PTC Vet Tech Student Proud to be '68-Tango'
They have bravely distinguished themselves on the battlefield, 光荣服役, 证明了他们的忠诚, 拯救了无数生命. Oh, and they also adore a good belly rub.
They are 军事 working dogs, or MWDs, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) trains all Army veterinarians and animal care specialists worldwide at its U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School’s Department of Veterinary Science at Fort Sam Houston, 德州. 澳博app (PTC) Veterinary Technology student Samantha Haag, a specialist in the U.S. 陆军预备役, attended training there for 11 weeks last summer and graduated with an Animal Care Specialist certification. She shared her experiences with her Vet Tech classmates on PTC’s Newberry Campus. She now holds the 军事 occupation specialty (MOS) known as “68-Tango,” or 68T.
“68-Tango is the only 军事 branch that supports the Army’s veterinary services mission,哈格说. “The school at Fort Sam Houston is the ground zero basic course for all 军事 personnel responsible for animal handling and care.”
The 25-year-old student who resides in Lexington completed the rigorous 11-week course on Sept. 14. 狗是训练的主要焦点, but the school also cares for ceremonial horses, 一些牲畜, 研究动物.
“All of these animals get the very best care,”她说。. “Working dogs are soldiers’ partners and their very best friends. 它的个人.” In fact, about 90% of 军事 handlers adopt their dogs upon retirement.
她之前在美国国务院任职.S. Army National Guard in Minnesota, Haag considered a number of MOS options.
“I knew there was a vet program in the Army, but it’s very popular and a hard MOS to get,”她说。. 因此, Haag decided on a logistics MOS for the four years she served with the Minnesota National Guard before being honorably discharged. “After moving to South Carolina, I saw a job listing for a 68T and spoke to a recruiter.”
结果是, Haag was temporarily pulled from her Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) status so she could complete the 68T training. Because there was an open position with a U.S. 陆军预备役 unit at Fort Jackson, she joined that unit in October 2020. “Since I am now certified in the 68T MOS, 如果我选择重新入伍, 我将保留68T的MOS,”她说。.
Haag had started but not completed a veterinary technology program in Minnesota, and she enrolled at PTC in Newberry because of its convenient proximity to her Lexington home.
The course at Fort Sam Houston, which was delayed due to COVID-19, was tough and comprehensive. 有太多的事情要记住. 哈格感到了压力.
“At times, I was overwhelmed and stressed out. 我们都学到了很多，”哈格说. “我还会这么做.”
事实证明, 海格以全班第一名的成绩毕业, receiving a medal as the Distinguished Honor Graduate.
Haag noted that many people are curious about 军事 dogs. She said that the 军事 currently obtains most of its working dogs from Germany but operates a DOD breeding program at Lackland Air Force Base that produces about 10% of the 军事’s canine soldiers. Efforts are underway to grow that program because purchasing dogs from overseas can be an expensive proposition. 关于 1,600 MWDs actively serve in the U.S. 军事.
Because every 军事 unit utilizing MWDs can’t have an attached veterinarian or vet tech, the 军事 does cross-train members of the medical corps to take emergency life-saving measures when a war dog is injured on the front lines. 就像他们的人类管理者一样, 军事 dogs are considered active duty soldiers and are even given a rank, usually equal to or higher than their handler. The status of Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) traditionally has been assigned to 军事 dogs to reinforce the bonded, respectful relationship between dog-and-handler. The dogs are Purple Heart recipients and when they die, they are buried with 军事 honors as well.
“We don’t leave any dog behind,哈格说. “他们是士兵，就像我们一样.”
For more information about the Veterinary Technology Program at PTC, please visit www.ptc(列车自动控制系统).edu/vet.
照片:
•萨曼莎•哈格
• Haag gives a presentation about her 68T training experience to her Vet Tech classmates in Newberry
• PTC Vet Tech Instructor Melissa Entrekin, left, with Samantha Haag
• Haag graduated at the top of her 68T class in September
• Haag and her 68T classmates completed an equine section at Fort Sam Houston, TX
• Haag performs a dental cleaning on a canine patient in 德州