# MOS to Civilian Skill Translation

Takes your military occupational specialty (MOS), rating, or Air Force specialty code and turns it into a plain-language list of transferable skills and realistic civilian job titles. Use it early in your transition when you need a starting point for your resume and job search.

## Prompt

## Context
You are helping [YOUR NAME], a [BRANCH OF SERVICE] service member or veteran with [YEARS OF SERVICE] years of service, translate their military occupational specialty into civilian terms. Their military job code and title: [MOS/RATING/AFSC AND JOB TITLE]. Primary duties as they performed them: [DUTIES IN YOUR OWN WORDS, describe what you actually did day to day, not the official job description]. Highest rank or pay grade reached: [RANK OR PAY GRADE]. Any additional qualifications, schools, or certifications earned during service: [ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS].

## Task
Produce three sections:
1. A plain-language paragraph (4 to 6 sentences) that describes what this person actually did at work, written so a civilian hiring manager with no military background can understand it.
2. A bulleted list of 8 to 12 transferable skills drawn only from the duties described above. Each skill should be named in civilian vocabulary and followed by a one-sentence example of where it was demonstrated.
3. A list of 5 to 8 realistic civilian job titles this background could support, with one sentence per title explaining the connection. Mark each title with a rough fit level: strong fit, partial fit, or starting point.

## Standards
- Base everything on the duties the person described. Do not add duties from the generic MOS description if the person did not name them.
- Do not invent certifications, clearances, equipment, or systems the person did not mention.
- Do not promise employment or suggest any of these roles is guaranteed based on military experience.
- Do not fabricate experience, dates, benefit amounts, eligibility, medical facts, or outcomes.
- Civilian job titles should reflect entry to mid-level roles unless the person described senior leadership experience.
- If the duties field is too vague to produce honest, specific output, ask one clarifying question before drafting.

## Variables

- YOUR NAME
- BRANCH OF SERVICE
- YEARS OF SERVICE
- MOS/RATING/AFSC AND JOB TITLE
- DUTIES IN YOUR OWN WORDS
- RANK OR PAY GRADE
- ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

## Input checklist

- [ ] Write out your actual daily duties in your own words, not the official job description. Include the things you did most often, not just the most impressive ones.
- [ ] List any formal schools, certifications, or qualifications you completed during service, including ones that did not come with your primary job code.
- [ ] Note any equipment, software, or systems you used by name so they can be translated accurately.
- [ ] Remove your Social Security number and personal identifying data before pasting any service record, and never include classified or operationally sensitive information.
- [ ] Think about scope: how many people did you supervise, what was the size of the unit or operation you supported? Those details make the translation more accurate.

## Verification checklist

- [ ] Read the skills list and confirm each one maps to something you actually described doing, not something the AI inferred from your job code.
- [ ] Check every system, equipment item, or certification named: did you supply that, or did the AI pull it from a generic MOS profile?
- [ ] Review the civilian job titles: are they realistic for someone at your experience level, or did the AI over-promote you?
- [ ] Confirm no security clearance level is listed that you did not name.
- [ ] Check that the plain-language paragraph does not claim leadership or management scope beyond what you described.
- [ ] Do not use this output as a final resume. Treat it as a draft to refine with real job postings in hand.

## Sample output

Sample output. Generated by AI from sample inputs:

Service member: Marcus Hale, Army, 10 years, 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist), Staff Sergeant (E-6). Duties: managed parts inventory for a motor pool of 80 vehicles, processed supply requests using GCSS-Army (a military logistics software system), conducted monthly audits, trained three junior soldiers on supply procedures, coordinated with vendors for repair parts.

Plain-language summary:
Marcus managed the parts and equipment inventory for a fleet of 80 vehicles at an Army installation. His daily work involved processing requests for parts and supplies, tracking inventory levels in a computerized system, and making sure equipment was available when maintenance teams needed it. He also ran regular audits to catch discrepancies and trained new team members on supply procedures. Over time he became the go-to person for resolving supply problems quickly.

Transferable skills:
- Inventory management: maintained accurate stock records for 80 vehicles using GCSS-Army logistics software
- Supply chain coordination: processed and tracked parts requests from request to receipt
- Database record-keeping: entered, reconciled, and audited records in a digital inventory system
- Vendor coordination: worked with parts suppliers to source and expedite repair components
- Team training: taught three junior soldiers supply procedures and system operation
- Audit and compliance: conducted monthly inventory reconciliations and resolved discrepancies
- Problem-solving under pressure: sourced hard-to-find parts to keep vehicles mission-ready
- Written documentation: maintained accurate logistical records required for unit readiness

Civilian job title matches:
- Inventory Control Specialist (strong fit): direct match to daily work managing stock levels and records
- Warehouse Operations Coordinator (strong fit): similar environment, similar systems and processes
- Supply Chain Analyst (partial fit): the data and audit skills apply; the analytical framing may require additional coursework
- Logistics Coordinator (partial fit): good fit if the role focuses on tracking and coordination rather than strategic planning
- Procurement Assistant (starting point): vendor coordination experience is relevant but this role may require purchasing credentials

## Customization notes

If you held more than one MOS or rating during your career, run this prompt once for each and then compare the results. The version that produces the strongest civilian skill list is usually the one to lead with on your resume. If your separation date is more than 12 months away, use the output to identify training or certifications that would strengthen your civilian candidacy before you leave. For highly technical specialties such as avionics, nuclear, or medical, add a note asking the AI to focus on the technical skills separately from the general ones.

---

From The Military Transition & SkillBridge Library at vetslearn.com/libraries/transition