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Big Picture: Two Critical Hospital Roles In Uniform

Both radiologic technologists and operating room specialists are enlisted medical professionals who keep the military medical system running.

• Radiologic technologists handle imaging. They use x ray and other imaging equipment to help doctors see what is happening inside the body. In the Army this is the 68P Radiology Specialist.
• Operating room specialists handle surgery support. They prepare operating rooms, set up instruments, and assist surgeons before, during, and after operations. In the Army this is the 68D Operating Room Specialist, and in the Air Force it aligns with the Surgical Technologist AFSC.

If you like healthcare and a clinical environment, but you would rather work with machines and procedures than sit at a desk, these specialties are both strong, transferable options.

What Each Role Actually Does

Radiologic Technologist (Military X ray and Imaging Specialist)

Radiology specialists in the military:

• Operate x ray and other diagnostic imaging equipment
• Position patients and equipment to get clear images
• Protect patients and staff from unnecessary radiation
• Work closely with doctors to provide images that guide diagnosis and treatment
• Maintain and troubleshoot imaging equipment
• Keep detailed imaging records and follow strict safety protocols

They may work with:

• Standard diagnostic x ray
• Fluoroscopy
• Portable x ray systems in wards or field environments
• Sometimes more advanced modalities after additional training, such as CT or mammography

Operating Room Specialist (Military Surgical Technologist)

Operating room specialists:

• Prepare operating rooms and ensure everything is sterile
• Set up surgical instruments, drapes and equipment
• Assist surgeons and nurses during operations as a scrub or circulating tech
• Count sponges, needles and instruments to maintain safety
• Help position patients and apply sterile drapes
• Manage sterile supplies and support operating room logistics

They are in the room for procedures ranging from routine orthopedic cases to trauma surgery and complex operations.

Work Environment

Both specialties work mainly in military hospitals and clinics, with some field or deployed work.

Radiologic technologists typically work in:

• Imaging departments in base hospitals and clinics
• Emergency departments and inpatient wards for portable x rays
• Field medical units that have mobile imaging capability

The environment is clinical and technology heavy. There is continuous attention to radiation safety and patient comfort.

Operating room specialists work in:

• Surgical suites in base hospitals
• Ambulatory surgery centers on larger installations
• Field surgical teams or combat support hospitals during deployments

They work in highly controlled, sterile environments with strong teamwork and clear protocols. Surgery days can be long and physically demanding.

Entry Requirements and Training

Shared basic requirements

For both roles you must:

• Meet general enlistment standards for your chosen branch
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Meet height, weight and medical standards
• Pass background checks suitable for a security clearance

Helpful high school subjects for both:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Basic physics
• Algebra and general math
• Computer skills

Radiologic Technologist Path

In the Army and similar branches, radiology specialists usually follow this path:

1. Basic training
   About 10 weeks of soldier or airman basics.
2. Radiology technical training
   Army 68P and Air Force diagnostic imaging programs are long and intensive, often around 10 to 11 months of advanced individual training or technical school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, that covers:
   • Anatomy and physiology
   • Imaging physics and radiation safety
   • Positioning for different body parts
   • Contrast studies
   • Image evaluation and quality control
   • Patient care and communication

Entry often requires a relatively strong ASVAB technical score. One Army posting lists a Skilled Technical (ST) score of about 106 as a benchmark.

Many programs prepare students to sit for ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists) certification or to meet similar civilian radiography credential requirements.

Operating Room Specialist Path

For 68D and equivalent surgical technologist roles the typical pipeline is:

1. Basic training
   Around 10 weeks of basic combat training.
2. Operating room specialist or surgical technologist course
   A roughly 21 week advanced individual training program for the Army, and a similar length AF surgical technologist course, that teaches:
   • Surgical anatomy and procedures
   • Aseptic technique and sterile field management
   • Instrument identification and handling
   • Scrub and circulating techniques
   • Preoperative and postoperative patient care
   • Operating room safety and equipment

Minimum ASVAB requirements and age ranges are similar to other medical specialties. For example the Air Force lists a minimum General (G) line score and a 17 to 42 age window for surgical technologists.

These courses map closely to civilian surgical technologist curriculum, which makes transition into civilian jobs smoother.

