Expert: Rod Powers - 10/13/2009

Question
I currently participate in ROTC and I would like to know how I can become a Psychiatrist in the Army. In particular, what are the necessary steps so that I can build a career as a Army officer in the field of psychiatry? Does it depend on the branch I go into?
Thanks  

Answer
Hi Christina,

To become a psychiatrist in any of the branches, you first need a medical degree (graduate from medical school, after you get your bachelors degree). Following medical school, you must then do a one-year residency in psychiatry.

One option would be to finish your ROTC, get your bachelor's degree, and begin your Army officer career. The branch really doesn't matter. After four years (or so) of active duty service, you could separate, with full GI Bill education benefits (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/gibillandta/a/newgibill.htm), attend medical school, finish your psychiatry residency, and re-join the military as a psychiatrist.

Another option would be to complete your ROTC, then apply for the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). Under this program, the military places you on active duty as an officer, then pays for you to go to medical school full-time. At the end of medical school, you do your residency in the military, followed by a certain number of years of obligated service.

However, I should warn you that the HPSP program is *very* competitive. Each year, hundreds of active duty officers and civilian college graduates apply for this scholarship program, and only a few are selected. Most selectees have a pre-med college degree with a very high GPA (3.5 or above) and very high scores on the MCAT (the medical version of the SAT).

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com