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Originally Posted by snorkelingdoc2b

Hello Army folks!:

More questions!:

I graduate summer 2013. I apply for the 1 yr AEGD fall 2012.

If I have already done my officer basic training in the summer during dental school, when does the AEGD normally start?

It will Start September - regardless of when you have done OBLC. If you have already done your training - your options are 1) enjoy the summer doing whatever you want 2) Go to the location you will be doing the AEGD and begin working and get paid.

And what happens if I did NOT do my officer basic during dental school, and instead do it AFTER dental school. How does this affect the start of my 1 yr AEGD?

see above

And can I still do cool stuff after i've done a 1 yr AEGD straight out of dental school? And what am I 63A? I think 63b means I am a 2 yr AEGD compre dentist.

cool stuff will depend on where you are assigned and who your boss is. All dental officers should be able to do the Expert Field Medical Badge (check out my blog at www.armystrongstories.com to see what it is).
Airborne and Air Assault will depend on where you are at - if you are not assigned to Benning or Campbell - you will probably not be sent to go do them unless you are able to talk your boss into funding you.

1 yr AEGD graduate will be a 63A9D (D means you have done the AEGD)
63B is a 2yr AEGD graduate

Then if I do the 1 yr AEGD - what happens to me? I get assigned either to DENTAC or to a brigade right?

correct

So Airborne advised me that if I want to do cool stuff, I should NOT join the 2yr AEGD program.

No - makes no difference - comes down to your boss and location - regardless of specialty. Although a Commander may be less likely to let his only Oral Surgeon go - but a 63A or 63B can more easily get away.

So what if I join the 1 yr AEGD? What is the cool stuff? DENTAC? or Brigade? Or either? doesn't really matter?

All depends on what you want. If you do the 2 yr AEGD you are less likely to do the Brigade. If you are assigned to a brigade, you are more likely to be able to do Airborne or Air Assault (that Commander is more likely to let you go then a dental Commander).

And if I plan on going into general dentistry but hope to do implants, is doing the 2 yr Comp AEGD worth the extra yr? I hear that extra yr is less clinical experience, but much more heavily weighted toward didactics/research. Is that true? It sounds like if that extra year in the 2yr AEGD is less clinical, it might not really be much more value of an experience? What do you all think?

More then likely unless you become a periodontist or an oral surgeon you will not place implants with any regularity. You will restore them, but probably not place many.

The extra year in the 2 yr program is very clinical. The amount of clinical skill you get from a 2yr AEGD will be much more then what you would get from a 1 yr AEGD. The 2nd year builds upon what you gain the 1st year. The 2 yr AEGD works more hours with specialists then the 1 yr program (if you just compare the first year alone).

Thanks for your advice!

a

Originally Posted by snorkelingdoc2b

Hello Army folks!:

More questions!:

I graduate summer 2013. I apply for the 1 yr AEGD fall 2012.

If I have already done my officer basic training in the summer during dental school, when does the AEGD normally start?

And what happens if I did NOT do my officer basic during dental school, and instead do it AFTER dental school. How does this affect the start of my 1 yr AEGD?

And can I still do cool stuff after i've done a 1 yr AEGD straight out of dental school? And what am I 63A? I think 63b means I am a 2 yr AEGD compre dentist.

Then if I do the 1 yr AEGD - what happens to me? I get assigned either to DENTAC or to a brigade right?

So Airborne advised me that if I want to do cool stuff, I should NOT join the 2yr AEGD program.

So what if I join the 1 yr AEGD? What is the cool stuff? DENTAC? or Brigade? Or either? doesn't really matter?

And if I plan on going into general dentistry but hope to do implants, is doing the 2 yr Comp AEGD worth the extra yr? I hear that extra yr is less clinical experience, but much more heavily weighted toward didactics/research. Is that true? It sounds like if that extra year in the 2yr AEGD is less clinical, it might not really be much more value of an experience? What do you all think?

Thanks for your advice!

If you are wanting to go to a Brigade slot (or special forces), you will not be able to do that as a 63B. If you are wanting to do Army stuff, and get the educational experience, here is what I would recommend:

Do the 1 year AEGD.

Go to a Brigade slot or a special forces slot. Get all the fun out of your system. Then, get serious...and..

