Can you specialize in the Vet Corps?

[Riscatto]

Ive been thinking of the Vet Corps to pay for college. However I was wondering if you can specialize (i.e. surgery, internal medicine, radiology, ect). What about small animal vs. large animal? I was looking on there site and it said something about a masters for some of these specialties.

Does anyone have information on this or is it just better to avoid this route?

All help appreciated

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[rockatiel]

A glance at the website tells me you can specialize. I met a recruiter once at a conference. Though I personally was not interested in the army, the lady was very nice and explained a lot to me! She mentioned, however, that the program was quite competitive, because it is such a good gig.

 

[battie]

A glance at the website tells me you can specialize. I met a recruiter once at a conference. Though I personally was not interested in the army, the lady was very nice and explained a lot to me! She mentioned, however, that the program was quite competitive, because it is such a good gig.

I was told that too. I was instantly disqualified from military because of health complications, so if you have weird health stuff, double check to see if it passes.

 

[Bismarck]

Long story short: you can specialize and the Army may allow you to pursue training in a civilian program (pursuant to their projected personnel/skillset needs) or complete an Army program (anatomic pathology/laboratory animal). Expect to be nearly through your second duty assignment before this gets offered and realize that there may be competition for slots in these training programs among your fellow Vet Corps officers. Did you have a particular training program you wanted to attend after vet school?

 

[Riscatto]

I have been looking at possibly equine surgery and then at some point in time double board as a sports med and rehabilitation vet

 

[JosephKnechtDVM]

I have been looking at possibly equine surgery and then at some point in time double board as a sports med and rehabilitation vet

That will never be approved as the Army has only ceremonial horses these days. In the early 90s there was a boarded large animal surgeon in the Vet Corps that I met but I do not think he got to use that skill set much and got out before making LtCol. There was also a Colonel who they sent for a Phd in wildlife sciences but I do not think he used those skills much either. In clinical medicine, they usually want surgeons, radiologists and internists who can diagnose and fix the MWDs along with getting them ready for service through screening rads and laparascopic gastropexy/OHE. Specialists will spend some time on clinical medicine for several years then move back more into command and administrative positions necessary for promotion. I do not see that they ever have need for emergency and critical care as they have the other specialists to treat those problems. Dentistry seems to be covered by using the human dentists doing the root canal procedure when they are needed with veterinarians doing the anesthesia. The only root canals I ever saw on a MWD were done by the human dentist with him letting me assist some in the actual procedure.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Also if you specialize through the army, you owe extra years of service, so I'm not sure that's the best way to go about becoming a specialist to pursue things outside of the army later with the army footing the bill.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I think there is also a delay. When I was considering going to military route, I was told that I would be required to spend 2 years being a general practitioner vet for base pets, the dogs, horses, etc. And then I would be sent abroad for a year doing who knows what. All this before I would be allowed to begin a residency. Nuh-uh.

 

[Minnerbelle]

I think there is also a delay. When I was considering going to military route, I was told that I would be required to spend 2 years being a general practitioner vet for base pets, the dogs, horses, etc. And then I would be sent abroad for a year doing who knows what. All this before I would be allowed to begin a residency. Nuh-uh.

Not to mention food inspection and stuff most people aren't all that interested in.

 

[bovinelvr84]

I work as a vet tech at an Army institute where there are veterinarians going through the laboratory animal and pathology residencies.

After being there over a year, I have concluded that if a veterinarian is going to go that route, not only do they need to be a great vet but they also have to WANT to be a soldier.

I think a lot of people see the financial benefits of the Army corps but they overlook the military lifestyle. I have seen it work for many and not for some.

Just something to consider. It is certainly a great opportunity if you can put up with the military side of things.

 

[Riscatto]

Thanks for the info. I have always looked at it for the only way to pay for school. My parents don't want any of my students loans to burden them and neither do I. I'm fine with the military, but I never wanted to do it since i'm not really a combat type of person.

 

[KCgophervet]

Thanks for the info. I have always looked at it for the only way to pay for school. My parents don't want any of my students loans to burden them and neither do I. I'm fine with the military, but I never wanted to do it since i'm not really a combat type of person.

If it helps, grad school loans typically don't affect your parents. That's all on you!

 

[that redhead]

Thanks for the info. I have always looked at it for the only way to pay for school. My parents don't want any of my students loans to burden them and neither do I. I'm fine with the military, but I never wanted to do it since i'm not really a combat type of person.

The program is extremely competitive and if you are only looking at it as a way to pay for school, I'd forget about it. Grad student loans have nothing to do with your parents.

 

[FeartheDogMonky]

I work as a vet tech at an Army institute where there are veterinarians going through the laboratory animal and pathology residencies.

After being there over a year, I have concluded that if a veterinarian is going to go that route, not only do they need to be a great vet but they also have to WANT to be a soldier.

I think a lot of people see the financial benefits of the Army corps but they overlook the military lifestyle. I have seen it work for many and not for some.

Just something to consider. It is certainly a great opportunity if you can put up with the military side of things.

To echo what was said here, the Vet Corps route needs to be something you really think about. This should not be anyone's preferred path to avoid loans. The military is a lifestyle that you will be living 24/7/365. You will also most likely be deployed at least once for around 6 months, unless vets get changed to the 90days BOG limit like human docs.

I've been in a long time and it pains me to see Soldiers come in simply because they wanted a way to pay for college. Some of them end up miserable and hate every moment of their time in uniform. This leads to toxic environments and ain't nobody got time for that. I've had my moments over the years where I wanted to throat punch things/people/etc, but as a whole I would never change my decision to join.

Granted life as a doc is a little different in general, but you are still a Soldier. For your sanity and the sake of those already in, please think about the decision to join holistically. If this is a decision you're passionate about for more than the money, then by all means grab it by the horns and make it yours.

 

[bigreddog]

I am very interested in applying for the HPSP and also possibly specializing in surgery. The information I have found about educational opportunities while in the Vet Corp says residencies are available in pathology, lab animal, and epidemiology. PhDs in several disciplines are available, as are several masters programs in things like surgery, internal medicine, radiology. My question is does a masters in surgery or radiology lead to being board certified or is that only accomplished through residencies?