The Civilian Resume: Translating Military MOS Codes into Corporate Value

Jun 03, 2025

Your MOS code tells your entire military story in four characters. But to a civilian hiring manager? It might as well be written in a foreign language.

Here's the hard truth: That "11B Infantry" or "25B Information Technology Specialist" on your resume is creating a translation barrier between you and your next opportunity. Every day, qualified veterans are getting passed over not because they lack the skills, but because they're speaking military when employers need to hear corporate.

After 30+ years of helping professionals navigate career transitions, I've seen this same challenge derail too many veteran job searches. The solution isn't to hide your military experience—it's to translate it into value language that civilian employers immediately understand.

The MOS Translation Challenge

Most transitioning service members make one critical mistake: They list their MOS code and assume civilian employers will connect the dots. Here's what actually happens:

What you write: "25B - Information Technology Specialist" What employers see: "Unknown military position with unclear civilian application"

What you should write: "Network Systems Administrator - Maintained 99.8% uptime for critical IT infrastructure supporting 500+ users"

The difference? The second version immediately communicates value in terms every hiring manager understands.

The Three-Layer Translation Framework

Every MOS code needs to go through this three-layer translation process:

Layer 1: Job Title Translation

Replace your MOS code with the closest civilian job title. Research industry-standard titles on LinkedIn, Indeed, and company websites in your target field.

Military: 92A - Automated Logistical Specialist Civilian Translation: Supply Chain Coordinator

Layer 2: Core Function Description

Explain what you actually did in language that translates across industries.

Military: "Responsible for Class I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX supply operations" Civilian Translation: "Managed comprehensive inventory control and distribution operations for critical supplies and equipment"

Layer 3: Quantified Impact

Add specific metrics that demonstrate your value and scale of responsibility.

Complete Translation: "Supply Chain Coordinator - Managed comprehensive inventory control and distribution operations for critical supplies and equipment, maintaining 98% accuracy rate while supporting operations for 300+ personnel"

Real MOS Translation Examples

Here are proven translations for common MOS codes:

Combat Arms Positions:

11B Infantry → Operations Coordinator - Led tactical operations and personnel management in high-stress environments
19K Tank Crewman → Heavy Equipment Operator - Operated and maintained complex mechanical systems worth $6M+ in challenging conditions

Technical Positions:

35N Signals Intelligence Analyst → Data Analyst - Collected, analyzed, and reported on complex information patterns to support strategic decision-making
15T UH-60 Helicopter Mechanic → Aviation Maintenance Technician - Performed preventive and corrective maintenance on sophisticated aircraft systems ensuring 95% mission readiness

Support Positions:

42A Human Resources Specialist → HR Generalist - Managed personnel records, benefits administration, and compliance for 200+ employees
88M Motor Transport Operator → Transportation Coordinator - Safely transported personnel and cargo across diverse terrain while maintaining DOT compliance

The Corporate Value Connection

Every military role has corporate value—you just need to make the connection explicit. Here's how to identify yours:

Step 1: List Your Daily Responsibilities Write down what you actually did, not what your MOS description says you did.

Step 2: Identify the Business Function Ask yourself: What business need did this serve? Cost reduction? Risk management? Process improvement? Team leadership?

Step 3: Quantify the Impact How many people, how much equipment, what dollar value, what percentage improvement, what time savings?

Step 4: Use Corporate Language Replace military terms with business equivalents:

"Mission" → "Project" or "Objective"
"Unit" → "Team" or "Department"
"Commander" → "Manager" or "Director"
"Deployment" → "Assignment" or "Project"

Action Steps for This Week

Your military experience is an asset, not a liability. The key is presenting it in language that immediately communicates your value to civilian employers.

Your assignment:

Take your current resume and identify every military-specific term
Use the three-layer translation framework to convert your MOS into corporate value language
Use O*NET (onetonline.org) to research civilian equivalents for your military role—this Department of Labor database shows you exactly how employers categorize jobs and what skills they value most
Research job postings in your target field to identify the keywords and phrases employers actually use
Rewrite your experience section using civilian language that quantifies your impact

Pro Resource Alert

The O*NET Interest Profiler and occupation database at onetonline.org is the same authoritative tool career counselors use to match military experience with civilian roles. It's free, government-backed, and will show you exactly what language employers use for your skillset. This isn't just helpful—it's the professional standard for occupational translation.

Remember: You're not changing what you did—you're changing how you describe what you did.

What's Your Translation Challenge?

I want to hear from you: What aspect of your military experience has been hardest to translate for civilian employers? Drop a comment below and let's work through it together.