Do the 2 year AEGD program.

I know this seems counterintuitive to do 2 programs...but it is really worth it, and the knowledge you gain is unfathomable. The 1 year teaches you what to do...the 2 year teaches you why you do it. You will have a ton of clinical experience in the 2 year program. The 1 year is a short program that gets you up to speed. The 2 year program makes you an "expert."

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by umkcdds

there are 7 OMFS residency locations. Forts Lewis, Bliss, Bragg, Gordon, Sam Houston; Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii, Walter Reed

thanx for the correction! somehow the "top 3" stuck in my head...

Originally Posted by krmower

I would not do ROTC if you are going to have the Army pay for HPSP. All my friends that have gone that route have regretted it. The reason being - you will not be eligible for the Army specialty pays until you have been in at least 10 yrs at a minimum. This compared to 6 years if you don't do ROTC. That is currently a difference of $200k ($50k/yr). Just something to consider.

Shoot... and miss out on all the fun!

I would agree with kmower on this one. If you know that you are going to do the HPSP, save yourself some trauma, enjoy your time in undergrad, and collect some of that multi year retention bonus a little earlier.

Recently I have become very interested in doing the 2 year AEGD program. As of now, I'm not planning on staying in the Army past my obligation, however I think the 2 year AEGD program will make me a very competent and successful dentist in the civilian world, more so than the 1 year AEGD. Given this, I have a few questions:

1) Where can I find more information on the 2 year AEGD program? How competetive is the program, are there any available statistics from previous years?

2) If I wait until after I graduate D-school to do OBC do I have enough time to finish OBC and arrive on time to start the 2 year AEGD program on time? If not, what happens?

3) After I've completed the 2 year AEGD program, how much would my monthly income begin at? I'd be paid as a specialist while fulfilling my 4 years of payback, correct? But I wouldn't be eligible for the multi year retention bonus until after I've fulfilled my payback and decide to stay on for x more years, correct?

Thanks for your time and input.

Originally Posted by drkarl

Recently I have become very interested in doing the 2 year AEGD program. As of now, I'm not planning on staying in the Army past my obligation, however I think the 2 year AEGD program will make me a very competent and successful dentist in the civilian world, more so than the 1 year AEGD. Given this, I have a few questions:

1) Where can I find more information on the 2 year AEGD program? How competetive is the program, are there any available statistics from previous years?

2) If I wait until after I graduate D-school to do OBC do I have enough time to finish OBC and arrive on time to start the 2 year AEGD program on time? If not, what happens?

3) After I've completed the 2 year AEGD program, how much would my monthly income begin at? I'd be paid as a specialist while fulfilling my 4 years of payback, correct? But I wouldn't be eligible for the multi year retention bonus until after I've fulfilled my payback and decide to stay on for x more years, correct?

Thanks for your time and input.

1. Here is a comparison: http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/passthru.aspx?docid=611 you might have to use your AKO login to view this.

2. almost everyone that applies for the 2-year AEGD gets accepted. if you apply and get accepted to a 2-year, you won't start right away. the start time isn't until the next year, so doing OBC after you graduate won't effect it's starting time.

3. your pay won't be any more than a "regular" general dentist at the same rank and time in service, unless you get board certified by the AGD. and you are correct, you can't start getting the retention bonus until your entire ADSO from school/AEGD are completed.

I have a good friend who had three years prior service before he went to dental school under the Army HPSP. The Army said only 1/2 of that prior service time would be recognized after he graduated dental school and was back on active duty. Is anyone else in a similar situation? I heard the Air Force recognizes all prior service time. Appreciate any input.
Thanks.

Ajax,

you are right. I am too a prior service army. They said I will get half my time for promotion purposes and retain my total years for pay purposes. So my date of rank for captain got extended. My orig. was jan 2002 and now it is changed to 2008.
hope that helped.

Originally Posted by Seouldds

Ajax,

you are right. I am too a prior service army. They said I will get half my time for promotion purposes and retain my total years for pay purposes. So my date of rank for captain got extended. My orig. was jan 2002 and now it is changed to 2008.
hope that helped.

I take it that when you say you were prior service Army, you were a commissioned officer correct?

yes

Seouldds, will they count all your prior service time towards retirement or is it just pay? Thank you for your input.

