The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps is a staff corps (non-combat specialty branch) of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consisting of commissioned veterinary officers and Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) veterinary students. It was established by an Act of Congress on 3 June 1916. Recognition of the need for veterinary expertise had been evolving since 1776 when General Washington directed that a "regiment of horse with a farrier" be raised. It has evolved to include sanitary food inspectors and animal healthcare specialists. The Veterinary Corps is supported by warrant officer and enlisted AMEDD personnel. Warrant officers (640A) are the core of its Food Inspection service. Enlisted personnel can serve as Food Inspection Specialists (68R) and Animal Care Technicians(68T); enlisted collar insignia lacks the 'V' and is the same as that worn by medics. The U.S. Army Veterinary Service is currently composed of more than 700 veterinarians, 80 warrant officers, and 1800 enlisted soldiers in both the active duty and in the Army Reserves. The Chief of the Veterinary Corps is a Colonel. The Veterinary Service employs an additional 400 civilians. Mission The US Army Veterinary Corps' mission is to protect the Warfighter and support the National Military Strategy. They accomplish this by providing veterinary public health capabilities through veterinary medical and surgical care, food safety and defense, and biomedical research and development. In addition, Veterinary Corps Officers provide military veterinary expertise in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. While the current mission statement does not include the performance of stability and reconstruction operations, Veterinary Corps personnel are involved in these missions. The US Army Veterinary Corps provides food safety and security inspections for all of the Armed Services. They also are responsible for providing care to Military Working Dogs, ceremonial horses, working animals of many Department of Homeland Security organizations, and pets owned by service members. They also contribute their skills in the development of life saving medical products that protect all service members. Enlistment The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) allows qualified recipients to earn a full-tuition scholarship, plus a monthly allowance, to attend an accredited veterinarian school in the United States. Direct Commissioning is offered to all graduates of accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States who are U.S. citizens. The maximum age is 42 at time of accession. Students commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) may apply for an Educational Delay to