Career path for Chiropractors in the military

After high school, I'm thinking about going into a healthcare profession, like chiropractic, and I'm also considering the military. Does anyone know what branch of the military chiropractors can work in?

All branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force, offer chiropractic services. They provide chiropractic care through commissioned chiropractic officers, civilian chiropractic physicians serving as Government Service (GS) employees, and contracted civilian chiropractic physicians.

Specifically, the Army and Air Force have active duty chiropractors who serve as commissioned officers, while the remaining branches utilize civilian contractors.

The Army and Air Force hired the first chiropractors in the late 1990s following the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Program, which ran between 1995 and 1999. This program helped to demonstrate the benefits and efficacy of chiropractic treatment for military service members.

Chiropractic officers serve at military treatment facilities and are responsible for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and associated clinical syndromes. They work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to optimize Force Health Protection strategies.

However, becoming a chiropractor in the military is not a straight forward process. For instance, to serve as a chiropractor in the Army or Air Force, you must first complete your Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and then apply to serve as an officer. The timeline for achieving this can vary based on numerous factors, including educational background, personal responsibilities, and the specific requirements of the branch you're interested in serving.

Keep in mind that the selection process can be competitive. So, gaining as much experience and additional specialty certifications as you can during your academic career can make you a more viable candidate. Certifications such as those in sports chiropractic, rehabilitation, or even something slightly off the beaten path like pediatrics or geriatrics could make you stand out in a pool of applicants.