Clinical social work practice in the U.S. Army: an update

This article presents the results of a mail survey sent to active-duty and civilian social workers in the U.S. Army to investigate contemporary clinical social work practiced in the Army today. Of the 173 active-duty social workers listed in the 1994 Directory of Army Social Work Officers, 94 returned completed surveys. The civilian respondents, of which there were 77, obtained the survey at the request of the investigators from active-duty social workers. The demographics of the social workers and the client populations served are presented. A factor analysis revealed 10 distinct theoretical and methodological categories reportedly utilized by the respondents. Pearson's correlation revealed a moderate negative relationship between practitioner's years of experience and all client diagnostic categories. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis between theories, methods, and client groups are presented and discussed. The anticipated future concentration of social work assets according to practice setting and practitioner status is also discussed.