Training MSSW Students for Military Social Work Practice and Doctoral Students in Military Resilience Research

The demand for social workers with military-related practice and research experience exceeds the current supply. To advance military social work education, we developed an interlevel master’s of science in social work (MSSW) field practicum and doctoral research practicum that provides military social work field experiences and contributes to doctoral education on military intervention research. Tasked with the primary responsibility of teaching complex resilience concepts to youth participants, the project challenges MSSW students to develop deep knowledge of the material. Assigned the role of project manager of an ongoing intervention study and responsible for performing multiple hands-on research tasks, the project promotes doctoral student research proficiency. Feedback from students suggests that the project supports learning outcomes and enhances motivation to engage in present and future intervention research.