E
EugeneF
I've seen this question asked a few times before, but there aren't too many responses besides a post from 2006.
I will be starting medical school in August, and after extensive research (and deciding against HPSP) I am deciding between joining the National Guard or the US Army Reserves for their medical student program. Here are some positives and negatives I can think of:
National Guard: Positives: Belong to an individual unit, get to know people in the unit better, serve as a primary care doc for this unit once I finish med school. It seems most combat arms units are with the ARNG, and I like the idea of being a primary care doc for a combat arms unit regardless of what specialty I choose. Financially: Get paid drill time while in college, state tuition financial benefits, and when in residency I can take STRAP and other financial incentives while still not extending my commitment past 8 years. There is also an ARNG med student recruiter program where I could get active O-1 pay for 2 or 3 years while I'm in med school. This might depend on my state's budget though. Cons: A recruiter told me that if I decide to change states, I'll have to repay the tuition benefits to the state I left. Is this true?
Reserves: Positives: Lots of benefits from being part of a larger organization rather than just the state. More deployment opportunities. MDSSP gives ~$2200 a month while in school, and I can stop once I graduate. I can get drill pay during school, but only if I actually go to drill. I can take STRAP during residency. Wouldn't have any payback past 8 years as long as I stop taking MDSSP after med school, and don't take other financial incentives. Cons: Since I wouldn't be part of a state unit, I have the feeling that it would be a lot less of a close nit feel as a doc with the AR rather than the ARNG. I would be doing whatever specialty I chose, and likely wouldn't be a GMO type doctor for a combat arms unit. It seems like the army reserves route would leave me feeling more disconnected from the actual military than would the Guard.
Is this accurate? Can anyone else give any input on which would be better to join as a medical student (with no prior service)? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Also, from my research it seems that MDSSP for both Guard and Reserves has repayment beginning AFTER residency. However, the recruiter I spoke with today specifically told me that I can start repaying my commitment for MDSSP while I'm in medical school. Is this true?
I will be starting medical school in August, and after extensive research (and deciding against HPSP) I am deciding between joining the National Guard or the US Army Reserves for their medical student program. Here are some positives and negatives I can think of:
National Guard: Positives: Belong to an individual unit, get to know people in the unit better, serve as a primary care doc for this unit once I finish med school. It seems most combat arms units are with the ARNG, and I like the idea of being a primary care doc for a combat arms unit regardless of what specialty I choose. Financially: Get paid drill time while in college, state tuition financial benefits, and when in residency I can take STRAP and other financial incentives while still not extending my commitment past 8 years. There is also an ARNG med student recruiter program where I could get active O-1 pay for 2 or 3 years while I'm in med school. This might depend on my state's budget though. Cons: A recruiter told me that if I decide to change states, I'll have to repay the tuition benefits to the state I left. Is this true?
Reserves: Positives: Lots of benefits from being part of a larger organization rather than just the state. More deployment opportunities. MDSSP gives ~$2200 a month while in school, and I can stop once I graduate. I can get drill pay during school, but only if I actually go to drill. I can take STRAP during residency. Wouldn't have any payback past 8 years as long as I stop taking MDSSP after med school, and don't take other financial incentives. Cons: Since I wouldn't be part of a state unit, I have the feeling that it would be a lot less of a close nit feel as a doc with the AR rather than the ARNG. I would be doing whatever specialty I chose, and likely wouldn't be a GMO type doctor for a combat arms unit. It seems like the army reserves route would leave me feeling more disconnected from the actual military than would the Guard.
Is this accurate? Can anyone else give any input on which would be better to join as a medical student (with no prior service)? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Also, from my research it seems that MDSSP for both Guard and Reserves has repayment beginning AFTER residency. However, the recruiter I spoke with today specifically told me that I can start repaying my commitment for MDSSP while I'm in medical school. Is this true?