Becoming a Military Clinical Psychologist

How to Become an Army Psychologist

Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

The U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) scholarship is an attractive opportunity for doctoral psychology students attending APA-accredited graduate programs in clinical or counseling psychology. This scholarship is available for funding the final one to two years of academic coursework prior to attending internship. Students can incur as much as $180,000 in debt during graduate school, making this scholarship an effective recruiting incentive through payment of tuition, books, fees and a monthly stipend. Students who are selected receive the scholarship at the beginning of the following academic year of training. The scholarship allows recipients to complete an annual active duty for training (ADT) at one of the internship sites. During ADTs, they have the opportunity to meet faculty, learn about the Army internship program, and gain familiarization with Army behavioral health. Student applicants should clearly understand that selection for an HPSP scholarship does not imply pre-acceptance for an Army internship. HPSP recipients must apply for an Army internship and if not selected must attend an APA-accredited civilian internship. For additional information, please see the HPSP website.

Army Recruiter Website
Note: Under the "Area of Interest" drop-down menu, you should select "Medical (AMEDD)" and “Type of Recruiting Officer” should be “Active Duty”

The U.S. Army sponsors five, 12-month clinical psychology internships, all of which are accredited by APA. Applicants must apply to each specific site, and are encouraged to apply to all five sites. Applicants must be in good standing in an APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology or clinical Psychology. Psychology internships are predoctoral, so that applicants will typically be completing their final year of graduate coursework or working on their predoctoral dissertation at the time of application. The doctoral degree is awarded upon completion of the internship and all other degree requirements such as the dissertation. All internship sites will have a fall start date. Interns will attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) during the summer prior to internship. Each of the five sites can accommodate six interns for the training year for a total of 30 interns altogether.

Brooke Army Medical Center
San Antonio, Texas
Maj. Michelle L. Kline, PhD
(210) 539-6232
Application Deadline: Nov. 8
Internship Website

Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Augusta, Ga.
Maj. Derek C. Oliver, PhD
(706) 787-3780/3143
Application Deadline: Dec. 1
Internship Website

Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma, Wash.
Edwin C. Supplee, PhD
(253) 968-4876
Application Deadline: Nov. 15
Internship Website

Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu
Maj. Jim Butcher, PhD
(808) 433-2990
Application Deadline: Nov. 17
Internship Brochure

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.
Maj. Jessica Parker, PsyD
(301) 400-1917
Application Deadline: Dec. 2
Internship Website
Internship Brochure (PDF, 403KB)

In addition to internships, the U.S. Army offers 12-month postdoctoral residencies co-located at each internship site. Although not required, most Army interns remain at their internship site for an additional year and attend the postdoctoral residency. This program prepares residents for their state licensing examination and provides postdoctoral supervision required by many states prior to licensure. Residencies also emphasize military specific applications of clinical psychology and provide advanced skills in preparation for deployment and the combat environment. Select postdoctoral residencies will accept accessions from civilian applicants who are attending an APA-accredited internship and have completed all other doctoral degree requirements at an APA-accredited counseling psychology or clinical psychology program, or who have completed their internship and degree but are not yet licensed. All residency sites will have a January start date each year. Residents attend Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) during the fall prior to residency. The U.S. Army has five postdoc residency slots each recruitment year.

Brooke Army Medical Center
San Antonio, Texas
Cmdr. Richard Schobitz, PhD
(210) 539-6140

Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center
Augusta, Ga.
Maj. Derek C. Oliver, PhD
(706) 787-3780/3143

Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma, Wash.
Maj. April Fritch, PhD
(253) 968-5291

Tripler Army Medical Center
Honolulu
Maj. Jeffrey Bass, PhD
(808) 433-1490

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.
Maj. Jessica Parker, PsyD
(301) 400-1917

Individuals with questions regarding U.S. Army psychology, HPSP, or any of the training programs may also contact Maj. Deborah Engerran, national training coordinator for Army psychology at (210) 221-6985 or (210) 705-9243.

Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) for Clinical or Counseling Psychology

The U.S. Navy offers one of the most generous and comprehensive scholarships available to psychology graduate students. The U.S. Navy’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) for psychology provides full-tuition plus a monthly allowance. Five scholarships are awarded annually.

