Service Member Veterinarian checking on a Dog

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Veterinarians

Health Science

Service Branches

  • Army logo

Work Environment

Veterinarians work in medical, clinical, and research laboratories and, at times, in food processing or storage plants. They may work outdoors while conducting field work, on land or aboard ships.

  • Military Status

    Officer

  • Average Military Salary

    $92,839

Overview

Veterinarians in the Military play a vital role in rebuilding and improving animal care systems in underdeveloped and war-damaged countries. They also provide veterinary public health capabilities through veterinary medical and surgical care, food safety and defense, and biomedical research and development. Many veterinarians also provide care to Military Working Dogs, ceremonial horses, working animals of many Department of Homeland Security organizations, and pets owned by service members. Officers with special education in laboratory animal medicine, pathology, microbiology, or related disciplines conduct research in military and other governmental agencies.

Military Training

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Veterinarians are subject matter experts in their field. Job training for veterinarians primarily consists of on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers working in healthcare, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, orientation to military structure, healthcare and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development.

Helpful Attributes

  • Interest in working with animals
  • Interest in mathematics, chemistry, biology, and medical research
  • Interest in scientific work

Related Civilian Careers

  • Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
  • Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

U.S. Army Capt. Breanna Johnson | 64A Veterinary Officer

Capt. Breanna Johnson, the Fort Drum Veterinary Services Officer in Charge, talks about what motivated her to join the U.S. Army health care team, and why she continues to serve.

 Length :52 View Transcript

Transcription

I'm Brianna Johnson I'm a captain veterinary Corps officer. I'm the Fort Drum veterinary services officer in charge.

I work here up in Fort Drum New York. So I'm from a military family so it was sort of natural for me to enter service I came from that lifestyle, from that culture. I really love working with the military working dogs that was my passion that was why chose to get in in the first place as a veterinary Corps officer but what she realized once you get in is I actually wear several hats.

So the veteran Corps officers are responsible for Public Health on posts we also do a lot of food safety. So we inspect the food that goes to the commissary to make sure that it's safe for the families that are purchasing it.

U.S. Army Capt. Breanna Johnson | 64A Veterinary Officer

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