serviceCustomer sitesTestUptime
Demand depends on location, credentials, clearance, sector, and documented outcomes
Electronics Maintenance Technician
$50k – $110k
Commercial and industrial electronics employers value fault isolation, component replacement, alignment, and documentation.
ElectronicsMaintenanceFaultsRecords
Demand depends on location, credentials, clearance, sector, and documented outcomes
Air Defense Systems Technician
$60k – $125k
MACCS air defense radar and IFF work can support defense contractor systems roles when clearance and system scope fit.
DefenseAir defenseRadarClearance
Demand depends on location, credentials, clearance, sector, and documented outcomes
Section 02
Transferable Strengths: What Civilian Employers Actually See
◆
Fault isolation
Electronics maintenance employers value technicians who can diagnose a fault, isolate the cause, replace or repair, and verify proper operation.
◆
Preventive maintenance and inspections
Periodic inspections, PM, alignment, calibration, and readiness checks translate directly into maintenance programs and uptime language.
◆
Technical documentation
Maintenance records, technical libraries, reports, supply requests, and equipment accountability show disciplined documentation.
◆
Systems integration
MACCS and ATC systems combine electronics, computers, networks, firmware, software, and field equipment. Describe the system, not only the part.
◆
Training and supervision
If you trained junior technicians or supervised a shop, translate it into quality control, skill development, and maintenance leadership.
Section 03
Common Mistakes 5948 Marines Make in the Civilian Job Search
01
Listing equipment without outcomes
Name the systems, but also show faults fixed, inspections completed, downtime reduced, readiness restored, or flight inspection support.
02
Skipping civilian credentials
Aviation electronics and ATC maintenance roles often screen for FCC, ETA, fiber, network, or employer-specific credentials.
03
Hiding clearance or safety scope
Secret eligibility, safety procedures, and aviation maintenance programs matter. Include them carefully without overstating eligibility.
Section 04
Certifications and Credentials That Improve Marketability
FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License
Cost FCC application and exam fees depend on COLEM testing providerTime Exam plus FCC applicationFormat Radio operator license
FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License can support radio, radar, and communications maintenance roles where employers value FCC licensing.
Credential signal · Useful for electronics roles
ETA Electronics Certifications
Cost Exam and course costs vary by credential and testing providerTime Exam or training pathFormat Electronics technician credential
ETA Electronics Certifications can validate electronics fundamentals for technician and field service roles.
Technical signal · Useful for electronics repair
Fiber Optic Association CFOT
Cost Training and exam pricing varies by school/providerTime Training plus examFormat Fiber optic credential
Fiber Optic Association CFOT supports fiber optic cable and networked aviation systems maintenance lanes.
Credential bridge · Useful for fiber work
Section 05
Resume Translation: From Marine Corps Scope to Civilian Outcomes
The resume should make the civilian function obvious. Use systems, volume, accuracy, compliance, customer impact, and outcomes.
Before: Military-centered language
Installed, inspected, tested, tuned, aligned, troubleshot, repaired, documented, and maintained MACCS air defense radar systems, IFF equipment, fiber optic cables, switched LAN devices, computers, servers, software, and firmware equipment, parts, tools, technical libraries, safety procedures, and maintenance records.
↓
After: Civilian employer language
Aviation electronics technician with experience installing and testing MACCS air defense radar systems, IFF equipment, fiber optic cables, switched LAN devices, computers, servers, software, and firmware equipment, isolating faults, tuning and aligning systems, replacing failed components, verifying operational status, maintaining tools and technical records, supporting parts accountability, applying safety procedures, and restoring mission-critical aviation systems to service.
The 5948 Translation Formula
Aviation RADAR Technician -> aviation electronics, field service, or systems technician lane
Diagnostics -> fault isolation, repair, and verification language
Preventive maintenance -> uptime and readiness metrics
Technical records -> documentation and compliance language
Always quantify: systems, inspections, faults fixed, downtime, parts, reports, technicians trained, and readiness rate
Sources reviewed on 2026-06-15:
BLS OEWS May 2025 wage tables, NAVMC 1200.1L Military Occupational Specialties Manual, and official credential sources linked in the certification section. Salary ranges are planning ranges built from related civilian occupations and should be checked against local postings before applying.
Section 06
5948 Civilian Career FAQs
What civilian jobs fit 5948 Aviation RADAR Technician experience?
Start with the role cards above, then narrow by systems used, volume handled, credentials, clearance, compliance exposure, and leadership scope.
Does 5948 experience automatically grant civilian credentials?
No. Military experience can support applications and interviews, but civilian licenses, certifications, and employer qualifications are controlled by the issuing authority.
How should I write 5948 on a resume?
Keep the MOS title, then translate it into the civilian function. Show systems, records, inspections, troubleshooting, quality checks, compliance, and measurable outcomes.
What should a 5948 Marine do first before applying?
Choose one target lane, compare postings, identify credential gaps, and rewrite the resume around measurable operational or technical proof.
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