Health Care Careers In The Armed Forces

The military is a fantastic place to start a career in the medical field.  They will pay for your schooling and all of your training.  Not to mention the countless medical jobs available which directly reflect back to civilian life.  There are many levels of certification and training, all of which will be useful and usable upon a military discharge.

First, you can receive a certification called the Expert Medical Field Badge.  This is basically the first aid certificate of the military. In addition to this badge, that is available in all branches of service, each branch of the military has their own career opportunities.  While many may be similar they are worth mentioning individually.

In the Army Medical Corps you will not only will you find careers in general medicine, nursing, or specialty medicine but you can also begin a career in veterinary medicine.  Three areas of veterinary medicine are currently available: animal medicine, veterinary public health, and research and development.  These projects can take you far abroad, treating the service animals of the US Army. The Army’s nursing program is unique in that they teach a more holistic approach to medicine and let the nurses’ judgment be the driving force of the medical team.   There are a few specialties only available to outside contracted nurses, but for the most part it is an open field.  Other specialties that can be pursued in the Army are Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapist among others.

The Navy Medical Services Corps currently places a high value on training Nurses.  So they are offer specialties like ambulatory care, critical care, neurosurgery, and nursing psychiatry.  Careers in specialties not directly related to treatment of patients can also be pursued in health care administration, which allows you to run and manage health care projects all over the world.  Health care sciences will allow you to be on the forefront of emerging technology and research.  Dental hygienists and dental assistants are also an ever-growing area of Navy medicine.

In addition to the physicians and dentists, the Air Force has a unique Biomedical unit.  This can cover any career from Physiologist, Social Worker, Speech Pathology or even Public Health Officer.  Any type of nursing position you can possibly imagine would be available as well.  Perhaps you are a nurse midwife or a mental health nurse; there is a place for you with the Air Force.  Administrative positions are always important to making sure a medical facility runs smoothly, and this is no exception.  A position in health care administration could give you the opportunity to help a good medical team excel even more.

The options for health care careers in the armed services are as varied as they would be as a civilian.  Many of these branches of service are in need of more medical support.  Specialists, nurses and administrators are especially in high demand.  If you are looking for a way to serve your country, gain an education, and be in the medical field then the military may be the right path for you.