My understanding is that the services used to pull people from residencies, but that this angered so many residencies so severely that military folks were not able to get good spots anymore. So, they stopped pulling people out of residencies. Of note, though, is the term RESIDENCY. In the hound's example, they pulled her after her internship. The Navy considers interns separately from residents. Interns are looked at as potential GMOs and not much else by the Navy. Sure, you may get to train straight through but in all likelihood, you're GMOing. I don't personally know anyone who was pulled from a residency to be put into the fleet. On the other hand, if the Navy has picked you up as a resident, that means they are training to fill a projected opening in that field in the year you're set to finish residency. Thus, they will not likely pull you...however, it is the Navy so anything can ultimately happen.
Also, FAP and RR and other non-HPSP types are much less likely to get pulled. Your programs are designed to acquire specialists through the civilian side, whereas HPSP is designed for overall manning, i.e. GMOs in the Navy. The Navy doesn't know what kind of specialist you'll be when you sign on, and they don't really care because they have 300-400 GMO spots to fill with warm bodies. It's best to assume you'll be a GMO if you go to USUHS or HPSP, consider yourself lucky if you get a deferment but not out of the woods until you start that PGY-2 year. For the others, I think you're safe.
Just my $.02. By the way, I've had a great time on my tours in the fleet and wouldn't trade them for anything. I changed specialty choice, that alone was worth the time out, not to mention all of the experiences I couldn't have matched in the civilian world. The GMO/DMO/FS tour, as dreaded as it is by some, is worth the time.
Teufelhunden - I've followed your posts on the FP forum, I couldn't agree with you more. I was once swayed by the idealism of FP, thought I wanted to be a family Doc in my hometown. My suspicion from your posts is that you will be over it soon, before you match, but if not may I recommend to you, and all who are watching, to take advantage of the GMO tour to see what FP is really like. I did, I've enjoyed it and have learned a lot, but I'm applying for radiology and not looking back at FP as a career. Idealism aside, it's a tough way to make a living in these days of the q15 min office visit. The Navy is a great place to get a taste of primary care without committing your life to it...it's called the GMO tour. There's a reason FP and IM are easy to train straight through in the Navy, the returning GMOs have seen the light and aren't applying.
Sorry for the digression, but I think it's broad enough in applicability to be here and not as a PM. Again, just a humble Diver's opinion.
DD
