Military psychologists deal with mental health issues in military organizations, including identifying candidates for special jobs, analyzing mental hazards of combat, and helping returning troops readjust to civilian life. They can be civilian or military, and have extensive educational backgrounds. They work in various situations, including military hospitals, clinics, and battle zones. They also help with intelligence tests and assessments, and can play a role in developing interrogation techniques that yield valuable military intelligence.
A military psychologist is a mental health professional who primarily deals with mental issues associated with military organizations. Psychologists are very important to many military groups as they can help identify candidates for special jobs, analyze mental hazards of combat and other related situations, and help strategize devices for intelligence gathering. A military psychologist can also help returning troops deal with emotional trauma and readjustments to civilian life, serious concerns for soldiers and service members returning from combat situations.
Military psychologists can be civilian or military. They can operate in many different situations and have extensive educational backgrounds that assist them with a variety of responsibilities. A military psychologist will likely have a PhD, MD, or PsyD degree, although some positions do not require board certification. While some positions allow candidates to apply while still completing a dissertation, many others require several years of professional experience in a clinical or research capacity. Age limits, physical health and criminal records may also affect the availability of certain jobs.
There are many different types of jobs within a military organization for a psychologist. Some work with military families as well as troops and may be stationed at bases, while others are actually sent with troops into battle zones to provide assistance in stressful and dangerous situations. Many work in military hospitals or clinics to help address issues associated with injuries, PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and other mental health issues common to returning troops or the wounded.
A longtime job of a military psychologist is to help with intelligence tests and assessments. These tests are conducted to identify enlisted men or women who may have a particular aptitude for a job, as well as to measure the general aptitude of all new military recruits. This helps military organizations ensure the right people are in the right positions for their skillset.
A military psychologist with an interest in counterinsurgency and intelligence gathering might find a field research position. Psychological studies are very important for the development of interrogation techniques that yield valuable military intelligence. Many experts believe that psychologists can play an important role in diverting interrogation tactics away from the possibility of physical abuse and torture; by training interrogators to gain the prisoners’ trust through psychology, some experts believe that more truthful information can be obtained at an accelerated pace.
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