U.S. Navy Rating Career Guide

ITR — Information Systems Technicians, Submarine, Communications:
Civilian Career Guide

Navy ITR experience can support telecommunications, network support, systems administration, cybersecurity, and communications-project careers. Strong candidates prove radio, antenna, cabling, router, switch, cryptographic-equipment, message, maintenance, outage, and network scope using releasable metrics. COMSEC custody, classified access, clearance eligibility, frequency authority, privileged accounts, and civilian transmitter licensing must be verified separately by each employer or regulator.

Telecom equipment installer median: $63,890 (BLS May 2025)

Network administrator median: $99,130

Cisco CCNA exam: $300

Navy rating source note

NAVPERS 18068F describes ITRs as submarine communications specialists who operate and maintain radio, cryptographic, COMSEC, antenna, mast, cable, router, switch, and external-connectivity systems. They process Naval messages, troubleshoot and calibrate C4I equipment, manage electromagnetic-interference issues, maintain records, and lead radio-room operations. Civilian translation depends on releasable technology, maintenance depth, traffic, outages, security controls, and leadership.

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Telecommunications Equipment Installer / Repairer$44k – $97kTelecom installation and service benchmark

Computer Network Support Specialist$47k – $128kBroad enterprise support benchmark

Network and Systems Administrator$63k – $155kEnterprise infrastructure benchmark

Information Security Analyst$75k – $200kHigh-demand cyber benchmark

Communications Project Specialist$62k – $168kCross-industry project benchmark

See full role breakdowns: demand data, hiring notes, and employer expectations →

Map the Communications Environment

Translate secure communications through systems and outcomes.

Your blueprint should capture circuits, radios, antennas, routers, switches, cables, users, messages, outages, test equipment, faults, restoration, availability, security controls, records, projects, and leadership without disclosing sensitive details.

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Section 01

Top Civilian Role Matches for Navy ITR

Telecommunications Equipment Installer / Repairer Most direct equipment path

$44k – $97k

ITRs who installed, tested, calibrated, maintained, and repaired radios, antennas, cables, connectors, transmitters, receivers, or communications support equipment can target telecom technician roles. Employers need equipment categories, frequency or signal scope when releasable, installation depth, test tools, service calls, faults, parts, restoration time, and acceptance results. FCC licensing applies to certain transmitter work, while tower, fiber, and commercial carrier environments may require skills not gained in a submarine radio room.

TelecommunicationsRadio systemsCablingEquipment repair

Telecom installation and service benchmark

Source: BLS OEWS: Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers · Median $63,890 (May 2025) · $44,000 – $97,000 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range

Computer Network Support Specialist

$47k – $128k

ITR router, switch, radio-room network, external-connectivity, user, and outage work can support network support roles. Show devices, users, circuits, incidents, changes, configuration, connectivity tests, escalation, restoration time, and availability in releasable terms. The transition is strongest when the candidate administered network components rather than only operating communications equipment. Commercial employers may expect common ticketing, cloud, wireless, and vendor platforms that were outside the Navy environment. Compare target postings for commercial carrier tools, vendor platforms, licensing, travel, and access requirements.

Network supportRouters and switchesConnectivityIncident response

Broad enterprise support benchmark

Source: BLS OEWS: Computer Network Support Specialists · Median $76,220 (May 2025) · $47,000 – $128,000 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range

Network and Systems Administrator

$63k – $155k

ITRs with sustained configuration, monitoring, account, network-service, patch, backup, documentation, and availability responsibility may pursue network or systems administration. Separate communications operation from true administrative authority. Employers need users, endpoints, devices, services, changes, incidents, uptime, access controls, and recovery evidence. Classified access, COMSEC duties, and Navy privileged accounts do not automatically transfer, and sensitive topology or crypto details should never appear on a civilian resume. Compare target postings for commercial carrier tools, vendor platforms, licensing, travel, and access requirements.

Network administrationSystems operationsAccess controlAvailability

Enterprise infrastructure benchmark

Source: BLS OEWS: Network and Computer Systems Administrators · Median $99,130 (May 2025) · $63,000 – $155,000 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range

Information Security Analyst

$75k – $200k

ITRs with secure configuration, COMSEC-aware procedures, access review, vulnerability remediation, incident handling, logging, accreditation, or control-assessment work may fit security analyst roles. Secure-room experience alone is not analysis. Quantify assets, findings, remediations, incidents, control reviews, audit results, and risk reduction using releasable data. The employer or government sponsor separately verifies clearance, access, suitability, and role authority; Navy COMSEC appointments do not carry into civilian employment. Compare target postings for commercial carrier tools, vendor platforms, licensing, travel, and access requirements.

