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Live · Guide v1.09622 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USMC · 9622Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.9622.R.04
9622 · USMC · Enlisted

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense
Specialist.

Marine Corps 9622 (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Specialist). 280 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $70K–$110K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.

Training hours280DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 3 semester hours in Emergency Management
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/5direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles

Roles your code maps to.

SOURCE · BLS + LIGHTCAST ROLES · 4

Industry tech roles your 9622 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 9622 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.

Already have05
  • 01
    CBRN Detection and IdentificationData analysis, threat detection
  • 02
    System ModelingData modeling, threat modeling
  • 03
    Operational Risk ManagementRisk assessment, security protocols
  • 04
    Resource OptimizationCloud resource management, performance tuning
  • 05
    After-Action AnalysisPerformance analysis, continuous improvement
To learn08

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.

+Python fundamentals+SQL for data manipulation+SIEM tools (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)+Network security protocols+Cloud computing basics (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)+Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)+Operating systems (Linux, Windows) administration+Scripting (Bash, Python) for system automation
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.

SOURCE · LIGHTCAST + CURATED PATHWAYS · 5
P.01

Chemistry Professor

$95K
High match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Develop and publish original research
  • Secure funding through grant writing
  • Gain experience teaching upper-level chemistry courses
P.02

Chemical Engineer

$110K
Good match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Gain practical engineering experience in a specific industry (e.g., pharmaceuticals, manufacturing)
  • Obtain Professional Engineer (PE) license
  • Develop skills in process design and optimization
P.03

Materials Scientist

$98K
Good match
High demand
Skills to develop
  • Specialized knowledge of materials characterization techniques
  • Experience with materials processing and fabrication
  • Understanding of materials selection for specific applications
P.04

Environmental Chemist

$75K
Moderate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
  • Knowledge of environmental regulations and compliance
  • Experience with environmental sampling and analysis
  • Understanding of remediation technologies
P.05

Science Writer/Communicator

$70K
Moderate match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
  • Develop strong writing and communication skills
  • Gain experience in science journalism or communication
  • Build a portfolio of published work
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths

What the code built.

Cognitive skills your 9622 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.

S.01

System Modeling

As a chemistry instructor, you developed comprehensive system models of chemical reactions and processes to effectively teach complex subjects like thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.

Transfers to

You have experience in creating and understanding intricate models, enabling you to analyze and predict the behavior of complex systems.

S.02

Pattern Recognition

In teaching chemistry, you quickly recognized recurring patterns in chemical behaviors and applied those observations to make chemistry digestible for new learners.

Transfers to

You are adept at identifying trends and applying insights to solve problems efficiently, allowing you to anticipate outcomes and adjust strategies accordingly.

S.03

Resource Optimization

As a teacher of STEM, you had to learn how to use limited supplies and equipment to teach your classes, getting maximum educational bang for your buck.

Transfers to

Your experience optimizing teaching resources directly translates to efficient project management and strategic allocation of resources in a corporate setting.

S.04

After-Action Analysis

Through regular course evaluations and student performance reviews, you've honed your ability to identify what worked well and what needed improvement in your teaching methods.

Transfers to

You possess strong analytical skills to evaluate project outcomes and implement necessary improvements for future endeavors, a key component of continuous innovation.

/ 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.

Financial Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've been trained to analyze complex data sets (chemical reactions, thermodynamic principles) and create models to forecast outcomes. As a financial analyst, you'll apply these skills to market trends and investment opportunities, making strategic recommendations based on your findings.

Adjacent · Match

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've had to break down complex subjects like electrochemistry into digestible lessons. Management consulting relies on the same ability to dissect organizational challenges and propose effective solutions. Your talent for strategic resource use is directly applicable to improving a company's bottom line.

Adjacent · Match

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051

You've rigorously studied chemistry, which taught you how to identify meaningful patterns in large datasets. Your experience in system modeling is perfect for creating algorithms to predict outcomes. As a data scientist, you'll use these skills to help businesses make better decisions.

Adjacent · Match
/ 06 · Training & Certs

What you trained on.

SOURCE · DOD + ACE\nVALIDATED
Academy

CBRN Defense Specialist Course

Fort Leonard Wood, MO
280hHours
7wkWeeks
ACECredit

Up to 3 semester hours in Emergency Management

Topics · 7
  • CBRN Detection and Identification
  • Decontamination Procedures
  • Hazardous Material Handling
  • Individual Protective Equipment (IPE)
  • CBRN Reconnaissance
  • Operational Risk Management in CBRN Environments
  • CBRN Incident Response
Partial coverage · 2
  • Certified Chemical Engineer (ChE)70%

    Chemical reaction engineering, process design, transport phenomena, and separation processes.

  • Professional Engineer (PE) - Chemical60%

    Requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and four years of work experience under a licensed PE, followed by passing the PE exam. Gaps include engineering ethics, professional practice, and chemical engineering design principles.

Recommended next · 03
  • Certified Process Safety Professional (CSP)Adjacent
  • Six Sigma Green BeltAdjacent
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation

What you ran, in their words.

Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian EquivalentDomain
Scientific Instrument Suite (various models)Laboratory equipment (spectrophotometers, chromatographs, microscopes)Operations
Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) resourcesCloud-based high-performance computing platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)Operations
Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) for research and communicationUniversity or corporate network infrastructureNetworking
Training aids and simulations for chemical reactions/processesEducational software and simulation tools (e.g., ChemDraw, MATLAB)Operations
Technical data repositories (e.g., DoD tech data repositories)Scientific journal databases and research repositories (e.g., ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore)Operations
/ Translator · Live

Translate 9622 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.