US Military Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Programs and Careers of Military Child Psychiatrists

Abstract

Military child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) fellowship programs offer educational experiences universal to all civilian training programs in the USA. They also offer unique training opportunities not found in civilian CAP fellowships in order to prepare graduates to serve the needs of military families. Military-specific curricula and exposures prepare trainees to address various issues faced by military families, in contending with frequent military moves, parental deployments, and disrupted social ties. Curricula are also designed to provide the psychiatrist with a greater understanding of the rigors of military service. CAP training and subsequent assignments prepare military psychiatrists for diverse career paths in the military environment. CAP military careers often include duties in addition to treating patients. Administrative roles, academic teaching positions, as well as school consultation positions are all career options available to military CAP.

A Decade of War: Adapting to Meet the Mental Health Training Demands

“…Although the primary purpose of the military medical services is to support the service members, they also are tasked with supporting the family members. Both Lee et al [8] and Weston et al [9] discuss key initiatives designed to support those very efforts, including redesigning child and adolescent services to better integrate with primary care capabilities and preparing providers for the demands that military families face.…”