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What Is Military Psychology?
Military psychology is a special branch of psychology that focuses specifically on military personnel and their families. This might involve performing psychiatric evaluations; assessing and treating mental and emotional disorders; and offering counseling services.
In the United States, every branch of the military employs psychologists that treat active duty and retired military personnel. Job titles of different types of military psychologists might include:
Enlisting in the military has caused numerous emotional and mental health problems throughout the years, so the idea of military psychology is not necessarily a new one. It hasn’t been until recent years that mental health professionals and military leaders have begun to realize just how important the mental health of enlisted men and women really was. This field saw massive expansion during World War II.
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Today, the field of military psychology continues to grow and make progress. However, this field continues to expand, and the need for military psychologists is expected to rise in coming years.
Why Do We Need Military Psychology?
The men and women who serve in our military branches are one of our country’s greatest assets. They serve our country to protect and defend its citizens.
Military psychology is necessary in order to help choose the best men and women for this job. Professionals in this field are also there to help ensure that the enlisted are in the best mental and emotional shape possible. Mentally and emotionally healthy military personnel are much more productive, effective, and stable.
Life after the military can also be very taxing and scary. Military psychologists, however, can help military veterans adjust to civilian life and calm their emotional turmoil after active duty.
What Does a Military Psychologists Do?
Individuals that pursue military psychology careers may find themselves with several different duties and responsibilities, depending on their specialties. They may conduct research, perform tests, or treat mental and emotional disorders.
Research in military psychology may be geared toward figuring out which personality traits are best for certain military positions. It may also focus on how to effectively treat some common mental ailments in the military, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
It is also the responsibility of some military psychologists to perform mental evaluations before recruits are allowed to enlist in the service. These evaluations help ensure that new recruits are mentally and emotionally stable enough to endure the stress of being in the military. These evaluations can also be used to help place enlisted men and women into roles that fit them best.
Clinical and counseling military psychologists are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating military personnel with mental or emotional disorders. They may be charged with trying to discover the extent of emotional trauma, for instance, and recommending a course of treatments. Some of the more common problems that plague military personnel may include PTSD, depression, grief, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Loved ones of enlisted military personnel can also benefit from the services of military psychologists. Parents, spouses, and children, for instance, may need help coping with the separation of a loved one once he or she is deployed. Grief counseling is also usually available to family members and loved ones of military personnel that have been killed in the line of duty.
Where Do Military Psychologists Work?
Military psychologists might work anywhere that military individuals are. This can include hospitals and military clinics. Some military psychologists also work on military bases and in government research facilities.
Groups of military psychologists might also travel with troops overseas during wartime. These combat stress detachments typically stay with troops in or near the battle zone and provide mental health services.
What Are the Education Requirements to Become a Military Psychologist?
Below is the complete educational path for the Psychologists:Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Psychologist Educational TrackSchool ProgramsAverage Education LengthChoosing Online or Campus1.Earn a Bachelor’s DegreeView Programs4 YearsOnlineorCampus2.Earn A Master’s DegreeView Programs2 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus3.Earn a PHD or PsyDView Programs2-4 Additional YearsOnlineorCampus
Most individuals start their military psychology careers with a four year bachelor degree in general psychology, clinical psychology, or counseling psychology.
Afterearning a Doctor of Psychology(Psy.D.) orDoctor of Philosophy in Psychology(Ph.D.), students will then usually be required to complete an internship before they can start their military psychology careers. A student will choose a specific branch of the military that he wishes to work in, and the internship will generally last a year.
What Is the Median Salary of a Military Psychologist?
As of May 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary for civilian psychologists as$90,130. But if you’re considering a career as a military psychologist, you’ll have a few other factors to consider.
Additional Resources and Further Reading
MilitaryPsych.com - Dr. Bret A. MooreDivision 19: Military PsychologyRealWarriors.net: Resilience, Recovery, ReintegrationThe Soldiers Project2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures forclinical psychologistsare based on national data, not school-specific information. Base pay formilitary officersis based on information from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Bonuses and benefits are not guaranteed. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2023.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures forclinical psychologistsare based on national data, not school-specific information. Base pay formilitary officersis based on information from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. Bonuses and benefits are not guaranteed. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2023.
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