Veterinary Corps (United States Army)

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is a staff corps (non-combat specialty branch) of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD)consisting of commissioned veterinary officers and HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) veterinary students. It was established by an Act of Congress on 3 June 1916. Recognition of the need for veterinary expertise had been evolving since 1776 when General Washington directed that a "regiment of horse with a farrier" be raised. It has evolved to include sanitary food inspectors and animal healthcare specialists.

The Veterinary Corps is supported by warrant officer and enlisted AMEDD personnel. Warrant officers are the core of its Food Inspection service. Enlisted personnel can serve as Food Inspection Specialists and Animal Care Technicians; enlisted collar insignia lacks the 'V' and is the same as that worn by medics.

The U.S. Army Veterinary Service is currently composed of more than 700 veterinarians, 80 warrant officers, and 1800 enlisted soldiers in both the active duty and in the Army Reserves. The Chief of the Veterinary Corps is a Brigadier General. The Veterinary Service employs an additional 400 civilians.

The US Army Veterinary Corps' mission is to protect the Warfighter and support the National Military Strategy. They accomplish this by providing veterinary public health capabilities through veterinary medical and surgical care, food safety and defense, and biomedical research and development. In addition, Veterinary Corps Officers provide military veterinary expertise in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. While the current mission statement does not include the performance of stability and reconstruction operations, Veterinary Corps personnel are involved in these missions.

The US Army Veterinary Corps provides food safety and security inspections for all of the Armed Services. They also are responsible for providing care to Military Working Dogs, ceremonial horses, working animals of many Department of Homeland Security organizations, and pets owned by service members. They also contribute their skills in the development of life saving medical products that protect all service members.

Health Professions Scholarship Program

The Army offers the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). Qualified recipients earn a full-tuition scholarship, plus a monthly allowance through the HPSP to attend an accredited Veterinarian School in the United States.

Direct Commissioning

Direct Commissioning is offered to all graduates of accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. You must be a U.S. citizen to be commissioned. The maximum age is 42 at time of accession.

ROTC Educational Delay

Students commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C) may apply for an Educational Delay to attend veterinary school. Applications should be made through the local R.O.T.C. office.

Advanced Degrees

Officers may apply for Long Term Health Education and Training programs leading to advanced degrees and board eligibility and certification. Programs run from 1–3 years and include training at either military or civilian institutions. Full pay and allowances continue during training. Programs include:

Residency Programs

• Veterinary Pathology (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology)
• Laboratory Animal Medicine
• Epidemiology Investigative Services (EIS) Fellowship at the CDC
• PhD in physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology, pathology, or public health.
• Master's Degree in internal medicine, surgery, radiology, food animal/preventive medicine, emergency medicine, public health, food technology, or human animal bond.