More Information

Responsibilities

As a Navy Dietitian, you’ll deliver general nutrition education and wellness programs for servicemembers and their families, wherever they’re stationed. You will also have the opportunity to participate in field and shipboard patient care and food service operations at home and abroad. You’ll provide:

  • Inpatient and outpatient medical nutrition therapy
  • Nutrition counseling and education
  • Food service management

As a Navy Dietitian, you’ll deliver general nutrition education and wellness programs for servicemembers and their families, wherever they’re stationed. You will also have the opportunity to participate in field and shipboard patient care and food service operations at home and abroad. You’ll provide:

  • Inpatient and outpatient medical nutrition therapy
  • Nutrition counseling and education
  • Food service management

Work Environment

The Navy employs approximately 34 dietitians who are stationed in any of more than 250 facilities in the U.S. and overseas – from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington state.

As a Navy Dietician, you could also work at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD, Portsmouth, VA, and San Diego, CA. Or you could provide nutrition support aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships: the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

Serving part-time as a Navy Reserve Sailor, your duties will be carried out during your scheduled drilling and training periods. During monthly drilling, Dieticians in the Navy Reserve typically work at a location close to their homes. This gives you the flexibility to expand your profession in the Navy without compromising your civilian practice at home.

For annual training, Dieticians may serve anywhere in the world, whether at sea, in hospitals stateside, or in bases in countries around the world.

Take a moment to learn more about the general roles and responsibilities of Navy Reserve Sailors.

Training & Advancement

Upon graduation from graduate school, those pursuing a Dietician position are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five-week program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Staff Corps Officers. Here they learn about the military structure of the U.S. Navy, its rich history of traditions and customs, leadership development and military etiquette.

After initial clinical assignments, Navy Dietitians usually assume more supervisory clinical or food service administration responsibilities. Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Most of what you do in the Navy Reserve is considered training. The basic Navy Reserve commitment involves training a minimum of one weekend a month (referred to as drilling) and two weeks a year (referred to as Annual Training) – or the equivalent of that.

Dieticians in the Navy Reserve serve in an Officer role. Before receiving the ongoing professional training that comes with this job, initial training requirements must first be met.

For current or former Navy Officers (NAVET): Prior experience satisfies the initial leadership training requirement – so you will not need to go through Officer Training again.

For current or former Officers of military branches other than the Navy (OSVET), as well as for Officer candidates without prior military experience: You will need to meet the initial leadership training requirement by attending the twelve-day Direct Commission Officer (DCO) School in Newport, RI. This will count as your first Annual Training.

With flexible training options, Medical Service Corps Officers in the Navy Reserve can comfortably balance civilian and military schedules. You can maintain your own life and your own career – enriching both with the rewarding work you do for others.

The Medical Service Corps in the Navy Reserve offers you a truly diverse variety of operational venues. In some cases, you can even work in the same civilian location you work in now. What’s more, you will enjoy an unrivaled sense of pride and fulfillment known only to those who serve.

Education Opportunities

Wherever you are in your professional career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous scholarships, financial assistance and continuing education programs.

Practicing Professionals

Through the Navy Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), you may be eligible to receive financial assistance to pay down the cost of your graduate education.

Practicing Professionals

As a Navy Reserve Sailor in the Navy Medical Service Corps, you’ll receive your choice of any one of these three generous financial offers:*

  • Up to $250,000 in graduate school loan repayment assistance
  • Up to $50,000 per year in specialty pay
  • An immediate one-time sign-on bonus of up to $10,000

*Offers cannot be combined and depend on specialty. Sign-on bonus offer option available only to those with prior Navy experience (NAVET).