When we think of health in general, we most generally think of our internal organs, muscles and bones. Rarely does a person think about their thought processes and mental activities. But mental health is as important as physical health. A person can be physically fit but live in a constant state of chaos if their mental faculties are not healthy.
In today’s post, we are going to examine an extremely important job in the United States Army. I speak of the 68X Military Occupational Specialty, the mental health specialist.
I will give you a basic job description, the responsibilities and duties of this Army soldier. By the time you finish reading this, you will know what is required to become an Army mental health specialist and what training is needed.
Keep in mind the Army is seeking people to take on this job. It is needed greatly.
Army 68X Basic Job Description
The Army 68X assists psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers with the treatment and care of patients with both inpatient and outpatient mental health activities.
Army 68X Responsibilities And Duties
While the 68X is not a doctor per say, they do handle many of the duties and responsibilities in a medical setting. Some of those duties are:
- The collection of psychosocial and physical data
- Conducting initial screenings of potential patients
- Assist with the care and treatment of various conditions like psychiatric, drug and alcohol problems
- Counsels patients with psychological, behavioral or personal problems
- And other duties as needed
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Requirements To Become an Army 68X
The basic requirements to become an Army mental health specialist consist of:
- United States citizenship is not mandatory
- PULHES of 111121
- Physical demands is moderately heavy
- ASVAB score of 101 in Skilled Technical (ST)
- No felony convictions
- No court martial convictions
These are the basic requirements but be sure and check with your recruiter to see if there are any others.
Training For The Army 68X
As with all Army soldiers, the first step is Basic Training where you will learn how to be a soldier first and foremost. Once you have completed Basic Combat Training, you will travel to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for Advanced Individual Training. For approximately 20 weeks, you will learn in both classroom and controlled settings how to perform the 68X job.
Once you pass AIT, learning doesn’t stop. You will be sent to a location where you will keep learning from others who have been doing the job longer.
Final Thoughts
If you have a passion for helping other people, this is an excellent job choice. And the possibilities are endless once you have served your Army time. With this experience, there are hospitals, nursing homes, drug and alcohol rehab, etc. that need skills you will have.
We would love to hear from any former or current Army mental health specialists. Please tell us more about this job.
If you have any questions or comments, you can post them in the comment section below.
Thank you and have a great day!
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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