Medical Laboratory Technicians
Background
Medical laboratories are an important part of the military health care system. The staffs of medical laboratories perform clinical tests required to detect and identify diseases in patients. Medical laboratory technicians conduct tests on the tissue, blood, and body fluids of medical patients.
What They Do
Medical laboratory technicians in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assist in collecting specimens at autopsies (medical examinations of the dead)
- Draw blood from patients
- Examine blood and bone marrow under microscopes
- Record and file results of laboratory tests
- Test specimens for bacteria or viruses
- Use lab equipment to analyze specimens (samples) of tissue, blood, and body fluids
Physical Demands
Normal color vision is required to work with colored chemicals and dyes.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to follow detailed procedures precisely
- Interest in scientific and technical work
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Algebra
- Biology
- Chemistry
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Medical laboratory technicians work in medical centers, clinics, and hospitals on land or aboard ships.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for enlisted personnel.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of 12 to 36 weeks of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in testing specimens. Training length varies depending on specialty.
Course content typically includes:
- Laboratory administration and recordkeeping
- Medical laboratory procedures
- Study of human parasites and diseases
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian medical laboratory technicians usually work for privately owned laboratories, hospitals, clinics, or research institutions. They perform duties similar to military medical laboratory technicians.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 5,000 medical laboratory technicians. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new technicians due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, technicians perform routine laboratory tests under close supervision. With experience, they do more complex testing and analysis and work more independently. After demonstrating job proficiency, medical laboratory technicians help train new technicians and supervise laboratory personnel. In time, they may advance to laboratory management positions.