Job: Mental Health Specialist (68X)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


The health care that's provided for Army Soldiers and personnel isn't limited to the physical realm. Stress due to combat situations or physical ailments can often have an effect on the mental well-being of Army Soldiers. The Mental Health Specialist, an important member of the Army health care team, assists with the management and treatment of inpatient and outpatient mental health activities. The Mental Health Specialist is primarily responsible, under the supervision of an Army psychiatrist, social worker, psychiatric nurse or psychologist, for providing mental health treatment to patients. Some of your duties as a Mental Health Specialist may include:

* Collect and record psychosocial and physical data
* Assist with care and treatment of psychiatric, drug and alcohol patients
* Counsel clients/patients with personal, behavioral or psychological problems

Job training for a Mental Health Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 20 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in-patient care. Training length varies depending on specialty. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Patient care techniques
* Emergency medical techniques

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in helping and caring for others
* An ability to communicate effectively
* An ability to work under stressful conditions
* An interest in chemistry, biology, psychology and general science
* Attention to detail

Advanced level Mental Health Specialist provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Mental Health Specialist, you may be involved in:

* Collect and record psychosocial and physical data
* Assist with care and treatment of psychiatric and drug and alcohol patients
* Counsel clients/patients with personal, behavioral or psychological problems

The skills you learn as a Mental Health Specialist will help prepare you for a future with civilian hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. With a Mental Health Specialist background, you may consider a career as a psychiatrist's assistant, a medical assistant or a physician's aide.

* Health Care Specialist (68W)
* Operating Room Specialist (68D)
* Preventive Medicine Specialist (68S)
* Radiology Specialist (68P)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.