First I'd like to say that it's VERY insightful to hear what all the active duty docs, residents, interns and attending alike have to say. I agree with an earlier post that there are plenty of people I have had the pleasure to work with that despite all the crap the military deals out, they are still "proud to be here, glad to serve". But militarymd poses a GREAT viewpoint, that of the opposite. In fact I would venture to say that those of you who disagree with militarymd's negative views and are unhappy with his postings, you don't realize that he is your BIGGEST advocate! Think about it, if EVERY HPSP'er, USUHS applicant read militarymd's views, then we would SIGNIFICANTLY cut down on the number of those physicians who come on AD and then spend their entire careers whining and moaning about what is wrong with mil med and now do anything about. Those of us who STILL strive on and keep the faith and work within the system will hopefully come in with eyes wide open and make this a better place to work. Nuff said about that, I agree with both sides. As I have always said there are 3 sides to every story: Yours, mine and the truth.
As for recruiters, having been in the military for the past 9 years as an ER Nurse and now starting my whole career over again by going to USUHS, I have had a unique insight as to the life of the miltary doc, intern, resident and staff alike. I have spent the last 4 years as the Medical Programs Officer in my local area in charge of recruiting medical staff into the military. Though many of you are correct that there are many recruiters out there who don't know their AS* from their elbow and often times put out bad guidance to potential applicants as to what Military medicine is like, and there are those who have no clue as to what mil med is like but act like they're the subject matter experts, and yes there are those losers who take it just because of the pay. But there are those of us that are neither. For one, officers don't get special pay to go to recruiting. Two, if you are reading this and are speaking to a recruiter, ASK to speak to a Recruiter who is a) an officer, b) a nurse or medical service officer and c) ASK to speak to an ACTIVE DUTY DOCTOR or DENTIST or whatever you are applying for. It's important you have all three in a row to ensure you get the right information.
If you have never been a recruiter, dont' be too quick to judge and chastise. These individuals have a nearly IMPOSSIBLE task to accomplish. They have to convince people to join the military in the field of health care DESPITE ALL WHAT MILITARYMD points out. A daunting task indeed. Some of you may be able to do it, however I would venture to say that most of you could not. It's very difficult, especially since we don't have the financial resources to wine and dine these applicants, but more importantly we don't have the authority to increase pay, bonuses, etc. . . as you all are aware. When I go and present to the applicants or students the last thing I say are these words "If you are not interested in a job that is professionally, personally, and FINACIALLY challenging, if you are not interested in serving your country by practicing your trade in an austere environment, if you are not interested in going in "harms way", if you are not interested in actively helping others kill the enemy in your own capacity if called upon by your country, then do not apply. The life of a military doctor is not for the faint hearted, it is not for the individual looking to get rich, it is not for the person who wants to have everything handed to them on a silver platter, and it is not for someone who is interested in being paid in the same fashion as their civilian colleagues."
"It IS for those who are interested in receiving a very healthy scholarship to pay for medical school that you otherwise may not have been able to afford, it IS for those interested in serving their country by providing the best medicine possible for those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines that are out on the "Tip of the Spear" and even those that remain behind to support the rear echelon, it IS for those who are interested in serving as physicians in no-traditional physician roles such as DMO, UMO, FS, SWODOC, FMF etc . . .
So I can say without a doubt that ALL of the applicants that successfully compete and matriculate into the HPSP program from my district ARE ABSOLUTELY well aware as to the pitfalls and hardships that await them in their future military medicine career. Though this does NOT make up for my unscrupulous colleagues, however at least you should all know that not ALL of the recruiters are stupid and useless. Some of us take "choosing our shipmates" very seriously.
Thanks to you all for listening . . .and militarymd, keep em coming!!!!
Jnytrama