Social Workers in the Army
While working on my undergraduate degree in Communications I interviewed a fellow student who was working on his Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW). He was one of the first people in my years as a student who would say to me, “You should be a social worker.” My interview was for an article I was writing at the time on non-traditional students. He planned on going into the Army Medical Corps as an officer and a Medical Social Worker once he graduated with his MSW.
Through a series of events I did decide to study social work and entered the graduate program after completing my BA. In my two year-long internships I meet registered nurses who were either students or working as nurses and also serving as officers in the US Army Reserves, one weekend a month. These same nurses encouraged me to apply in the USAR Medical Corp as they didn’t have a medical social worker on their local team.
Recruitment in the USAR Medical Corp
After graduating with my MSW and working a couple of years, I looked into the reserves and found out that the local USAR recruiters didn’t know or want to give me information on coming in as an officer since I already had the degree and the experience. I went online and found that the USAR has a special medical corp recruiter whose nearest office was in California. After a series of phone and online exchanges I was granted the rank of 1st Lieutenant, bypassing 2nd Lieutenant because I had work experience, and was licensed as a social worker.
Paperwork Confusion – You’re in the Army Now
It was a bit difficult to figure out all of the paper work and processes of entering the USAR Medical Corps, without a local contact. Especially since I was in Hawaii I was assigned to the nearest unit that had an opening, California. My friends had told me that’s how they started, so it wasn’t a surprise to me, but they were nurses. Over the next several months I received direction from the recruiter but not the cooperation or the correct information from the various local military offices as they also worked part-time (as all reservist do) and the civilians who ran the various offices I needed to go to, also did not know what the next step in my being “processed” entailed. Just getting my military ID was a chore and I had to take time off of my regular job only to get the constant run-around.
Military Owns Me
Processing my military ID was interesting. I was told by the recruiter that I was signing up for four active reserve years and two inactive, sort of being on call but not needing to report monthly. When I got my ID it didn’t have an expiration date on it, it just said, “INDEF” for indefinite. I asked the clerk why that was and he laughed and said, “They own you.” Later I found that if you’re an officer, the military definitely owns you until they have no use for you and if you want out, you will need to request to resign your commission.
Reporting for Monthly Drilling
After many months I was told to report to my local duty station which was Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. However, since there was no social work assignment I spent one day with the unit “drilling” and one day in the hospital social work service department under the supervision of a licensed social worker, who was a civilian. That didn’t give me much opportunity to carry a caseload or do much for him or the people I met, but it at least got me some exposure to how social work is done in the clinical setting.
Don’t Call Me Ma’am
I wasn’t accustomed to being called ma’am, one because of my age and two, not many people called women ma’am in Hawaii. Unfortunately, calling an officer sir or ma’am was mandatory, so I had to accept this part of my life, at least while I was in uniform.
My Retirement Plan
America was not in active war at the time of my commission. I planned to continue as a reservist for 20 years, collect my benefits and retire. I was two years into my time with the USAR and was up for promotion to Captain, however I had also just found out that I was diagnosed with a medical condition that would prevent me from passing my physical.
While I was waiting for the results of my physical, I was called to serve oversees in the Persian Gulf. I was attached to the California unit which reminded me of the television show M*A*S*H. The California unit was called a Combat Army Hospital, the annual drills included setting up tents which would become the hospital. Because of my medical condition I was exempt from serving oversees until I received medical clearance and I was also placed on Inactive Ready Reserve, also known as IRR.
Getting Out
I never made it to Captain. I was honorably discharged after six years, two active and four IRR. I look back on the experience and wish I was able to do more. I wish I were able to go oversees and help our soldiers. If I were still in the USAR there is no doubt that I would be oversees right now serving my country and those who valiantly sacrifice their lives for various reasons.
Why I Went In
Part of my wanting to serve in the military was that my parents served in the Army before they met and married. My mom would talk about her memories of being in Germany where she served for two years. My brother served active duty in the Marines for over six years and served in Operation Desert Storm. My numerous friends and family have served full time and some retired. I wanted to have that same sense of service to my country. I always felt that I didn’t serve unless I went oversees; until a patient of mine who is a Veteran and retired military said, “You are a Veteran, you were willing to go, so always be proud you served.” I guess the lesson is no matter where we serve in the military, even if we don’t go oversees and experience combat firsthand; we are still serving our country.