Entomologist

Navy Entomologists may be called upon to:

• Assess and reduce disease risk using innovative surveillance and control techniques
• Develop and implement comprehensive disease- and pest-control programs
• Provide professional consultation and guidance for contingency, disaster relief or humanitarian operations
• Conduct research on vector-borne diseases, including the physiology, bionomics and taxonomy of medically important arthropods
• Provide instruction to civilian and military personnel
• Assist in the development and/or evaluation of pesticides, equipment and techniques

Navy Health Care Specialists may serve at any one of more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the globe, from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington state.

As a Navy Entomologist, you could work at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD, Portsmouth, VA, and San Diego, CA. Or you could provide support to one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

Still more health-care opportunities are available stateside and abroad in a variety of settings. Conducting research at any one of dozens of Navy hospitals located around the world, on board a surface ship or even with the Fleet Marine Force.

Upon graduation from graduate school, you must attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here you will learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.

Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Post-Service Opportunities

It’s also important to note that specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in related fields.

Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs. Opportunities for further education within this platform include:

• Navy College Program
• VOLED Assistance Center
• VOLED Region Advisors
• The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
• Navy War College (NWC)
• USAF Air University Air Command and Staff College

Through the Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), you may be eligible to receive financial assistance to pay down the cost of your graduate education.

Graduate Students

In the Navy Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), you can receive up to $134,600 while finishing a degree. This includes a monthly military salary, a generous housing allowance* and a comprehensive health-care benefits package.

*Navy HSCP housing allowance based on graduate school location. Increased offer amounts available in areas with a higher cost of living.

To qualify for employment consideration as an Entomologist in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S.
• Master’s or doctoral degree in entomology or closely related field in which your coursework had an emphasis on entomology
• Graduate degree must be in-residence (i.e., not online) and must include a thesis
• GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale in graduate study and a 3.5 or higher in entomology coursework
• 30 or more hours of coursework (graduate and undergraduate) in entomology, including medical entomology, pest management, insect taxonomy, insect morphology, immature insects, insect ecology, insect toxicology, insect physiology and statistics
• Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
• Be between the ages of 18 and 41
• Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination

You may also be expected to meet certain preferred requirements:

• Completion of 3–5 hours minimum in: acarology, parasitology, invertebrate zoology, computer science, statistics, epidemiology and environmental health
• Experience in surveillance and control of arthropod disease vectors

General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.

There are part-time opportunities available as a Navy Entomologist.

Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Sailor, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Navy Entomologists in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes

For annual training, Navy Entomologists may serve anywhere in the world, whether on a ship at sea or at bases and installations on shore.

Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.

Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent of that.

Entomologists in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.

For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET): Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.

Officers who previously held a commission in another United States Military Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Health Service, or United States Coast Guard are exempt from attending ODS or LDO/CWO Academy.

With flexible training options, Medical Service Corps Officers in the Navy Reserve can comfortably balance civilian and military schedules. You can maintain your own life and your own career – enriching both with the rewarding work you do for others.

The Medical Service Corps in the Navy Reserve offers you a truly diverse variety of operational venues. In some cases, you can even work in the same civilian location you work in now. What’s more, you will enjoy an unrivaled sense of pride and fulfillment known only to those who serve.

Practicing Professionals

As a Navy Reserve Sailor in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you’ll receive your choice of any one of these three generous financial offers:*

• Up to $250,000 in graduate school loan repayment assistance
• Up to $50,000 per year in specialty pay
• An immediate one-time sign-on bonus of up to $10,000

*Offers cannot be combined and depend on specialty.