If you love animals and have the desire to serve in the Army, you should really look into the Army 68T MOS, the Animal Care Specialist. This MOS allows you to work hand in hand with a veterinarian and help take care of animals.
It’s a tough MOS to get, since isn’t a relatively small job field compared to other MOSs, but if you have your heart set on it, I would tell you to go for it.
Here are a few typical duties and responsibilities of the 68T MOS:
- Provide care, management and treatment of animals to prevent the spread of disease
- Assist a Veterinary Corps Officer to obtain medical history and provide medical and surgical care to military working dogs (and other animals)
- Administer immunizations
- Position and restrain animals for treatment
- Collect, preserve and prepare blood, urine, fecal specimens, skin scrapings, and post mortem tissue specimens
- Perform routine diagnostic laboratory tests such as urinalysis, blood counts and chemistry profiles
- Identify parasites so you can detect disease in animals
- Taking and processing radiographs, assisting in surgery
- Assist in euthanasia of animals
- Maintain and administer files and animal health records, including rabies and health certificates
- Order, receive and monitor supplies and pharmaceuticals
- Maintain equipment and sanitary conditions of facility
- Support unit in humanitarian, peace-keeping and home land security operations
MOS Qualifications
To qualify for this MOS you must score a 15 on the Skilled Technician (ST) portion of your ASVAB test. There is no Security Clearance required for this MOS. It is open to both males and females. You need a PULHES (medical) of 222221. Normal color vision is required. Finally, the MOS requires moderate lifting abilities.
Where You Could Be Assigned
In this MOS you could be assigned to a non-Army installation or to a military R&D Laboratory. You could also work in a fixed unit or field facility. Basically, the Army will determine where you get assigned based upon the needs of the Army.
68T AIT at Fort Sam Houston
This MOS features an 11-week Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. During AIT you will learn how to:
- Patient care
- How to administer immunizations
- Sterilizing equipment
- Creating plaster casts
- Paperwork and files
- Emergency medical techniques
- And much more!
Career Opportunities
This is a great MOS for anyone who one day aspires to be a veterinarian or work closely with a veterinarian as a Vet Tech, in or outside of the military. If you choose to stay in the military and make a career out of it you can progress up through the enlisted ranks or maybe even attend Veterinarian School and become a commissioned officer.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Army 68T Animal Care Specialist MOS is a great MOS for anyone who enjoys working closely with animals. If you have experience in this MOS I would love to hear from you. Please tell us about your Army experience, where you were assigned and what you did on a daily basis. Just leave a comment below to do so. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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I am a prior service, my IRR ends this year. I am going to school as a vet tech and want to be enlisted in this mos.
It does require a security clearance.
I am wondering if 68T is available in the Army National Guard as well?
I’m guessing that because this MOS involves research, it isn’t always really the touchy-feely animal care care job we would normally associate with the phrase “animal care.” Just a hunch, but I’m thinking the research might go beyond the typical care for military working dogs. Chuck, do you have any insight into what this MOS might actually entail? I’m wondering if it also involves experiments on animals.Do you know?
I don’t think the Army does much experimenting on animals, although I could be wrong. I don’t know much else about this MOS. Maybe someone else can chime in here.
Hi there, I am an animal care specialist of 15 years now and I have only done research. There is more military animal related research than anywhere else I have experienced.
For us there are these types of assignments
Research
Veterinary clinic
Field veterinary medicine, food inspection and preventive medicine
I forgot to mention also there is one marine mammal location and also large animal and farms but these are typically all research assignments as well.
So when taking up this MOS will they most likely start you off as a food inspector I want this MOS in the national guard so any information will help me alot
Hi i am interested in becoming a 68 T after highschool but im confused about where i would be stationed/ Deployed. Would I be in a war zone or On some sort of base? Thanks
That is a great question which no one can answer. It could be either Aidan.
I had never even thought that the Army would have an MOS such as this. It surprised me. There was a day that I am sure they needed people who cared for animals, when horses were used instead of jeeps, but I thought animals were not a part of the Army anymore. I then thought about bomb sniffing dogs, and the other animals the service may use, and I realized that vets and animal care specialists are needed.
Thanks for this info.It is great to learn something new every day.
I think this would be a very cool MOS to serve in.
Yes, but I should mention that Maggie’s daughter does similar work in a civilian environment. When they have to put animals to sleep can be hard moments. There is also those times when you get bit or clawed, and that can be frustrating. I know that I have seen some very exotic animals where she works. Monkeys, a pet lion, and some neat parrots. There are positives and negatives about a job like that.