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9956 Career Guide

Marine Corps

9956: Ground Safety Specialist

Career transition guide for Marine Corps Ground Safety Specialist (9956)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 9956 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Safety Manager

$98K
High matchHigh demand

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist

$85K
High matchVery high demand

Skills to develop:

OSHA certifications (e.g., OSHA 30)Specific industry knowledge (e.g., construction, manufacturing)

Risk Management Consultant

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project management certification (e.g., PMP)Consulting experience

Industrial Hygienist

$80K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certificationIn-depth knowledge of chemical and physical hazards

Compliance Officer

$75K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of specific industry regulations (e.g., EPA, FDA)Auditing experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 9956 training built — and where they transfer.

Procedural Compliance

As a Ground Safety Specialist, you meticulously adhere to safety regulations, protocols, and OSHA requirements, ensuring the command's operations align with established guidelines and standards.

Your ability to follow complex procedures and maintain compliance translates directly to roles requiring strict adherence to regulatory frameworks and standardized processes.

Situational Awareness

You constantly maintain awareness of potential hazards, environmental factors, and operational conditions to anticipate and mitigate risks, ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment.

Your keen sense of situational awareness allows you to identify potential problems and proactively address them, a valuable asset in any environment where risk assessment and mitigation are crucial.

After-Action Analysis

Investigating accidents, conducting periodic safety inspections, and reviewing incident reports provide you with data for detailed analysis, helping identify root causes and improve safety protocols.

Your experience in systematically analyzing incidents and identifying areas for improvement makes you well-suited for roles that involve process optimization and continuous improvement.

Resource Optimization

Obtaining and maintaining safety equipment and materials, while also managing hazardous materials and waste, requires efficient allocation and management of resources.

Your ability to effectively manage resources, including equipment and materials, ensures that projects are completed efficiently and safely, making you valuable in roles with budgetary or logistical responsibilities.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Insurance Risk Surveyor

SOC 13-2071.00

You've been trained to identify and assess potential hazards, making you an ideal candidate for evaluating risks in various industries and helping insurance companies determine appropriate coverage and premiums. You're a natural at spotting potential problems and developing solutions.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 11-9161.00

Your experience in managing safety programs, conducting risk assessments, and responding to incidents translates directly to emergency management. You've been doing similar work in the military, now you can apply those skills to protect communities.

Quality Assurance Auditor

SOC 13-1199.04

You've been maintaining safety standards, monitoring compliance, and performing inspections. You've developed a meticulous approach to ensuring standards are met, which is precisely what quality assurance auditing demands. Your attention to detail will shine.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Ground Safety Officer/NCO Course, various locations

240 training hours6 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Occupational Safety and Health

Topics Covered

  • Accident Investigation and Reporting
  • Safety Program Management
  • Operational Risk Management (ORM)
  • Hazard Identification and Control
  • Vehicle Safety Program Management
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Compliance
  • Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
  • Industrial Hygiene Program Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Safety Professional (CSP)70% covered

The 9956 role covers many CSP topics like hazard control, safety program management, and accident investigation. Gaps include advanced safety engineering principles, legal aspects of safety, and comprehensive risk management techniques beyond ORM.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30-Hour General Industry80% covered

The 9956 role likely covers the majority of OSHA 30 requirements through safety inspections, training, and hazard assessments. Gap areas would include specific record keeping requirements and detailed industry-specific standards not encountered in military settings.

Associate Safety Professional (ASP)75% covered

The 9956 role covers many ASP topics such as safety program management, hazard analysis, and accident prevention. Gaps include more in-depth knowledge of applicable standards and regulations and safety management systems.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)Safety Management Specialist (SMS)Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer (CET)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
MCO 5100.29 Marine Corps Safety Management SystemISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Naval Safety Center Mishap Reporting System (WebMRS)Commercial incident reporting software (e.g., Intelex, Enablon)
Hazard Tracking System (HTS)Risk assessment and hazard tracking software (e.g., BowTieXP, SpheraCloud)
Operational Risk Management (ORM) ToolsRisk management software and methodologies (e.g., Monte Carlo simulation, FMEA)
HAZMAT Tracking System (HITS)SDS (Safety Data Sheet) management software (e.g., VelocityEHS, Chemwatch)
Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) Management ToolsOccupational hearing conservation program management software
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Management SystemPPE tracking and compliance software (e.g., EHS Insight)

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