Navy FT Sailors operate and maintain submarine combat control systems, over-the-horizon systems, SWFTS, imaging systems, weapons systems, contact management tools, information assurance systems, legacy equipment, submarine-launched weapons employment and handling systems, launch equipment, non-tactical computers, and peripherals. Civilian paths fit defense electronics, systems administration, field service, test, and cleared technical support roles.
Navy Rating / NEC
Submarine combat systems
Updated June 2026
Official classification grounding
Navy OCCSTDS describes FT Sailors as operating and maintaining submarine Combat Control Systems, Over-the-Horizon systems, SWFTS, imaging and weapons systems, participating in weapons handling, employing Navy-guided missiles and underwater weapons, and maintaining non-tactical computer systems and peripherals.
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Defense Electronics Technician$65k – $140kBLS current wage table
Systems Administrator Pathway$70k – $150kBLS current wage table
Field Service Technician$60k – $135kBLS current wage table
Cybersecurity or IA Support Analyst$75k – $160kBLS current wage table
Test or Quality Technician$60k – $125kBLS current wage table
FT experience maps to defense electronics roles when the resume names combat control systems, imaging, weapons interfaces, peripherals, diagnostics, maintenance, and information assurance. Keep classified details out and focus on systems maintained, tests performed, and readiness outcomes.
Non-tactical computer systems, peripherals, IA systems, and equipment administration can support systems administration paths. Pair the experience with civilian IT credentials and quantify users, devices, systems, or incidents supported.
Submarine combat control and weapons system maintenance can translate into field service for defense contractors. Strong bullets show troubleshooting, customer or crew support, test routines, documentation, and equipment returned to service.
Information assurance systems and secure technical environments can support entry security roles when paired with certification and unclassified examples of controls, accounts, compliance, or system hardening.
Maintenance checks, equipment administration, weapons launch equipment, and system testing can support QA or test technician roles. Civilian employers want procedure discipline, acceptance criteria, failures isolated, and records completed.
Transferable Strengths: What Civilian Employers Actually See
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Procedure discipline
Civilian employers value veterans who can follow manuals, document work, control risk, and hand off accurate information during technical, medical, or shipboard operations.
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Safety and accountability
Translate watchstanding, patient safety, tag-out, inspections, and emergency procedures into civilian safety, compliance, quality, and readiness language.
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Systems and environment clarity
Name the shipboard systems, tools, software, patient-care settings, equipment, or facilities you supported so a recruiter can map the work.
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Calm under pressure
These ratings often work around patients, alarms, engineering spaces, shipboard casualties, or complex communications systems. Show decision quality and communication under pressure.
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Measurable team contribution
Quantify patients, watches, repairs, systems, drills, inspections, records, work orders, or training events wherever your service history allows.
Section 03
Common Mistakes FTs Make in the Civilian Job Search
01
Letting the rating hide the work
FT alone does not tell a civilian employer what you did. Translate it into engineering support, combat systems, healthcare support, welding, piping, or communications maintenance.
02
Overclaiming credentials
Medical, welding, plumbing, electrical, EMS, and electronics credentials are separate civilian gates. List only credentials you hold and describe military experience as preparation.
03
Writing one broad resume
A generic military resume will miss keywords. Pick one target market first, then rewrite bullets around that employer’s systems, tools, risks, and outcomes.
Section 04
Certifications That Can Improve the Signal
FCC GROL
Cost FCC license and COLEM testing fees vary by exam managerTime Self-paced study; exam schedule variesFormat Written elements through approved COLEMs
FCC GROL can support shipboard communications, electronic, and radio-related maintenance paths.
Technical signal · Useful for electronics roles
CompTIA Security+
Cost CompTIA voucher pricing varies by region and purchase channelTime Self-paced study; exam scheduled separatelyFormat Vendor certification exam
CompTIA Security+ helps where systems work includes network administration or information assurance.
OSHA Outreach Training supports safety credibility but does not replace employer authorization.
Safety signal · Useful across field roles
Section 05
Resume Translation: From Navy Fire Control Technician to Civilian Language
The FT resume should translate Navy duties into civilian systems, tools, records, safety, people, and outcomes.
Before: Navy shorthand
Served as FT. Supported operations, followed procedures, completed maintenance or support tasks, and maintained readiness.
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After: Civilian employer language
Operated and maintained submarine combat control systems, SWFTS, over-the-horizon, imaging, weapons, information assurance, legacy, computer, and peripheral systems. Supported weapons handling and launch equipment maintenance, performed technical checks, documented equipment status, and helped maintain combat system readiness in a secure submarine operating environment.
The FT Translation Formula
Military term
Civilian translation
Proof to show
Submarine fire control systems
weapons-control electronics and targeting system operation and maintenance
systems, tests, faults, and readiness rates
Sonar or targeting data
technical data use for weapons-control calculations and decision support
tracks, data checks, watch hours, and reports
Classified procedures
secure operation, documentation, and information handling for sensitive systems
training, access controls, audits, and incidents avoided
Casualty control
rapid troubleshooting and restoration of fire-control system availability
casualties, corrective actions, downtime, and drills
Maintenance records
preventive maintenance, test results, and equipment-history documentation
Official duties verified against Navy OCCSTDS Manual Change 103, July 2025, working copy Navy-OCCSTDS-Change-103-Jul-2025-extracted.md, pages 919-933. Salary context uses BLS OOH and OEWS pages cited in each role card. Certification links point to issuing organizations or official program pages and were reviewed on June 15, 2026.
Section 06
FT Civilian Career FAQs
What civilian jobs fit Navy FT experience best?
FT experience fits best where employers need submarine combat systems, procedure discipline, safety awareness, and documented execution. The right target depends on your platform, training, NECs, and civilian credentials.
Does Navy FT experience automatically grant civilian credentials?
No. Military experience can be valuable, but civilian medical, trade, electronics, welding, EMS, and employer credentials are separate. Be precise about what you hold and what you are pursuing.
How should I write FT experience on a resume?
Use the rating name once, then translate the work. Name systems, tools, patient-care duties, inspections, repairs, records, reports, drills, and outcomes a civilian employer understands.
What should FTs do before applying?
Pick one primary job family, compare postings, identify credential gaps, and rewrite bullets around measurable outcomes. The narrower resume usually performs better than a broad military summary.
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