Posted on Sep 19, 2019
What is the process and difficulty of getting into ARSOF units like CA or SF as an AMEDD officer?
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I am currently applying for AMEDD direct commission as a veterinarian 64A (my packet was submitted to the VC board this month). I know several veterinarians in CA and it has always sounded like a perfect fit for me. Unlike most vets who work with pets and MWDs in the military, I am very passionate about public health, epidemiology, and infectious/zoonotic diseases. I'm also very interested in the management of bio-terrorism threats (eg. anthrax, FMD, ect.). I have always been interested in SF, but I am unsure of the roles a veterinarian can play in those units.
My understanding is that during my first few years of active duty as 64A, I will 99% likely be working with service members pets, military working dogs, and food safety. After about 3-4 years, I will be able to submit a packet for CA (or SF??) if there are any openings (I've heard there aren't usually many openings...). Then, if selected, I will be required to complete Airborne school. That's about all I have been told by a vet who is in CA reserves.
Does anyone have any insight or advice? I don't see many posts about veterinarians, but I'm assuming the process is similar to other AMEDD AOCs.
My understanding is that during my first few years of active duty as 64A, I will 99% likely be working with service members pets, military working dogs, and food safety. After about 3-4 years, I will be able to submit a packet for CA (or SF??) if there are any openings (I've heard there aren't usually many openings...). Then, if selected, I will be required to complete Airborne school. That's about all I have been told by a vet who is in CA reserves.
Does anyone have any insight or advice? I don't see many posts about veterinarians, but I'm assuming the process is similar to other AMEDD AOCs.
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Special Forces
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Had a veterinary dig a wooden splinter out of the back of my calf (no pun intended) once after sliding down a muddy slope. It hurt like the dickens before he dug it out.
I'm not sure a veterinary has much need in SF but every officer and enlisted are supposed to have alternate branches (officer) or Secondary MOS (enlisted) so good luck.
I'm not sure a veterinary has much need in SF but every officer and enlisted are supposed to have alternate branches (officer) or Secondary MOS (enlisted) so good luck.
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When it comes to assignments in the Army the number one priority is strengths management. That means that no matter how qualified you are in something, or how much you want an assignment, the priority of the Army is to fill its holes.
That also means that who gets what assignment comes down to who is eligible to move at what time. Each assignment is slotted for a specific rank and other requirements such as key development assignments completed. When that one single Vet job is projected to be open, you need to be the right rank, assignments and schools completed, and time on station to move, time in service, and time in grade, just to be eligible to apply for the slot. Officer assessments are even more restrictive than Enlisted assignments and when the call goes out to apply to the USASOC slating board, it will look something like: Major, no more than 3 years time in grade, X number years at x type assignment, etc. This is assuming that a position opens up during the small bandwidth in your career that you're eligible to apply. The veterinarians who are there may not want to leave while you're eligible to apply.
If you are selected, you won't have the choice of which unit you go to. CA, Psyops, and SF all fall under SF Command. SF command falls under USASOC, and USASOC is who you'll be applying to. A condition of working at USASOC is that it's an Airborne unit so you would be expected to go to Airborne school. However there are plenty of non airborne slots so you could feasibly work there without ever attending airborne training.
That also means that who gets what assignment comes down to who is eligible to move at what time. Each assignment is slotted for a specific rank and other requirements such as key development assignments completed. When that one single Vet job is projected to be open, you need to be the right rank, assignments and schools completed, and time on station to move, time in service, and time in grade, just to be eligible to apply for the slot. Officer assessments are even more restrictive than Enlisted assignments and when the call goes out to apply to the USASOC slating board, it will look something like: Major, no more than 3 years time in grade, X number years at x type assignment, etc. This is assuming that a position opens up during the small bandwidth in your career that you're eligible to apply. The veterinarians who are there may not want to leave while you're eligible to apply.
