What Are Veterinary Jobs Like in the Military?

I'm a high school student interested in veterinary science. I'm curious about what veterinary jobs look like in the military. What kind of work do they do, and what is the career path like?

In the military, veterinarians play a vital role in maintaining the health and wellbeing of military working animals, as well as protecting the health of service members. This is achieved through disease control, preventive medicine, veterinary clinical medicine, and research.

One of the primary military organizations that employs veterinarians is the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. In this role, military veterinarians may be tasked with:

- Taking care of military working animals: These include dogs, horses, and occasional birds used for ceremonial purposes or roles like search and rescue operations. You might provide regular medical care, vaccinations, and surgery for these animals.

- Public Health Duties: This can include inspection of food that will be served to soldiers to ensure it meets safety standards. They also play a role in preventing and managing disease outbreaks that can occur among service members or the local populations where military personnel may be serving.

- Research: Certain military veterinarians work with research teams in the study of diseases and development of medical techniques that can benefit both animals and humans alike.

One of the appealing aspects of serving as a military veterinarian is that the Army can offer scholarships to cover the cost of your veterinary education through their Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). This can be a substantial financial benefit given the high cost of veterinary school.

After earning your Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M. or V.M.D.), you'd attend the Officer Basic Leadership Course for some military training. From there, your career path could entail working in a domestic base or being deployed overseas. Promotions and progression depend on a blend of time in service, performance, and continued education.

One thing that sets a military veterinary career apart from a civilian veterinary career is the opportunity to work with a wide array of species and to travel extensively. The job comes with its own challenges, such as dealing with the realities of military life and sometimes having to work in difficult field conditions. However, it can be rewarding, with unique opportunities to contribute to both animal and public health on a global scale.