Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 5/2/2010

Question
Colonel Howell,

I am currently working on my Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.  I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Health Education.  I plan on applying for a commission in the Air Force upon my graduation in December, but many recruiters are not familiar with what department Rehabilitation Counseling falls under, or if it even exists in the Air Force. They also inform me that getting into OTS is VERY competititve.  My perception was that it is a career with the Medical Services Corps, but I am not sure.

I would love to serve my country and work in my career field.  Do you know if Rehabilitation Counseling exists? And if so, which department does it fall under? Also, are there benefits to joining with a master's degree?

Your insight would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Tim,
I'm sorry that your recruiter didn't know much about Rehabilitation Counseling, but at the same time I'm not surprised.  You are correct that it falls beneath the Medical Services career field, something most recruiters don't know much about.  If you told him you wanted to be a doctor or nurse he most likely could've helped you.  That's about their limit of knowledge when it comes to Medical Services, and rightfully so because 99% of their work deals with other fields at which they're very knowledgeable.  In the military Rehabilitation Counseling is performed by a psychiatrist.  Since you don't have an MD I'm afraid you're out of luck with the military.  Most rehabilitation counselors perform the primary assessment and then turn the person over to one or more enlisted persons for vocational rehabilitation to focus primarily on assisting the individual to live independently.  Anything beyond that, the person is referred to a civilian Rehabilitation Counselor.

Rehabilitation counselors are employed by a variety of state departments.  You may be better off exploring one of these avenues.
 
After your first year of post-graduate employment, I assume you will most likely apply for certification and/or licenseing, right?  If so, you will be in greater demand in the civilian world and earn more.  Most of the 50 states have Rehabilitation Counselors within thier civil service system...a good way to go for eventual retirement benefits also.

Thanks for considering a career in the military, but I truly think you'll be better off trying for a civilian job.
Colonel H