If you are selected, you won't have the choice of which unit you go to. CA, Psyops, and SF all fall under SF Command. SF command falls under USASOC, and USASOC is who you'll be applying to. A condition of working at USASOC is that it's an Airborne unit so you would be expected to go to Airborne school. However there are plenty of non airborne slots so you could feasibly work there without ever attending airborne training.
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James Stroup
Thank you, that was helpful. I was aware of the Airborne requirement for CA. Would I have to complete that before I even apply to CA?
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SFC (Join to see)
James Stroup no it's usually a condition of acceptance. As in, if accepted you agree to attend. Like I said, there is no applying to CA, it's USASOC. Your knowledge of CA is based on the Reserve CA which falls under ASACAPOC and are managed by a completely different command structure. Active duty CA falls under US Army Special Operations Command. In addition, "applying to CA" actually means going to the CA Selection and Assessment course to change your MOS to a CA MOS. If you are an Active Duty Veterinarian there will be no applying to CA for you. You will be allowed to apply to USASOC slating board to fill a support role during the time of year they are accepting applications for your rank. Or, your branch manager may reach out to you at some point and offer you a spot if there is a short notice fill
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James,
I just left a reserve CA command as an AMEDD officer (72D). There were several vets (not all were airborne qualified) ranging from ranks of CPT to LTC. The CA uses vets in a great way (not so much for environmental science officers) and there are a ton of opportunities. I'm not sure what rank you will acquire with your direct commission and your recruiter will likely have a slot for you to commission into but you should be able to request a transfer to a CA unit after 1 year. The "application" process is generally getting a phone number of the unit's ARA or S1 and asking. The CA CMD I transferred to had an O5 slot that I wanted in order to promote. I called the S1, he had me send the commander and himself a copy of my last 3 OER's, military bio, and latest PT score card. Once they looked it over and accepted my request, the paperwork was all done by the losing and gaining units. I received orders after a couple of weeks.
Sorry for the long response but looking at your interests and wants, you would be a perfect fit for a CA unit. If you want to go to Airborne school, you will get a seat but it'd be after being assigned to the unit and likely not required (depending on the specific unit your assigned). Any other questions I can help out with, me email is [login to see] , feel free to shoot me an email. I may even be able to get you some CA contacts if you need them.
I just left a reserve CA command as an AMEDD officer (72D). There were several vets (not all were airborne qualified) ranging from ranks of CPT to LTC. The CA uses vets in a great way (not so much for environmental science officers) and there are a ton of opportunities. I'm not sure what rank you will acquire with your direct commission and your recruiter will likely have a slot for you to commission into but you should be able to request a transfer to a CA unit after 1 year. The "application" process is generally getting a phone number of the unit's ARA or S1 and asking. The CA CMD I transferred to had an O5 slot that I wanted in order to promote. I called the S1, he had me send the commander and himself a copy of my last 3 OER's, military bio, and latest PT score card. Once they looked it over and accepted my request, the paperwork was all done by the losing and gaining units. I received orders after a couple of weeks.
Sorry for the long response but looking at your interests and wants, you would be a perfect fit for a CA unit. If you want to go to Airborne school, you will get a seat but it'd be after being assigned to the unit and likely not required (depending on the specific unit your assigned). Any other questions I can help out with, me email is [login to see] , feel free to shoot me an email. I may even be able to get you some CA contacts if you need them.
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James Stroup
I appreciate your response. Did you know both reserve and active duty vets? I will commission as CPT and more than likely do a first-year veterinary internship. One of our options for the internship is Fort Bragg, so I was thinking to request going there to network with some CA people. I will definitely shoot you an email once I hear back from the VC board this month. Thanks again.
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LTC (Join to see)
Sorry, I just re-read your original post (Active Duty vet). All of my contacts are Reservists. Over the last 20+ years I've been a preventive medicine officer, so I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of vets in CA and vet detachments. All, however, have been Compo 3. Trying to think of any of them I didn't like...those vets are good people! Good luck...
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