For those of you already in the army did any of you not do OBC till after graduation? Did you work during that 2 month limbo after graduation and before OBC? When did you get your license?
For those of you already in the army did any of you not do OBC till after graduation? Did you work during that 2 month limbo after graduation and before OBC? When did you get your license?
Licenses depend on the state you apply to. Some states are much slower than others. I know several friends who took boards in April/May, and didn't get licenses untill the end of summer. You can't apply for a license until you have both boards and a degree - so even if you take boards earlier, you are still requesting a license at the same time the rest of the graduating seniors in the country are. Because of that you are not going to have a license before OBC so you will do non-dentistry stuff until then (vacations/flipping burgers/etc...) The military does not pay you until you come on active duty, so if you do OBC after school you will begin to get paid in July. If you have done OBC before graduation you can come in whenever you want - immediately, or take a month or two off.
HawksthDoc - Thanks for the information! I am currently contemplating the 3-Year HPSP. I see that you are almost finished with active duty and that you are heading to an endo non-military residency. Are you concerned with being called back from IRR while you are back in school - and if you are called back into service, how will the civilian residency program respond? Will they let you return to the program after you return??
HawksthDoc - Thanks for the information! I am currently contemplating the 3-Year HPSP. I see that you are almost finished with active duty and that you are heading to an endo non-military residency. Are you concerned with being called back from IRR while you are back in school - and if you are called back into service, how will the civilian residency program respond? Will they let you return to the program after you return??
For those of you already in the army did any of you not do OBC till after graduation? Did you work during that 2 month limbo after graduation and before OBC? When did you get your license?
Hello! I had a question. I am going to be going for a physical for entry into the HPSP program on April 22nd. I was wondering exactly what was going to be required and if there are standards that I need to pass or what? I am honestly not the most fit person in the world, but I have been working over the past week on getting a little more fit.
Thanks in advance!
HawksthDoc and I have never heard of any dentist being called out of the IRR. We still have plenty of dentists to go around. My joke is move 3 times and don't update your address and "They will never find you". Hopefully the majority of the Army will be out of Iraq by the end of 2010. By the time you get done with dental school the war should be over. At least not to the full scale it is now. Means...we will need a lot less dentists over there.
Hawk are you getting any bonus from the Guard? Are they helping to fund your residency?
I got the physical a few months back. There were a lot of people who were overweight and possibly some that might have been under (women). The night before, you have to fast so that your blood glucose levels and other readings are in the "normal" range. You will either get a Physician or a PA to check up on your vitals/physicals like bone joints etc. It's REALLY fast/easy and most people should get through this with ease. The following day,you get your blood results back and those that had elevated and depressed levels of whatever have to retake the test. If you have had any surgeries, like LASIK for example, you need a waiver from your doctor etc. or else you will not pass your physical on that day. You always can send it in and get it fixed later but that's just heads up. There were some really upset people that didn't pass but I'm sure everything turned out well in the end. The army needs and wants you...haha
So for enterence I don't have to do a physical test (push ups, sit ups, and running)? Or do I? (sorry to labor the point) I am just interested because I currently am a little over on the run time that I see is standard and a little under on the push up limit. I saw that you need a score of 50 in each catagory to pass and I am a little off from this. I have been training everyday to try and up my numbers and I will still keep training no matter what, but if I don't have to take this test when I go then that relieves a little apprehension that I have about the process.
Thanks again, Andy
lol no more Andy. The physical is basically a routine check up on weight, blood pressure, etc. You do the exercises you wrote about at OBLC which you can do in June if you decide to go before dental school starts. This is after you get ur HPSP scholarship
FYI - when you do have to pass the APFT (fitness test), minimum passing is 60 in each event. If you score anything less than 60 in any one event you automatically fail - regardless of how high you may score in other events.So for enterence I don't have to do a physical test (push ups, sit ups, and running)? Or do I? (sorry to labor the point) I am just interested because I currently am a little over on the run time that I see is standard and a little under on the push up limit. I saw that you need a score of 50 in each catagory to pass and I am a little off from this. I have been training everyday to try and up my numbers and I will still keep training no matter what, but if I don't have to take this test when I go then that relieves a little apprehension that I have about the process.
Thanks again, Andy
Should I choose an army installation that has residencies and is closer to my girlfriend or a small installation with no residencies one hour further away?
Should I choose an army installation that has residencies and is closer to my girlfriend or a small installation with no residencies one hour further away?
Hello, does anyone know what will happen if I miss the June 14th start date for OBLC due to graduation from dental school being delayed from unfinished requirements? Also, how will this delay effect AEGD-1 year, if I have been already been accepted to Ft. Lewis? Thank you.
Thank you for your answer umkcdds...so does that mean I will start active duty regardless of completeing OBLC immediately after graduation? Is it possible to request a delay to start active duty? I'm planning on getting married after I graduate and I'm just trying to figure out what the best time will be....appreciate the help.
If I had to do OBLC after graduation (and graduated on time, etc) would I still be able to get into an AEGD that I applied for in the fall? I was told by Ms Roxanne Flores that I would be able to complete the 6 week HPSP OBLC (mid June to end July). That would let me slot right in to the AEGD starting 1 Aug.you will not be able to attend the AEGD, unless you finish with dental school and OBLC and can arrive at ft lewis prior to aug 1.
dental students access onto active duty late (due to not finishing graduation requirements) all the time. they just don't do AEGD's.
If I had to do OBLC after graduation (and graduated on time, etc) would I still be able to get into an AEGD that I applied for in the fall? I was told by Ms Roxanne Flores that I would be able to complete the 6 week HPSP OBLC (mid June to end July). That would let me slot right in to the AEGD starting 1 Aug.
