How can I find military social work jobs overseas?

I'm interested in working in social work within the military and was wondering if there are opportunities for this kind of work overseas. Does anyone have experience or know reputable sources for finding these job openings?

It's wonderful to hear of your interest in applying your skills in social work to support military personnel overseas. One pathway to working in social work within the military is to directly join the Armed Forces. Each branch of the military has its own social work program and their primary mission is to support the mental health and welfare of active duty personnel and their families.

In the Army, the behavioral health team includes social workers whose roles can vary widely from offering clinical therapy, to crisis intervention, to consultative services. As an Army Social Worker, you're likely to be assigned to important posts in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, making it a suitable path towards international work. The Air Force and Navy have similar programs. To join, you would need to meet the basic enlistment requirements for whichever branch you're considering, typically hold a Master's in Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and be licensed for independent practice in your state.

Another approach is to apply for civilian military social work positions through organizations like Military OneSource. The personnel in these roles provide supportive services to military families including counseling, educational resources, and crisis intervention. These resources extend to military families stationed overseas as well.

For current job openings, the most reliable source is the USAJobs website, which is the federal government's official employment site. You can use the search function to narrow your search to specific keywords like "military social work" and filter by locations overseas.

Remember to also network and connect with professionals already working in the field. They may be able to provide you with additional insights into job openings and the application process. LinkedIn can be a good platform to begin that networking process.

Best of luck in your career search! Keep in mind that working in this field can be mentally and emotionally challenging, but it's also deeply rewarding.