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Navy NEC · Communications

A26A Graphic Illustrator Apprentice

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A Graphic Illustrator Apprentice creates graphic designs and digital, desktop, and mobile drawings for print, web, and interactive multimedia platforms. They use vector and raster graphics, animation, design theory, digitizing tablets, project management, and ideation techniques to support Department of Defense themes and messages.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Core Skills

  • Image editing with masks and blend modes
  • Tablet drawing with vector and raster shading
  • Visual ideation through storyboards and mind maps
  • Creative workflow planning and project benchmarks

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Digital Illustrator

Military experience in digital drawing, tablet shading, and vector and raster graphics transfers directly to creating illustrations that communicate ideas.

How to prepare: Build a portfolio of illustrations for print and web, showing sketches, color decisions, and finished vector and raster artwork.

What the civilian work involves
  • Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
  • Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
  • Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Military knowledge of animation for interactive multimedia, storyboarding, and digital graphics provides a foundation for animation production.

How to prepare: Create a short two-dimensional animation reel from original storyboards to demonstrate motion skills beyond static illustration.

What the civilian work involves
  • Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
  • Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (3 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC A26A

    [1] NEC entry "A26A - Graphic Illustrator Apprentice"; cached text line 1687; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Image editing with masks and blend modes, Tablet drawing with vector and raster shading, Visual ideation through storyboards and mind maps, Creative workflow planning and project benchmarks, Digital Illustrator (O*NET 27-1013.00), Special Effects Artists and Animators (O*NET 27-1014.00)

  2. O*NET: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Digital Illustrator (O*NET 27-1013.00)

  3. O*NET: Special Effects Artists and Animators

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Special Effects Artists and Animators (O*NET 27-1014.00)

Defense contractor jobs for A26A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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