To become a military psychiatrist, complete ROTC or a similar program, a bachelor’s degree, and medical school. The most common path is to complete ROTC and a bachelor’s degree before four years of active service, then attend medical school and complete a psychiatric residency. Another option is to apply for the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. After becoming a military psychiatrist, you may diagnose and treat service members and their families.
To become a military psychiatrist, you will need to complete the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or similar military training program, a bachelor’s degree program, and medical school. There are several ways to accomplish these goals, and you can discuss your options with a military recruiter and college advisor. Regardless of which route you choose, it can take up to 12 years of education and training to become a military psychiatrist. In general, the primary duties of someone in this profession are similar to those of a civilian psychiatrist, except that you will be trained to deal with mental disorders commonly associated with war.
The most common path to becoming a military psychiatrist is to complete your ROTC and bachelor’s degree program before participating in at least four years of active service in a military branch. A designated active duty amount can provide you with eligibility to receive funding through the military for medical school. This option is based on the age requirements of most branches in the military, and recruiting before medical school may allow you to meet the age requirements for your chosen branch of service. After the four years of active duty, you must attend medical school and complete your psychiatric residency before enlisting in the military.
A second option is similar in that you will need to complete your bachelor’s degree program and ROTC before applying to the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP). Due to the competitive nature of this program, you must exhibit academic excellence in your undergraduate studies, hold a medically-focused bachelor’s degree, and achieve outstanding scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Only a designated number of people are selected for the AFHPSP, and this program is designed to pay all medical school and living expenses in exchange for terms of engagement. Most of these programs require you to participate in a designated amount of active duty each year and commit to a long term service after becoming a military psychiatrist.
After becoming a military psychiatrist, you may be responsible for examining, diagnosing, and treating service members and family members. You may be required to have extensive knowledge about mental disorders caused by war and the effects they have on family members of enlisted personnel. Required years of service may vary depending on the military branch you join.
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