Overview

Preventive medicine specialists are primarily responsible for conducting or assisting with preventive medicine inspections, surveys and preventative medicine laboratory procedures. They also supervise preventive medicine facilities or serve on preventive medicine staffs.

Job Duties

• Conduct preventive medicine inspections
  
• Assist with preventive medicine laboratory procedures
  
• Conduct survey and control operations

Training

Job training for a preventive medicine specialist requires 10 weeks of Basic Combat Training and 15 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, which includes on-the-job instruction and practice in testing specimens.

Some of the skills you’ll learn are:

• Sanitation inspection procedures
  
• Understanding of parasites and diseases affecting humans
  
• Bacteriological analysis of potable water

Helpful Skills

• Interest in biology, chemistry and algebra
  
• Ability to follow detailed procedures precisely
  
• Interest in scientific and technical work

Required ASVAB Score(s)

Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.

Compensation

Total compensation includes housing, medical, food, special pay, and vacation time. Learn more about total compensation.

Future Civilian Careers

The skills you learn will help prepare you for a future with privately owned research institutions, public health departments and the environmental sciences professions.

Through your extensive Army training and some additional study, you may be able to qualify for certification as a registered environmental health specialist/registered sanitarian and certified radiation protection technologist. Specific educational criteria must be met before you can qualify for certification.