Firefighter
$60KHigh match
Growing demand
Live · Guide v1.07051 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 7051Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.7051.R.04
7051 · USMC · EnlistedAircraft Rescue and Firefighting
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting
Marine.
Marine Corps 7051 (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marine). 320 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $45K–$75K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours320DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 6 semester hours recommended in Fire Science
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage4/7direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 7051 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 7051 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have07
- 01Emergency Operations Planning→ Incident Response Planning
- 02Hazardous Materials Response→ Security Incident Handling
- 03Systems Operation and Maintenance→ IT Systems Troubleshooting
- 04Budget Development→ Resource Allocation
- 05Team Synchronization→ Agile Methodologies
- 06Situational Awareness→ Risk Assessment
- 07Procedural Compliance→ Security Compliance
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Network security fundamentals+Threat modeling+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or GCP)+Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform or Ansible)+Operating systems (Windows, Linux)+Networking Fundamentals+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (Tableau, PowerBI)
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time 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 →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Specialist
$75KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA certification
- — Airport-specific training
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
$45KGood match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — National Registry EMT certification
- — Advanced Life Support (ALS) training
Safety Specialist
$70KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — OSHA certifications
- — HAZWOPER certification
Fire Inspector
$65KModerate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Fire Inspector certifications
- — Building codes knowledge
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 7051 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Rapid Prioritization
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel constantly assess the immediate threat level and prioritize actions based on the safety of individuals and the control of the fire. You quickly determine who needs help first, what resources to use, and how to best contain the emergency.
Transfers to
This skill translates directly to civilian roles requiring quick decision-making under pressure, such as emergency management or logistics coordination, where resources must be allocated efficiently based on real-time assessments.
Situational Awareness
As an ARFF specialist, you maintain constant awareness of the environment, including wind direction, potential hazards, location of victims, and the status of your team. This constant vigilance is essential for safe and effective firefighting and rescue operations.
Transfers to
In civilian settings, your developed situational awareness is incredibly valuable in roles that demand quick comprehension of complex and changing environments, such as project management, security analysis, or process improvement.
Procedural Compliance
ARFF operations require strict adherence to established protocols and safety regulations to ensure the safety of everyone involved. You follow detailed procedures for equipment operation, maintenance, and emergency response.
Transfers to
This meticulous attention to detail and commitment to following established procedures makes you well-suited for civilian roles where compliance is critical, such as quality assurance, regulatory affairs, or safety inspection.
Team Synchronization
ARFF operations demand seamless coordination among team members. You work in close collaboration with fellow firefighters, rescue personnel, and medical teams to achieve a common goal. Knowing how to move in sync with a team is absolutely critical to your success and the survival of others.
Transfers to
Your experience in high-stakes teamwork is a major asset in any collaborative civilian environment, particularly where precise communication and coordinated action are essential. This translates well to team leadership, project coordination, or even roles in healthcare administration.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Emergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to plan for and respond to emergencies on the airfield, including aircraft fires and accidents. You know how to mitigate hazards, develop response plans, and coordinate resources effectively. This means you're ready to help communities prepare for natural disasters or other crises.
Adjacent · MatchIndustrial Safety Engineer
SOC 17-2111.00You've consistently maintained safety protocols and procedures in a high-risk environment. You are skilled in hazard identification, risk assessment, and the implementation of safety measures. You can use that experience to ensure safe working conditions in industrial settings, preventing accidents and injuries.
Adjacent · MatchInsurance Risk Surveyor
SOC 13-2071.00You've developed an eye for detail and an understanding of fire hazards that many people simply don't possess. You are able to evaluate properties for potential risks, assess safety systems, and provide recommendations to mitigate hazards. This is exactly what insurance companies need in their surveyors.
Adjacent · MatchProcess Improvement Specialist
SOC 13-1111.00You've honed your ability to identify inefficiencies, streamline operations, and improve overall effectiveness through the use of established safety and ARFF protocols. You can leverage these skills to analyze and optimize processes across various industries, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Course
Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX320hHours
8wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 6 semester hours recommended in Fire Science
Topics · 8
- Basic Firefighting Principles
- Aircraft Fire Suppression Techniques
- Rescue Procedures and Victim Extraction
- Hazardous Materials Response
- Fire Prevention and Safety Inspections
- Operation and Maintenance of ARFF Vehicles
- Use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
- CPR and First Aid
Partial coverage · 3
- Firefighter I & II70%
May need additional training on structural firefighting techniques, local building codes, and specific advanced rescue procedures depending on the certifying body. Review specific IFSAC or Pro Board standards.
- Hazardous Materials Awareness & Operations60%
Requires supplemental training on the Incident Command System (ICS), specific chemical properties, advanced personal protective equipment, and decontamination procedures based on OSHA and EPA regulations.
- Airport Fire Fighter80%
Requires supplemental training on Foam Application, Aircraft Construction, and Airport Familiarization.
Recommended next · 03
- Fire Officer IAdjacent
- Confined Space Rescue TechnicianAdjacent
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| P-19 Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Vehicle | Rosenbauer PANTHER Airport Fire Truck | Aviation |
| Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) | Scott Air-Pak or MSA Airmask | Operations |
| Jaws of Life Hydraulic Rescue Tool | Holmatro Hydraulic Rescue Tools | Operations |
| Firefighting Protective Ensemble (PPE) | NFPA compliant turnout gear (e.g., Morning Pride, Lion Apparel) | Operations |
| FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera | FLIR or Bullard Thermal Imaging Cameras | Operations |
| AN/PRC-152 Radio | Motorola APX Series Two-Way Radio | Operations |
| Advanced First Aid Kits | Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Trauma Kits | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 7051 into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.