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5700 Career Guide

Marine Corps

5700: CBRN Defense Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps CBRN Defense Officer (5700)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 5700 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Technician

$65K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

40-hour HAZWOPER certification

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

CSP or CIH certificationKnowledge of EPA regulations

Emergency Management Specialist

$78K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-700)Project management skills

Industrial Hygienist

$85K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certificationAdvanced knowledge of toxicology

Decontamination Specialist

$60K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specialized decontamination trainingExperience with specific contaminants

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 5700 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a CBRN defense specialist, you constantly monitor the environment for threats, assessing risks and understanding the potential impact of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear events on personnel and operations.

This translates to a keen ability to observe, interpret, and react to changing circumstances in dynamic environments, allowing you to anticipate problems and make informed decisions under pressure.

Procedural Compliance

You are trained to rigorously follow established protocols and safety procedures when handling hazardous materials and responding to CBRN incidents, ensuring the safety of yourself and others.

This instills a deep understanding of the importance of adhering to regulations and guidelines, and the ability to consistently execute tasks with precision and accuracy.

Resource Optimization

Responding to CBRN threats requires efficient allocation of limited resources such as protective equipment, detection devices, and decontamination assets to maximize effectiveness.

This skill demonstrates the ability to make the most of available resources, prioritize needs, and implement cost-effective solutions in challenging situations.

Team Synchronization

CBRN defense often involves coordinating with multiple teams, including medical personnel, security forces, and HAZMAT units, to ensure a cohesive and effective response.

This reflects an ability to work seamlessly with diverse groups, communicate effectively, and contribute to a common goal in high-pressure environments.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle hazardous material incidents, assess risks, and coordinate responses – exactly what's needed to develop and implement emergency plans at the local, state, or federal level. Your experience in CBRN defense directly translates to protecting communities from a wide range of threats.

Industrial Hygienist

SOC 29-9011.00

You're skilled in identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards in the workplace. Your experience with CBRN defense provides a solid foundation for ensuring worker safety and regulatory compliance in industries dealing with potentially dangerous substances.

Environmental Compliance Inspector

SOC 13-1041.00

You are used to strict protocols for handling and mitigating dangerous substances, which makes you perfectly suited to ensure businesses adhere to environmental regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal and pollution control.

Training & Education Equivalencies

CBRN Officer Course, Fort Leonard Wood, MO

240 training hours6 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Emergency Management or related field

Topics Covered

  • CBRN Reconnaissance and Surveillance
  • Decontamination Procedures
  • Hazard Prediction and Modeling
  • CBRN Equipment Maintenance
  • Incident Response Planning
  • Biological Threat Assessment
  • Radiological Safety

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER70% covered

Requires studying specific OSHA regulations, emergency response procedures, and site control specific to hazardous waste operations.

Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)30% covered

Requires significant study of environmental regulations (beyond CBRN), hazardous waste management, toxicology, and risk assessment.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Associate Safety Professional (ASP)Incident Command System (ICS) certifications (e.g., ICS-300, ICS-400)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Joint Warning and Reporting Network (JWARN)Environmental monitoring and emergency alert systems
M40A1 Protective MaskIndustrial respirators and gas masks (e.g., 3M, MSA Safety)
AN/VDR-1 Radiac SetHandheld radiation detectors (e.g., Thermo Fisher Scientific RadEye)
Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST)HAZMAT suits and protective clothing (e.g., DuPont Tyvek, Kappler Zytron)
M256A1 Chemical Agent Detector KitChemical detection badges and colorimetric tubes (e.g., Draeger tubes)
HPBio Threat Agent Detection System (BTADS)Real-time PCR pathogen detection systems
Joint Operational Planning and Execution System (JOPES)Emergency response planning and coordination software

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