4 Military to Civilian Resume Examples & Writing Guidelines
Written By Sebastian MorganSenior Content Writer & Certified Professional Resume Writer
Reviewed By Geoffrey ScottProfessional Resume Writer, Career Coach, & Senior Hiring Manager
Sebastian Morgan
Senior Content Writer & Certified Professional Resume Writer
Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan) and...
We wrote four sample resumes that demonstrate how to highlight your transferable skills and relevant achievements for employers in your new field.
Use these resumes to template your writing process and present your qualifications in precise, confident, and professional language.
Military-to-civilian resumes by situation
Discover even more professional resume templates in our complete collection.
Military to civilian resume template (text format)
Showcase your key skills and qualifications using this effective resume format.
- AutoCAD Proficient
- Revit Software Apps
- English & Arabic
- Demolition Expertise
- Structural Analysis
- Machinery Auditing
- Communication
- Time Management
- Leadership
- Conduct combat training for a team consisting of 10 combat engineers
- Assist in the design and implementation of modernized training programs and schedules
- Manage and facilitate demolition planning of various bridge designs
- Ensure adherence to both U.S. Army and local safety laws at demolition sites
- Compile and document explosives records in compliance with local and federal laws
- Cooperated in the development and improvement of operating procedures and tactics for armored vehicle-launched bridge machinery
- Planned, deployed, and monitored defensive explosive charges
Assisted in training 3 junior engineers in safe explosive disarmament practices - Proven desire to excel demonstrated by being awarded the Supper Sapper award administered by the Army Engineer Association in 2019
- Performed routine equipment and machinery audits, ensuring all necessary equipment was present and in proper working order
Army resume
If you’re leaving the US Army, you’ll need a resume like this one:
Army resume highlights
- Relevant certification: This applicant has a certification they picked up in the Army that civilian employers will want to see too (their Six Sigma certification). If you have a relevant certification, add it to your resume.
- Military term translated: Try avoiding military terms when you write your resume. For example, this resume uses the term “senior leadership” instead of “senior officers” or “commanding officer”.
How to write a military to civilian resume
Write your military to civilian resume with ease by following our 4 tips to help you secure work in the civilian workforce.
1. Translate military terms into civilian language
When adding military experience to your resume, it’s important to remember who will be reading it. Military acronyms may be confusing to a civilian employer.
For example, if you’re writing a resume and say your MOS was 11B, most hiring managers you’ll face aren’t likely to have military experience, so they’ll be confused by such terms.
So it’s important to make your military experience clear by translating military terms into words that civilian hiring managers will understand.
To help you, we’ve included an example of an infantryman’s work experience, with some military acronyms translated into civilian-friendly terms.
- Led 5 junior soldiers and was solely responsible for their health and welfare 24/7
- Increased retention of team members by 20% through positive mentorship and guidance
- Coordinated with a team from the Afghan Army during assignments to improve public relations and provide security for US personnel
- Trained Afghan 300+ soldiers on physical defense tactics, SOPs, and proper use of weaponry
- Provided base security on a rotation basis, identifying potential threats and any irregularities to document and log or immediately report to the base manager
Notice how the candidate mentions “junior soldiers,” instead of using words that might be more difficult for people to understand such as “squad” or rank titles. You could also swap “junior soldiers” with “junior employees,” or “subordinates.”
“Base manager” is also used to represent the Tactical Operations Center (TOC); “Assignments” is used instead of “missions.”
Here are some more examples of common military terms and how they can be translated into civilian-friendly language:
Good translations for military terms
- Combat = Life-threatening conditions
- Company = Department, section
- Mission = Task, objective
- OER/Counseling statement = review
- Reconnaissance = Data analysis or data collection
- TAD/TDY = Business trip, leave
- Service member = employee
- Infantryman = Security manager or security enforcer
- Squad Leader = Team leader
- Commanding Officer/CO = Director
- Executive Officer/XO = Deputy director or assistant director
- NCO = Supervisor or co-ordinator
- Supply Sergeant = Logistics manager
- Operations NCO = Operations supervisor, Operations manager
- Commander = VP or director
2. Add numbers to quantify your military accomplishments
Adding numbers (called quantifying your resume accomplishments) helps civilian employers see what you’re capable of, and what you’d achieve for them if they hire you. So a resume with numbers is superior to a resume without numbers.
