Kevlar for the Mind: More than one avenue to become a military psychologist - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Air Force Times

Kevlar for the Mind: More than one avenue to become a military psychologist

Q. I currently work as a combat medic in the Army. I’ve been thinking about becoming a military psychologist. How do I go about doing this?

A. I’m always surprised at the number of service members who ask me about what it takes to become a psychologist in the military. At least once a week, I get an email from a junior enlisted member, senior noncommissioned officer or officer inquiring about educational requirements, time commitment, and the various roads that lead to becoming a military psychologist.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. The military is full of people who entered the service wanting to help those in need. Plus, there are thousands of service members already working in occupational specialties that are considered to be part of the “helping professions,” such as medics, corpsmen, and medical and mental health technicians.

Becoming a military psychologist can generally be accomplished in one of three ways:

• Attending the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a military university, offering programs in clinical psychology, medical psychology, and a combined degree in clinical and medical psychology.

The program is open to both civilians and current uniformed military personnel. Depending on your situation, you may or may not incur a military service obligation.

• Completing your doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology at a civilian university and applying for a military internship (the last requirement for the completion of the doctoral degree in psychology).

This is the most common method for becoming a military psychologist. After four or five years of post-baccalaureate education, if accepted, an individual can complete a yearlong training program at a military hospital.

• Completing four years of coursework and yearlong internship at a civilian school and hospital or other clinical training site. This happens infrequently, but it does happen, and it’s the most straightforward path.

Becoming a military psychologist is not the only way to work with service members. Many civilian psychologists work with troops in dozens of military treatment facilities as well as hundreds of Veterans Affairs Department hospitals and clinics throughout the country.

The good news for those interested in working with service members is that the need for mental health professionals in the future will likely be great.

This is not only being acknowledged by the military but also by civilian schools. For example, the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago has developed a specialized track in military psychology as part of its doctoral program in clinical psychology.

The program is the first of its kind in this country. You can learn more at Adler’s website.

Bret A. Moore is a clinical psychologist who served in Iraq and is the author of “Wheels Down: Adjusting to Life after Deployment.” Click here to email him. Names and identifying details will be kept confidential. This column is for informational purposes only. Readers should see a mental health professional or physician for mental health problems.