Civilian Translation of Military Terminology
Page 1 of 2
In the military
In the civilian world
In the military
In the civilian world
Commander
Director, Senior
Manager, President
O-7 and above
President, Senior
Director, Chairman of the
Board, Managing
Director
Executive Officer
Deputy Director,
Assistant Director
O-5 and O-6
Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Operating Officer,
Program Director
Action Officer
Senior Analyst
O-4
Senior Administrator,
Department Head,
Program Manager
Branch/Division Chief
Branch/Division Chief
O-1 to O-3
Executive,
Administrator, Manager,
Project Officer
Program/Project
Manager
Program/Project
Manager
WO1 to WO5
Director, Specialist,
Facilitator, Technical
Manager, Technical
Specialist, Department
Manager
General Officers
President, Senior
Director, Chairperson,
Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Operating Officer,
Chief Financial Officer,
Senior Vice President,
Executive Vice
President
Senior Field Grade
Officer
Senior Administrator,
Chief Executive,
Department Head,
Program Director,
Deputy Chief, Senior
Executive
E-7 to E-9
Director, Supervisor
Field Grade Officer
Executive, Manager
E-4 to E-6
Assistant Manager, Line
Supervisor, Section
Leader, Task Leader,
Supervisor, Foreman
Company Grade Officer
Associate, Operations
Manager, Unit or Section
Manager
E-1 to E-3
Production Worker,
Assembler, Technician,
Assistant, Apprentice,
Team Member
Senior NCOs
Director, First-Line
Supervisor
Combat Arms
Ground security force
Operations NCO
Operations Manager
Chief Master Sergeant
Senior Advisor
NCO/NCOIC
Supervisor, Manager,
Coordinator
First Sergeant
Personnel Manager
TDY/TAD
Business Related Travel,
business trip
Squad Leader
Team Leader, Team
Chief
PCS
Relocation
Supply Sergeant
Supply Manager,
Logistics Manager
NCO Academy
Leadership/Management
Training
Civilian Translation of Military Terminology
Page 2 of 2
War College
Executive Military
Leadership School,
Advanced Strategic
Studies Course
Award, recognition
Command and General
Staff College
Senior Military
Leadership School,
Strategic Management
Course
Advanced (specialty)
course, advanced
leadership development
course
Basic Officers Course
Entry Level Officer
Leadership Course
Unit, organization,
agency, division
Basic Training
Introductory Military
Training
Headquarters
OER/NCOER
Performance rating,
evaluation
Conflict, hostilities,
emergency, highly
hazardous conditions
Garrison
Organization, company
Company, unit,
department
Mission
Task, function, objective
Career specialty
Platoon
Section, element,
department
Supervisor, instructor,
trainer
Reconnaissance
Data collection, survey,
analysis
Policy, guidelines,
instructions
Soldiers, Airmen,
Marines, Sailors
Personnel, staff,
employees, individuals,
people
Employees, personnel,
staff, individuals, people
Uniform Code of
Military Justice
Legal action
Organizational structure,
human and material
resources
Personnel Action Center
Personnel office
Policy, guidelines, rules
Squad
Section
Group, division
For additional assistance with translating your military experience and terminology into civilian language,
use these resources:
1) MOS Translator (www.military.com/skills-translator/mos-translator)
2) O*Net: follow these steps
a. Access http://online.onetcenter.org
b. Click “Crosswalk Search”
c. Type in military occupation code or your O*Net or DOT code found on the VMET document
d. VMET can be accessed at www.dmdc.osd.mil/vmet (document and cover letter)