Originally Posted by ajaxkid

Seouldds, will they count all your prior service time towards retirement or is it just pay? Thank you for your input.

All prior active duty time counts towards retirement and pay, any IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) time counts only towards pay.

If you have 4 years prior active duty and 4 years on IRR:
You'll have 4 years towards retirement but 8 years (4 years active duty + 4 years IRR) for pay purposes.

Originally Posted by ajaxkid

Seouldds, will they count all your prior service time towards retirement or is it just pay? Thank you for your input.

All prior active duty time counts towards retirement and pay, any IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) time counts only towards pay.

If you have 4 years prior active duty and 4 years on IRR:
You'll have 4 years towards retirement but 8 years (4 years active duty + 4 years IRR) for pay purposes.

Originally Posted by ajaxkid

Seouldds, will they count all your prior service time towards retirement or is it just pay? Thank you for your input.

All prior active duty time counts towards retirement and pay, any IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) time counts only towards pay.

If you have 4 years prior active duty and 4 years on IRR:
You'll have 4 years towards retirement but 8 years (4 years active duty + 4 years IRR) for pay purposes

I have a couple of more questions regarding the 2 year AEGD program.

1) If I finished OBC before I graduated could I start the 2 year program that first year of active duty? Either way, would I first be stationed at that base working as a dentist until that program started, either right away or if I had to wait a year?

2) Do most Comprehensive Dentists get certified so they can receive the additional special pay? How hard is that to do and how much more money would you make after you got certified?

3) Does the time you are getting specialized count as time served under active duty? i.e. towards retirement and towards ranks advancements?

4) Is the 2 year AEGD worth the training whether or not you are staying in the army long term?

Thanks for your input

Originally Posted by drkarl

I have a couple of more questions regarding the 2 year AEGD program.

1) If I finished OBC before I graduated could I start the 2 year program that first year of active duty? Either way, would I first be stationed at that base working as a dentist until that program started, either right away or if I had to wait a year?

2) Do most Comprehensive Dentists get certified so they can receive the additional special pay? How hard is that to do and how much more money would you make after you got certified?

3) Does the time you are getting specialized count as time served under active duty? i.e. towards retirement and towards ranks advancements?

4) Is the 2 year AEGD worth the training whether or not you are staying in the army long term?

Thanks for your input

Hello,

Yes, you would work in a clinic on Post until you started the residency...just a couple months...
Most people seek board certification. There are 2 different ways to do it, which are not important for you in this stage of your training...but most people do seek it out..


The time counts towards rank and pay...

The program is 100% worth it, even if you are getting out! You really LEARN dentistry, why you do what you do...and fully understand everything. I am 6 months into the program (and almost 6 yrs out of school) and am a better dentist than I was back in June!

Hope that helps!

Hey folks,
anyone know how long it takes to process a 4 year HPSP application and notification times.

If everything is in and I did my physical next week Dec 8th, when would I hear if I got the scholarship or not?

thanks

Originally Posted by AirborneDentist

Hello,

Yes, you would work in a clinic on Post until you started the residency...just a couple months...
Most people seek board certification. There are 2 different ways to do it, which are not important for you in this stage of your training...but most people do seek it out..


The time counts towards rank and pay...

The program is 100% worth it, even if you are getting out! You really LEARN dentistry, why you do what you do...and fully understand everything. I am 6 months into the program (and almost 6 yrs out of school) and am a better dentist than I was back in June!

Hope that helps!

Anyone have a concrete answer as to when the selections for AEGD's/residencies will be announced? I have heard as early as January and as late as April!

Originally Posted by korndoctor

Hey folks,
anyone know how long it takes to process a 4 year HPSP application and notification times.

If everything is in and I did my physical next week Dec 8th, when would I hear if I got the scholarship or not?

thanks

They were pretty quick in my case: I submitted my package around Christmas last year, got my acceptance in mid-Jan (a 30 second voice mssg from my recruiter), and sworn-in in Feb 5th. Make sure the application is in for good, b/c unless YOU are on top of it, it's very easy to drag the process forever. I personally visited the recruiter's office at least a dozen times to make sure everything is going fine (an hour drive each way)!

