Posted on Dec 29, 2016
I am currently working on my motivational statement to become a Navy social worker. Can anyone provide any assistance or guidance?
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Posted 8 y ago
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I was an Army social worker. Obviously all of your characteristics of core values, leadership, teamwork are highly critical, but especially important are listening skills, empathy and communication skills. It is also important to be able to be both objective and caring especially in stress situations like child abuse and sexual abuse cases. Combat stress and PTSD of course are very big in military mental health. Social workers are included in modular interdisciplinary teams (doctors, nurses, psychiatrist, psychologists and chaplains and enlisted specialists) that deploy to deal with combat stress and other issues. Show examples of the above; also indicate why you desire the job (your vision of what you would like to accomplish, make a difference, impact, etc.) Im sure as a VA social worker you have been involved with these kind of things, so you will already be seasoned.
Also recommend applying to the Army and Air Force as well. It will increase your chances, especially the Army being the biggest service with the most opportunities. I don't know if you are seeking active or reserve positions; if you do reserves, you can still keep your VA job. Go to the health professions recruiter for all the branches. You must have an MSW and either a state license or for beginning MSW social workers, most states have an entry level working-toward the license status that the military would probably take for new appointees. You would go in as an LTJG/1LT but maybe able to go in as LT/CPT if you have a lot of post MSW experience at the VA. Good luck to you and thanks for your service to our country to to our veterans.
Also recommend applying to the Army and Air Force as well. It will increase your chances, especially the Army being the biggest service with the most opportunities. I don't know if you are seeking active or reserve positions; if you do reserves, you can still keep your VA job. Go to the health professions recruiter for all the branches. You must have an MSW and either a state license or for beginning MSW social workers, most states have an entry level working-toward the license status that the military would probably take for new appointees. You would go in as an LTJG/1LT but maybe able to go in as LT/CPT if you have a lot of post MSW experience at the VA. Good luck to you and thanks for your service to our country to to our veterans.
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PO3 Justin Hope
Thank you very much for your guidance LTC. I have thought about the Army and Air Force, but the Navy is my primary choice. I am familiar with the core values and tradition of the Navy and the unique difficulties associated with Navy life due to my prior service which I believe will make it easier to build rapport with my clients, but I honestly fear that I will not be able to do the same with either of the other branches. Even though that may be the case, I think I will look into the other branches more thoroughly now as well because I know that an active duty commission is what I really want. As a VA social worker I have seen the aftermath of undiagnosed and untreated mental health difficulties associated with military service, and I feel that I would be serving my country and my fellow veterans even better by being able to provide early diagnosis and treatment so that the problems are more manageable. I am currently a fully licensed LCSW in the state of Illinois, so I am eligible for a direct commission, but I am having trouble with the motivational statement required because I hate writing about myself that way. It feels like I am bragging when I write like that. Once again, thank you for the guidance. I feel that I now have a better idea of what to write about.
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LTC (Join to see)
Its like a resume/cover letter. What you wrote above sounds great. I think your worried about sounding egotistical; it is not. You show some of the things you've done for clients in a context of dedication to them, the service and your country. If you are not sure look at books about resumes and cover letters to see examples of specific accomplishments without sounding "braggy". I would think you shouldn't have trouble with your strong background, but just in case it doesn't hurt to try Army/USAF. The services have been currently drawing down, although Pres-Elect Trump says he plans plans to reverse that. What you do for our troops is more important than the specific branch; you would do just as well, but of course we are all loyal to the branch we served. I am very proud of our Navy as a member of the Navy League and working with Sea Cadets. You would of course be working with Marines as well and possibly retirees of all branches. Just in case consider reserves as a backup as well. (Every career move should have backups.) Once again, good luck and happy new year.
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The military wants to know what you bring as well as what you know about the it. Focus on both and you will do well.
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