Skip to content
HonestMOS

Got a wild idea? We build for service members — not the brass, not shareholders. If it's good, it ships.

Suggest a Feature →
ArmyMedicalRank #77 of 101 by 4-year cost
68R

Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist

16-week pipeline · BCT + AIT · JBSA–Fort Sam Houston, TX
Training Pipeline
$38K
16 weeks
Annual MILPERS
$63K
E-4, 3 years service
Equipment Burden
$3K
per year (amortized)
4-Year Total Cost
$302K
DoD investment
4-Year Cost Breakdown
Training Pipeline
$38K13%
Military Personnel (MILPERS × 4yr)
$254K84%
Equipment Burden (× 4yr)
$10K3%
Training: 13% · MILPERS: 84% · Equipment: 3%= $302K
By the Numbers

Foodborne illness can incapacitate a combat unit faster than enemy fire. 68Rs are the reason deployed units don't lose battles to contaminated chow — a quietly critical role with an outsized impact on readiness.

Training Pipeline
Duration
16 weeks
Type
BCT + AIT
Location
JBSA–Fort Sam Houston, TX
Pipeline Cost
$38K

68Rs inspect every piece of food consumed by deployed soldiers — including food at foreign military installations. They also provide veterinary care for military working dogs and conduct zoonotic disease surveillance in theater.

Equipment & Annual Burden
Assigned Equipment
  • ·Food Inspection Kit
  • ·Laboratory Testing Equipment
  • ·Veterinary Supplies
  • ·Personal Protective Equipment
Annual Equipment Burden
$3K/yr
Inspection and veterinary equipment amortized
Military Personnel Cost (Annual)
Grade BenchmarkE-4, 3 years service
Base MILPERS$63K/yr
Total Annual MILPERS$63K/yr
Force Structure Context
Annual Accessions~500
Avg Career Length6 years
Annual Training Bill$19.0M
Total Force 4yr Cost$150.8M
Other Army Profiles

Cost estimates derived from DoD Comptroller per-soldier analysis, RAND Corporation military personnel studies, CBO military compensation reports, service-specific training cost testimony, and published equipment unit costs. Error margin ±15%. Individual costs vary by duty station, assignment, and deployment tempo. This is Phase 3 of the Honest MOS DoD Budget Intelligence Roadmap.