Good Luck.

thanks!

are there hpsp students that did the scholarship that went to a state school? even though there isn't much loans, is it still beneficial to join the army hpsp? let's hear your stories, thanks

I'm sure this sounds crazy but a friend of mine was telling me that the Army has programs to allow your wife or husband to travel with you if you volunteer for over seas deployments?? Is there any truth to that?

Originally Posted by predentortho

I'm sure this sounds crazy but a friend of mine was telling me that the Army has programs to allow your wife or husband to travel with you if you volunteer for over seas deployments?? Is there any truth to that?

If you are stationed overseas to a base in Europe or Asia your family normally comes with you. Not to Iraq or Afghanistan though.

Originally Posted by dentalguy

Anyone have a concrete answer as to when the selections for AEGD's/residencies will be announced? I have heard as early as January and as late as April!

The board meets and selects indivisuals in December. Once those names are approved they are announced in January. In late January/early February they will let you know where you will be going. First you find out if you are selected, then several weeks later where you are going.

For the 12 month AEGD since everyone is required to apply for it - the first round notifications of accpetances will go out in January, but as some individuals turn down the residency or don't pass boards or graduate on time - alternates are contacted. That process may continue all the way up through April/May.

Originally Posted by drkarl

I have a couple of more questions regarding the 2 year AEGD program.

1) If I finished OBC before I graduated could I start the 2 year program that first year of active duty? Either way, would I first be stationed at that base working as a dentist until that program started, either right away or if I had to wait a year?

Depending on if there are open slots from the previous year. It is possible, but not guaranteed. Yes you will go to that base.

2) Do most Comprehensive Dentists get certified so they can receive the additional special pay? How hard is that to do and how much more money would you make after you got certified?

If you are referring to the $50/k year. All specialists receive that pay once their initial obligation is done. If you owe 6 years because you did the 2 yr AEGD - then at your 6th year in the Army you could begin to collect that amount. If you did Oral Surgery then you would owe at least 8-9 yrs before you could collect the 50k/yr.

If you are referring to the board certification pay - it is not that much (around $2500/yr). You get that once you are board certified. Some specialists never get board certified and never receive this pay - but they do recieve the $50k/yr.

http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/mili...yPayTables.pdf

3) Does the time you are getting specialized count as time served under active duty? i.e. towards retirement and towards ranks advancements?

Yes. It will not count towards your HPSP obligation though.

4) Is the 2 year AEGD worth the training whether or not you are staying in the army long term?

YES!YES!YES! - check the threads and you can see what people have written about it.

Thanks for your input

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Seouldds

Ajax,

you are right. I am too a prior service army. They said I will get half my time for promotion purposes and retain my total years for pay purposes. So my date of rank for captain got extended. My orig. was jan 2002 and now it is changed to 2008.
hope that helped.

Seouldds is correct. I was prior service enlisted. All my time counted for retirement and pay - nothing towards promotion since I was enlisted. My friend that was an MSC officer for 6 years that was in my same year group had 3 yrs constructive credit towards rank. So she pinned on 3 yrs before I did even though we graduated dental school together.

I have a few questions regarding the special pays:

VSP - do dental officers not start receiving this until they have been in service at least 3 years? If they do receive it before 3 years how much is it, 250/mo?

ASP - do all dental officers recieve 10k/yr, until 3 years then 12k/yr? Is this paid in one lump sum? Is it paid at the beginning of the year or the end?

Is there any other special pay that a general dentist in the Army can receive, (besides the board certified special pay)?

As a general dentist in the Army for their first year of active duty, right out of dental school, one's income per month would be $3540 + 250 + 10k/12= $4623/mo? Not including your housing allowance and BAS. Is this correct or am I misunderstanding something?

If you are specializing or doing an AEGD program then do you only receive basic pay during your training?

Thanks to anyone who can answer all these Q's!

Originally Posted by drkarl

I have a few questions regarding the special pays:

VSP - do dental officers not start receiving this until they have been in service at least 3 years? If they do receive it before 3 years how much is it, 250/mo?

ASP - do all dental officers recieve 10k/yr, until 3 years then 12k/yr? Is this paid in one lump sum? Is it paid at the beginning of the year or the end?

Is there any other special pay that a general dentist in the Army can receive, (besides the board certified special pay)?

