How do I translate my MOS to a civilian job?

Use the free O*NET Military Crosswalk or My Next Move for Veterans: pick your branch, type your code or title, and open the civilian careers it lists. Then read real job postings for the one you pick.

Should I put my rank on my resume?

Lead with the civilian job title. CareerOneStop says to focus on the functional job title. You can pair them, like "Platoon Sergeant- Senior Manager", as Department of Labor sample resumes do.

Should I put my security clearance on my resume?

Yes, in the summary at the top, like "Active Secret Clearance". Do not include project names or details that could be classified.

Do I put my DD-214 on my resume?

No. It is a separate document. Employers who need it, like federal agencies checking veterans' preference, ask for it with the application.

Is there a tool that translates military experience into a civilian resume?

The free government tools match your military job to civilian jobs. To rewrite your actual resume for one civilian job, the Capstone resume rewrite uses only what is on your resume, in civilian words, $14.99 one time.

Military to Civilian Resume: Translate Your Experience

Step 1: find the civilian jobs that match your military job

These tools are free and run by the Department of Labor or the Department of Defense:

O*NET Military Crosswalk: pick your branch, type your MOS, AFSC, rating or title, and see the civilian occupations linked to it, with their tasks and skills. It covers the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Space Force.
My Next Move for Veterans: the same idea in plainer words, with pay, outlook and job openings for each career.
CareerOneStop Veterans Job Matcher: type your military job to see civilian careers, typical tasks, wages and education needed.
COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line): shows the civilian credentials and jobs related to your military job. Many job postings ask for those credentials, so list the ones you hold.

The tools do not always agree. For Army 11B, O*NET lists 31 related occupations and My Next Move shows 29. Use them to get ideas, then read real job postings for the job you pick.

Before you write, gather your Joint Service Transcript (JST), Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET), evaluations (NCOERs, FITREPs) and awards. The Department of Labor's employment workshop guide suggests starting from these.

Done for you

Your resume, rewritten for the job you want

Upload your resume, name the job, and paste the posting. Add the company if you know it.
Every line is rewritten for that job, using only what is on your resume. Nothing made up.
A finished Word file and PDF in your inbox in minutes, ready to send.

In a study of 1.39 million applications, resumes written for the job got about twice as many interviews (Huntr, 2025).

$14.99, one time

One payment. Nothing recurring. No account needed.

Step 2: rewrite it in civilian words

Swap military terms, titles and acronyms for civilian ones. CareerOneStop calls this "one of the easiest ways to help employers understand your military experience."
Lead with the job, not the rank. CareerOneStop says to focus on "the functional area of the job title". The Department of Labor's sample resumes pair both, like "Platoon Sergeant- Senior Manager, US Army".
Add numbers: people supervised, equipment kept running, money saved, time cut. The Department of Labor's workshop guide says to include "time, numbers, financial savings, percentages, statistics, and examples."
Use the exact words from the job posting where they are true for you. Many employers screen resumes with software that looks for those words.
Start each line with an action verb. Avoid "responsible for".
Keep it to one or two pages for most private-sector jobs. Federal resumes run longer.
Use a chronological or combination layout with no tables, columns or images, so screening software can read it.
If you hold a security clearance, list it in your summary at the top, like "Active Secret Clearance".
Your DD-214 is a separate document. Employers who need it, such as federal agencies checking veterans' preference, ask for it with the application. Keep it and your Social Security number off the resume.

Military to civilian examples

Examples 1 to 4 come from CareerOneStop. In 5 and 6 the civilian wording comes from Department of Labor sample resumes and the military wording is our example of the original. Example 7 is a made-up example built the same way.

#	Military wording	Civilian wording
1	TDY / TAD; PCS	Business travel; relocation
2	NCOIC; First Sergeant; Squad Leader	Supervisor; Personnel Supervisor; Team Leader
3	OER / NCOER	Performance appraisal
4	Warrior Leader Course	Basic Leadership Development Course
5 (example)	Gained MH60S and MH60R maintenance certifications	Gained MH60S and MH60R (comparable to Bell series helicopters) maintenance systems certifications
6 (example)	Coordinated the unit PCS overseas	Coordinate the relocation of 123-person team to an overseas assignment by reviewing and approving passport/visa documentation, medical status, and training records
7 (example)	Served as NCOIC of a 12-Soldier motor pool; maintained 40 vehicles IAW TM standards	Supervised a 12-person vehicle maintenance team; kept 40 trucks ready by following the manufacturer's maintenance manuals

Rows 1 to 4 from CareerOneStop's military terms tables. Rows 5 and 6: civilian wording from Department of Labor sample veteran resumes; military wording is our example.

Free help for veterans

The Department of Labor Employment Workshop (DOLEW) is a two-day class in the Transition Assistance Program, covering resumes, networking, interviews and negotiation. Its participant guide is public.
CareerOneStop's veteran resume pages have sample resumes from veterans, some paired with the real job posting they answer.
American Job Centers give veterans and eligible spouses priority of service in Department of Labor-funded training programs, including WIOA. That means you get the service earlier, or, when it is limited, instead of or before people who are not covered, as long as you meet the program's rules. Many centers have veteran specialists (DVOP specialists) who give individual help to veterans facing barriers to work. Find one at CareerOneStop or call 1-877-872-5627.
For WIOA programs that check income, active-duty pay and VA payments for disability or vocational rehabilitation are not counted as income. Check yours with the free WIOA Navigator.

Have it rewritten for the job you want

If you already have a resume, the Capstone resume rewrite rewrites every line for one civilian job you name, using only what is on your resume, in civilian words and the posting's language. A Word file and a PDF arrive by email in minutes, $14.99 one time.

Check it first with the free resume grader, and practice the interview out loud with the interview practice for veterans.

Military to Civilian Resume: How to Translate Your Experience