Reserves/NG during Med School

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EMS0577

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Can you be in the Reserves/National Guard while attending Med School ?

I have a friend who was in Law School , and when we got activated , he deployed to Iraq with us last year , my unit did not care that he was in Law School. He was not in a military program***

So my question is: Can you be in the Reserves/NG , while doing HPSP ?

BTW : Everything would be Army , Army Reserves , and Army NG

Thanks.

EMS0577...
 
Hello,

Great question.

I'm pretty sure that if you are in HPSP that you cannot participate(drill) in the Army Reserve/Army Guard. While in HPSP status you are already in reserve status while going to med school.

As you have probably researched the Army Reserve/Army guard has their own incentive programs for med students. Albeit these programs won't pay for all of a medical school education, but you still get some money.

Good luck and please PM me if you have any questions.







EMS0577 said:
Can you be in the Reserves/National Guard while attending Med School ?

I have a friend who was in Law School , and when we got activated , he deployed to Iraq with us last year , my unit did not care that he was in Law School. He was not in a military program***

So my question is: Can you be in the Reserves/NG , while doing HPSP ?

BTW : Everything would be Army , Army Reserves , and Army NG

Thanks.

EMS0577...
Click to expand...
 
On the Air National Guard website, it says federal law prohibits you from being deployed if you are in their program for med students.
 
I thought I remember when looking into HPSP, that you had to sever all ties to other military commitments. So you couldn't drill in a sperate program.

Now - if you are just going through medschool sans HPSP, and are trying to make some money with the reserves . . . well, that's just stupid. In today's times, good chance you will get called up, like your law school buddy.

At the most inopportune time.

And will be on duty longer than originally anticipated.
 
Rock Star said:
Hello,


"While in HPSP status you are already in reserve status while going to med school."

And yes with today's NG/Reserve Callups chances are they will call me.

I got back from a 14 month deployment to Iraq , and 4 months later , we got shafted with Hurricane Relief here in South Florida...

So the 4 years of Med School , since you are in the Reserves , those should count for retirement , right?

Thank you.

EMS0577...
Click to expand...
 
If you are in medical school on HPSP you are considered to be in a reserve status, but also in a training status, and you cannot be called up for duty. I, too, believe that you are not allowed to drill/be attached to another reserve unit while on HPSP.
 
So the 4 years of Med School , since you are in the Reserves , those should count for retirement , right?

Unfortunately for those who stay in, the 4 yrs of med school while on HPSP do not count toward retirement. We are in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) (often called inactive reserve). Time spent on active duty during the Active Duty Tours (ADTs) during HPSP does not count toward retirement either.
 
There is a student in my class that is in the Air National Guard. She was a medic for a few years and after getting into school she got a military scholarship--but NOT HPSP. I don't know the specifics of the program, but I do know that she is still going to Drill and attended AF Commissioned Officer Training last summer. She has told me that she is non-deployable while in med school just like the HPSP students.

I'm not sure, but I think her scholarship is capped at 80,000 or so & I believe the payback obligation is different from ours, but I really don't know for sure. Anybody else know more?
 
Tiger26 said:
On the Air National Guard website, it says federal law prohibits you from being deployed if you are in their program for med students.
Click to expand...
With this particular program in the Guard (be it either Air or Army) you HAVE to be assigned as a MSC (Medical Service Corps) Officer (enter as an O-1, unless you currently hold a higher rank, which in that case you should stay at the same rank upon this tranfer). This will prevent you from getting deployed while in medical school or during residency. Just by being in the Guard, does NOT prevent you from being deployed. You can not enter this program/status until you actually start medical school, a letter of acceptence will not suffice, you must be attending classes. So usually August is the soonest you can start, however the process would probably take a few months based upon the militarys' efficient way of doing business.

You will then be required to show up for monthly weekend drills and perform a 2 week annual training.

The Reserves do NOT have such a program, thus whatever career field you are in will inturn put you at risk for being deployed.

