Being a Soldier isn’t just about physical strength. Mental toughness is also a vital component and being able to handle the stresses of the military is crucial. Mental Health Specialists play an important role in ensuring every individual is taken care of through the care and treatment of psychiatric, drug, and alcoholic concerns.
The Mental Health Specialist assists the Guard's health care team with the management and treatment of inpatient and outpatient mental health care. Under the supervision of an Army psychiatrist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, or psychologist, you will collect and record patient data; counsel and treat patients with personal, behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse problems; and provide bedside care in hospitals.
Some Of The Skills You’ll Learn

• Patient care techniques
• Emergency medical techniques

Helpful Skills

• Enjoy helping and caring for others
• Ability to communicate effectively and work under stressful conditions
• Interest in chemistry, biology, psychology, general science, and algebra
• Strong attention to detail

Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers. With a Mental Health Specialist background, you may consider a career as a psychiatrist's assistant, a medical assistant, or a physician's aide.
Earn While You LearnInstead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.
Job training for Mental Health Specialists consists of 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 20 weeks of Advanced Individual Training. Training consists of both classroom and field work.