MOS 68T—Animal Care Specialist

Qualifications for initial award of MOS 68T, Animal Care Specialist:

PULHES: 222221
Physical Demands Rating: moderately heavy
Required ASVAB Score: ST: 91
Enlistment Bonus: None
Security Clearance: None
U.S. Citizenship: Not Required
AIT Length / Location: 11 weeks at Ft Sam Houston, Texas
Other Requirements

Animal Care Specialist (MOS 68T) Description / Major Duties:

The animal care specialist supervises or provides the care, management, treatment, and sanitary conditions for animals, with a primary responsibility of prevention and control of diseases transmitted from animal to man and comprehensive care for government owned animals.

Duties for MOS 68T at each skill level are:

MOSC 68T1O. Provide routine daily care for animals in veterinary treatment or research and development facilities. Obtain medical history from owners and/or handlers and measures and records animal vital signs. Perform physical examinations to detect obvious abnormalities and reports findings to veterinarian. Positions and restrains animals for examination and treatment. Calculates doses and administers oral and topical medications as directed by the veterinarian. Maintain sanitary conditions for all components of the veterinary treatment facilities to include operating room and equipment. Assists veterinarian in surgical procedures and performs euthanasia when instructed by veterinarian. Cleans, debrides, and sutures superficial wounds. Collects, preserves, and prepares blood, urine, feces, skin scrapings, and post mortem specimens for shipment and evaluation. Perform routine diagnostic laboratory tests such as fecal smears, urinalysis, blood counts, and chemistries. Records laboratory test result. Takes and develops radiographs of designated animal body parts. Initiates and maintains animal health records, immunization records, animal registration files, animal bite case reports, and other administrative office files.

MOSC 68T2O. Perform duties shown at preceding skill level. Provide technical guidance, management, and training to junior personnel. Performs advanced emergency medical procedures on animals such as triage, tracheotomy, burn and poison management, venous cutdown, and insertion of stomach tubes. Operate mechanical respirators, heart monitors, and gas sterilizer apparatus. Supervises non-appropriated fund activities, day-to-day operations, supply management and patient administration procedures. Prepares budgets, trains handlers in emergency care of animals, and assists on research protocol teams. Maintain clinical and organizational equipment.

MOSC 68T3O. Performs duties of and supervises the functions of preceding skill levels. Develops and establishes standard operating procedures for operations of veterinary treatment facilities. Assists in scheduling, conducting, and evaluating training of veterinary service enlisted personnel. Coordinate procurement of high dollar value equipment. Reviews, consolidates, and prepares technical reports. Perform as a liaison for the veterinary officer to interact with installation medical authorities, installation commanders, and civilian agencies.

MOSC 68T4O. Performs duties of and supervises the functions of preceding skill levels. Schedules, monitors, and evaluates the unit training program and maintains unit/individual training records. Assist the commander in preparing, monitoring, and evaluating the unit operations plan. Compiles and evaluates management and personnel data. Review operations of veterinary service to ensure compliance with laws and regulations regarding humane care and treatment of animals. Monitors laboratory animal procurement procedures and serves on laboratory animal protocol boards. Provide technical assistance in planning, staffing, and modifying existing animal facilities. Supports a variety of administrative and program related ancillary duties associated with installation and Major Subordinate Command (MSC) operations.

Other Requirements for Award of MOS 68T:

(1) Normal color vision.
(2) Must have a minimum credit of one year of biological sciences at high school or college level and a minimum credit of one year of algebra at high school or college level with a “C” grade or higher in both subjects. Official high school or college transcripts are required.
(3) High school diploma/GED.
(4) No history of a felony conviction.
(5) No history of conviction of crimes involving:
(a) Any weapons/ammunition/explosives/arson charges.
(b) Any drug activity involving illegal possession, buying, selling or distribution (dealing) of controlled substances or synthetics.
(c) Violence against persons or property.
(d) Sexual misconduct.
(6) No record of conviction by special or general courts-martial or civilian courts of offenses listed in AR 27-10 (Military Justice), chapter 24 or otherwise required to register as a sexual offender under AR 27-10, chapter 24.
(7) Formal training (completion of MOS 68T course conducted under the auspices of the AMEDD Center & School) mandatory or meet the ACASP criteria per paragraphs (a) and (b) below.
(a) Be a graduate of a 2 or 4 year veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Transcripts are required to verify training.
(b) Proficiency training must be performed under supervision of a Veterinary Corps Officer.

Additional Skill Identifiers for MOS 68T:

N / A

Article Last Modified: February 17, 2011

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