Are there MPH military jobs, and what's involved?

I'm considering a military career, and I came across the term MPH military jobs. Can someone clarify what these positions are and the requirements for getting into them?

Sure! MPH refers to a Master's in Public Health degree, and indeed, there are military jobs that leverage MPH qualifications. These positions are often related to preventive health, health education, and analyzing current military health trends and risks.

For example, you can work with the Army Public Health Center or the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center where your role might involve disease prevention, nutrition, mental health, and occupational and environmental health among many other health-related areas. There are also similar opportunities in the Air Force, where you might be called upon to manage community health and preventive medicine programs.

One key aspect to note is that these MPH-related roles usually require you to be an officer in the military and not an enlisted member. In addition to an MPH degree, most branches of the U.S. military require the completion of an Officer Training School (OTS) or Officer Candidate School (OCS) for commissioned officers.

It can be a rewarding career, as you have the opportunity to positively impact the health and wellness of thousands of military personnel and, in many roles, have a global impact.

As for the requirements, aside from the MPH degree, you'd likely need to meet the standard qualifications for a military officer, like passing a physical fitness test and meeting citizenship, age, and criminal background check requirements. Further, some specialized roles might require specific certifications or licensures, such as being a Registered Dietitian.

Please note that while a military career can be a meaningful and fulfilling way to apply public health knowledge, it also comes with unique challenges. For instance, military physicians and health professionals might be deployed in different parts of the world, often in challenging conditions. Commitment periods, often called service obligations, also apply, meaning you'll have to serve a certain number of years once you're in.