My question is pretty simple and straight forward, I've read pretty much every military forum, but no one has asked is it possible to do DMO and FS? Thanks in advance.
What is the timeline for attending either flight/dive school assuming I do the FAP program? Are most FM physicians straight out of residency forced to do a utilization tour in their field prior to attending dive/flight school? What's the likelihood of attending one of those schools directly after residency?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, thanks in advance!!
medicalbrah, UltimateDO's info is only accurate for the Army. What service are you trying to do FAP with?
Yes, you can go straight to flight or dive out of residency. A friend of mine, who is a PGY3 right now, is going straight to flight. Also, I spoke with the detailer for flight just a few months ago and she said that it is fairly easy to go straight into flight or dive from residency. I don't see how it would be much of a difference coming from FAP. Also, I have seen several folks who are both flight and dive qualified. There is nothing that would prevent you from staying operational, however it may be tougher to make O-6 later down the road if you only stay operational. Let me know if you want the detailer's contact info.
medicalbrah, in more than a decade at a large MTF, I never met a physician who had gone to dive school directly from FAP. That doesn't mean its impossible but the only way it happens is if it happens to solve a problem for the leadership. . The two people who would control your fate are the FP specialty leader (called a consultant by the Army and AF and abbreviated SL) and the detailer.
Ask them whether they will commit to supporting your JSGMESB application for UMO training if you sign on the line for FAP. See what they promise you. I'd send an email to both of them with your recruiter cc'd. That might pressure them to give you what you want. A quick google search got me their contact info:
http://www.usafp.org/news/navy-family-medicine-consultant/
You'd also be at the mercy of a dive physical. If you are only joining to be a UMO, you'd be wise to make sure that you will qualify medically because there is no backing out.
Oh, and Cooper, how do you know when a detailer is lying?