I attended Basic at FT. Benning Ga. and went to Advanced Individual Training in San Antonio Tx at FT. Sam Houston. My Military Ocupational Speciality (MOS) is an animal care specialist. Our main priority in the military is to provide care for the Military Working Dogs (MWD) or bomb/drug sniffing dogs. Since the Army is the only branch of service with this type of job, we can be stationed at any base in the world, navy, marine base etc. While stationed at these remote locations we also house the Veterinary Clinics that are on the bases. For all of the military families with pets, we provide health care services for them. Another part of our job is working at the Research Clinics that are located at various places mostly in the United States. There we do military casualty research and third world country disease prevention. I have been fortunate enough to be stationed at both types of stations.
My first duty station was at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Washington DC. I was there from March 2002 to March 2005. Our main goal was to provide support for the soldiers in combat and in desolate third world countries where diseases are common. While at WRAIR I supported numerous protocols dealing with Malaria, Dengue, Shigella, and SHIV (a version of AIDS for monkeys). In the last year I moved to the surgery department and worked several protocols involving combat casualties. All the work that we helped to accomplish here goes on to help soldiers that are wounded in combat and gives them more of a chance to survive.While stationed in the district I got to see alot of the sites DC has to offer. The monuments and Smithsonian Museums were really neat. While assigned there I took advantage of the proximity of other interesting places like Baltimore, Atlantic City and Virginia.
After my time in DC, I re-enlisted to come to Japan. The base I was heading to was a Navy base in Sasebo Japan, Command Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS). I make up 20 percent of all ARMY personnel that are stationed here. I am the only one at the Sasebo Veterinary Clinic. We only have about 350+ animals here and 10 MWD's. There is no Veterinarian that's stationed here, but the one that is stationed in Iwakuni (about three hours away) comes every two weeks. While here the vet performs spays and neuters and helps me out with the vaccinations. When the vet isn't here it's my job to keep the clinic stocked with supplies, handle all finances, and sell the products we offer. I also need to make sure that all animals with over due vaccinations have an appointment when the vet comes.
The majority of my spare time is done conducting some type of physical activity. While the army demands a high level of fitness, I enjoy getting out and lifting weights, running and competing in a variety of sports on my own. Some of my favorite are basketball, football, softball and volleyball. Through the military I compete in intramurals that are played during their appropriate seasons. I make sure to take complete advantage of this. As much as I like playing the sports I also enjoy the commradery and meeting lots of new people.
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Last updated 26JUL05
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