CybersecuritySecurity controlsIncident analysisCompliance

High-demand cyber benchmark

Source: BLS OEWS: Information Security Analysts · Median $129,180 (May 2025) · $75,000 – $200,000 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range

Communications Project Specialist

$62k – $168k

Senior ITRs who coordinated installations, upgrades, maintenance periods, antenna work, configuration changes, message-system transitions, testing, and training may pursue communications project roles. Employers need deliverables, schedule, stakeholders, resources, dependencies, risks, acceptance criteria, and outcomes. Quantify circuits, devices, locations, personnel, duration, downtime, defects, completion, and adoption. CAPM can provide civilian vocabulary, but it does not replace evidence of project ownership and customer communication. Compare target postings for commercial carrier tools, vendor platforms, licensing, travel, and access requirements.

Communications projectsInstallationsRisk coordinationAcceptance testing

Cross-industry project benchmark

Source: BLS OEWS: Project Management Specialists · Median $102,320 (May 2025) · $62,000 – $168,000 national 10th-to-90th-percentile range

Section 02

Transferable Strengths: What Telecom and Network Employers See

Secure Communications Operations

Submarine communications require disciplined message handling, circuit control, access, records, and operational continuity. Translate traffic volume, circuits, users, availability, outages, response time, and audit results without disclosing frequencies, keys, crypto details, or mission content. Connect the evidence to communications continuity and audit confidence so the civilian value is immediate and defensible.

RF and Antenna Fundamentals

Radio, antennas, masts, connectors, interference, and propagation create a strong communications foundation. Show accessible equipment categories, bands only when releasable, tests, faults, installations, maintenance, signal improvements, and restoration outcomes. Connect the evidence to signal quality and equipment availability so the civilian value is immediate and defensible.

Network and Connectivity Troubleshooting

ITRs isolate faults across routers, switches, cables, services, radios, external links, and user endpoints. Quantify incidents, devices, tests, root causes, mean time to restore, repeat failures, and uptime. Connect the evidence to faster restoration and fewer repeat outages so the civilian value is immediate and defensible.

COMSEC-Aware Accountability

Cryptographic and COMSEC work builds custody, two-person controls, inventories, access discipline, destruction records, incident reporting, and audits. Translate the control process and results without implying a transferable appointment or exposing sensitive material. Connect the evidence to controlled accountability and sustained compliance so the civilian value is immediate and defensible.

Technical Watch and Team Leadership

Senior ITRs direct radio-room operations, train watchstanders, review records, coordinate outages, and maintain readiness. Quantify watch hours, traffic, teams, qualifications, projects, audits, availability, and inspection outcomes. Connect the evidence to watch readiness, project delivery, and inspection performance so the civilian value is immediate and defensible.

Section 03

Common Mistakes Navy ITRs Make in the Civilian Job Search

Leading With COMSEC Instead of the Civilian Function

COMSEC can matter for cleared roles, but employers also need to understand telecommunications, network, maintenance, records, incident, and leadership scope. Translate the function with releasable metrics, then state clearance or COMSEC status accurately for verification. Correct this by leading with telecommunications and network outcomes before clearance or COMSEC status, then verify the claim against the target posting and source records.

Treating Radio Operation as Network Administration

Operating secure communications equipment does not automatically prove server, account, patch, backup, or enterprise network administration. Separate what you configured and administered from what you monitored or operated, then target the right civilian level. Correct this by matching the target to the administration authority actually exercised, then verify the claim against the target posting and source records.

Assuming Navy Authority Transfers

Crypto custody, frequency use, classified access, privileged accounts, and radio-room watch authority end or change with the assignment. Civilian employers, government sponsors, and the FCC separately establish access, licensing, need to know, and technical authorization. Correct this by treating every civilian access, license, and appointment as newly granted, then verify the claim against the target posting and source records.

Section 04

Credentials That Strengthen a Navy ITR Transition

Cisco Certified Network Associate

Cost $300 examination feeTime Preparation varies with routing, switching, services, and security experienceFormat 120-minute 200-301 CCNA exam

Cisco Certified Network Associate validates broad networking knowledge across access, IP connectivity, services, security fundamentals, and automation. It does not prove access to classified systems or replace employer-specific platform qualification.

