Help me soul search with some reality

[Nexus5]

I'm 34, trained in CCM, never been associated with military - I finished training this year, moved, started a new job, got engaged (date set for sept!). Prob work on having a kid in the next year. I went through MEPS during the Fall and passed. I have found a unit in the air guard, CCATT. Seems like a great group of people, quarterly drill. I have no med school loans and won't get any real monetary benefit from joining aside from normal pay and a retention bonus - which is fine, $ isn't the motivation. I want to serve our country - might be pollyannish, but it's the truth. I'm willing and able.

My partner is supportive and has been throughout the process. She's worried about me getting hurt and being away, especially with a child - which I get. We have family around that can help, but it's not the same as me being there. I would commute to drill, it's not local.

I'm starting to worry I'm going to overdue it, not be able to juggle it all. My marriage and family is the most important thing. I have no doubt it will add strain at times (she knows this as well), but am I trying to have my cake and eat it too? Based off your experiences would you put this plan on ice for a few years? Or will things prob work out OK. It's an 8 year contract (6 / 2 IRR).

I could use some wisdom from experience.

Thanks

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[DrMetal]

My partner is supportive and has been throughout the process. She's worried about me getting hurt and being away, especially with a child - which I get. We have family around that can help, but it's not the same as me being there. I would commute to drill, it's not local.

Well, yeah, You'd be in the military. It's a crazy concept.

Ice it I say. If you have consternation before you've even started, it's probably not a good idea. Find another way to serve your community, there are plenty. We admire you for your desire.

 

[pgg]

I want to serve our country - might be pollyannish, but it's the truth. I'm willing and able.

There are many ways to volunteer to serve our country and humanity. Military service is one, but it comes with the burden of unpredictability and a long commitment that essentially none of the other options do. It also comes with unique experiences and opportunities.

There are many medical and non-medical organizations that would welcome you, foreign and domestic. There are every-specialty groups like MSF to niche groups like Operation Smile, then on the nonmedical side you've got big organizations like Habitat for Humanity down to the smallest of the small like local soup kitchens.

 

[JerryMouse]

There are many ways to volunteer to serve our country and humanity. Military service is one, but it comes with the burden of unpredictability and a long commitment that essentially none of the other options do. It also comes with unique experiences and opportunities.

There are many medical and non-medical organizations that would welcome you, foreign and domestic. There are every-specialty groups like MSF to niche groups like Operation Smile, then on the nonmedical side you've got big organizations like Habitat for Humanity down to the smallest of the small like local soup kitchens.

I’m guessing the OP may be drawn to the idea of joining the Reserves in part because of the “unique experiences and opportunities” in the military. Would you mind sharing more about what these might be, other than CCATT? (I’m also interested in knowing.)

 

[SeniorWrangler]

Consider the odds of the US getting into a reasonably big war in the next 8 years where you might get deployed from the Reserves with a small kid and a developing career. That's the biggest risk associated with reserve duty IMO, that you might end up supporting Operation [Adjective] Freedom.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

Well, let's hope not. A "reasonably big war" might entail mobilization of some reserve elements to reinforce certain military elements. Medical may be one of them. Most likely, the initial actions would be piecemeal: defer retirements, defer transfers to the reserves of those with remaining obligations (GMOs with 3 or 4 years in approaching fulfillment of their obligations). There might be activation of some retirees. Much of that would be need driven, backfill of active duty personnel pushed into forward duty stations. Then it gets tougher. I don't think you'll see the kind of things that happened a century ago, when whole civilian hospitals and their staffs were drafted as a unit, but it is not beyond imagining that there will be activation of the (already existing) selective service plan for medicine. That was done in living memory--in Vietnam--and your government knows who you are, what you do and where to find you. (You don't think the AMA is just in the business of printing coding books and certifying CME, did you?) As for extended deployment, remember in WW2 deployment was for the duration.

Look, if the prospect of being sent forward away from your family is intolerable for you to contemplate, you are choosing an odd time to ask your questions, being that you have already commissioned. ANG units get called up. ANG personnel in needed occupations get called up individually sometimes. You are a CCM specialist; there could be a SICU in a CSH somewhere that might use you in interesting times.

 

[pgg]

A "reasonably big war" involving us is likely to be over in hours, days, or weeks, for good or ill. They won't have time to draft anyone.