Vet Tech Student

[sblair10P]

I'm going to school to be a veterinary technician in Colorado and was wondering what opportunities there are for me? I have spoken to a recruiter and he said that because veterinary medicine is similar to human medicine I could look into the medical branch. I'm also on the fence about going to Veterinary School down the line. Then I think about the military dogs--somebody has to take care of them right??

[matthew.ritchie]

Your National Guard role need not be the same as your civilian role. You have just as many opportunities as the policeman, accountant, or landscaper who wants to join.

That said, the Guard has no vet techs ("animal care specialist," MOS 68T) in its force structure. The USAR has a little of that, although the positions may not be located anywhere near you. The Guard does have a very few slots for Food Inspector (68R), which is the closest you might get to vet tech. Medical battalions in AL, CT, IA, IL, MI, MO, NE, and TX have two slots each, both of which are senior level (so you'd need to serve in some other capacity for 15+ years before qualifying).

The Guard has precisely two slots for veterinarians, one each with the Special Forces groups. Obviously you'd need to become a civilian veterinarian first.

You may wish to look into service as a combat medic (MOS 68W).

[SteveLord]

. You may wish to look into service as a combat medic.

Indeed. sblair10P, I bet this is what your recruiter was referring to.

[rat4spd]

The Guard does have a very few slots for Food Inspector (68R), which is the closest you might get to vet tech. Medical battalions in AL, CT, IA, IL, MI, MO, NE, and TX have two slots each, both of which are senior level (so you'd need to serve in some other capacity for 15+ years before qualifying).

(MOS 68W).

The irony of this is that they are 7/8 slots, and there are only two slots.