Overview:

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For the vast majority of social workers, their career choice is based on one simple ideal: a deep desire to help others help themselves. Serving as a social worker with the U.S. Army provides an environment where you can concentrate on patient care without the bureaucracy found in the private sector. In addition to providing direct services, your responsibilities could include teaching, training, supervision, research administration and policy development.

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Job Duties

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• Provide clinical counseling, crisis intervention, disaster relief, critical event debriefing, teaching and training, supervision, research, administration, consultation and policy development in various military settings

• Enhance unit readiness and the emotional wellbeing of military members, their family members and other eligible beneficiaries

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

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

• Conduct research on conditions of military importance, and 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: social worker; chief, Department of Social Work; chief, Social Work Service; director, Family Advocacy Program, U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center; clinical director, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program; division social worker; social worker, Community Mental Health Service; director, Mental Health, United States Army Disciplinary Barracks; medical social work, Army medical treatment facility; director, Social Work Fellowship in Child and Family Practice Program.

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Requirements:

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Active Duty

• Master's degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

• Current, unrestricted license for practice

• Must be between 21 and 42 years of age

• U.S. citizenship

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Training:

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In the U.S. Army, the case diversity social workers experience in caring for Soldiers 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 technology and treatments, 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.

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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:​

• 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 $30,000

• Board Certification Pay of $6,000 per year (prorated monthly) for Diplomats in Clinical Social Work

• Health Professional Student Loan Repayment of $20,000 per year up to a maximum of $60,000