1Start with the job you want
Pick two or three civilian job titles and read five real postings for each. Note the words that keep coming up. Use them on your resume wherever they honestly describe your work.
2Find the civilian matches for your job code
Every military job maps to civilian occupations. The U.S. Department of Labor publishes these matches in its O*NET Military Crosswalk. Our job-code pages add typical pay and sample resume lines, for example 1A2X1 Aircraft Loadmaster, 3P0X1 Security Forces or 2T1X1 Ground Transportation. Browse every job code.
3Translate your job title
Lead with an honest civilian title and put your military title on the line below it.
Air Transportation Craftsman (2T2X1), NCOIC Cargo Processing
Logistics Supervisor
Military title: Air Transportation Craftsman (2T2X1)
4Rewrite duties as results
Show what you accomplished, not just what you were assigned. Use this pattern: action + what + scale + result.
Responsible for vehicle maintenance IAW T.O.s.
Maintained a 40-vehicle fleet to manufacturer and safety standards, keeping vehicles ready for daily operations.
5Cut the acronyms
If a civilian would have to look it up, rewrite it. "TDY" becomes "temporary assignment," and "NCOIC" becomes "supervisor." Put training, certifications and any active clearance in their own sections.
6Tailor every application
Keep one master resume and adjust your summary and top bullets for each posting. Many employers screen resumes with software (ATS) that looks for the posting's wording.
Common questions
Should I put my rank on a civilian resume?
Lead with the level of responsibility, such as how many people you supervised or the value of the equipment you managed. Your rank can appear on the military title line.
Can I reuse my evaluation bullets?
Yes, as raw material. Rewrite them in plain language and keep only the numbers you can verify.