Page 60 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

A career as a British Army Veterinary Officer

Henry Mosey (BVetMed, 2017 and Master of Research, 2022)

ne of the many vocations within subject matter and technical knowledge to offer support at the start of their
the veterinary world is that of for the betterment of all involved. As I career, through mentoring, coaching
the British Army Veterinary reflect further back on my undergraduate or an informal chat. The map shows
OOfficer. As a Veterinary Officer, RVC days (and whilst some of these geographical location, course studied
I am tasked with providing both clinical memories are indeed fondly mired and career path so that graduates
effect and a Command, Leadership, by cringey immaturity), I am similarly can find a suitable match. Henry
Management function within defence. inspired by the accomplishments and kindly added his details to this map
employments of my former classmates. and would be happy to discuss the
Whilst I was always determined to join Veterinary Officer career with fellow
the British Army as a Veterinary Officer, Keen to embrace opportunity to share alumni interested in such a path. If you
the Royal Veterinary College was a best practice and continue to learn from graduated since 2020 and would like
particularly inspiring environment to study colleagues, I regularly second to civilian more information about the map,
in, given the myriad backgrounds and practice. This also allows me to maintain
interests of staff and students. Individuals competence in treating species that the please email alumni@rvc.ac.uk
from all over the world looking to engage army is not quite yet willing to employ.
with careers involving the multitude of Even within small animal practice, there Guttural Pouch Scoping
specialisms associated with veterinary is a significant variety of approaches that
activity demonstrated just how diverse cater for the client demographic, practice
our community is, in both background values, and resources available. Routinely
and aspiration. This was one of the working in the first opinion, hospital, and
many reasons that I returned to the RVC ECC space, I highly value the potential
to complete a postgraduate Master of for productive multidirectional information
Research, looking at the microstructure exchange at the fundamental level, both
of osteoarthritic change. between military and civilian practice,
and between different civilian practices.
The veterinary population within the
British Army are a largely very healthy In 2022, we launched an interactive
cohort: having been subject to rigorous map for that graduating year (originally
procurement standards; receiving 2022 graduates and now 2023) from
model husbandry; and having continuing recent graduates (the last three years)
access to a high standard of veterinary
care – often collocated on the same
site. The key components of veterinary
capability are therefore preventative
care, considerations of threats within the
deployed environment (and mitigation
thereof), and pathology associated with
the highly active nature of our Military
Working Dogs and Horses (whether
traumatic or musculoskeletal in nature).
Osteoarthritic change is therefore a
very topical morbidity and a key interest
of mine – I hope to soon commence a
PhD study that further interrogates this
pervasive and ubiquitous pathology.
I reflect on my most recent studies at
the RVC, working with the Skeletal
Biology Group – a very closeknit,
diverse, and extremely motivated cohort,
whose passion for their highly particular
subject matter was matched only by
their extraordinary coffee intake. It was a
hugely valuable and vibrant experience
to work with a team so genuinely Performing a physical examination
enthusiastic to dynamically share their on a RAF Military Police Dog
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