Scholarship Eligibility

• Currently enrolled in an APA-accredited PhD or PsyD program in clinical or counseling psychology. Applications are accepted during the first year in the graduate program only. Scholarship awardees begin receiving scholarship support at the beginning of their second year. All scholarships are three years in length covering years 2, 3 and 4 in most programs.*

• A citizen of the United States (dual citizens must agree to relinquish non-US citizenship if selected for a scholarship).

• Less than 42 years old at the time you are commissioned. Commissioning typically occurs in June or July of the year in which the predoctoral internship begins.

• Meet medical, weight and security clearance criteria for appointment as a commissioned naval officer.

• Maintain full-time student status during the entire three years of the scholarship.

*All Navy psychology scholarships are three years in length (years 2, 3 and 4 in most programs not including the predoctoral internship). In order to be eligible for HPSP, applicants must be able to complete three years as a full-time student on the scholarship before starting the predoctoral internship. Students who are in a four-year doctoral program (i.e., four years including the predoctoral) are eligible to apply for the scholarship if they can arrange with their training director to spend an additional full-time year in the program. The additional year should be used to complete the dissertation and obtain additional practicum experience with adult patients. The support of the training director for this arrangement must be documented in a letter and submitted with the application.

What Does the Navy Pay For?

• Tuition: Full tuition at any APA-accredited PhD or PsyD program in clinical or counseling psychology.

• Books, Fees, Reimbursables: All required books and equipment. All required fees with some exceptions. All student health and dental insurance if required by school. (Examples of items not covered by the scholarship include parking fees, graduation cap & gown, student union fees).

• Monthly Stipend: $2157.30 per month for 10 ½ months of each school year. For the remaining six weeks of the school year, students will receive full pay and allowances of an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.

• Promotions: As a scholarship student, you are in the Navy Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) while in school. Before you start your predoctoral internship, you will transition from the IRR to active duty, get promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and begin to receive pay and allowances commensurate with your new rank.

Application Process

• Application deadline: April 7, 2014

• You should apply for the scholarship during your first year in graduate school. (Students who have not started graduate school should not apply.)

• Applications are submitted with the help of a Navy Medical Programs Officer Recruiter. The recruiter will guide you in assembling the information that is needed for the application and will also schedule the required physical examination. Locate a recruiter near you. Ask specifically to talk with a Medical Programs Officer Recruiter.

• Interviews for HPSP applicants are conducted at Naval Medical Center (NMC), San Diego, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda (WR, Bethesda), and Naval Medical Center (NMC), Portsmouth in March. (Specific dates are determined annually.) Interviews at these locations are not required but they are strongly encouraged. Your recruiter can make alternative arrangements for interviews if you are unable to visit NMC, San Diego; WR, Bethesda; or NMC, Portsmouth.

• For additional guidance on the application process, contact the Head of Student Programs or the National Director, Navy Psychology Training Programs, Eric Getka, PhD, at 301-295-2476.

What Does the Navy Expect of You?

• Full-Time Student: You are expected to be enrolled full-time in your doctoral program, acquiring a broad base of knowledge and clinical practicum experience related to the evaluation and treatment of adult patients.

• Internship: To ensure that you are well-prepared to practice in the Navy healthcare system, it is essential that you have a predoctoral internship in a Navy hospital. The APA-accredited predoctoral internship at Naval Medical Center (NMC), Portsmouth, Virginia has been designated for this purpose. Scholarship students are required to apply for and, if accepted, must attend the Portsmouth internship. Applications for the NMC, Portsmouth internship are due Nov. 4 of the year prior to internship. The application form is available by contacting the Psychology Training Director Cmdr. Greg Caron at (757) 953-5496.

• Obligated Service: You will serve three years on active duty as a Navy psychologist after completing the predoctoral internship.

• Officer Development School (ODS):
  Scholarship students must attend a five-week Navy orientation program called Officer Development School (ODS) prior to starting the predoctoral internship at Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth. Depending on the annual schedule of ODS classes, the course can be attended at any time while a student is on the scholarship. It is advisable to attend ODS as soon as possible to avoid any problems obtaining a seat in the course prior to starting the internship. Arrangements to attend ODS are made by calling the Medical Department Accessions Directorate at 301-319-4538 or emailing Mr. Jon Green. View additional information about requesting ODS.

• Licensure: You are expected to achieve licensure at the earliest opportunity but no later than 18 months after completing the predoctoral internship.

