Veteran Transportation Career Center
Transition Your Skills to the Civilian Workforce
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and several of its operating administrations are partnering with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) to make it easier for all military personnel and veterans to convert their military training and job specialty skills acquired in the service and help them start an exciting career in the transportation industry. The information below highlights just a few of the exciting careers in the transportation industry which are most common in the military community.
What's your military experience?
- Aviation Pilots
- Aviation Maintenance Technician
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver (Truck or Bus)
- Emergency Medical Services
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
Pilots
Overview
Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes or helicopters. Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people and cargo on a fixed schedule. Commercial pilots fly aircraft for other reasons, such as charter flights, rescue operations, firefighting, aerial photography, and crop dusting. Information about a career as a pilot is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Military pilots may apply for airman certification based on his or her military pilot qualifications. A military pilot who passes the military competency knowledge test and possesses the appropriate documents will be issued a commercial pilot certificate and/or a flight instructor certificate.
What documentation is needed to transition from Military Pilot to Civilian Pilot or Instructors?
For Pilots:
- An official U.S. Armed Forces aeronautical order of flight status as a rated military pilot;
- An official U.S. Armed Forces form or logbook showing flight status as a rated military pilot;
- An official U.S. Armed Forces aeronautical order showing graduation from a U.S. Armed Forces undergraduate pilot training school and receipt of a rating qualification as a military pilot;
- An official U.S. Armed Forces record showing that the pilot passed a pilot proficiency check and instrument proficiency check in an aircraft as a military pilot in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For Instructors:
- An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order documenting the individual’s current or past qualification as a U.S. Armed Forces military instructor pilot or pilot examiner for the flight instructor rating sought.
- An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order documenting the individual’s completion of a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner training course, and receipt of an aircraft qualification as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.
- An official U.S. Armed Forces record or order documenting that the individual passed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check in an aircraft as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.
Acceptable Records
| Service | Record |
|---|---|
| U.S. Air Force |
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| U.S. Army |
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| U.S. Coast Guard |
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| U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy |
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Where can I find information to prepare for the military competency aeronautical knowledge tests?
You can find information for preparing to take the military competency – airplane (MCA) or military competency – helicopter (MCH) at the following link:
You can find information for preparing to take the military competency – instructor (MCI) test at the following link:
How and where can I take the test now?
You can find the requirements for taking the aeronautical knowledge test at the following website:
You can find a list of testing centers at the following website:
Where do I go to get my pilot or flight instructor certificate?
You can take your knowledge test results and documentation to a Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) to get your pilot or flight instructor certificate. You can find a FSDO using the following website:
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
I have my pilot certificate, where can I find available positions?
There are several search engines that are available specifically for veterans as they explore civilian careers. The suggested key words for pilot positions as you use these job search tools are "pilot" and "flight instructor."
- Hero to Hired Program
- VetSuccess.gov
- USAJobs.gov for Veterans
- VetCentral
- Current FAA Job Openings
- Learn more about the above job sites
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Overview
Aviation maintenance is a dynamic career field. It has changed a great deal since Charles Taylor, the first aircraft mechanic, helped design, build, and maintains the engine for the 1903 Wright Brothers’ Flyer. Now and in the future, aircraft maintenance will continue to change. This is due to the introduction of new designs and materials in aircraft construction and the interface between complex space-age systems, such as navigation computers, fly-by-wire and solid state fuel controls, and improvements in the time proven systems such as hydraulics, flight controls, and propellers.
Aviation Maintenance Technician work in a number of highly technical specialty occupations such as airframe and powerplants, maintenance, avionics (e.g., navigation, communication, and other electronic based or depended systems), and instrument repair (e.g., navigation, flight, and engine). These individuals hold the very important responsibility of keeping our fleet of U.S.-registered aircraft operating safely and efficiently. To accomplish this goal of 100% reliability that aviation industry and the flying public demands, these maintenance professionals maintain, service, repair, and overhaul aircraft components and systems.
The armed services may obtain valuable training and experience in aircraft maintenance within their current military occupational specialty (MOS) that is one the FAA credits for practical experience for the mechanics certificate. A list of these acceptable MOS positions can be found in Advisory Circular AC 65-30A, Appendix A or in FAA Flight Standards Information Management System 8900.1.
A comprehensive list of all airlines, repair stations, manufacturers, and fixed base operators (FBO) can be found in the World Aviation Directory at the reference section of your local library. This resource document will provide you with a number of job contacts in the location and maintenance field in which you wish to work.
What is your military experience?
If you have experience in any of the following Military Occupational Specialty areas, you have experience that can be used in the civilian workforce for Aviation Maintenance Technicians.
The following document includes the updated, new, and the older MOS codes for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard enlisted personnel. Use the new codes for active duty time after January 1990. The older codes are still valid for persons wishing to credit their military aviation maintenance experience toward meeting the requirements of the FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate.
- Military Occupational Speciality Codes related to Aviation Maintenance Technicians
- Additional Information about specific MOS codes and training requirements
How can I learn more about AMT careers and additional training?
You can find general information about careers in aviation maintenance at the following website:
You can find additional training resources for careers in aviation maintenance here:
How do I learn more about the Joint Services Aviation Maintenance Technician Credentialing Council (JSAMTCC) certification and testing programs for veterans?
