Air Force 91490 (Mental Health Service Journeyman). 672 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $50K–$75K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
This career guide was generated using AI analysis of military job code data. Salary figures, certification coverage percentages, and career matches are estimates — verify with official sources before making career decisions.
Industry tech roles your 91490 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
What 91490 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
Vets Who Code is a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →Cognitive skills your 91490 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Constantly monitoring patient behavior and progress, recognizing subtle changes in mental state, and anticipating potential crises like self-harm or aggression.
Maintaining a high level of vigilance, quickly assessing dynamic situations, and understanding the potential implications of subtle cues or changes in the environment.
Quickly assessing the urgency of patient needs, especially in crisis situations, and determining the order in which to address multiple demands or requests.
Efficiently triaging tasks based on their importance and time sensitivity, particularly when facing competing demands and limited resources.
Adhering to strict protocols and regulations when administering psychological tests, documenting patient care, and handling sensitive information to maintain patient confidentiality and legal compliance.
Following established procedures and guidelines with precision and accuracy, ensuring adherence to industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Collaborating with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement comprehensive treatment plans, ensuring coordinated care and effective communication.
Working effectively within multidisciplinary teams, coordinating efforts, and maintaining open communication to achieve shared goals and optimal outcomes.
Evaluating the effectiveness of treatment plans and mental health programs, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing adjustments based on data and feedback.
Analyzing past performance, identifying lessons learned, and implementing changes to improve future outcomes and operational efficiency.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
You've been managing mental health service activities. You already have experience in planning, coordinating, and implementing health programs. Corporate wellness programs need someone with your understanding of mental health, prevention, and resource management to foster a healthy and productive work environment.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been interviewing patients, assessing their needs, and providing support. Your skills in conflict resolution, understanding human behavior, and maintaining confidentiality are directly transferable to managing employee relations and resolving workplace issues.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been involved in substance abuse prevention, counseling, and crisis intervention. Your experience in providing support, resources, and advocacy to vulnerable individuals makes you well-suited to assist victims of crime or abuse in navigating the legal and social services systems.
Adjacent · MatchYou've been meticulously following procedures, documenting patient care, and ensuring regulatory compliance in the mental health field. Your attention to detail and commitment to ethical standards are highly valuable in ensuring organizations adhere to laws and regulations in various industries.
Adjacent · MatchUp to 9 semester hours recommended in behavioral sciences (estimated)
Specific state requirements for supervised clinical hours and passing the IC&RC exam.
May need to demonstrate specific competencies through work experience or additional training modules.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) | Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner | Operations |
| Composite Health Care System (CHCS) | Hospital information systems (HIS) | Operations |
| Mental Health Assessment Tools (e.g., PCL-5, GAD-7, PHQ-9) | Standardized psychological testing platforms and tools | Operations |
| Air Force Drug Testing Program Information Management System | Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) with chain of custody tracking | Operations |
| Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) Patient Tracking Systems | Emergency medical transport patient management software | Medical |
| Family Advocacy Program (FAP) database | Case management software for social services, such as Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) | Data |
The pathways above are the destination. Vets Who Code is the route: a free, remote-first software engineering accelerator for active duty, veterans, and military spouses. 17 weeks at 20–30 hours a week, and a body of work that ships.