Additional detailed information about the Health Professions Scholarship Program can be found in the Student Handbook.

Read about other Navy psychology opportunities.

Navy Doctoral Internships at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. and Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif..

Background

The Navy's APA-accredited doctoral internships in clinical psychology are organized around a practitioner-scholar model and provide an intensive, 12-month period of clinical, didactic and leadership experiences.

Prior military experience is not a requirement or expectation for applicants. Most applicants for the Navy internships have no prior military experience. Applicants do not have to be in the military to apply and there is no military service obligation unless an applicant matches with the internship through the APPIC match.

The internship is a full-time training experience and will not be interrupted by other Navy-related activities such as deployments or temporary additional duties.

Internship applicants who match with a Navy internship are commissioned as lieutenants in the Medical Service Corps and serve a total of four years on active duty, one year as a clinical psychology intern and three years as a staff psychologist.

Goals

The overarching goal of the internships is to produce highly-qualified, resourceful and autonomous professional psychologists who are prepared to function effectively in traditional settings (e.g., hospitals and mental health clinics) and in military-unique settings (e.g., on aircraft carriers, with Marine Corps units). Interns are trained to employ critical thinking and an empirical orientation in their clinical work. This is accomplished by modeling, encouragement and providing constructive feedback as interns encounter a range of clinical problems, patient populations and settings.

Accreditation

Both Navy internships are accredited by the American Psychological Association. For further information about the accreditation status of this or any other internship program, contact: 

Commission on Accreditation 
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
American Psychological Association 
750 First Street, NE 
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242 
(202) 336-5979

Are the Navy Internships a Consortium?

The two Navy internships are not a consortium. They are separately-accredited by the APA and are listed separately on the APPIC website. Applicants have the option of applying to one or both of the internships. (Applying to one of the internships does not automatically make the applicant eligible for both internships. Applicants who wish to be considered for both internships must apply to them separately on the APPIC website). Interns will attend the specific internship program with which they match (i.e., Bethesda or San Diego).

What Does the Navy Expect of You?

•  High ethical standards in clinical practice.

•  Courage, honor and commitment in keeping with the core values of the United States Navy.

•  Attendance at Officer Development School (ODS), a five-week Navy orientation program in Newport, Rhode Island, prior to starting the predoctoral internship.

•  Steady progress toward licensure within 18 months after completing the internship.

•  Three years of active duty service as a Navy psychologist after completing the internship. (Individuals who wish to remain on active duty beyond the three-year period of obligated service may do so.)

Program Descriptions

The two internships are similar in most respects; however, they are not a consortium and the on-site training directors are free to create a curriculum that takes optimal advantage of the patient populations, faculty strengths and clinical services available at their individual sites.

Similarities  

Both programs are organized around a core of sequential clinical rotations that are augmented by:

•  Didactics.

•  Trans-rotational psychotherapy experiences (including treatment of patients with PTSD).

•  Out-of-hospital training at the Center for Deployment Psychology, aboard an aircraft carrier and at a Marine Corps training base. (Each of these training experiences is approximately one week long.)

Naval Medical Center (NMC), San Diego Internship

The NMC, San Diego internship year is comprised of a brief orientation period followed by five clinical rotations each about 10 weeks long, the overarching trans-rotational experience which is 12 months long and out-of-hospital training trips of varying lengths.

The rotations include placements in three different adult outpatient clinics (two operational clinics, one Navy and one Marine Corps and a traditional hospital-based clinic); inpatient and health psychology. Training is provided in mental health assessment and treatment of active duty military members, their families, retired military members and their families. Both outpatient and inpatient work are included. Major skills covered are interview and testing assessment, individual and group psychotherapy emphasizing empirically validated and/or evidence-based approaches and consultation with other medical services and active duty military commands. Primary individual and group supervision is provided by the faculty's civilian and military licensed psychologists. Adjunct faculty members include psychiatrists and social workers, in keeping with the internship's emphasis on multidisciplinary mental health programming.

Out-of-hospital training includes, whenever possible, approximately one week providing psychological services aboard a major Navy combat vessel (and supporting ships) at sea, giving the interns a firsthand overview of life and clinical issues in the Navy fleet. Additionally, interns attend an eight-day training at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), associated with the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md. This course provides extensive training in all aspects of the military deployment cycle, including situational and clinical issues impacting both deploying military members and their families. Additionally, while at CDP, interns receive training in empirically supported treatment (either prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy) of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as cognitive behavior therapy for sleep disorders.