Myself, I am currently in the Reserves and will start the process of changing over this spring as an O-4.

Check out your state national guard homepage for details and contacting a recruiter.

Lastly, the guard and reserves have scholarship stipend programs during residency, mostly for primary care and EM, at ~1000/month for a 1:1 payback post completion of residency. I think (not 100% sure) you are untouchable during this time if you are commisioned as a medical officer (rank O-3). Some people chooose to stay in thier old career fields and those are the ones that get deployed, not the ones that I mentioned above in the Guard.
 
J123 said:
If you are in medical school on HPSP you are considered to be in a reserve status, but also in a training status, and you cannot be called up for duty. I, too, believe that you are not allowed to drill/be attached to another reserve unit while on HPSP.
Click to expand...

This is correct. I had a friend in the class above me who was an SF medic and went into the reserves to go to med school (no HPSP). He got called up and deployed, came back, got called up and deployed again, came back. He complained to his superiors and was told the only thing that would break his Reserves contract (protecting him from deployment) was joining HPSP. He signed up, is now in the class below me, and hasn't been deployed since.
 
MountaineerDoc said:
With this particular program in the Guard (be it either Air or Army) you HAVE to be assigned as a MSC (Medical Service Corps) Officer (enter as an O-1, unless you currently hold a higher rank, which in that case you should stay at the same rank upon this tranfer). This will prevent you from getting deployed while in medical school or during residency. Just by being in the Guard, does NOT prevent you from being deployed. You can not enter this program/status until you actually start medical school, a letter of acceptence will not suffice, you must be attending classes. So usually August is the soonest you can start, however the process would probably take a few months based upon the militarys' efficient way of doing business.

You will then be required to show up for monthly weekend drills and perform a 2 week annual training.

The Reserves do NOT have such a program, thus whatever career field you are in will inturn put you at risk for being deployed.

Myself, I am currently in the Reserves and will start the process of changing over this spring as an O-4.

Check out your state national guard homepage for details and contacting a recruiter.

Lastly, the guard and reserves have scholarship stipend programs during residency, mostly for primary care and EM, at ~1000/month for a 1:1 payback post completion of residency. I think (not 100% sure) you are untouchable during this time if you are commisioned as a medical officer (rank O-3). Some people chooose to stay in thier old career fields and those are the ones that get deployed, not the ones that I mentioned above in the Guard.
Click to expand...

Very informative post. I've researched the Air national guard option some but am still confused. I know there is a loan repayment program for doctors that pays up to $80k in student loans plus a monthly stipend I believe. The thing is, I'm currently AD USAF and I want to go FL Air Guard after seperation to finish undergrad work. Can I apply for this program if I'm I'm accepted into Med school while I'm a drilling Guardsman? I don't want a break in service becase I'd like to retire early upon reaching my 20 yrs total serice. Would I be commissioned into the MSC upon starting Med school? I'll probably end up with a History degree so will that matter? It seems pretty complicated and the Guard site doesn't give very much info. and trying to get a hold of a Medical recruiter is almost impossible, especially in the FL Air Guard. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
A1cfox21 said:
Very informative post. I've researched the Air national guard option some but am still confused. I know there is a loan repayment program for doctors that pays up to $80k in student loans plus a monthly stipend I believe. The thing is, I'm currently AD USAF and I want to go FL Air Guard after seperation to finish undergrad work. Can I apply for this program if I'm I'm accepted into Med school while I'm a drilling Guardsman? I don't want a break in service becase I'd like to retire early upon reaching my 20 yrs total serice. Would I be commissioned into the MSC upon starting Med school? I'll probably end up with a History degree so will that matter? It seems pretty complicated and the Guard site doesn't give very much info. and trying to get a hold of a Medical recruiter is almost impossible, especially in the FL Air Guard. Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
-The loan repayment is post-residency and usually for primary care fields and EM, payback to Uncle Sam is for each year you recieve the $. It is like $10-20k/year. You can use this post being in the MSC program with the Guard too!
-Make sure after AD DC you are transfered directly into the Guard unit you plan on joining. However, keep in mind if you may be transfer into the inactive reserve status and will not incur a break in service unless you are going to recieve your Honorable Discharge.
-Yes you can apply while in the Guard, then once you START med-school you become an MSC officer (O-1 to start unless you hold a higher commision and then you will retain your current rank). Your first AT maybe officer basic for medical slugs.
-No matter what your BA/BS is in, you are a med student, but an unqualified, non-deployable assest.
-Also, I did not mention this on my last post, but if you sign-up for the MSC program in the Guard while in med school, once you finish, you do NOT owe them an obligation. Keep in mind though, everyone signs an 8 year commitment to Uncle Sam, so the rest will be on INACTIVE reserve status, unless your contract states otherwise.
-Lastly, ALWAYS READ YOUR CONTRACT!!! DO NOT TAKE ANYONES WORD FOR ANYTHING IN THE MILITARY. Not being negative, just 12 years experience talking...

