We perform military psych evaluations for those who want to enlist but have been told they need an assessment first or those who are serving and asked to get an evaluation so that they can be promoted or stay in the service. Psych evaluations for military service are conducted to evaluate the mental health, stability, and suitability of armed forces personnel for various roles within the armed forces. We perform military fitness for duty psychological evaluations for all armed services branches. The process often starts with a military psychological screening before we get into (and charge for) more extensive testing. We are proud to conduct testing for military clearance and grateful to those who want to enlist or commission.
These evaluations are essential for ensuring that individuals can handle the stresses and responsibilities associated with service and are fit to perform their duties effectively and safely. They are often required of anyone whose history or current behavior “flags” them as needing to be evaluated. It all starts with a military psychological screening to determine if a larger evaluation is warranted. Our services are part of the military waiver evaluation process.
Military Psychological Screening
Our first step is always a military psychological screening. Before we get into a full battery of testing, we want to give you feedback about your chances of meeting the criteria that have been set. If your need for military clearance has been specifically noted, we’ll meet with you to discuss your history and current symptoms to give you an idea of your chances of getting cleared. If your request is more general, the military psychological screening process may be more detailed but still designed to give you a general idea of your chances.
Armed Forces Psychological Screening Results
You may be able to bring your military psychological screening results to your recruiter or other experts, who can also give you an opinion about whether you are likely to pass and get cleared. We must emphasize that the military screening results provide no guarantees – we’ll try to communicate your chances, but nothing is certain.
Military Fitness for Duty Psychological Testing
If your military psychological screening suggests a decent chance you’ll be cleared, you will likely move to the next steps. Military fitness for duty psychological evaluations are crucial for assessing a service member’s mental and emotional well-being, ensuring they can perform their duties effectively and safely. Here are some common components of military fitness for duty psychological testing:
- Psychological Assessments: The first and most prominent part of military fitness for duty psychological evaluations are standardized tests, interviews, and self-report questionnaires to evaluate various aspects of mental health, including mood, cognition, personality traits, and coping mechanisms. If there is a specific reason that you have been referred for military fitness for duty testing, we will make sure the tests we choose cover that aspect.
- Trauma Screening: Prospective service members may be screened for past traumatic experiences, such as combat exposure, which could impact their mental health and ability to function in their roles.
- Risk Assessment: A military fitness for duty psychological evaluation will include assessing the risk of suicide, self-harm, or harm to others. This evaluation helps identify individuals needing additional support or intervention to mitigate these risks.
- Stress Management: Military fitness for duty evaluations may include assessing a service member’s ability to manage stress effectively, as armed forces duties can be inherently stressful. We provide stress management and resilience-building techniques as part of the evaluation process.
- Substance Abuse Screening: A military psychological screening may include screening for substance abuse or dependence, as these issues can significantly impair a service member’s mental health and performance.
Overall, military fitness for duty psychological evaluations aim to identify and address mental health concerns among service members, promote resilience, and ensure the overall readiness and effectiveness of the armed forces. We go beyond helping you get military clearance if you meet the criteria by giving you ideas and suggestions for managing the stress and requirements of serving.
Key Aspects of Military Psych Evaluations
Here are some key aspects of psych evaluations for service:
Purpose of Military Psych Evaluations
The primary purpose of psych evaluations for military service is to assess an individual’s mental and emotional fitness. This includes evaluating their ability to cope with stress, adapt to changing situations, and perform under pressure. It also aims to identify any psychological issues or conditions that could impact their performance or pose a risk to themselves or others.
In some cases, military psych evaluations are ordered when something from a recruit’s past, even their distant past, is flagged as needing more inquiry, such as a psychiatric diagnosis, psychological treatment, or an inpatient stay. In other cases, it is part of the regular process to attain a certain security clearance or to assess whether a candidate is a good fit for a job.
These screenings may occur at various stages of a servicemember’s career, including during recruitment, pre-deployment, and post-deployment phases.
Military Psych Evaluations Screening Process
Psych evaluations for military service typically involve a combination of psychological testing, interviews, and a review of historical records. The specific tests and procedures used may vary depending on the branch of the armed forces and the nature of the assignment. Sometimes, all that is needed is an interview and a history review.