Didactic training during the internship includes timely lectures and seminars, planned so as not to repeat didactic work the interns have already experienced in their graduate studies. Therefore, didactics are somewhat dependent on the particular backgrounds of a given internship class. Didactics include topics specific to the general practice of clinical psychology, topics more specific to the practice of clinical psychology in the military and ongoing education related to professional development as a military psychologist and naval officer.

The Naval Medical Center, as a large tertiary care hospital, offers a full range of administrative assistance opportunities. Interns have individual offices with desktop computers specific to each of the five rotations. The Medical Center's medical library includes a range of journals, books and electronic search capabilities related to the practice of psychology, as well as staff assistance with online literature searches. Research and statistical consultation is available within the Mental Health Service.

Training Director: David Mather , PhD, ABPP, Training Director, Navy Clinical Psychology Internship, Naval Medical Center, San Diego

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda

All interns are trained to evaluate and treat a wide range of psychological disorders using a variety of assessment and treatment methods. Training in therapy encompasses a diverse cross-section of theoretical orientations with an emphasis on empirically validated and/or evidence-based approaches. Assessment training includes the refinement of clinical interviewing skills as well as the application of standardized personality and neurocognitive measures. Interns also develop skills in providing consultation to other health care professionals, Marine Corps and Navy Commands, and a variety of Department of Defense (DoD) administrative agencies. Throughout this learning process, interns are strongly supported by a dedicated training faculty in developing their own identity as professional psychologists.

Clinical rotations and trans-rotational training experiences include:

Adult Outpatient (16 Weeks)

The outpatient rotation offers interns the opportunity to develop the necessary skills and competencies needed to provide appropriate care in hospital and operational environments. These opportunities include experience with a variety of general mental health evaluations, military-specific evaluations, and significant experience in providing psychotherapy. Military evaluations include: C mmand Directed Mental Health Evaluations, Deployability Screenings, evaluations required for entry into specialized military communities (e.g., submariners), Security Clearance Evaluations, and Temporary Disability and Retirement Evaluations. Additionally, the intern will co-facilitate a therapy group and participate in at least one couple's therapy case during the rotation. Didactic experiences include reading and discussion related to military-specific issues as well as core clinical competencies.

Psychological Assessment Rotation (16 Weeks) 

Training is provided on the interpretation of major standardized personality tests, integration of test data with information obtained from other sources (clinical interview, medical record review, etc.), report writing and communication of assessment results to patients and health care providers. Referrals are received from the Psychiatry Inpatient Ward, Behavioral Health Continuity Service, and Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic at WRMMMC and from other Military Treatment Facilities within the National Capital Area.

Health Psychology/Behavioral Sleep Medicine Rotation (8 Weeks)

During this rotation interns work in a primary care clinic practicing a collaborative population health approach to behavioral health. Interns consult with primary care providers to address patients' needs with regard to physical and behavioral health conditions. They also increase motivation for behavior change and provide brief, targeted interventions. Integrated throughout the rotation is an opportunity to learn about behavioral sleep medicine (BSM). Interns will be trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and other topics in BSM. Interns will have the opportunity to consult with providers in the Sleep Disorders Center on the treatment of patients.

Basic Elements of Cognitive Evaluation (8 Weeks)

Interns will have the opportunity to evaluate a variety of outpatients with neurological complaints or diagnoses as they participate in three subrotations. The first subrotation exposes interns to inpatient evaluations of medical patients with acute neurological injuries; the second subrotation involves evaluation of outpatients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI); and the third subrotation involves evaluation of non-TBI related neurological complaints. By the end of the rotation, interns are be able to accurately diagnose traumatic brain injuries, perform basic cognitive screening evaluations, decide when a referral to a neurologist or neuropsychologist is indicated, and understand how to critically read neuropsychological reports.

Long-Term Individual Therapy Case

Each intern is expected to carry one long-term, psychodynamic outpatient case during the year (long- term means at least nine months). The director of training will coordinate the assignment of long-term cases and ensure weekly supervision is provided.

