It is not that these jobs with military duties are necessarily too difficult for enlistees; there is just a big reality check that can be overwhelming for some new recruits. To some it feels as though they are too confined and this can create a great deal of emotional turmoil. This is one of those occasions when military counselors can play a big role and offer the type of supportive listening and advice that these young people need.
Often the best help is when a person just has someone who will listen to what they are saying and who will let them vent their feelings and frustrations freely. In these situations, it is a counselor who can help the individual walk through what is presenting the greatest difficulty and help them make rational decisions instead of a rash and emotional ones. Having qualified and dedicated counselors available to provide guidance and clear thinking has saved many people from making a sudden decision to leave the military during the challenging few first weeks.
Military counselors are often called upon to wear many different hats and fulfill different roles as they go about their daily tasks. They need to be able to build a strong rapport with the people that come to them and offer them the type of sensible advice that can help them keep their career and educational goals on track. People who have military jobs can benefit tremendously from well-planned career guidance and the armed services also benefits by being able to place members in the positions for which they are most qualified.
These counselors are able to help not only new recruits but also those who have years of service already behind them. All military jobs come with some stressors, and this can affect personal and family life. For many members of the armed services having an available counselor is almost as necessary as receiving a paycheck. It is very helpful to have a non-biased party to whom they can speak openly and honestly. A counselor who is also a member of a military group can successfully understand the problems of others who are dealing with daily stress in the setting of a military environment.
Knowing that they are truly helping those people who are part of their own unique community and who need help is part of what appeals to military counselors. They may have to do one-on-one counseling for any reason from family crises to career decisions. Civilian and military counselors must deal with any substance abuse or emotional problems that occur and both have the added responsibility of helping the families of the clients that are involved, should the need arise. Many times the counselor functions as part of a team which includes medical personnel, chaplains, and other officers.
A military counselor can be requested by anyone, but they can also have referrals given to them by officers who see that there are possible problems. For new recruits who are having trouble adjusting this is a private-counseling session to identify any true problems and make a determination of the need for help and how to handle the situation.
These counselors have changed the lives of many of the younger enlistees who are having a difficult time handling the restrictions of this new lifestyle. Another part of the job involves the administering of psychological tests to armed forces personnel. Even teaching can be something that the counselors must do at various times.
To be a military counselor a person must have a sincere motive to help people and must demonstrate an interest in working with others. Patience and the ability to deal with difficult problems and situations are both necessary. Counseling in both civilian and military environments requires that a person shows sensitivity to other people and their needs.
The information that is shared during counseling sessions is highly confidential and applicants for counseling positions will have to demonstrate that they are committed to upholding patient confidentiality. Some of those who have these important jobs in different military settings have been civilian counselors and have a useful and strong human-service background, but others are fairly new to both counseling and the military.
These jobs can be used as springboards to civilian careers in the same field and many applicants take advantage of the opportunity to learn as many skills as possible. Military counselors are given job training which combines classroom instruction with actual practice sessions and their work is overseen by officers with years of experience in this area. There are also advanced classes, some of which are mandatory.
Applicants are given proper orientation to get them acquainted with counseling techniques and referrals to different social service organizations and programs. They are also taught different treatment plans and methods to use when faced with patients who have drug or alcohol problems. Because counseling is best learned through actual practice there are always many actual sessions that are scheduled for new counselors to interact with clients who are seeking help.
