US Army military chances

[ForeignDoc]

Hello guys,
I am a foreign 3rd year med student (US citizen) who has passed my step I and clinical skills so far. I would like to know if anyone can tell me if I can participate in the army residency match for IM. Do I have any chances at all? Is the US army interested in foreign docs for IM? Does the fact that i can speak three languages help me in any way? I am using US fed loans for my education, does anyone know if i can get military financial help to pay them back? I really don't want to listen to any recruiter since they most of the time don't know the real information or don't tell all what they know. I appreciate your responses.

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[NavyFP]

Hello guys,
I am a foreign 3rd year med student (US citizen) who has passed my step I and clinical skills so far. I would like to know if anyone can tell me if I can participate in the army residency match for IM. Do I have any chances at all? Is the US army interested in foreign docs for IM? Does the fact that i can speak three languages help me in any way? I am using US fed loans for my education, does anyone know if i can get military financial help to pay them back? I really don't want to listen to any recruiter since they most of the time don't know the real information or don't tell all what they know. I appreciate your responses.

Unless the rules have changed, you will need to complete a US residency and get a license to be eligible for a commission.

 

[ForeignDoc]

Thanks for the response. Are you sure that not even having my boards taken (step 1,2,3) I will be able to chance? It sounds weird that i have to do a civilian residency and then be able to only do fellowship with the military. Thanks for ur inputs

 

[alpha62]

what language do you speak ?

If it's a hot one like arabic, the sell-outs that run this operation can bend and twist the rules anyway they want to make mission....... then take credit for it of course.

In the U.S. Military, it always seems to depend on who you talk to, not the actual rules. Persistence helps... and it's also a great way to get your freaken head blown off by getting what you ask for.

A guy in my field persistently asked and lobbied for an assigment and he's dead now. One of only 2 KIA in my MOS thus far.

They're not giving anything away for free here you know. You'd get a better financial deal and a better quality of life on active duty enlisting as a cook.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Not sure I understand the question.

So you are a US citizen in a foreign medical school and are interested in joining the military correct? I'm not sure if there is a requirement that you be U.S. medical school trained. I frankly don't think so as I have seen doc's in uniform from Indian medical schools. Given the current HPSP shortfalls, if you pass your boards, I suspect you could enter a military residency and likely also get some loan repayment. Understand that this would probably be in a primary care speciality as you are an unknown commodity and the FMG thing will hurt you. I'd ask a AMEDD recruiter (not a regular recruiter), or a program director.

 

[ForeignDoc]

thanks for the reply,
I yes that was the question. I have email AMEDD recruiter and he said that I need to have a unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US or legal territories. I quite don't get it though because med students applying for residency in the civilian programs just need step 1 and 2 and MD degree. In my case besides the above requirement I need the ECFMG certificate but as far as I know this is all I need. I do want IM but also intend to do a fellowship too and if the army puts me at risk of not being a specialist than things are looking bad for me.

 

[KateGia]

Hello guys,
I am a foreign 3rd year med student (US citizen) who has passed my step I and clinical skills so far. I would like to know if anyone can tell me if I can participate in the army residency match for IM. Do I have any chances at all? Is the US army interested in foreign docs for IM? Does the fact that i can speak three languages help me in any way? I am using US fed loans for my education, does anyone know if i can get military financial help to pay them back? I really don't want to listen to any recruiter since they most of the time don't know the real information or don't tell all what they know. I appreciate your responses.

I'm not personally military, but my significant other is, and I ask a lot of questions. From what I understand, the military never "pays back." They will pay for any schooling after you've joined, but nothing from before you joined. So if your reasoning for joining is to get them to pay back your loans, I don't believe this is possible. I could be wrong on this, so someone, please correct me if I am, but I just felt the other responders were concentrating more on the out of the country schooling aspect of the question, so I thought I'd address that.

 

[ForeignDoc]

The reason I asked if the army pays previous loans was that any help is a help when it comes to pay back all the money one has borrowed through the years. I also have seen in other posts that one may not qualify for hardship once one is in the military due to higher salaries when compared with civilian residencies.

 

[SemperJeff]

I'm not personally military, but my significant other is, and I ask a lot of questions. From what I understand, the military never "pays back." They will pay for any schooling after you've joined, but nothing from before you joined. So if your reasoning for joining is to get them to pay back your loans, I don't believe this is possible. I could be wrong on this, so someone, please correct me if I am, but I just felt the other responders were concentrating more on the out of the country schooling aspect of the question, so I thought I'd address that.

Well they have the FAP Program which you join after being accepted into residency. And then they will help pay off loans.

Here's a link to the thread discussing the FAP Program

 

[NavyFP]

I'm not personally military, but my significant other is, and I ask a lot of questions. From what I understand, the military never "pays back." They will pay for any schooling after you've joined, but nothing from before you joined. So if your reasoning for joining is to get them to pay back your loans, I don't believe this is possible. I could be wrong on this, so someone, please correct me if I am, but I just felt the other responders were concentrating more on the out of the country schooling aspect of the question, so I thought I'd address that.

Not true. There is the Health Professions Loan Repayment Program. You can get up to $38K per year (minus taxes) of loan repayment for up to 4 years.

 

[ForeignDoc]

Thanks for all your input everyone.
After checking the FAP and Health Professional loan repayment program. I think the military in general is a good way to go. I do have another question though. So let's say I apply for military residency, then get accepted for IM.

1- How long will I pay back on active duty if I receive my base salary + the bonuses I am entitled to?
2- Can I still qualify for the FAP if I am in the mil residency?
3- Is the Health Professional Loan repayment program a better option?
Or if i go the civilian route;
1- Receiving FAP during residency, will I have the opportunity to postpone active duty obligation If I get accepted into a fellowship?
2- Does fellowship qualify for FAP?
one last question:
Would I be able to work at a facility outside the military while I am in active duty, in other words, is active duty a full 40+hr week?
I appreciate your responses.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Thanks for all your input everyone.
After checking the FAP and Health Professional loan repayment program. I think the military in general is a good way to go. I do have another question though. So let's say I apply for military residency, then get accepted for IM.

1- How long will I pay back on active duty if I receive my base salary + the bonuses I am entitled to?
2- Can I still qualify for the FAP if I am in the mil residency?
3- Is the Health Professional Loan repayment program a better option?
Or if i go the civilian route;
1- Receiving FAP during residency, will I have the opportunity to postpone active duty obligation If I get accepted into a fellowship?
2- Does fellowship qualify for FAP?
one last question:
Would I be able to work at a facility outside the military while I am in active duty, in other words, is active duty a full 40+hr week?
I appreciate your responses.

Talk to an AMEDD recruiter.

I'm not sure what specialities if any the Army offers the FAP for - that is specialties in which you would be doing a civilian residency.

My guess is you would sign up for a military residency and in return you would get some loan repayment.

If you are doing a military residency FAP does
not apply.

As far as doing a military residency in IM, you would accure one year of obligation per year of residency, so you would owe three years after graduation. During residency you would be paid as a CPT with zero years of service.

Very unlikely the Army would allow you to do a non military fellowship straight from residency.

Lastly, I guess the 40hr question refers to moonlighting? You cannot moonlight as a resident.

 

[ForeignDoc]

thanks,
If I qualify for the Health Professional loan repayment program from the very first day I start the residency, does it mean I will owe 6 years to the army in active duty?
I meant to say woking extra hours in a civilian hospital as an IM doc not as a resident. Like, does active duty mean I would not have time for a part-time job?