Funeral Director/Mortician
$65KHigh match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Embalming certification
- — Funeral directing license
- — Grief counseling skills
Live · Guide v1.09051 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9051Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9051.R.04
9051 · USMC · EnlistedGraves Registration
Graves Registration
Specialist.
Marine Corps 9051 (Graves Registration Specialist). 80 hours of formal training translate to 4 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $35K–$65K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours80DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 1 semester hour recommended in General Studies
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways4validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 9051 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 9051 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have03
- 01Procedural Compliance→ Following established software testing protocols
- 02Inventory Management (JMATS, MAARS, PED)→ Database management and data analysis
- 03Resource Optimization→ Efficiently managing IT resources and troubleshooting issues
To learn06
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)+Help desk ticketing systems (e.g., Jira Service Management, Zendesk)+Basic networking and operating system concepts+Python and Selenium for test automation+CI/CD pipelines
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.
Medical Examiner Technician
$45KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Associate's degree in relevant field
- — Anatomical knowledge
- — Laboratory techniques
Crime Scene Technician
$55KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Forensic science training
- — Crime scene investigation techniques
- — Evidence handling procedures
Hospice Care Worker
$35KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification
- — Empathy and communication skills
- — Experience working with terminally ill patients
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 9051 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Procedural Compliance
Graves registration specialists must follow strict protocols for handling remains, documentation, and chain of custody, adhering to both military regulations and international laws.
Transfers to
Meticulous adherence to established procedures and regulations, ensuring accuracy and accountability in sensitive operations.
Situational Awareness
These specialists need to maintain awareness of their surroundings, including potential hazards (environmental, biohazards) and the emotional sensitivities involved in dealing with deceased personnel and their effects on other team members.
Transfers to
Maintaining heightened awareness of the surrounding environment, including potential risks and emotional factors, to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.
Resource Optimization
Graves registration specialists are responsible for managing resources such as supplies, equipment, and personnel effectively to ensure dignified and respectful handling of the deceased, often under time constraints.
Transfers to
Efficiently managing available resources, including supplies, equipment, and personnel, to achieve objectives while adhering to strict deadlines and budgetary constraints.
Team Synchronization
Graves registration specialists must coordinate effectively with other team members, including medical personnel, chaplains, and transportation units, to ensure seamless and respectful handling of remains.
Transfers to
Coordinating effectively with diverse teams to achieve common goals, ensuring seamless operations and respectful interactions with all stakeholders.
/ 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.
Funeral Home Administrator
SOC 11-9041.00You've been responsible for the respectful handling of deceased personnel and understand the importance of protocol, documentation, and resource management in a sensitive environment. Your skills translate directly to overseeing the administrative functions of a funeral home, ensuring compassionate and efficient service to grieving families.
Adjacent · MatchLogistics Coordinator for Disaster Relief
SOC 13-1081.00You're adept at managing resources, coordinating with various teams, and maintaining composure in stressful situations. You've also had to adhere to strict protocols. You can leverage these skills to oversee the logistical operations involved in disaster relief efforts, ensuring efficient distribution of resources and support to affected communities.
Adjacent · MatchCompliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You're trained to strictly adhere to procedures, regulations, and documentation requirements. You can leverage these skills to monitor and ensure that organizations comply with relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies, minimizing risk and promoting ethical conduct.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Basic Graves Registration Course
Fort Lee, VA80hHours
2wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 1 semester hour recommended in General Studies
Topics · 7
- Principles of Mortuary Affairs
- Search and Recovery Operations
- Evacuation Procedures
- Identification Procedures
- Care, Handling, and Storage of Human Remains
- Personal Effects Management
- Establishment and Operation of a Mortuary Affairs Collection Point (MACP)
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Funeral Celebrant60%
Study grief counseling techniques, memorial service planning, and working with diverse religious customs.
- Certified Thanatologist40%
Study advanced grief and bereavement theories, ethical and legal issues in death and dying, and clinical skills in grief therapy.
Recommended next · 03
- Licensed Funeral Director/MorticianAdjacent
- Grief Counseling CertificationAdjacent
- Emergency Management CertificationAdjacent
/ 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Mortuary Affairs Tracking System (JMATS) | Inventory management and tracking software for funeral homes and crematories | Operations |
| Mortuary Affairs Automated Reporting System (MAARS) | Electronic death registry systems and reporting platforms used by medical examiners and coroners | Operations |
| Forward Logistics Element (FLE) tracking systems | Logistics and supply chain management software with tracking capabilities (e.g., used by disaster relief organizations) | Operations |
| Refrigerated containers (Reefer containers) | Mobile morgue units and refrigerated storage solutions for funeral homes or disaster response teams | Operations |
| Personal Effects Depot (PED) Management System | Inventory and tracking systems for personal property management, as used by estate management firms or property custodians | Operations |
| Field Sanitation Equipment | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies used by hazardous material handling and cleanup crews | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 9051 into a resume that ships.
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