As a general dentist in the Army for their first year of active duty, right out of dental school, one's income per month would be $3540 + 250 + 10k/12= $4623/mo? Not including your housing allowance and BAS. Is this correct or am I misunderstanding something?

If you are specializing or doing an AEGD program then do you only receive basic pay during your training?

Thanks to anyone who can answer all these Q's!

The DASP is a lump sum...you get it on your anniversary date...30% taken out for taxes..

VSP is 3k under 2 years..

If you are specializing..you get both of the above...

you get the pay you mentioned a month...plus bas, and bah...

if you do a one year aegd..you can also get the multi year retention bonus of 35k/year

pay charts are here:

http://www.armytimes.com/projects/mo...edical_dental/


Eric

Originally Posted by AirborneDentist

The DASP is a lump sum...you get it on your anniversary date...30% taken out for taxes..

Eric

I think Eric's quote above is correct for most folks, however, I entered active duty in July and my DASP was split over three pay periods. This has been the case for two other newly accessed dental officers at my post.

I expect that it will come in a lump sum in future years, but I will update you if it doesn't.

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knows of the specific date for the results of the selection board for AEGD-2 residency, which is supposed to be meeting in December?
Thank you.

Originally Posted by COtal

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone knows of the specific date for the results of the selection board for AEGD-2 residency, which is supposed to be meeting in December?
Thank you.

Last years results were released on the 19nth.

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could write about their experiences with the Officer Basic Course at Ft Sam Houston prior to starting their residency?

Thanks

Selection board results are out!

https://secure-ec.amedd.army.mil/sec...aspx?docid=792

Got my acceptance. I'm excited to start. Looks like it will either be Ft Bragg or Ft Hood since I can't snowbird in Hawaii (as per COL Manga). I'm happy with either post.

Originally Posted by COtal

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could write about their experiences with the Officer Basic Course at Ft Sam Houston prior to starting their residency?

Thanks

If you search the thread - several people have written about their experiences.

Originally Posted by J-Dub

Got my acceptance. I'm excited to start. Looks like it will either be Ft Bragg or Ft Hood since I can't snowbird in Hawaii (as per COL Manga). I'm happy with either post.

Congrats! I am an alternate for the 2 yr and should find out one way or the other in a couple weeks. Hoping for Bragg myself.

Originally Posted by J-Dub

Got my acceptance. I'm excited to start. Looks like it will either be Ft Bragg or Ft Hood since I can't snowbird in Hawaii (as per COL Manga). I'm happy with either post.

When do you start the AEGD2?

Originally Posted by COtal

When do you start the AEGD2?

July 2011. I would like to start in 2010 but it doesn't look like there are any spots open from the previous cycle.

For those of you starting in 2011...pick Bragg...They are building a brand new clinic right now, and it is going to be incredible! I would have put my residency off for 2 years had I known what was going to be built!

Originally Posted by AirborneDentist

For those of you starting in 2011...pick Bragg...They are building a brand new clinic right now, and it is going to be incredible! I would have put my residency off for 2 years had I known what was going to be built!

Are you required to have a clinical camera for the 2-YR? I just got one as a christmas gift and a friend of mine mentioned it might be required and they reimburse for the cost of one. Any truth to that? I know they reimburse for a set of loupes.

Originally Posted by J-Dub

Are you required to have a clinical camera for the 2-YR? I just got one as a christmas gift and a friend of mine mentioned it might be required and they reimburse for the cost of one. Any truth to that? I know they reimburse for a set of loupes.

I believe the HPSP manual states it will not reimburse a clinic camera. Could be wrong, but I think I read that somewhere in there.

Originally Posted by jmick101

I believe the HPSP manual states it will not reimburse a clinic camera. Could be wrong, but I think I read that somewhere in there.

Only if your school REQUIRE them, and you must be required get them separately (i.e. not as a packaged cost). I know some schools such as USC and NYU would charge something like $8K-$10K a year for all equipment you'd get for the year, and they'd just give you the stuff w/o having to purchase them individually (which is almost always a bad deal). In such cases, the school would not (which you need to get) certify the reimbursement form. At NYU, for example, loupes are only optional, and therefore the army would not pay for them. I think it was something like $1000 for the loupes and $1500 for the d-camera. The info is in the manual. The reimbursement for d-camera was added just this year. Hope it helps!

