AddressABOUT
U.S. Navy Morticians are active-duty enlisted Sailors. They provide and facilitate mortuary services to both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The position offers entry-level advancement up to the paygrade of E6 (depending on experience) upon completion of the initial training pipeline.
WHAT TO EXPECT
In this extremely rewarding and challenging position, you will fulfill the nation’s sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to our fallen while providing care, service, and support to their families.
RESPONSIBILITIES
As an Enlisted Mortician (HM-Mortician), you are technically part of the Hospital Corpsman program. You will handle administrative, logistical and mortuary services for deceased Sailors and Marines. In your job, you may expect to:
Assist in recovery, identification and inspection of remains
Oversee the care and preparation of the remains of fallen Sailors, including embalming duties and final presentation
Prepare for and direct the transportation of remains
Liaise with families and foreign government officials for disposition of remains and ensure proper documentation
Conduct funeral services and direct pallbearers, clergy, mourners, and flowers as needed
Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families or friends
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Morticians are stationed at both stateside and overseas duty stations, and are not stationed on ships. Stateside duty is served in one of our two headquarters — Millington, Tennessee, or Quantico, Virginia — or as a Navy Liaison at Dover Port Mortuary, in Dover, Delaware. We have several desirable overseas duty stations, including in Hawaii, Spain, Italy and Guam.
TRAINING AND ADVANCEMENT
Becoming a Navy Mortician, you will be rewarded with leadership opportunities, first-rate compensation and respect.
After two months of recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois, your medical training will begin.
Hospital Corpsman “A” School (19 weeks) — Taking place in San Antonio, here you will be provided formal education and training that develops you into an entry-level Corpsman within fixed and deployable medical facilities. Students are introduced to the duties and responsibilities of corpsman who will be instructed in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, nursing concepts and skills, Basic Life Support (BLS), airway management, patient assessment, primary care, medical emergencies, trauma, operational medicine principles, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3). Methods of instruction include, but are not limited to, lecture, demonstration, online materials, simulations, laboratory practice and practical exercises. Quality control and safety techniques are emphasized throughout the program.
After the completion of “A” School, you will be stationed at one of the duty stations either in the States or at one of the four overseas locations. There, you will become proficient in mortuary laws and regulations, mortuary logistics, and mortuary and casualty assistance administration, and you’ll have the opportunity to stay connected with the civilian mortuary community to learn advanced embalming and restorative arts techniques.
Promotion opportunities are regularly available but are competitive and based on performance. The Mortician community has a unique advantage to offer entry-level advancement up to the paygrade of E6 (depending on experience) with the opportunity to advance even further after you serve the appropriate amount of time.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Navy College Program and Tuition Assistance
Post-9/11 GI Bill
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Those seeking a position as a U.S. Navy Mortician must be U.S. citizens. You should have strong communication and writing skills, good use of your hands, and competence with tools and equipment.
Navy Morticians must currently hold a funeral director/embalmer license from one of the 50 U.S. states and have at least two years of funeral director experience to achieve a higher pay grade.
Important personal traits for a role as a Mortician include dependability, trustworthiness and resourcefulness. Please note that any illegal involvement with drugs may be disqualifying.
General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.
BENEFITS
The position offers competitive compensation, including 30 days of paid vacation, matching contributions to retirement accounts, pension, educational benefits, free health insurance for your family and a great work/life balance. Continuing education and license renewals are paid by the Navy.
