Careers

Career Description

The men and women of the Air Force, as well as their families, can suffer the same genetic issues as anyone else. As an Air Force Geneticist, you'll care for the entire Air Force family whether they suffer minor birth defects or severe genetic disorders. And since the Air Force runs the only full-service genetics laboratory in the entire Department of Defense, you'll provide care to people from around the world.

Career Tasks

• Evaluate and follow pediatric patients with genetic disorders
• Provide counseling to families with cancer and other heritable diseases and provide prenatal counseling
• Perform prenatal diagnostic procedures, depending on training
• Physicians certified in clinical molecular genetics or cytogenetics will be responsible for all aspects of a clinical diagnostic laboratory, interacting with ordering physicians and laboratories

Relevant Interests & Skills

You might like this career if you have interests in these areas:

• Health and Medicine
• Natural Science
• Business Operations and Administration

Becoming a Direct Commission Officer

To ease your transition into the Air Force, you'll enter a five-week training regimen designed to educate you on the ways of both the military and military healthcare. You'll participate in physical conditioning five days a week, leadership training and classroom studies.