Can I apply for the AEGDs if I havent yet completed OBLC (obviously I'd be doing that at the first available opportunity after graduating)?
The AEGD 1 year programs do not begin until after the summer OBLC/OBC are done - it's designed that way. There is only 1 OBC in the summer. If you are not done with school by then you wait until the next one starts up in the fall.
If you want to do the 1 year AEGD you should apply for it in the fall of your senior year. If you don't graduate in time you just get bumped and an alternate is given a chance.
Does the 2 year AEGD start Aug 1st as well?
If I'm doing OBC after graduation there is no chance I can start the 2 year AEGD until the following August?
All specialty programs (including the 2 year AEGD) begin on/around Jul 1. The 12 month AEGD is not specialty, and is designed specifically for new dental grads, therefore it begins later.
The AEGD 1 year programs do not begin until after the summer OBLC/OBC are done - it's designed that way. There is only 1 OBC in the summer. If you are not done with school by then you wait until the next one starts up in the fall.
If you want to do the 1 year AEGD you should apply for it in the fall of your senior year. If you don't graduate in time you just get bumped and an alternate is given a chance.
I'm starting the AEGD 2yr on 1 JUL. That being said, they want you on site well before to get situated. They don't want you looking for housing, in processing with medical, dental ect. The program starts JUL 1 and you hit the ground running. So to answer your question if you can attend OBC and start the program.... It's not going to happen. They usually accept you into the program for the following year and pre-station you at the training location. They usually have openings starting for the immediate summer and you can volunteer to start right away.
the 1-yr AGD starts Aug 1, immediately after graduation. for the other residencies you (usually) start the NEXT year after getting accepted. the 1-yr AGD starts Aug 1 (instead of July 1) so that new grads have plenty of time to inprocess, find housing (and attend OBLC if needed) before the start date.
just wanted to reiterate that, since you mentioned it. not sure that is clear to everyone.
Your HPSP handbook has all the information.
I'm starting the AEGD 2yr on 1 JUL. That being said, they want you on site well before to get situated. They don't want you looking for housing, in processing with medical, dental ect. The program starts JUL 1 and you hit the ground running. So to answer your question if you can attend OBC and start the program.... It's not going to happen. They usually accept you into the program for the following year and pre-station you at the training location. They usually have openings starting for the immediate summer and you can volunteer to start right away.
Would any Army dentists advise buying a house in their duty station location or is it too unpredictable that you will be more transferred to another base after a year or 2?
The only time you would move in less than 3 years is if you were doing some kind of post-grad training or special job/assignment (which are few). Otherwise you will be at a location at a minimum of 3-4 years.
I have bought at every location, and it has worked for me. If you can be flexible and rent the house after you live in it - it may be worth it if real estate rises. Typically real estate professionals say you have to own a house for at least 3-5 years to pull any type of profit out.
I don't think there is a blanket statement that would work for all locations. Look carefully at the real estate market in an area before you decide to buy. Don't buy something that is going to go beyond your BAH for the area. Make sure the location you buy in has resale potential. Otherwise you may not get anyone that will want to buy/rent the place from you. YMMV.
Would any Army dentists advise buying a house in their duty station location or is it too unpredictable that you will be more transferred to another base after a year or 2?
In creating a dream list can I go as specific as what base overseas rather than just asserting a country?
After reading all this talk about pros/cons of AEGD, I am confused. If I don't get a chance to specialize right after dental school, then I am thinking about either skipping 1 yr AEGD or going for one yr AEGD and respectively applying to specialty programs in subsequent years. What is the consequence of selecting one route versus the other?
Thanks!
I have read up to page 9 of this discussion, so please forgive me if this question was already answered.
In creating a dream list can I go as specific as what base overseas rather than just asserting a country?
For instance, I think that my top three would be:
1. Hawaii
2. Korea
3. Japan
Thanks!
Typically, then, how long can an army dental officer stay in a single location, unless deployed?
I have read up to page 9 of this discussion, so please forgive me if this question was already answered.
In creating a dream list can I go as specific as what base overseas rather than just asserting a country?
For instance, I think that my top three would be:
1. Hawaii
2. Korea
3. Japan
But I would only like to go to Korea if it is the Yongsan base in Seoul. In this case, could I list #2 on the dream list as "Yongsan" base? Is Yongsan a DENTAC or field unit?
Any comments on experiences with Hawaii and Japan?
After reading all this talk about pros/cons of AEGD, I am confused. If I don't get a chance to specialize right after dental school, then I am thinking about either skipping 1 yr AEGD or going for one yr AEGD and respectively applying to specialty programs in subsequent years. What is the consequence of selecting one route versus the other?
Thanks!
Don't hang your hopes up on the assignments request. As a young captain right out of school, you'll be placed where ever the army needs you.
Prior to graduation I was told Camp Zama (Japan), then somewhere in Korea, and finally Fort Hood, none of which were my top three.
Regarding assignment, I recommend you contact the assignment officer. I'm not sure who it is now, the major I knew is no longer in that position I think. That way you can get your foot in the door and maybe influence your placement.
Believe me when I say half of your peers have Hawaii in the top three.
If you really want to specialize, do the 1 year AEGD, it will pad your resume.
you could call HRC and ask for them to tell you what they project to be available for assignments. then give them your top three choices from what is available. that way you aren't giving them three choices that you have no chance of getting - meaning that they just put you where they want.
I distinctly remember being in contact with the manager/assignment officer by phone at least 2-3 months before graduation.About how far out from going on Active Duty would you recommend the feeling out process for your next assignment?
About how far out from going on Active Duty would you recommend the feeling out process for your next assignment?
About how far out from going on Active Duty would you recommend the feeling out process for your next assignment?