Here’s an example of a quantified job history entry for an Army E-2 with an 88M MOS:
- Safely operated and maintained military vehicles, including trucks and transport vehicles, logging 5,000+ accident-free miles during training exercises and convoy operations
- Successfully transported and delivered 500+ tons of essential supplies, equipment, and personnel to various forward operating bases and combat zones during deployment, ensuring mission readiness and support for operational objectives
- Coordinated and executed 50+ convoy missions, averaging 10 vehicles per convoy, while adhering to strict timelines and safety protocols, resulting in a 100% mission completion rate
- Conducted routine vehicle inspections and maintenance checks, identifying and resolving mechanical issues promptly, resulting in a 95% operational readiness rate for assigned vehicles
- Provided transportation support for 20+ field training exercises, facilitating the movement of troops and equipment, and contributing to the successful completion of training objectives
3. List hard skills you picked up during your service
As a serving or former military servicemember looking to work in the civilian workforce, you’ll have picked up various hard skills depending on your specific role.
Check the civilian job ad for any hard skills you’ve developed in the military, and then add them to your resume’s skills section.
Here are some hard skills by common MOSs, AFSCs, and ratings:
- Combat tactics
- Weapons proficiency
- Patrolling & surveillance
- Physical fitness
- First aid & emergency response
- Medical assessment and triage
- Emergency medical treatment
- Patient care and monitoring
- Medical documentation and records management
- Medical equipment operation and maintenance
- Construction project management
- Blueprint reading and interpretation
- Carpentry and masonry
- Heavy equipment operation
- Safety compliance and regulations
- Fire suppression systems maintenance
- Equipment operation and maintenance
- Hazardous materials handling
- Emergency response procedures
- Safety compliance and regulations
4. Summarize your resume
Tie your military-to-civilian resume together with a strong resume summary that concisely explains your skills, qualifications, and experience.
Your summary should hook the attention of hiring managers and make them want to keep reading (and ultimately call you in for an interview).
Here are three examples of resume summaries for enlisted personnel. First, an Army E-3 with an 11C MOS applying for a security guard role:
Experienced and disciplined Army Indirect Fire Infantryman transitioning to the civilian sector, aiming to apply combat-tested skills to ensure safety and security in a security guard role. Proven ability to maintain vigilance, respond swiftly to threats, and enforce protocols. Dedicated to upholding a secure environment for clients and assets.
Next, a Marine with a 0671 MOS applying for a network engineering role:
Seasoned Marine Corps Data Systems Administrator with extensive experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining complex network systems in challenging environments. Proficient in network analysis, troubleshooting, and security protocols. Skilled in collaborating with diverse teams to optimize network performance and ensure mission-critical operations. Eager to leverage expertise and technical proficiency in the Network Engineer Support role at [Company Name].
And a Naval E-4 YN applying for an office manager position:
Accomplished Navy Office Manager with a proven track record of effective office administration and personnel management in high-pressure environments. Skilled in co-ordinating administrative operations, managing schedules, and facilitating communication. Possesses strong organizational and leadership abilities honed through military service. Seeking to leverage expertise in office management to drive efficiency and success as an Office Manager at MasterCard.
And three examples of resume summaries for officers. First, a JAG Corps Lieutenant j.g. (250X):
Navy lawyer with a distinguished record of legal expertise and leadership. Skilled in providing comprehensive legal counsel, conducting research, and representing clients in diverse legal matters. Proven ability to navigate complex legal issues and deliver strategic solutions. Eager to leverage military experience and legal acumen in a civilian lawyer role.
Next, an Army major with a 35D MOS:
Experienced Army translator with proficiency in Mandarin Chinese language and translation. Skilled in providing accurate and timely translations of Chinese documents in simplified and traditional characters, as well as spoken communications and live conversations. Proven ability to analyze and interpret complex information. Eager to apply military intelligence expertise to civilian role as a Chinese–English translator.
If you’re an O-4 Air Force officer with a 47VX AFSC, write a resume summary like this:
Veterinary Surgeon with extensive experience in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in animal care, surgery, and medical treatment. Skilled in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions in various animal species. Proficient in surgical procedures, preventive care, and client communication. Dedicated to providing compassionate and high-quality veterinary care in civilian practice.
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