Posted on Jan 25, 2019
Is joining the Army as an Animal Care Specialist (68T) or as a Civil Affairs enlisted soldier an option for a veterinary student?
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I am a current 1st year veterinary student on the OML for the Health Professions Scholarship Program. I would like to join the army to work as a veterinarian after graduation and a professor of mine recommended looking into becoming an animal care specialist (68T) or going the civil affairs route while in veterinary school. Is this a realistic option for a veterinary student? I know that as a 4th year I can apply for a direct commission into the Veterinary Corps, but would like to know of any other pathways for this field. Thank you!
Posted in these groups: 
Veterinary
Civil Affairs
Veterinary Civil Affairs
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
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Civil affairs is not an entry level MOS, so no you can't join as civil affairs. Reserve MOSs are all about what kind of unit you find an opening in. So, if there's an opening in a unit nearby that uses 68T, then yes you can.
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Cassie Kroncke
All of my research and the army career page shows that a 38B (Civil Affairs Specialist) is an entry level MOS. Is this incorrect?
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SFC (Join to see)
Cassie Kroncke in the Reserves Psyops and Civil Affairs are entry level jobs. In the Active Duty you have to pass a selection for those jobs.
If you look closely it says that Active Duty NCOs can reclass into it
Airborne-qualified active duty noncommissioned officers can reclassify as a civil affairs sergeants after successful completion of an intensive 20-week training program that includes language, negotiations and regional training.
If you look closely it says that Active Duty NCOs can reclass into it
Airborne-qualified active duty noncommissioned officers can reclassify as a civil affairs sergeants after successful completion of an intensive 20-week training program that includes language, negotiations and regional training.
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Cassie Kroncke
Gotcha. I was getting confused because some people were saying I could go into Civil Affairs now and others saying I could not. Thank you for explaining.
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Cassie- I am a veterinarian (graduated this May 2019) and going through the process of active duty direct commission right now. I also am interested in the Civil Affairs route. Feel free to message me if you have questions about the application process.
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Cassie Kroncke
I would love to know more about the direct commission process and what you currently have to do after joining
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Once you complete your college, you would not direct commission into CA as a veterinarian. You could be assigned to a CA unit in their FxSP (Functional Specialty) team and support the units' missions.
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