The military needs close cooperation and a spirit of teamwork among its men and women. Social workers focus on improving conditions that cause social problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse, racism, and sexism.
What They Do
Social workers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Counsel military personnel and their family members
- Supervise counselors and caseworkers
- Survey military personnel to identify problems and plan solutions
- Plan social action programs to rehabilitate personnel with problems
- Plan and monitor equal opportunity programs
- Conduct research on social problems and programs
- Organize community activities on military bases
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
- Desire to help others
- Interest in research and teaching
- Sensitivity to the needs of others
Training Provided
Job training consists of instruction. Course content typically includes:
- Ways of controlling drug and alcohol abuse among military personnel
- Management of equal opportunity programs
Work Environment
Social workers in the military usually work in offices or clinics.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian social workers work for hospitals, human service agencies, and federal, state, county, and city governments. They perform duties similar to those performed by military social workers. However, civilian social workers usually specialize in a particular field, such as family services, child welfare, or medical services. They may also be called social group workers, medical social workers, psychiatric social workers, and social welfare administrators.