Post-traumatic Stress Cases

Each intern is expected to evaluate and treat patients suffering from PTSD. Interns are given the opportunity to learn a variety of evidence-based therapies for PTSD with a principle focus on Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy.

Training Director: Richard Bergthold, PsyD, Training Director Navy Clinical Psychology Internship, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Navy Psychology Website

Additional information about the internships can be found in the training manuals.

Position Start Date

NMC, San Diego: Sept. 12, 2016

Walter Reed, Bethesda: Sept. 5, 2016

Number of Slots Expected: Six in each internship. All slots are full-time.

Stipend

NMC, San Diego 
Low Stipend: $78,748 
High Stipend: $81,304

WRNMMC, Bethesda 
Low Stipend: $78,748 
High Stipend: $ 82,528* 

*Stipend difference due to DoD cost-of-living adjustment. “Low stipend” reflects pay and allowances for an intern without dependents. “High stipend” reflects pay and allowances for an intern with dependents (i.e., spouse and/or children).

Additional Benefits

Interns receive all benefits/allowances due a Navy officer including full health and dental coverage for self and dependents; thrift savings plan; access to Commissary, Navy Exchange department stores; all moving expenses paid; housing allowance (included in total salary above) is nontaxable; use of world-class gymnasiums and other recreational facilities. 

View additional information about Navy benefits.

Applicant Requirements

•  U.S. Citizenship Required: Yes (dual citizens must agree to relinquish non-U.S. citizenship if matched with a Navy internship).

•  Comprehensive Exams Passed: By deadline for APPI submission.

•  Dissertation Proposal Approved: By deadline for APPI submission.

•  Dissertation Defended: No.

•  Applicants Welcome from What Program Types: Clinical or counseling psychology.

•  APA-Accreditation of Doctoral Program: Required.

•  PhD or PsyD: Both Acceptable.

•  Age Limit: No more than 41 years of age at the time of commissioning (typically in June or July of the year in which the internship starts).

Other Requirements

Prior to starting the internship year, all doctoral degree requirements other than the internship and doctoral dissertation must be completed. This includes all required coursework, all written and/or oral comprehensive examinations (prior to match list deadline), pre-internship practicum experiences and approval of the dissertation proposal by the applicant's full dissertation committee (prior to match list deadline). Whenever possible, the dissertation should be completed prior to internship, but this is not a requirement.

The Navy internships have not established a required number of practicum hours or required types of practicum settings, to be considered for our internships. However, given the predominantly adult focus of our internships, and of Navy psychology in general, we specifically seek applicants with practicum experience in generalist clinical assessment and psychotherapy with adults. Experience with adults with major psychopathology is preferred but not mandatory. Applicants with minimal experience with adults, or with adult experience only in narrowly focused specialty areas such as neuropsychological assessment, would be at a significant disadvantage in our review and APPIC ranking of applicants.

Service Obligation

Interns incur a three-year active duty obligation, which begins upon completion of the predoctoral internship. During this three-year period, the internship graduate works full-time as an active duty Navy psychologist.

Assignments After Internship

Assignments after the internship are at Navy hospitals predominantly within the continental United States and Hawai'i. Graduating interns may also be assigned to Navy hospital in Japan or other overseas location where postdoctoral supervision is available for licensure purposes.

Application Process

Application to the Walter Reed, Bethesda internship and/or the Navy Medical Center, San Diego internship consists of two parts:

•  The standard APPI (submitted online to the APPIC match website); and,

•  A Navy application that is used for determining suitability for commissioning as a naval officer.

Because applicants are also applying to become active duty Navy officers if matched with a Navy internship through the APPIC match, they must meet all age, security background check, and medical requirements for commissioning as naval officers prior to being placed on the internship's APPIC match list. This part of the application is completed with the assistance of a Navy Medical Programs officer recruiter.

Locate the medical programs officer recruiter nearest you. Click on “Find a Recruiter” in the footer of the webpage and type in your zip code. (When contacting the recruiting office, ask specifically to speak with a medical programs officer recruiter. Small recruiting offices may not have medical programs officer recruiters, but can easily direct you to the nearest one. Or contact:

Eric J. Getka, PhD, Capt., MSC, USN (Ret.), National Director, Navy Psychology Training Programs
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
(301) 295-2476

Applicants who match with the program are commissioned as Navy Medical Service Corps Lieutenants prior to starting internship and, after internship completion, are obligated to serve three years on active duty as Navy psychologists. There is no military obligation for applicants who do not match, but all applicants must complete the recruiting process, including background checks and physical examination, to be considered for the internship. We cannot put anyone on our match ranking list who has not completed the Navy recruiting process.

