Jan 15, 2013 9:12 PM
Information about Mental Health Specialist
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I am currently looking into the Mental Health Specialist MOS on the Army side. My contract was up in July and I decided not to reenlist so I could finish up my degree. I am really reconsidering reenlisting. I have my degree in psychology with an emphasis in counseling and hope to one day be a counselor. Until then, I would like to gain some experience working in the Mental Health field to really gain perspective in order to figure out what path to take for counseling. I looked online at the description of a Mental Health specialist job duties and responsibilites but I would like to hear from soldiers are Mental Health Specialists so I can get an understanding of this job on a personal level.
Some questions I have are: for AIT what are the classes like? What do they entail? What are some pros and cons of the job? what does your typical day look like (reservists, what does your typical weekend look like?) Do you enjoy the job? What type of unit can one be expected to be stationed at?
I know these can be detailed answers but I am very interested in this MOS. If anyone can give me insight into this job I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer my questions!
Hi, I'm an Army behavioral health officer. I can answer some of your questions.
AIT for a 68X is at Ft Sam Houston and is predominately conducted in a classroom or clinical setting. Your classes are taught by senior 68X's, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurses, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. New 68X's learn about mental health disorders and how to assist licensed providers in assessing and treating these disorders. I can't really go into the pro's and con's of being a 68X, but I depend on my 68X's to provide a good psychosocial history of the patient before I begin treatment. I also depend on my 68X to handle the majority of the office administration so I can focus on the behavioral medicine aspect of patient care. I don't know what a reserve 68X does in a non deployed setting, but all 68Xs do the same thing once deployed. 68X's go where the behavioral health officers go which can be an inpatient clinic, an outpatient clinic, a brigade combat team, a military prison, a combat aviation brigade, a combat support hospital, etc. Anywhere Soldiers require medical treatment, there will be a 68X somewhere in the medical chain.
Hopefully that answers some of your questions, or maybe it just created new ones. The Army has a program where Soldiers who have a behavioral science undergrad can compete to earn a master of social work, become a 2LT and a behavioral health officer. This might suit you better.
http://www.uncfsu.edu/sw/fortsam/fortsam.htm
The link is down right now, but check back later.
Best of luck!
- Dr. G
Ma'am,
Thank you for taking the time to answer some of my questions. Because I would reenlisting and have my bachelor's in Psychology, would I be able to take abbreviated training or would I have to go through all 20 weeks of 68X? It would not bother me if I had to do all 20 weeks; I think it would be a good experience. Would I also be considered an AIT soldier all over again, or because I am reenlisting I would do my classroom time with AIT students and then be on my own for the day? Are the classes very similiar to college level classes where its instruction and then test taking, or is it a lot of hands on training?
Again, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I really appreciate it, Ma'am!
FYI, I'm a male. 68X AIT isn't just an introduction to mental health, it’s an introduction to military mental health. An undergrad in Psychology usually covers the history and some theories of Psychology, but not treatment. This is where you will have a chance to practice and hone your skills before you begin to treat Soldiers. Yes, you will spend time in the classroom with lots of tests and hands on training. I can't speculate on how much of the 68X course you'll have to complete, but some of the training overlaps with the master of social work program. I recommend maximizing your time in this training. You need to learn as much as you can so you can assist the mental health officer in treating these patients.
Sir,
Thank you for correcting me! I am sorry that I messed that up! I appreciate your information. It has been very helpful and insightful for me. I saw that you mentioned that some of the training overlaps with master of social work. Do you or have you seen a lot of similarities between mental health specialist and the mental health field on the civilian side? For example, I have been told that because I am prior service and reserve, it will be very hard for me to go active duty with a mental health specialist MOS. Therefore, I thought I could do reserves and find a mental health specialist job on the civilian side so I could do my job all the time not just one weekend a month. I guess my question is, does the military 68X and a civilian mental health specialist go hand in hand?
Secondly, do you have any advice or "words of wisdom" for me in regards to the 68X MOS?
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to all of my questions!