Originally Posted by J-Dub

Are you required to have a clinical camera for the 2-YR? I just got one as a christmas gift and a friend of mine mentioned it might be required and they reimburse for the cost of one. Any truth to that? I know they reimburse for a set of loupes.

Well...you are not "required" but I don't know how you would do it without one. You could always borrow someone else's...but good luck with that...

You are required to take photos...just buy the whole setup...get the 100MM Macro Canon lens and the MR14 EX ring light...get whatever digital body you prefer.

buy some rechargeable AA batteries for the flash, a separate battery backup for the camera, and a big flash drive and you won't go wrong!

Originally Posted by J-Dub

July 2011. I would like to start in 2010 but it doesn't look like there are any spots open from the previous cycle.

Great, same story here. I am also waiting for them to decide on location. Col Manga mentioned that since I am a new accession, it will most likely be either Ft. Hood or Ft. Bragg. I'm just excited to be accepted into the program.

Originally Posted by J-Dub

Are you required to have a clinical camera for the 2-YR? I just got one as a christmas gift and a friend of mine mentioned it might be required and they reimburse for the cost of one. Any truth to that? I know they reimburse for a set of loupes.

In our program cameras were provided to each resident. You signed for the camera and were responsible for it. It was turned back in when you left.

Originally Posted by krmower

In our program cameras were provided to each resident. You signed for the camera and were responsible for it. It was turned back in when you left.

That was at Ft. Hood...(just so the readers know), at Bragg this is not the case.

Originally Posted by AirborneDentist

That was at Ft. Hood...(just so the readers know), at Bragg this is not the case.

Actually it was in Hawaii

Originally Posted by krmower

Actually it was in Hawaii

ahhh dangit! I knew that too! Lucky Hawaii folks!

Hey guys -

I'm pretty new on here. I've read the SDN forums for a while now, but just decided to join in. I've actually read this entire thread in the last two days, and there is a lot of info .

Anyway, I had my physical at BAMC a couple of weeks ago, and, as my recruiter tells me, my application package just got sent up to Ft. Knox. So, I'm currently waiting to hear (hopefully) the good news re: the 4-yr HPSP in the middle of January.

I have a somewhat vague question, though: what are the chances of being rejected? I only ask this because, in my mind, I can't imagine the gov't spending all of the money to send candidates down to San Antonio (my flight was $1200) and put them up in the Embassy Suites (free happy hour and omlette breakfasts ), just to reject them. Obviously, I know it's a possiblity, but is there some sort of application 'pre-screen' that allows for a high number of those that are sent for physicals to be accepted?

Thanks for the future input and for all of the previous posted knowledge!

Originally Posted by ejendz24

Hey guys -

I'm pretty new on here. I've read the SDN forums for a while now, but just decided to join in. I've actually read this entire thread in the last two days, and there is a lot of info .

Anyway, I had my physical at BAMC a couple of weeks ago, and, as my recruiter tells me, my application package just got sent up to Ft. Knox. So, I'm currently waiting to hear (hopefully) the good news re: the 4-yr HPSP in the middle of January.

I have a somewhat vague question, though: what are the chances of being rejected? I only ask this because, in my mind, I can't imagine the gov't spending all of the money to send candidates down to San Antonio (my flight was $1200) and put them up in the Embassy Suites (free happy hour and omlette breakfasts ), just to reject them. Obviously, I know it's a possiblity, but is there some sort of application 'pre-screen' that allows for a high number of those that are sent for physicals to be accepted?

Thanks for the future input and for all of the previous posted knowledge!

Your chances are pretty high early on in the game like this. The Army uses a fully-qualified board. This means that as long as a candidate meets the requirements they are accepted. 5 members of the board vote on each individual and it is a yes or no vote. As the year progresses and less scholarships are available - the board begins to rank individuals and then only the top (whatever is available) get the scholarship and the others are put on an alternate or wait list.

Best of luck.

Awesome. Thanks!

Yeah, I was told by multiple people - my recruiter included - when I started with the application a couple months ago that I was on top of things....i.e. before many people have started the app.

Thanks again!