Job Description

As a Navy Dietitian, you and your colleagues will possess the requisite skills to function as entry-level clinical dietitians in:

• Nutrition assessment
• Medical record documentation
• Medical nutrition therapy

You’ll also have the ability to teach in a class setting, whether for health promotion or disease management. You may encourage healthy living among ship crews by teaching them how to maintain a well-balanced diet and regular exercise regimen. Or teach Third World nursing students about a proper diet for patients with diabetes during a humanitarian mission.

Enjoy considerable independence and freedom when selecting and developing patient education materials to meet the needs of the patient population or in clinic management. Food service operations have standards and controls similar to other hospitals, but innovation in this area is encouraged, along with industry benchmarking and best practices.

After initial clinical assignments, Navy Dietitians usually assume more supervisory clinical or food service administration responsibilities.

Specific Responsibilities

As a Navy Dietitian, you’ll provide:

• Inpatient and outpatient medical nutrition therapy
• Nutrition counseling and education
• Food service management

Take on general nutrition education and wellness programs for servicemembers and their families, wherever they’re stationed. And get the opportunity to participate in field and shipboard patient care and food service operations at home and abroad.

Work Environment

As a Navy Clinical Care Provider, you will join approximately 34 Navy Dietitians who are mostly stationed in hospitals in the U.S. and overseas. From Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington state. The sun never sets when you’re part of America’s Navy.

You could also find yourself working at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Maryland; Portsmouth, Virginia and San Diego, California. Or, you could provide nutrition support aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

No matter where you serve, you’ll provide leadership and expertise to support your country, in support of the men and women who defend it, and the world at large.

Education Opportunities

Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with financial assistance and continuing education programs.

There's an alternative to spending years paying down the cost of your graduate education. If you're currently a practicing professional, you could potentially be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP). Talk to a Navy Officer Recruiter for more information.

Offers have many variables. To get information and find out which offer would benefit you most, request that a Navy Officer Recruiter contact you.

Qualifications

To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration as a Dietitian in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you must meet these basic requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen currently practicing in the U.S. (contact a
  Navy Medical Recruiter for details)
• Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service management, or public health nutrition
• Completion of a dietetic internship, a supervised practice program or Coordinated Undergraduate Program (CUP), accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
• Be a Registered Dietitian (RD) in accordance with the ADA. Individuals who are eligible to take the registration exam (RD-eligible) may be considered for Officer Appointment if they are academically superior and strong candidates. (Note: Licensed Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist are state-controlled credentials and may not substitute for the national credential of Registered Dietitian, which is required.)
• Be well within body fat and weight standards
• Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
• Be between the ages of 18 and 41
• Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination

You may also be expected to meet certain preferred requirements:

• Undergraduate/graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 point scale
• Master’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, food and nutrition, public health, or a related area
• Two or more years of professional experience as a clinical dietitian, enhanced by supervisory responsibilities
• Professional references indicating superior clinical, supervisory and/or leadership skills
• Advanced clinical knowledge or certification, such as Sports Dietetics (CSSD), Diabetes Education (CDE), Nutrition Support (CNSD), etc.

After the Navy

In the Navy, you’ll find unrivaled training and educational opportunities, incomparable benefits and experience, and deeper pride and purpose. You’ll also find superior career advancement opportunities that will pay off long after you return to the civilian world.