Overview:

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As a clinical psychologist in the U.S. Army, you'll have the opportunity to work with a rewarding patient base — Soldiers and their families — in a variety of settings, and conduct vital, life-saving research alongside committed and focused colleagues.

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Job Duties

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• Apply psychological principles, theories, methods and techniques through direct patient services, consultation, education and research in problems of human effectiveness, adjustment and emotional disturbance in medical and other settings

• Focus on  investigation, evaluation and amelioration of mental and behavioral disorders, prevention of mental illness and promotion of effective mental health

• Conduct and supervise direct patient care, and plan and execute disease prevention and health promotion programs

• Exercise command of medical units as provided by law and regulation

• Perform special staff functions in health support for commanders at all levels

• Conduct medical research on diseases of military importance, and conduct, supervise and participate in graduate medical education and training of other medical personnel needed to sustain a robust and readily available medical system

• Unique duty positions include: clinical psychology consultant, Office of the Surgeon General; clinical psychology consultant; director of training, psychology internship/fellowship program; staff psychologist, Clinical Psychology Service; combat stress control detachment/company psychologist; division psychologist

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Requirements:

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Active Duty

• Doctoral degree in clinical psychology, counseling psychology or other subspecialty

• Current, unrestricted license for practice

• Must be between 21 and 42 years of age

• U.S. citizenship

Army Reserve:

• Doctorate in clinical psychology or counseling psychology from an accredited program acceptable to the Surgeon General

• Completion of a one-year, American Psychological Association—approved clinical psychology internship

• Current license to practice psychology

• Permanent U.S. residency

• Must be between 21 and 42 years of age (waivers available)

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Training:

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In the U.S. Army, the case diversity psychologists experience in caring for Soldiers and their families far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Medical Service Corps officer, you'll have access to the most sophisticated technologies, methods and techniques, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth opportunities, including continuing education courses, seminars and conferences. Psychologists may even serve as faculty at one of our prestigious graduate medical education programs.

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Helpful Skills:

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• The normal environment of an Army Medical Service Corps officer's work requires time sensitive problem analysis with an accurate, sound and immediate decision. Ability to operate under stress, apply critical thinking skills, make decisions and translate these skills to battlefield conditions is critical to medical and mission success.

• Effective patient care requires the proper balance between technical skills and the ability to apply the appropriate treatment or procedure at the right moment. Army Medical Service Corps officers possess expert knowledge in their area of concentration, patient management, and general support and coordination principles. Social workers gain this knowledge through continuing medical education and experience sustained by mentoring, additional institutional training, continuous self-development and progressive levels of assignments within their specialty.

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Compensation:

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In addition to your annual salary and the many privileges that come with being an officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you'll be rewarded with:​

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Active Benefits:

• 30 days of paid vacation earned annually

• Noncontributory retirement benefits with 20 years of qualifying service

• No cost or low cost medical and dental care for you and your family

• Health Professional Signing Bonus of up to $65,000

• Board Certification Pay of $6,000 per year (prorated monthly)

• Health Professional Annual Bonus of up to $5,000 per year (prorated monthly)

• Health Professional Student Loan Repayment of $40,000 per year up to a maximum of $250,000

Reserve Benefits:​

• Noncontributory retirement benefits at age 60 with 20 years of qualifying service

• Low cost life and dental insurance

• Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions

• Health Professional Student Loan Repayment of $40,000 per year up to a maximum of $250,000

• Both active and Reserve duty officers enjoy commissary and post exchange shopping privileges; a flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k); may receive pay for continuing education; and specialized training to become a leader in their field.

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