Network administration signal · Strong bridge from submarine network operations

FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License

Cost Testing fees vary by FCC-authorized Commercial Operator License Examination ManagerTime Preparation and scheduling vary by examination managerFormat FCC commercial radio operator Elements 1 and 3

FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License is required for certain transmitter repair and maintenance duties. It does not authorize civilian vessel navigation, network administration, or work outside the FCC license scope.

Commercial radio authority · Relevant when target duties include covered transmitters

Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity

Cost $125 examination feeTime Entry-level preparation varies with security operations experienceFormat Cisco entry-level certification exam

Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity validates foundational security concepts, monitoring, endpoint, network, vulnerability, and incident-response knowledge. Experienced ITNs may outgrow it quickly, so compare it with the target posting before paying.

Foundational cyber signal · Best for candidates who need a civilian baseline credential

Section 05

Resume Translation: From Navy ITR to Civilian Communications

Define circuits, equipment, traffic, networks, maintenance, outages, security controls, restoration, and measurable availability.

Before: Vague submarine communications language

Operated secure communications, maintained radio-room equipment, handled messages, managed COMSEC, and trained junior Information Systems Technicians.

After: Civilian telecom and network language that gets callbacks

Operated and maintained [X] radio, antenna, cable, router, switch, cryptographic-support, and external-connectivity systems supporting [X] users and [X] monthly message or circuit events. Completed [X] preventive, configuration, and repair actions at [X]% schedule compliance; isolated [X] equipment or connectivity faults; reduced median restoration time by [X]%; and sustained [X]% communications availability. Maintained controlled access, inventory, message, and technical records at [X]% audit accuracy; coordinated [X] outages or installations; and trained or qualified [X] watchstanders without disclosing classified architecture, frequencies, keys, or message content. Separated radio operation, network administration, equipment repair, and security accountability for accurate civilian role matching. Each metric should be traceable to releasable records.

The ITR Translation Formula

Military term	Civilian translation	Proof to show
Submarine radio room	secure telecommunications operations center with radio, network, message, monitoring, maintenance, and continuity functions	circuits, devices, users, traffic, watch hours, outages, and availability
COMSEC custody	controlled asset accountability, access management, inventory, audit, incident reporting, and secure disposition	items, inventories, discrepancies, audits, incidents, and compliance results
External communications casualty	connectivity incident triage, fault isolation, workaround, repair, escalation, and service restoration	events, circuits, devices, tests, root causes, restoration time, and repeat rate
Antenna and RF maintenance	radio-frequency equipment inspection, signal testing, cable and connector repair, interference troubleshooting, and operational verification	systems, tests, faults, repairs, signal results, downtime, and acceptance checks
Radio watch qualification	competency-based communications monitoring, message processing, escalation, recordkeeping, and continuity authorization	watch hours, traffic, learners, qualifications, pass rates, and audit results

Always quantify circuits, radios, antennas, routers, switches, users, messages, incidents, outages, maintenance actions, faults, restoration time, availability, inventories, audits, projects, and personnel.

Sources checked July 18, 2026: NAVPERS 18068F Volume I, Change 106, BLS May 2025 OEWS tables, Cisco CCNA exam, FCC commercial radio licensing, Cisco CCST exam pricing.

Section 06

Navy ITR Civilian Career FAQs

What is the most direct civilian job for a Navy ITR?

Telecommunications equipment installer or network support specialist is usually the closest fit. Network administration and cybersecurity become realistic when the record proves administrative authority or security analysis beyond operating secure communications equipment. Target telecom or network work according to the strongest hands-on evidence.

Does an ITR need an FCC GROL for civilian work?

Only for certain commercial transmitter repair and maintenance duties covered by FCC rules. Many network, cabling, support, security, and communications-project jobs do not require it. Check the target posting before paying an examination manager. Let covered transmitter duties determine whether the license adds value.

Can an ITR list COMSEC experience on a resume?

Yes, at a releasable level. Describe controlled asset accountability, access, inventories, audits, incident procedures, and compliance results. Do not list keys, frequencies, crypto details, classified topology, message content, or information prohibited by security guidance. Have a security reviewer approve any uncertain technical wording.

What should an ITR quantify on a civilian resume?

Quantify circuits, radios, antennas, routers, switches, users, traffic, incidents, outages, maintenance actions, faults, restoration time, availability, inventories, audits, projects, and personnel trained while protecting controlled technical and mission information. Use only releasable figures and accessible equipment categories. Verify the requirement with the employer.

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Build a communications and network path around verified scope.

CommandPath maps submarine radio, telecommunications, networks, COMSEC-aware operations, maintenance, message handling, outages, documentation, projects, and leadership into realistic telecom, network, cyber, or project targets.