Military & Family Life Counselor - Adult Embedded-Charleston AFB, SC

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network • Charleston AFB, SC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Military & Family Life Counselor provides embedded MFLC consultation and counseling services to a dedicated military unit and its service members and families at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The counselor delivers non-medical, short-term, solution-focused walk-around counseling; assessment, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, referrals and follow-up; and training and health and wellness presentations. The role requires familiarity with the unit’s structure, culture and mission, and a consistent visible presence so services are accessible.

The counselor works with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director, installation personnel, military branch Points of Contact (POCs), command and community resources to provide services that meet the unit’s needs while maintaining confidentiality. The counselor records activity data daily using a smartphone or web application, follows DoD protocols for duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations, and responds to critical incidents, urgent requests, surges and special requests as directed and approved. The schedule may need to flex to meet urgent needs.

The position also includes regular individual and group supervision, in-services and training, quality-improvement committees and other contract activities. The counselor may participate in initiatives, studies and pilot programs, including related certification and training, documentation and technology use. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field.
• Valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory or commonwealth, authorizing independent practice. Candidates must be independently licensed as a mental health counselor, therapist or social worker.
• Less than two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• Intermediate-level technology and software skills, including Microsoft Suite, internet navigation, smartphone or tablet use, application navigation and video-conferencing platforms.
• Ability to engage and communicate with military members or children as assigned and respond quickly to emergencies in varied locations on a military installation or in a school setting.
• Ability to traverse short or long distances, including through rugged, outdoor or uneven terrain such as steep inclines, stairs and grass, and to work outdoors in varied weather and military-base conditions.
• Ability to travel to locations outside a military installation in varied physical environments, if required.
• Ability to meet site-specific requirements for designated locations; some assignments may require specified immunizations or vaccinations and proof of receipt.
• Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and speak fluent English.
• Understanding, sensitivity and empathy for service members and their families; ability to develop trusting helping relationships.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to pass a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) clearance, Installation Records Check (IRC), Criminal History Background Check and FBI Fingerprints Check. Some units require a secret-level clearance as well.
• Valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license unless waived by the FEDSIM COR. Personnel may also be required to pass tests and obtain a U.S. military vehicle operator’s permit for commercial sedans and similar vehicles for TDY locations.
• Must be local to, or willing to become local to, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused walk-around counseling to eligible service members and families at assigned unit locations.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling and consultation; develop action plans; refer clients to resources, ensure linkage as appropriate, and follow up as indicated.
• Deliver training and health and wellness presentations and activities as requested or directed.
• Provide consultation to the assigned command regarding behavioral health issues, with an understanding of the unit’s structure, culture and mission.
• Enter counselor activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining client and service-member confidentiality.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with commanders, unit personnel, installation POCs, command POCs and community resources.
• Maintain a visible presence within the assigned brigade or regiment and partner with POCs to provide accessible services that address unit needs while preserving confidentiality.
• Respond to critical incidents, surge needs and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager.
• Flex the schedule to respond to urgent requests as needed or at the request of the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
• Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
• Communicate with Regional Supervisors and participate in regular individual and group supervision, sharing information about installation trends and issues.
• Participate in in-services, training, Quality Improvement committees and other assigned or appropriate contract activities.
• Participate in customer- or Magellan-directed initiatives, studies and pilot programs, including certification and training, activity documentation, integrating pilot activities into non-medical counseling work, and using applicable technology.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The position may be eligible for short-term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Health, life, voluntary and other benefits and perks intended to support physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level