Overview

At U.S. Army facilities such as the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research — Psychiatry & Neuroscience, some of the finest minds in medicine are conducting groundbreaking research in key psychiatric issues to address the unique challenges that our service men and women face. Discover how the U.S. Army is making some of the most important advances in the field of psychiatry — and how you can be part of it.

Job Duties

• Examine, diagnose and treat or prescribe course of treatment for personnel suffering from mental illness, mental retardation or situational maladjustment
  
• 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: chief, Department of Psychiatry; psychiatric consultant; medical School faculty appointment

Requirements

ACTIVE DUTY

• Doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree from an accredited U.S. school of medicine or osteopathy; foreign graduates may apply with permanent certificate from the Educational Council of Foreign Medical Graduates
  
• Current license to practice medicine in the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico
  
• Eligibility for board certification
  
• Completion of at least one year of an approved graduate medical education internship
  
• Completion of a training program in psychiatry
  
• Between 21 and 42 years of age (health care professionals ages 43 to 60 are now eligible for a two-year service contract under the Officer Accessions Pilot Program)    
  
• U.S. citizenship
  
  

RESERVE:

• In addition to the above qualifications, permanent U.S. residency is required for  Reserve officers.
  

Training

In the U.S. Army, the case diversity psychiatrists experience in caring for Soldiers and their families far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Medical Corps officer, you’ll have access to the most sophisticated technology, 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. Psychiatrists may even serve as faculty at one of our prestigious graduate medical education programs.

Helpful Skills

The normal environment of an Army Medical 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 Corps officers possess expert knowledge in their area of concentration, patient management, and general support and coordination principles. Psychiatrists 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.

Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.

Compensation

ACTIVE BENEFITS:
In addition to 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
   
  

RESERVE BENEFITS:

• Health Professional Special Pay Health Professionals Loan Repayment Noncontributory retirement benefits at age 60 with 20 years of qualifying service
  
• Low-cost life and dental insurance
  
• Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions
  
  

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); paid continuing education; and specialized training to become a leader in their field.

Education Benefits

The U.S. Army Medical Corps offers opportunities for psychiatrists in a variety of practice areas, including clinical, administrative and research roles. As an Army Medical Corps officer, you’ll have access to the most sophisticated treatment methods and protocols, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth, including continuing education courses, seminars and conferences.

As a commissioned officer of the U.S Army, you’ll also enjoy generous education loan-repayment benefits, residency programs and ongoing initiatives to support your career development and advancement.

Future Civilian Careers

As you advance through your medical career, you will be looking for experiences that blend teaching, research and clinical excellence to best prepare you for unique and challenging opportunities in medicine. Our psychiatrists excel in clinical, research, operational, academic and health administration arenas. Many have worked in more than one career track throughout their time in the U.S. Army and have held leadership positions ahead of their private sector counterparts.

U.S. Army psychiatrists are highly desired candidates for competitive private sector jobs upon leaving the Army. In fact, many former U.S. Army psychiatrists serve as faculty in elite medical schools and residency programs, and our fellows are accepted by many renowned training institutions.