Interview Process Description

An in-person interview at one of the Navy internship training sites is required. Applicants who are applying to both Navy sites are only required to interview in-person at one of the sites. A phone interview with the training director at the site not visited is strongly encouraged. (While there is no requirement for in-person interviews at both sites, applicants are welcome to visit and interview at both sites if they wish).

For internship year 2016-17, interviews will be held on the following dates:

•  Naval Medical Center (NMC), San Diego. In-person interviews will be conducted at NMC, San Diego on Dec. 1-3, 2015. Selected applicants will be contacted via phone or email by the training director no later than Nov. 19, 2015, to schedule an interview. Point of contact regarding interviews: David Mather, PhD; (619) 532-6065.

 •  Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda. In-person interviews will be conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda on Dec. 14-16, 2015. Selected applicants will be contacted via phone or email by the training director no later than Nov. 17, 2015, to schedule an interview. Point of contact regarding interviews: Richard Bergthold, PsyD; (301) 319-2997.

Alternate dates for interviews can be arranged. 

The Navy internships welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation .

Preferred method of contacting the program: Email

Training Director, Navy Medical Center, San Diego: David Mather, PhD, ABPP 
Training Director, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda: Richard Bergthold, PsyD
National Training Director: Eric Getka, PhD

Background

The Navy's postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology is located at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia. The fellowship is organized around a practitioner-scholar model and provides an intensive, 12-month, full-time, in-service period of clinical, didactic and leadership experiences. 

Applicants who are selected for the fellowship are commissioned as lieutenants in the Medical Service Corps and serve a total of four years on active duty: one year as a postdoctoral fellow and three years as a staff psychologist. The fellowship is a full-time training experience and will not be interrupted by other Navy-related activities such as deployments or temporary additional assignments.

Prior military experience is not a requirement or expectation for applicants. Most applicants for the Navy fellowship have no prior military experience. Applicants do not have to be in the military to apply and there is no military service obligation unless an applicant is selected for the fellowship.

Program Description

The fellowship is organized around a practitioner-scholar training model designed to provide the “generalist” clinician advanced skills across a broad array of professional competencies. Training occurs through an intensive, full-time, in-service period of clinical, didactic and leadership experiences focused on meeting the mental health needs of the contemporary military service member and the military family. The program addresses the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain, family issues and substance/alcohol abuse. It also provides an orientation to severe mental health conditions requiring inpatient psychiatric treatment within a military medical facility. Evidence-based practice is emphasized throughout the training program.

A unique aspect of the training experience is exposure to the practice of clinical psychology in operational settings. Fellows spend several days aboard an aircraft carrier working with the ship's psychologist. They also visit a Marine or Navy SEAL base where other Navy psychologists practice. The program prepares the fellow to become a clinical leader. Clinical leadership involves the ability to evaluate existing clinical programs, develop new programs, provide effective supervision of other practitioners and organize resources so that clinical and administrative objectives can be met.

Navy psychologists are a diverse group of men and women. At Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, a significant percentage of the core supervisory faculty members are minority psychologists. It is an important part of the fellowship program's mission to continue to increase minority representation at the training site and in the broader Navy psychology community. The training faculty is committed to providing comprehensive education and training in diversity issues. They view diversity education as a life-long process that does not end when formal training is over.

The training year provides the foundation for practice within the military mental health system yet is sufficiently broad to prepare the fellow for advanced practice in diverse nonmilitary clinical settings. Furthermore, this program prepares the fellow for licensure as a psychologist in the state of his/her choosing, and is conducive to attaining of board certification in clinical psychology. Three years of obligated service as a Navy psychologist are required following the training year.

Additional information about the fellowship can be found in the training manual (PDF, 763KB).

Accreditation

The postdoctoral training program is accredited by APA. Inquiries regarding accreditation may be addressed to APA's Commission on Accreditation: 

Commission on Accreditation 
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
American Psychological Association 
750 First Street, NE 
Washington, DC 20002-4242 
(202) 336-5979

Location

The fellowship is located at the Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia (NMCP), situated beside the Elizabeth River, near downtown Portsmouth, across the river from the city of Norfolk.

