U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC): Domestic and Wild Animal Care Internship

The U.S. Army Environmental Command is offering a Domestic and Wild Animal Care Internship at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for candidates with a graduate degree in Animal Sciences or related fields. Interns will gain hands-on experience in animal observation, data collection, and support for animal welfare programs. Responsibilities include managing domestic animals, coordinating with veterinary services, and engaging with local animal control agencies. The position is a twelve-month appointment with potential renewal.
Organization

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

Reference Code

Army-AEC-2023-0001

How To Apply

Click on Apply at the bottom of the opportunity to start your application.

Description

Located in beautiful Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) is seeking a qualified intern who is currently pursuing, or has an earned graduate degree in Animal Sciences, Animal Behavior, Veterinary Sciences, and Wildlife Sciences.

What will I be doing?

As an ORISE participant, you will gain hands-on experience providing technical support to the Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) at Fort Huachuca. The participant will perform a variety of duties in the observation, data collection, analysis, and protection of both domestic and wild animals. Participant is responsible for implementing current practices and procedures and adapting new ones to enhance and improve programs.

Why should I apply?

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will gain experience by engaging in the following:
• Capturing and impounding unrestrained domestic animals, and gathering facts and evidence for use in nuisance, cruelty, neglect, and bite cases.
• Maintaining data and preparing reports and other documents such as charts, graphs, animal bite reports, and animal impoundment reports, to compare data and establish trends.
• Evaluating obvious health problems and injuries of incoming animals, identifying animals that are sick and/or needing treatment, and coordinating with the veterinary clinic for disposition and medical treatments.
• Supporting the domestic animal kennel facility manager as they ensure humane treatment of all animals housed at the facility.
• Answering questions and provides information to the public on Fort Huachuca policies, procedures, and relevant laws and ordinances.
• Engaging with the local animal control agencies, shelters, or rescue agencies to augment and assist the installation in humanly managing stray animals captured on the installation.
• Supporting a foster and adoption program for unclaimed animals.
• Assisting with the development of nuisance wildlife monitoring and management plans, wildlife annual reporting requirements, and wildlife permit writing.

Where will I be located?

Fort Huachuca, Arizona

What is the anticipated start date?

The U.S. Army Environmental Command is ready to make appointments immediately. Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidate. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and internships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified.

What is the appointment length?

This appointment is a twelve-month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

What are the benefits?

You will receive a stipend to be determined by U.S. Army Environmental Command. Stipends are typically based on a participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:
• Health Insurance Supplement (Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE)
• Relocation Allowance
• Training and Travel Allowance

About U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC)

The U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) proudly delivers environmental services and solutions in support of the Army's Environmental Program, enabling Army readiness and sustainability. For more than 40 years, USAEC has provided the knowledge, tools, and programs that support ready and resilient Soldiers, installations, and commands by balancing military training with sound environmental practices. Sound natural resources stewardship through ecosystem management is the underlying approach, and elements of the program include forest management, fish and wildlife (nongame and game), threatened and endangered species, habitat and community management, environmental awareness and environmental protection.

Fort Huachuca is an Army installation in southeastern Arizona, adjacent to the town of Sierra Vista. The installation encompasses 80,000 acres across several environmental zones. The Huachuca Mountains form the Fort’s western boundary, and the majority of the installation resides in a high-elevation (4,600ft AMSL on average) desert grassland environment. The DPW/ENRD is responsible for nuisance wildlife and domestic animal care and manages a stray animal facility for unclaimed domestics as well as coordinates with the City of Sierra Vista Animal Care Facility for a foster and adoption program. please visit https://aec.army.mil/

About ORISE

This program, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and DoD. Participants do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DoD or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE. For more information, visit the ORISE Research Participation Program at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing, or degree received within the last 60 months, a bachelor's degree. Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA with a discipline in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Veterinary Sciences, and Animal Behavior.

At Minimum, Applicants Should Have
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access
• Proficiency in writing and basic editing skills
• Experience handling domestic animals, including dogs and cats.
• Knowledge of animal observation techniques and procedures for assessing animal behavior, species or breeds of animals, illnesses, common diseases, and general physical conditions of both domestic and wild animals.
• Ability to frequently lift materials weighing over 50 pounds and carry animals and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds for extended periods.
• Ability to live-trap animals suspected of carrying rabies, such as bats, raccoons, and skunks. Knowledge on utilization of catch poles, traps, lariats, leashes, syringe poles, and nets.
• Knowledge of animal shelter procedure and practices, including performing routine facility and equipment cleaning and maintenance work.

NOTE: will be required to have or receive the rabies pre-exposure vaccinations.

Application Requirements

A complete application consists of:
• Zintellect Profile
• Educational and Employment History
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the opportunity)
• Resume (PDF)
• Transcripts/Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
• One Recommendation. Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed until a recommendation is submitted. We encourage you to contact your recommender as soon as you start your application to ensure they are able to complete the recommendation form and to let them know to expect a message from Zintellect. The recommender will be asked to rate your scientific capabilities, personal characteristics, and describe how they know you. You can always log back in to your Zintellect account and check the status of your application.

If you have questions, send an email to army@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code of this opportunity Army-AEC-2023-0001 in the subject line of the email.

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Point of Contact

Brittany

Eligibility Requirements">5 )
• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 5/31/2025 12:00:00 AM.
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.00
• Discipline(s):
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (