Careers

Career Description

A bird strike on a fighter jet during takeoff or landing can lead to catastrophic results. Making sure that doesn't happen is the responsibility of Pest Management specialists. Along with keeping airfields clear, Pest Management specialists work to keep bases free of all pests ranging from insects to rodents. After all, a single rodent carrying an infectious disease could seriously hamper a base's readiness, and that's a situation the Air Force can't afford.

Career Tasks

• Conduct surveys for and identify insects, spiders, ticks, mites, rodents, reptiles, predatory animals, birds, bats and weeds
• Select and apply integrated pest management techniques to control or manage pest populations
• Use a variety of frightening devices to repel birds from buildings, airfields and other areas

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Health and Medicine
• Natural Sciences
• Facilities
• Business, Operations and Administration

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about Pest Management technical training:

School location: Sheppard AFB [TX]

Length of course: 33 days

College degree earned: Ecological Controls

College credits earned: 13