I'll like to say a few things about some of the other comments made in this forum.
I am currently a resident in a large hospital for the Navy. Someone mentioned something about equipment/education and such. I think we have great equipment. I have been able to rotate in 6 other hospitals in town (and also in Willford Hall for ICU) and I think we have superior equipment and availability of drugs. Nonetheless, some yahoo in charge made the decision a while back to disengage everyone over 65. Now tell me.....what do you think that does for the education for internal medicine, cardiology, surgery, GI, anesthesia, and down the line? It kills it. Yet some how, that saves money because now those over 65 get care at a civilian hospital.
However, I also work in our pain clinic, and there is not a better population to work with. I feel proud to be able to take care of these guys (marines mostly) that come back from Iraq with wounds.
I also wanted to comment about GMO status - someone a few posts back mentioned that the Navy will soon have to send over qualified people to fill GMO billets. I think this is happening to some extend, although I am not quite sure it is the reason stated. Air Craft Carriers, instead of having GMO's on them (like I was), it is now staffed with FP docs (they got to love that!).
Also, it amazes me how detailers take highly trained individuals and stick them in far away places doing things that are a waste of their time. I have known 2 cardiothoracic surgeons get deployed on a ship or something where they may do a few colonoscopies. That does great things for a person trying to maintain skills.
Finally, I wanted to make a comment about my experience at officer indoctrination school that kind of sums up the dichotomy I feel in the Navy. The instructors and people that were billeted to yell at us at OIS would always say that we were "An officer first, a doctor second." I always found this absolutely hilarious......let's see, what did I do to become a doctor? I spent hours and hours of blood, sweat and tears, lost sleep, stressed out, increased debt, etc. over a period of 8-10 years. What did I do to become a Naval Officer? I signed on a piece of paper and gave it to the recruiter - the whole thing took 10 minutes. Yeah right, I can see your point that I should value being an officer over being a doctor.