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Summary:
 Dietitians
are part of the military’s health care staff. They are
experts in the nutritional needs of hospital patients and
outpatients. Dietitians manage medical food service
facilities and plan meals for hospital patients and
outpatients who need special diets. |
What They Do:
Dietitians in the military perform some or all of the
following duties:
Set policies for hospital food service operations
Inspect hospital food service and preparation areas to be
sure they meet sanitation and safety standards Plan and
organize training programs for medical food service
personnel Develop special diets for patients based on
instructions from doctors Plan menus for hospital meals
Interview patients to determine whether they are satisfied
with their diet Develop hospital food service budgets
Provide information on nutrition to the military community |
Training
Provided:
No initial job training is provided to officers in this
occupation. However, the Air Force and Army offer
internship programs in dietetics that are approved by the
American Dietetic Association. |
Civilian
Counterparts:
Civilian dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and other
health care facilities. They perform duties similar to
those performed by military dietitians. Dietitians also
work for college food services, restaurants, industrial
food services, and research institutions. Civilian
dietitians may specialize in specific areas of dietetics,
such as consultation, clinical dietetics, and community
health. |
Helpful
Attributes:
Helpful attributes include:
Desire to help others Interest in nutrition and food
preparation Interest in interpreting scientific and
medical data |
Work
Environment:
Dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and aboard ships. |
Physical
Demands:
There are no specific physical requirements for this
career. |
Special
Requirements:
A four-year college degree in food and nutrition or
institutional management is required to enter this
occupation. Some specialties require completion of a
general dietetic internship. |
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