I’m unable to articulate what a reserve 68X does on a drill weekend. A mental health tech’s job in the military is a hybrid of administration and clinical duties. The tech’s I’ve encountered in the civilian population mostly gather relevant demographics and chief complaint information from the patient. Unless they are licensed to practice or they practice under another provider’s license, by law, a mental health tech can’t provide therapy, only assist. 68X’s aren’t licensed, but trained to assist. In the military the 68X’s are limited by the comfort level of the cosigning provider. I’ve had my 68X’s conduct group therapy for anger management because I was confident in their skills. They would just provide me with an AAR of the session and I would cosign their notes. Words of wisdom? It’s a low density MOS, which means E-7’s are rare and E-8 is next to impossible. I’m not a 68X. I can only tell you how I utilize my 68X’s and what I allow them to do in regards to practicing mental health. If you’re truly passionate about mental health, I would apply to the Army’s MSW Program. You meet the academic requirements.
Best of luck with your new career field!
- Dr. G
Thank you for the insight. If you don't mind, could you please how you became a counselor in the military? That is more what I am interested in and aiming for, career, wise. I know there is a huge demand for counselors in the military but I am a little confused as to what the qualifications are. From my understanding, one needs to acquire a Ph.D in order to do counseling. And, in my mind, this seems a little backwards for a few reasons. One, how difficult would it be to get accepted into a program without a master's degree? And secondly, isn't the master's program in counseling where one learns the practical and technical skills necessary to be a counselor?
I know I have asked a lot of questions, and I appreciate your time, but could you explain how you got to where you are today as a counselor in the military?
Thank you!
I'm a graduate of the Army's Social Work Program. Once you have an undergrad degree, you are eligible to apply to the AMEDD's accelerated master of social work program. It's a two year masters program condensed into one year. Once you graduate you must complete a two year clinical internship. I completed my doctorate in clinical psychology during the two year internship.
Here is the link: http://www.uncfsu.edu/sw/academic-programs/army-fsu-msw-program
I have actually been doing a lot of research into the Masters of Social Work, and it seems like a pretty good program. What was your experience like going through the program? Any pros and cons? Also, if you could clear something up-I talked to a medical recruiter (healthcare) and he said the program takes place at the Fayetteville campus in NC but when I look at the program website it says it takes place at Fort Sam Houston. Where did you do your schooling at?
It was the hardest degree I’ve earned. The MSW program is accredited THROUGH FSU, but you attend the program at Ft Sam.
Pros:
Cons:
I looked at a sample schedule FSU had online regarding the program and it seems pretty intense. May I ask why it was one of the hardest degrees? I can only imagine why, but I would like to hear your personal take on it. I assume it is challenging for a number of reasons. Out of all the students in the class, did anyone drop out or withdrawl from the program? What is an "acedemic deployment"? I have never heard of one of those before.
I know I am asking you alot of questions, I just want to know what I would be getting myself into and understand this before I sign anything
I feel like the material itself will be really challenging, and maybe even overwhelming, for a student like myself who only has a bachelor's degree in psychology and no real-life experience counseling. You said in your last post that most people had a master's degree in another area, and for yourself it was really challenging.
Mental Health Problem is a big issue in the current day. It is also known as Dementia that can easily be find in the old age human being. So there is mental health experts are needed in Medical Field.
Yes, the Army MSW Program is intense. The website I provided has all the info needed to begin the application process. At some point you’re going to have to decide if you want to become a 68X or a mental health officer. Decide what is best for your lifestyle. You can become a 68X and apply to the social work program at a later date if need.
Good luck on your decision.
-Dr. G
Hey MabryPsyD!
I am a prior service Regular Army LPN (91C), turned officervia OCS, then branch transferred from EN to MSC-presently a PAD CPT in the National Guard looking to go back into the RA. Like a few of the other folks on here I was browsing through the weblooking for the actual date for the USAREC accession board for the FY13 FayettevilleState MSWP- (I think I made the first cut and I am anxiously awaiting the finalworld) and came upon your post.
I have a Liberal Art BS from AZ State, Health Sciences BS from George Washington Univ and will graduate with my MBA from Johns Hopkins this May. I am excited to jump into the MSWP but I am also in my 'research for preplanning' mode and seeking out how to squeeze in my PsyD in the near future- I was thinking I might be crazy until I read your post ;-) I am curious as to the following:
1. Did your FSMSWP leadership know that you were pursuing a doctorate degree at the same time you were completing your 2-year SWIP?
2. Where did you do your 2-year SWIP and did you have any say in where you wanted to go?
3. Where did you complete your doctorate in clinical psychology?
4. Was your doctorate program on campus or online?
5. How far in advance did you apply to your doctorate program?
6. What capacity do you presently work in? (ie. once you earned your doctorate did the Army allow you to switch from 73A or 73B?)
And last but not least- what do you wish you would have known before you got started on any of the above?
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!
AK