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Education & Training
Social Work Internship Program (SWIP)
The Army Social Work Internship Program provides supervised clinical practice for qualifying civilians, officers, and enlisted personnel preparing to serve as Regular Army Medical Service Corps officers.
Program overview
Understand the opportunity
- Supervised clinical practice
- Military social-work rotations
- Preparation for independent practice
- Active-duty commitment
The Army Social Work Internship Program provides supervised clinical practice for qualifying civilians, officers, and enlisted personnel preparing to serve as Regular Army Medical Service Corps officers. This 26-month program is conducted at various Army Medical Treatment Facilities and serves as a crucial educational bridge from the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) to independent social work practice.
During SWIP, you receive structured supervision while moving from graduate education toward independent social-work practice. The rotations expose you to key Army social-work settings and allow you to apply MSW coursework in supervised clinical practice.
SWIP standard practice areas are:
Social Work Leadership and Management (SWLM) Behavioral Health (BH) Addiction Medicine (AM) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Embedded Behavioral Health (EBH) Rotation within the Brigades shadowing the Behavioral Health Officer (BHO)
Optional rotations:
Medical Social Work Emergency Room Department Combat Operational Stress Control Social Work Administration Military Correction Facility Soldier Recovery Unit (SRU) Labor/Delivery Ward
Admission to SWIP is competitive and demands high academic and professional standards. You must hold a Master of Social Work degree from an institution accredited by CHEA and CSWE. You will also need a graduating GPA of 3.5 or higher. You must also pass the ASWB master’s-level examination and be recognized by a state licensing body as a master’s-level provider, such as LGSW, LMSW, ASW, LSW, CMSW, or CSW. Ensure the qualifying master’s-level examination is administered by ASWB; a state ethics examination does not satisfy that requirement.
After completing the program, you fulfill the stated 30-month Active Duty Obligation. During the service period, you apply your training in Army social-work settings. The internship prepares you for independent social-work practice supporting Soldiers and families.
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Competency Standards:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Plan the next step
A typical application path
The process will be shaped around your profession, education, and intended commissioning path.
Review eligibility
Review the academic, professional, medical, and administrative requirements for your selected program.
Prepare the application
Gather the academic records, licenses, references, and supporting documents required for the selection cycle.
Complete screening and interviews
Complete the required medical screening, administrative processing, professional review, and interviews.
Review the final terms
Review the scholarship benefits, training expectations, appointment details, and service obligation before accepting.
Discuss Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) with Marcus
A direct conversation is the fastest way to identify which information applies to you.