Post-military Careers: What Transferable Skills Would Make You a Great Osteopath?

Whether you’re retiring from the forces, suffered injuries or just require a career away from an armed forces environment, starting a new career as a veteran can feel like a monumental change. With this change comes challenges, however as a veteran – we’re confident that you have the skills to pave a new successful and rewarding career in healthcare.

One growing post-military career is osteopathy – a profession that combines precision, care, and holistic thinking to promote overall health and well-being.

What Makes Veterans Great Osteopaths?

Your military experience has equipped you with a robust and extremely versatile set of qualities – discipline, problem-solving, resilience, and an innate ability to work under pressure. These traits align perfectly with the requirements of an osteopathy career, where practitioners diagnose, treat, and prevent health problems by addressing the body as a whole.

Here’s how some of the core skills from your military career translate seamlessly into osteopathy:

Leadership and Teamwork

As a veteran, you understand the importance of collaboration and leadership in achieving shared goals. Whether it’s working with other healthcare professionals or guiding a patient through their recovery, the ability to inspire trust and coordinate efforts is really important in osteopathy. Many osteopaths operate their own practices, making leadership skills even more valuable.

Adaptability and Critical Thinking

In the military, no two situations are the same. You’ve learned how to think quickly, assess risks, and adapt plans under pressure. Similarly, osteopathy requires tailored treatment plans for every patient. Your ability to assess problems and develop solutions will make you an exceptional practitioner.

Attention to Detail

Precision is second nature to veterans. In osteopathy, small details can make a big difference – whether it’s identifying the root cause of a patient’s pain or adjusting a treatment technique to suit individual needs.

Resilience and Empathy

Resilience is everything in the forces. The military teaches you how to push through in challenging conditions, and your personal experiences provide you with the empathy needed to connect with patients on a deeper level. This emotional intelligence is hugely useful when supporting individuals managing chronic pain or recovering from injuries, requiring both compassion and strength.

Holistic Perspective

In the forces, understanding the broader mission is essential to decision-making. Osteopathy similarly adopts a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on how different systems of the body work together rather than isolating symptoms.

Osteopathy offers the chance to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by addressing musculoskeletal pain, improving mobility, and enhancing overall well-being. With a focus on non-invasive techniques, osteopaths work with patients of all ages to promote health through physical manipulation, exercise, and lifestyle advice.

A Typical Day May Involve:

  • Assessing and diagnosing patients’ conditions.
  • Developing treatment plans tailored to patients’ needs.
  • Providing hands-on therapy to relieve pain and restore movement.
  • Offering advice on exercise, posture, and overall health.

As well as being rewarding, osteopathy offers flexibility. You can work independently, in private practices, or alongside other healthcare professionals.

Getting Started in Your Post-Military Career

To practice as an osteopath in the UK, you’ll need a recognised degree approved by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). The London School of Osteopathy (LSO) offers flexible study options that cater to students from all walks of life, including part-time and weekend courses to fit around other commitments.

Ready to find out more?

If osteopathy – or healthcare in general – sounds like your perfect post-military career, join our online open event.

London School of Osteopathy Event Details:

  • Date: Tuesday, 4 February
  • Time: 12.00 noon – 13.15 pm
  • Register: admissions@lso.ac.uk

Discover how the skills you’ve honed in service can serve patients who’re in need of treatment and care in our webinar.

Whether you’re ready to take the leap or want to just explore your options, know that a rewarding career in osteopathy could be a fantastic option. Our courses combine classroom learning with real-world applications, ensuring you’re job-ready upon graduation.

Reach out to us to find out how you can turn your military precision and resilience into a successful and lucrative new career.

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