Soldiers of Veterinary Command inspect more than 22 million dollars of subsistence daily. As an important member of the veterinary servicing team, the Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist, under the direction of a Veterinary Corps Officer, inspects food designed for human consumption, while also supervising food inspection and combined veterinary service activities.

Some of your duties as a Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist may include:

• Inspect food products designated for human consumption on receipt and in storage
• Select food samples using statistical sampling methods, make sensory evaluations, determine and record temperatures of products and food in storage areas
• Evaluate packaging, packing and marking requirements in accordance with DoD standards and contractual documents
• Classify defect, determine quality of product, advise supervisor and prepare subsistence inspection reports
• Collect, prepare and transmit samples to laboratory for testing
• Identify unsanitary conditions in food storage facilities and commissary stores
• Operate and maintain inspection equipment
• Pack, unpack, load, unload and assist in setting up veterinary unit equipment
• Perform duties in accordance with approved standards of conduct and reports suspected fraud

Job training for a Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and eight weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including food safety/protection and quality assurance. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Inspection of red meats, poultry, water foods, eggs, dairy products, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Inspection of operational rations (Meals Ready to Eat, Heat and Serve Rations)
• Identify unsanitary conditions in food storage facilities.

Helpful attributes include:

• An interest in food safety, health, mathematics, chemistry and biology
• An interest in cooking
• An interest in working with one's hands
• An ability to effectively use computers

Advanced level Veterinary Food Inspection Specialists provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist, you may be involved in:

• Develop statistical sampling procedure
• Collect, prepare, and transmit samples to laboratory for testing
• Review laboratory test results and compare to product requirements
• Record contractual deficiencies and initiate recommendations for corrective actions
• Conduct subsistence quality assurance inspections in food handling establishments, evaluate and recommend corrective actions for unsanitary conditions
• Prepare and maintain quality history record and product verification record and distribute as required
• Perform pest management, monitoring of packaged water supplies, and field sanitation procedures
• Conduct sanitary inspections in military and commercial facilities
• Maintain organizational equipment

The skills you learn as a Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist will help prepare you for a future with the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Commerce. Depending on which specialty you pursue, you'll be able to pursue a career as a city health inspector, a quality assurance auditor at a manufacturing plant, a seafood inspector, poultry and shell eggs inspector and a fresh fruits and vegetable grader. Because you'll be working with members of the Veterinary Corps, you'll gain valuable experience that will enable you to pursue a career as a food inspector/auditor or sanitarian with various government agencies and civilian food producers.

• Animal Care Specialist (68T)
• Health Care Specialist (68W)
• Nutrition Care Specialist (68M)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.