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AFSC 43D4, Staff
AFSC 43D3, Qualified
AFSC 43D1, Entry

Specialty Summary. Serves as an advisor to the surgeon in matters pertaining to nutrition and dietetics. Plans and manages nutritional medicine service operations including the performance of clinical dietetic activities. Coordinates with and makes recommendations to commanders and interested staff agencies concerning nutrition and dietetics. Related DoD Occupational Group: 6H.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Manages nutritional medicine activities. Formulates and implements polices and procedures for organization and operation of nutritional medicine. Determines medical food service requirements for personnel and equipment. Inspects and evaluates food preparation and service to patients and duty personnel for conformance with dietetic standards. Ensures that the nutritional medicine activity operates within budget limitations, sanitation, and safety standards. Plans and implements inservice training programs for food service personnel, such as diet therapy supervisors, cooks, bakers, meat cutters, and food service workers. Coordinates nutritional medicine operations with professional and administrative services of the medical facility.

Performs clinical dietetics activities. Plans nutritionally balanced and therapeutic menus, considering factors such as palatability, attractiveness, availability of food supplies, and budget limitations. Interprets and calculates therapeutic diets prescribed by medical officers. Interviews patients to determine food habits for guidance in planning diets. Instructs patients and members of the medical team concerning content and purpose of diets. Checks to determine the progress of patients on prescribed diets.

Coordinated dietetic activities. Advises the surgeon on the status and effectiveness of medical dietetic activities. Performs nutritional aspects of research and development studies. Assists the Flight Surgeon on diet programs for flying personnel. Confers with commanders and interested staff agencies on matters such as nutritional adequacy of meals, equipment requirements, commissary and subsistence matters, local procurement, maintenance of buildings and equipment, personnel, manpower, and other functions related to dietitian activities. Acts as nutritional consultant for the Air Force community with special emphasis on schools and child care centers. Consults with other governmental or private agencies on nutritional matters.

Specialty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of regular and therapeutic diets and food service management.

Education. The following education is mandatory as indicated:

For entry into this specialty, a Bachelor’s degree with academic preparation in general dietetics or equivalent program that meets requirements for membership in the American Dietetic Association, or eligibility to take the registration examination for dietitians.

For award of AFSC 43D3, completion of an accredited generalist dietetics internship or an equivalent program acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF.

Training. None.

Experience. For award of AFSC 43D3, a minimum of 24 months of experience in dietetic assignments is mandatory. Completion of the Air Force Dietetic Internship Program may be substituted for 12 months of experience.

Other. For award of AFSC 43D3, registration as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, a service of the American Dietetic Association, is mandatory.

Specialty Shredouts:

None

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Above Information Derived from AFMAN 36-2105