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Military Environmental Health and Safety Specialists

Military Career

General Information

Description

Environmental health and safety specialists protect the military community through programs to ensure that military facilities and food supplies are free of disease, germs, and other hazardous conditions. These specialists identify, research, and mitigate occupational and environmental health hazards and risks that may negatively impact health, human performance, and environmental health quality. They manage programs related to communicable disease control and prevention, food safety and defense, sanitary compliance, occupational health and safety, hazardous material control, and public health contingency response. They also assess Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear safety.

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Work Environment

Environmental health specialists work indoors while inspecting food facilities and buildings. They work outdoors while inspecting waste disposal facilities and field camps.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Government & Public Administration

Related Military Careers

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Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Environmental Health and Safety Specialists in the Military

9,162

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Salary

Average Salary

$66,332

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 75%
  • Associate's degree 15%
  • High school 10%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for environmental health and safety specialists consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in making health and sanitation inspections. Training content may include: Identification and mitigation of health hazardsInspection of food products and food service operationsFire prevention Occupational health and hygiene programsEmergency medical techniquesAccident prevention programs

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for environmental health and safety specialists consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in making health and sanitation inspections. Training content may include:

  • Identification and mitigation of health hazards
  • Inspection of food products and food service operations
  • Fire prevention
  • Occupational health and hygiene programs
  • Emergency medical techniques
  • Accident prevention programs

Knowledge

  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Law and Government
  • Public Safety and Security

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.