The Training and Utilization of the Mental Health Paraprofessional Within the Military: The Social Work/Psychology Specialist

One attempt to resolve the military'S manpower shortages in the mental health field has been increased use of the paraprofessional specialist. The authors describe the Army's ten-week program of paraprofessional training for enlisted soldiers and the activities of the paraprofessional specialist in various military practice settings. They feel this experience with the paraprofessional in the broad areas of mental health may be relevant to the problems of utilization and training in a number of civilian areas.