Qualifications

•  U.S. citizenship (dual citizens must agree to relinquish non-U.S. citizenship if selected for the fellowship).

•  Completion of an APA-accredited doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in clinical or counseling psychology and an APA-accredited clinical psychology internship by Sept. 1, 2014.

•  Age Limit: No more than 41 years of age at the time of commissioning (typically in June or July of the year in which the fellowship starts).

Other Requirements

Applicants must meet medical and security qualifications for commissioning as a U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps officer.

Application

Application deadline: Dec. 21, 2015.

Applicants must work with a Navy Medical Programs Officer Recruiter to submit their application. To locate the medical programs officer recruiter nearest you:

Locate the medical programs officer recruiter nearest you. Click on “Find a Recruiter” and type in your zip code (ask specifically to speak with a medical programs officer recruiter). Not all recruiting offices have a medical programs officer recruiter. If the office you contact does not, they can connect you with the one nearest to you or contact: 

Eric J. Getka, PhD, Capt., MSC, USN (Ret.), National Director, Navy Psychology Training Programs 
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 
Bethesda, MD  
(301) 295-2476

In addition to information needed to determine an individual's suitability for commissioning as a naval officer, applicants must submit the following documents via their recruiter:

• Resume/CV.
• Doctoral program transcript.
• Three letters of recommendation from doctoral-level psychologists familiar with the applicant's clinical competency.
• Documentation certifying enrollment in or completion of an APA-accredited doctoral internship.

Individuals who are enrolled in a doctoral internship when they apply for the scholarship, should include in their application a statement from their internship training director indicating that the applicant is in good standing in the internship and is expected to graduate from the internship on time.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with a recruiter in August/September, or earlier, in order to meet the application deadline. 

Interviews

Interviews for the 2016-17 fellowship year will be conducted at NMC, Portsmouth, Nov. 24-25. 2015.

Position Start Date: Sept., 5 2016 

Number of Slots Expected: Three

Stipend: Low Stipend: $70,216; High Stipend: $73,960

Low stipend reflects pay and allowances for a postdoc fellow without dependents. High stipend reflects pay and allowances for a postdoc fellow with dependents (i.e., spouse and/or children). Housing allowance (included in total salary above) is nontaxable.

Additional Benefits

All benefits and allowances due a Navy officer including full health and dental coverage for self and dependents, Thrift Savings Plan, life insurance, access to Commissary, Navy Exchange department stores, all moving expenses paid, use of world-class gymnasiums and other recreational facilities. 

View additional information about pay and benefits.

Service Obligation

Four years of active duty in total including the one year of fellowship training (i.e., fellows serve three years on active duty after the fellowship).

Selectees will be commissioned as lieutenants in the Medical Service Corps and will attend the five-week Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, Rhode Island, before starting the fellowship. ODS is designed to introduce you to your responsibilities as a naval officer. The course also introduces new naval officers to the military structure of the United States Navy, the rich history of traditions and customs, the Navy legal system and military etiquette. 

Contact

Cmdr. Michael Franks, PsyD, Psychology Training Director
Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA
Office: (757) 953-6730
Front Desk: (757) 953-7641

Eric J. Getka, PhD Capt. (Ret.), MSC, USN, National Director, Navy Psychology 
Training Programs 
National Naval Medical Center 
Bethesda, MD  
(301) 295-2476

How to Become an Air Force Psychologist

Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Website

Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Brochure (PDF, 244KB)

Air Force Recruiter Website
Note: Select “Healthcare Professions” for the Recruiting Category

Air Force Clinical Psychology Internships

Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Clinic (MGMC)
Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Lt. Col. Robert J. Vanecek, PhD
(240) 857-8942
Application Deadline: Dec. 1
Internship Website
Internship Brochure (PDF, 453KB)

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center
Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
Lt. Col. Ann S. Hryshko-Mullen, PhD
(210) 292-5972
Application Deadline: Jan. 1
Internship Website
Internship Facebook Page

Wright-Patterson USAF Medical Center
Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Kirk L. Rowe, PhD, ABPP
(937) 257-1363
Application Deadline: Jan. 4
Internship Website
Internship Brochure (PDF, 7MB)

Veteran's Affairs Psychology Fellowships and Internships