Core Skills and Personal Traits

Shared traits

Both roles require:

• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to follow strict protocols
• Comfort in a clinical, sometimes stressful environment
• Good communication with patients and team members
• Professionalism and respect for confidentiality

Radiologic technologist specific traits

You are likely to thrive in radiology if you:

• Enjoy working with complex machines and computers
• Have a good spatial sense and can visualize anatomy in 3D
• Like a mix of independent work and short patient interactions
• Are disciplined about safety and quality checks

Operating room specialist specific traits

You may be a better fit for the OR if you:

• Like being in the middle of team action for long procedures
• Can stay focused and calm for hours while standing in one spot
• Are comfortable with blood, open surgery and high stakes decisions
• Enjoy step by step processes and knowing exactly what comes next in a procedure

Day in the Life

Radiologic Technologist

A typical day in a military imaging department might look like this:

Morning

• Check machines, run quality control tests and warm up equipment
• Review the day’s schedule for inpatient, outpatient and emergency cases
• Start with routine chest or extremity x rays

Midday

• Rotate between modalities or rooms
• Perform imaging for emergency department patients, such as trauma or suspected fractures
• Assist with fluoroscopic procedures or portable x rays on wards

Afternoon and evening

• Continue scheduled cases
• Clean and reset equipment and rooms between patients
• Process images, verify correct patient data and send studies to the picture archiving system
• Handle walk in or urgent add on cases

You interact with many different patients for short periods, explain procedures, and work closely with radiologists and clinicians.

Operating Room Specialist

A typical surgery day can look very different.

Early morning

• Arrive before surgeons to set up rooms and equipment
• Pull instrument sets and supplies for the day’s cases
• Check sterilization indicators and equipment function

During cases

• Scrub in, help gown and glove the team
• Pass instruments and supplies, hold retractors and help maintain visualization
• Monitor counts of instruments, sponges and sharps
• Help position the patient and adjust equipment as needed

Between and after cases

• Break down the room, send instruments to sterile processing and re set for the next case
• Assist in cleaning and maintenance of equipment
• Restock supplies and update records

Surgical lists can run long. Some days you may be in one long complex case, other days you may help with multiple shorter procedures.

Education and Civilian Credentials

Radiologic Technologist

In uniform you gain:

• A complete education in radiographic imaging
• Hands on experience with varied clinical cases
• Familiarity with hospital systems and workflows

After or during service, you can:

• Earn an associate degree in radiologic technology if you do not already have one
• Obtain or maintain ARRT certification, which is standard for civilian practice
• Add advanced modalities such as CT, MRI or mammography through additional training

These qualifications open doors to hospital imaging departments, outpatient centers and travel tech jobs.

Operating Room Specialist

In uniform you receive:

• Training equivalent to an entry level surgical technologist program
• Experience in a wide range of surgeries
• Strong grounding in sterile technique and OR logistics

After or during service, you can:

• Complete an associate degree in surgical technology or related field
• Earn civilian certified surgical technologist credentials
• Build toward roles like surgical first assistant with further education

You can also branch into related fields like sterile processing, perioperative nursing or OR management.

Earnings Potential

While in the military

Pay for both specialties is driven by rank and years of service, not the job title. However, resources that focus on military x ray technicians report typical total military pay ranges in the 60,000 to 70,000 dollar per year range for mid career personnel when base pay, housing and other allowances are combined, with higher totals possible for longer service and higher ranks.

Key points:

• New enlisted members start in the mid 20,000 dollar base pay range per year
• Housing allowance, food allowance and health benefits add significant value
• As you advance to NCO ranks, base pay rises and total compensation can move well above 50,000 dollars per year depending on location and family status

Civilian radiologic technologist pay

Recent BLS data shows:

• Median annual wage for radiologic technologists and technicians is about 77,660 dollars as of May 2024, with the top 10 percent earning more than 106,990 dollars.
• Average pay across radiologic and MRI technologists in 2024 is around 78,980 dollars per year according to one recent summary.

Special modalities like CT and MRI and travel roles can pay in the 70,000 to 95,000 dollar range and above.

Civilian surgical technologist pay

For surgical technologists:

• BLS and recent career articles put median annual wages around 62,830 dollars as of May 2024, with growth projected at about 5 percent from 2024 to 2034.
• Earlier data sets show median wages in the 60,000 dollar range, with higher pay in outpatient centers and some hospitals.