Aviation maintenance technicians in the military may apply for the airframe and powerplant (A&P) certification based on his or her military experience and qualifications. The JSAMTCC program assists with this process. More information on this program is available here:
If you are interested in obtaining your A&P certification, please review the requirements at the following website:
If you think you are ready to test for your A&P, this is where you can find a more information about testing in your local area:
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
I have my certification. Where can I find available positions?
There are several search engines that are available specifically for veterans as they explore civilian careers Suggested Key words for AMT positions as you use these job search tools include "Airframe and Powerplant" and "Aviation Maintenance Technician."
- Hero to Hired Program
- VetSuccess.gov
- USAJobs.gov for Veterans
- VetCentral
- Current FAA Job Openings
- Learn more about the above job sites
Air Traffic Controllers
Overview
Military controllers are trained and certified to FAA standards utilizing FAA procedures, including the same control tower operator certificate that FAA controllers utilize. Though the Department of Defense elected not to participate in FAA's air traffic control credentialing program, it is not a barrier to civil employment.
Learn more about becoming an air traffic controller and find available positions
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver (Truck or Bus)
Overview
To become a commercial motor vehicle driver, you must obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). A CDL is a driver's license required for drivers who wish to drive across state lines in the United States to operate any type combination of vehicle which has vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds (11,793 kg) pounds. In addition, a CDL is required to drive any single vehicle with a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds or more for commercial use.
New federal rules and regulations now allow State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLA), the right to waive the commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test for military personnel who have two years of safe driving experience in a large truck or bus. Other restrictions may be applied by each individual State.
More information about the CDL:
- CDL Registration and Licensing (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
- Military CDL Skills Test Waiver Information (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
What is your Military Experience?
| Service | MOC | MOC Title |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 2T1X1 | Vehicle Operations |
| Army | 88M | Motor Transport Operator |
| Marine Corps | 3531 | Motor Vehicle Operator |
How do I find my State Driver Licensing Agency?
The State Driver License Agency is located in different offices across the country, which may include the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of State or the Department of Public Safety. Active duty military and veterans who wish to take advantage of the skills test waiver should contact their home SDLA. For a list of all SDLAs, visit the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) website to find the specific Motor Vehicle Agency:
Contact Information for CDL
For more information regarding questions of converting military driving experience to a commercial driver’s license, contact the FMCSA CDL Division's Mike Loose via e-mail: michael.loose@dot.gov.
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
I have my state license. Where can I find available jobs?
The US military provides a number of job assistance services. There are several search engines that are available specifically for veterans as they explore civilian careers Suggested Key Words when searching for Driver positions: Bus Driver, Truck Driver, Flatbed Driver, and Tanker Truck Driver
- Hero to Hired Program
- VetSuccess.gov
- USAJobs.gov for Veterans
- VetCentral
- Army Stand-To! Employer Partnerhsip Initiative
- TurboTap Transition Assistance Program (DOD)
- National Guard Transportation Careers
- American Legion Careers
- Hiring Our Heroes (US Chamber of Commerce)
- Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces
- VA Benefits Information
- Learn more about the above job sites
Emergency Medical Services
Overview
Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical care. It is activated by a call for help (e.g. 911), usually after an incident of serious illness or injury and focuses primarily on the emergency medical care of the patient(s). Prehospital EMS is most easily recognized when emergency vehicles such as ambulances or helicopters are seen responding to emergency incidents or transporting patients to or between medical facilities. EMS personnel such as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics are specially educated and licensed to provide prehospital emergency medical care. Sometimes, EMTs and Paramedics work in other settings such as private industry, clinics, hospital emergency departments, community health centers or other medical facilities.
EMS personnel must be licensed by the State in which they work. Each State has the statutory authority and responsibility to regulate EMS within its borders, and to determine the scope of practice of State-licensed EMS personnel.
Many active duty military personnel who are trained in emergency medical specialties also attain a national EMS certification from the National Registry of EMT's (NREMT's). A national EMS certification can help facilitate the granting of individual State EMS licensure to uniformed military personnel entering the civilian EMS workforce.
Where can I find more information about Emergency Medical Services?
The DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains EMS.gov, an online portal for EMS professionals across the country. The website makes it easy for the EMS community to access the latest professional news, training content, events, projects, and other essential information.
I have questions about getting a state EMS license, where can I find information about a particular state’s requirements?
Each State, territory and the District of Columbia has the statutory authority and responsibility to regulate EMS within its borders, and to determine the scope of practice of State-licensed EMS personnel. EMS personnel must be licensed by the State in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by State.
Veterans Resources for Training and Certifications
You may be able to use veteran’s benefits to cover the cost of training or testing for specific certifications/licenses. For more information about benefits to help support your costs visit:
Where can I find job openings in EMS?
There are many online search engines which can be helpful in finding job opening in EMS. Suggested key words when searching for jobs include "Emergency Medical Technician" and "Paramedic."
- Hero to Hired Program
- VetSuccess.gov
- USAJobs.gov for Veterans
- VetCentral
- Learn more about the above job sites
I have questions about EMS and would like to talk to someone at DOT, where can I find contact information?
The DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) works closely with partners around the country to provide critical tools for improving EMS systems that include educational materials and resources for state and local EMS personnel and technical support for universal 9-1-1 systems. Staff within NHTSA’s Office of EMS are available to answer questions veterans may have about EMS.
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Veteran Service Group Sites
A number of veteran’s service groups offer job search advice, career training assistance and veteran’s benefits.