Military psych evaluations may assess various factors, including cognitive abilities, emotional stability, interpersonal skills, impulse control, and resilience. They may also examine past experiences, traumas, and coping mechanisms to gauge an individual’s ability to handle the challenges of military life. Additionally, the evaluations may consider factors such as substance abuse history, criminal record, and family background. The person making the referral for assessment, whether a recruiter for recruits or an officer for those already in, will usually be quite specific about what is needed.
Other Aspects of Military Psych Evaluations
There are a few other things to know about psych evaluations for military service related to how they might differ from regular testing: 
Military Psych Evaluations and Privacy
Like other medical evaluations, psych evaluations for military service are subject to confidentiality and privacy regulations to protect the rights and well-being of the individuals undergoing evaluation. Information obtained during military clearance assessments is typically kept confidential and only shared with authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis. However, you must remember that there could be negative repercussions if you decide not to share the results.
Psych Evaluations for Military Service Impact on Clearance Status
Depending on the evaluation results, individuals may get a full military clearance, require additional monitoring or support, or be deemed unfit for certain roles or deployments. In cases where significant mental health issues are identified, individuals may receive treatment, counseling, or other interventions to address their needs and improve their overall well-being. In other words, it is not always a simple “yes” or “no” after military psych evaluations, but instead a mixed bag.
Military Clearance Process
Military psych evaluations typically involve several steps designed to evaluate the mental and emotional fitness of individuals seeking to serve in the armed forces or increase their rank or security clearance. While the specific procedure we might use will depend on the direction your recruiter or commanding officer gives you, the following is a general overview of the process:
Psychological Assessment Intake
We do an initial screening process that includes a review of your request, any letters from commanding officers or recruiters, and aspects of your history. This screening may also involve completing questionnaires about your mental health and personality traits. Before we charge you the full fee and commit to providing you with this service, we want to be reasonably sure we agree that we can help with your military clearance. Even from there, there are no guarantees, but if it’s obvious that we cannot help, we do want you to know that before we dive too deep.
Armed Forces Clearance Interview
Assuming everything in the first step reasonably checks out, we will do an in-depth interview to assess your suitability for service. This interview may cover topics such as past experiences, coping skills, stress management, and any history of mental health issues. Usually, no one thing will rule you out, so you must be open and honest in the interview. It’s certainly a negative if the service finds out that you minimized something or left it out. We will provide a well-rounded report describing your fitness; no one is expected to be perfect.
Clearance and Psychological Testing
Your commanding officer or recruiter may require you to complete a battery of psychological tests designed to assess cognitive abilities, personality traits, emotional stability, and potential for coping with the demands of military service. Common tests used in military psych assessments include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI test) and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI test). Sometimes, these tests are not required, but we can discuss if it might help you if we use them and bring some scientific power to our conclusions about your potential military clearance and fitness to serve.
Military Clearance Evaluation and Decision
After completing all assessments and examinations, we review the findings and write you a comprehensive letter answering any specific questions that were asked and generally describing your fitness to serve or take on a new responsibility. The armed forces will use this information to determine whether you are psychologically fit for service. Remember that their evaluation of what we present will result in military clearance for enlistment, placement in a specific armed forces occupation, or disqualification from service. Our letter is a suggestion, but they decide what happens next.
In some cases, you will be asked to undergo periodic psychological assessments throughout your service to monitor your mental health and well-being. This ongoing monitoring helps identify and address emerging issues affecting your performance or readiness.
It’s important to note that the specific procedures and criteria for psychological assessments can vary widely depending on factors such as the branch of the armed forces and your intended role. Additionally, the process may be subject to updates and revisions to reflect advances in psychological science and armed forces priorities. We will work to ensure we are caught up on all this.
Conclusions and Our Work
Psych evaluations for military service play a crucial role in safeguarding armed forces personnel’s mental health and readiness, ensuring they can effectively fulfill their duties. We always start with a military psychological screening for a low fee to give you an idea of your chances.
We also provide fitness-for-duty testing for other occupations.
If you have any questions about military psych evaluations or want to discuss the request you’ve received to have one, please feel free to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime.
