New Cohort Starts:

Donate

5702 Career Guide

Marine Corps

5702: CBRN Defense Officer

Career transition guide for Marine Corps CBRN Defense Officer (5702)

Translate Your 5702 Experience Now

Get a personalized AI-powered translation of your military experience into civilian resume language.

Start Free Translation

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 5702 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Emergency Management Director

$85K
High matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

FEMA Certifications (e.g., IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800)Local emergency planning regulationsGrant writing

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist

$75K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

OSHA certifications (e.g., HAZWOPER)EPA regulations knowledgeIndustrial hygiene principles

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Technician

$60K
High matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

DOT Hazmat certificationCommercial Driver's License (CDL) - may be required for some positionsSpecific chemical handling training

Disaster Response and Recovery Specialist

$68K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Experience with specific disaster recovery softwareProject management skillsAdvanced first aid/CPR certification

Security Manager

$90K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Security management certification (e.g., CPP, PSP)Risk assessment and mitigation planningKnowledge of physical security systems

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 5702 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

CBRN officers constantly maintain awareness of potential CBRN threats, environmental conditions, and the status of response teams and equipment. This involves synthesizing information from various sources to anticipate and react to evolving hazards.

This translates to the ability to perceive and understand complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on real-time information, crucial in dynamic civilian settings.

Rapid Prioritization

In a CBRN incident, officers must quickly assess the severity of the threat, identify critical resources, and prioritize actions to mitigate the hazard and protect personnel. This requires making high-stakes decisions under pressure.

This skill translates into the ability to quickly assess situations, identify the most important tasks, and allocate resources effectively, particularly valuable in fast-paced and demanding civilian roles.

Resource Optimization

CBRN officers are responsible for managing and distributing CBRN defense equipment, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to maximize protection and response capabilities. This includes planning for procurement, maintenance, and deployment of specialized equipment.

Your experience in optimizing resources translates directly into civilian roles where efficient allocation of assets and personnel is critical for success. This includes project management, logistics, and operations management.

Procedural Compliance

CBRN operations demand strict adherence to established protocols and procedures to ensure safety and effectiveness. Officers must enforce compliance with CBRN regulations, standard operating procedures, and safety guidelines.

Your commitment to procedural compliance is highly valuable in civilian roles requiring adherence to regulatory standards and safety protocols. This includes fields such as quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and risk management.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Emergency Management Director

SOC 11-9161.00

You've been trained to handle crisis situations, assess threats, and coordinate responses. This translates perfectly to managing community-level disaster preparedness and response programs. Your knowledge of CBRN threats gives you a unique edge.

Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

SOC 19-5011.00

You've managed hazardous materials, developed safety protocols, and conducted training programs. Now you can apply these skills to ensure workplace safety and compliance with environmental regulations, protecting both people and the environment.

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've managed the procurement, distribution, and maintenance of specialized CBRN equipment. Your expertise in supply chain management and resource allocation will make you a valuable asset in optimizing logistics operations for civilian organizations.

Training & Education Equivalencies

CBRN Officer Course, Fort Leonard Wood, MO

400 training hours10 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Emergency Management or Disaster Preparedness

Topics Covered

  • CBRN Doctrine and Planning
  • CBRN Equipment Management
  • Hazard Prediction and Modeling
  • Decontamination Procedures
  • CBRN Warning and Reporting Systems (CBRNWRS)
  • Biological Threat Response
  • Radiological Threat Response

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER70% covered

Requires additional training on specific OSHA regulations, site control, and hands-on experience with real-world hazardous waste cleanup scenarios. Focus on topics like confined space entry, excavation safety, and emergency response procedures as they relate to hazardous waste sites.

Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)40% covered

Requires significant study of environmental regulations (beyond CBRN), waste management, toxicology, and risk assessment. Need to expand knowledge beyond immediate response to include cradle-to-grave management of hazardous materials, compliance auditing, and pollution prevention strategies.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Associate Safety Professional (ASP)Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)Emergency Management Professional Certification (EMPC)

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 notification systems
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Information Management System (CIMS)HAZMAT tracking and management software
AN/VDR-2 Radiac SetHandheld radiation detectors/Geiger counters
M40 series protective maskFull-face respirators with CBRN filter cartridges
Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST)Chemical protective clothing (CPC) ensembles
M256A1 Chemical Agent Detector KitChemical agent detector badges/ colorimetric detection kits
Advanced Portable Suppressor System (APSS)Industrial air filtration and containment systems

Ready to Translate Your Experience?

Our AI-powered translator converts your 5702 experience into ATS-optimized civilian resume language.

Translate My Resume — Free