Operating room specialists who add credentials and move into advanced or supervisory roles can earn more, especially in large hospital systems.

Career Growth and Promotion

In uniform

For radiologic technologists:

• You start as a junior tech, learning basic imaging and department procedures
• As you advance, you can become a senior technologist, lead for a modality or noncommissioned officer in charge of a radiology section
• You may move into instructor roles at training schools or cross train into advanced imaging or other medical specialties

For operating room specialists:

• You begin as a junior scrub or circulator under close supervision
• With experience and rank you can become a senior tech for a specific surgical service such as orthopedics or trauma
• NCOs may manage OR schedules, oversee multiple rooms, supervise junior techs and coordinate with nursing leadership

Both specialties can lead to senior enlisted leadership positions in medical units.

After the military

Radiologic technologists can progress to:

• Modality specialists (CT, MRI, interventional radiography)
• Lead or supervisor roles in imaging departments
• Department managers and clinical coordinators
• Applications specialists or vendor roles for imaging equipment companies

Operating room specialists can progress to:

• Certified surgical technologist roles in civilian hospitals
• Surgical first assistant positions with additional education
• OR charge tech or manager roles
• Transition into nursing and then perioperative nurse positions

Employment Outlook

Healthcare overall is projected to grow much faster than average from 2024 to 2034, with about 1.9 million openings per year across the sector.

Specific to these fields:

• Radiologic technologists and MRI technologists
  • Projected growth around 4 to 5 percent over the next decade, which is faster than average
  • Demand is driven by an aging population and expanded use of medical imaging
• Surgical technologists and assistants
  • Projected growth about 5 to 6 percent in the same period, also faster than average
  • Demand is tied to surgical volumes, outpatient surgery growth and retirements

Combined, that means both specialties have solid long term prospects if you match them with the right education and credentials.

Advantages and Challenges

Advantages both roles share

• Clear, transferable technical skills
• Stable, in demand healthcare career paths
• Military benefits such as education funding, healthcare and retirement
• Professional work environment with defined protocols
• Respect and trust from patients and colleagues

Radiologic technologist specific advantages

• Strong pay potential in civilian practice
• Many different work settings: hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, travel assignments
• Ability to specialize in advanced imaging modalities

Challenges include:

• Shift work and on call in some settings
• Repetitive motions and the need for careful body mechanics
• Managing radiation exposure with strict safety procedures

Operating room specialist specific advantages

• You are part of life saving surgical procedures
• Strong team culture inside the OR
• Direct line of sight to immediate results of your work

Challenges include:

• Long hours on your feet, sometimes with little break
• Exposure to blood and sometimes traumatic injuries
• High pressure environment where errors can have serious consequences

Is One of These Careers a Good Fit For You

You might lean toward radiologic technologist if you:

• Like technology and imaging
• Prefer short but frequent patient interactions
• Enjoy a structured environment but with some variety in cases
• Want strong civilian earning potential and flexibility later

You might lean toward operating room specialist if you:

• Thrive in team based, high intensity situations
• Are comfortable with surgery and do not mind blood or open tissues
• Like precise, stepwise routines and being part of a tight OR crew
• Want to stay close to direct patient care in critical moments

If you are not sure which direction fits your natural motivations, it is smart to use an objective career assessment.

Is this career a good fit for you
Take the free MAPP assessment at www.assessment.com to see how your personal motivations align with radiologic technology, operating room work and other military medical specialties.

The MAPP assessment can reveal whether you are more energized by technical problem solving, direct patient care, structured routines, quick decision making or leadership. That insight makes it much easier to choose between imaging, surgery and other medical paths.

How To Get Started

1. Take the MAPP assessment
   Use your results to identify whether imaging, surgery, or another medical specialty fits best.
2. Research both specialties on official military sites
   Look up Radiology Specialist and Operating Room Specialist descriptions, training locations and service commitments.
3. Talk to a recruiter and, if possible, current or former techs
   Ask about day to day routines, promotion opportunities, deployments and how well their training translated to civilian jobs.
4. Strengthen your academic base
   Focus on biology, chemistry, math and computer skills. Consider local classes in medical terminology or basic health science.
5. Think long term
   Decide whether you may want to become a radiology supervisor, MRI tech, surgical first assistant or nurse later. That will influence which degrees and certifications you pursue while serving and after separation.

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