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Military Social Workers

Military Career

General Information

Description

Social workers apply knowledge and professional social work practices to provide effective mental health services to military personnel and their families. They are responsible for clinical counseling, consultation, critical event debriefings, and substance abuse interventions. They assess needs for social and psychological support in individuals, families, and groups, and they provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. They provide consultation to leading officials and they promote social work research, training, and internship programs.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Social workers in the Military usually work in offices or clinics.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Human Services

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Social Workers in the Military

321

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$118,872

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 68%
  • Master's degree 25%
  • Associate's degree 5%
  • High school 0%
  • Some college 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Military training

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for social workers consists of professional growth opportunities, including continuing education courses, seminars and conferences, as well as on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content typically includes: Ways of controlling drug and alcohol abuse among military personnelManagement of equal opportunity programs

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Military training

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Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for social workers consists of professional growth opportunities, including continuing education courses, seminars and conferences, as well as on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content typically includes:

  • Ways of controlling drug and alcohol abuse among military personnel
  • Management of equal opportunity programs

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Psychology
  • Administrative
  • Education and Training

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.