Pathways to Military Behavioral Health Careers offers two training programs, The Winter Institute and The Summer Institute. Both programs are designed to raise students’ awareness of what it would be like to serve as a military psychologist or social worker. Participants acquire first-hand knowledge of military culture and the work of behavioral health providers serving in uniform, learn from experts in the field, meet behavioral health providers currently serving in the military, and interface with peers from across the country. These opportunities help increase participants’ competitiveness toward being selected for military service.
To be considered student must complete an online application:
● The Summer Institute: Application period has closed for the July 2025 iteration
● The Winter Institute: Applications will open in fall of 2025 for the January 2026 iteration
Pathways provides participants with the unique opportunity to:
● Gain knowledge about military culture and the clinical activities, roles, and responsibilities of military behavioral health providers
● Learn about presenting problems most common among military personnel and evidence-based strategies to treat them
● Develop skills for working with military clients consistent with evidence-based practice and conceptualizing cases through a cognitive-behavioral framework
● Discover how military life affects not only the service member, but also the family system
Curriculum includes:
● Didactics on military culture and ethos and military- and deployment-related psychology topics
● Interactive panel discussions featuring military psychology internship training directors and military social work consultants for social work participants
● Discussions about ethics and clinical practice unique to military providers
● Networking opportunities with others pursuing a military behavioral health career
Should I apply to The Winter Institute or The Summer Institute?
| The Winter Institute | The Summer Institute |
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Offered at no cost. |
Offered at no cost. Lodging/hotel costs are covered for the duration of the course. Participants are responsible for travel, meals, parking, and incidentals (Lodging is covered only for participants residing outside a 50-mile radius of Bethesda, MD) |
| Three (3) days of online presentations for students who prefer a shorter virtual course that involves no travel |
Three (3) days of in-person presentations for students who prefer an in-person, more detailed course. Offered at the Uniformed Services University located at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. |
| Provides didactic presentations and panel discussions | Provides didactic presentations and panel discussions, as well as in-person networking experiential experiences |
Questions can be emailed to cdp-pathways-ggg@usuhs.edu.
● The Summer Institute
● The Winter Institute
● Frequently Asked Questions