Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 1/13/2010

Question
I just graduated with an undergraduate degree and I am interested in becoming a social worker with the army.  I visited with a medical recruiter who told me that there was a special social work program connected with the UNC-Fayetteville but this program is just available once a year and the candidates were selected last October.  The recruiter told me that I can apply next October and then actually start the program the following September....I am a bit confused...that would mean that if I am interested in starting my social work training and army careers that I will need to wait at least another year before this begins...do I have any other options?  Elizabeth

Answer
Dear Elizabeth  --

I cannot answer your specific question, because I do not have any details on the medical service corps specialty training programs.  If you go to the following web-site:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/m_service/jobs.jsp?job=73A

you will see that a military social worker requires a masters degree and and a professional license in social work.  

Since you do not have a masters degree, your options are to enlist in a different specialty, try to go to graduate school to get your degree and your license on your own, apply for a 2-year ROTC scholarship to help pay for your masters degree in social work, or apply to the program at UNC-Fayetteville on the time-table they publish.

Please check again with the recruiter on the requirements and pre-requisites of the UNC program, before you decide on a path forward.

Please write back, if you need anymore information on other options.  Good luck to you.