Hope this helps
 
MountaineerDoc said:
-The loan repayment is post-residency and usually for primary care fields and EM, payback to Uncle Sam is for each year you recieve the $. It is like $10-20k/year. You can use this post being in the MSC program with the Guard too!
-Make sure after AD DC you are transfered directly into the Guard unit you plan on joining. However, keep in mind if you may be transfer into the inactive reserve status and will not incur a break in service unless you are going to recieve your Honorable Discharge.
-Yes you can apply while in the Guard, then once you START med-school you become an MSC officer (O-1 to start unless you hold a higher commision and then you will retain your current rank). Your first AT maybe officer basic for medical slugs.
-No matter what your BA/BS is in, you are a med student, but an unqualified, non-deployable assest.
-Also, I did not mention this on my last post, but if you sign-up for the MSC program in the Guard while in med school, once you finish, you do NOT owe them an obligation. Keep in mind though, everyone signs an 8 year commitment to Uncle Sam, so the rest will be on INACTIVE reserve status, unless your contract states otherwise.
-Lastly, ALWAYS READ YOUR CONTRACT!!! DO NOT TAKE ANYONES WORD FOR ANYTHING IN THE MILITARY. Not being negative, just 12 years experience talking...

Hope this helps
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info. This sounds like something I could definetely do. So I can go FL Air guard to finish my BA and then transfer into the MSC When I start Med school. Would I get anything during residency besides drill pay or is that where the stipend part kicks in? Once I finish my FP residenscy, I'd start getting the loan repayment, right? So maybe 4 yrs of that ($80k) then 4 yrs payback, right? That would put me past retirement time. That works out ok if I'm calculating right. 5 years AD, 2 drilling (BA work), 4 years med school, 3 residency, 4 yrs receiving loan repayment, 4 years payback= 22 years total service. That would only be 8 years of potential deployments. Would one be susceptible to deployments during residency status? I would think not since HPSPers aren't, I think. Anywho, thanks for the info. I think the Guard route is getting much more appealing as I see it. Please correct any of my above assumptions if they are incorrect. Thanks again.
 
A1cfox21 said:
Thanks for the info. This sounds like something I could definetely do. So I can go FL Air guard to finish my BA and then transfer into the MSC When I start Med school. Would I get anything during residency besides drill pay or is that where the stipend part kicks in? Once I finish my FP residenscy, I'd start getting the loan repayment, right? So maybe 4 yrs of that ($80k) then 4 yrs payback, right? That would put me past retirement time. That works out ok if I'm calculating right. 5 years AD, 2 drilling (BA work), 4 years med school, 3 residency, 4 yrs receiving loan repayment, 4 years payback= 22 years total service. That would only be 8 years of potential deployments. Would one be susceptible to deployments during residency status? I would think not since HPSPers aren't, I think. Anywho, thanks for the info. I think the Guard route is getting much more appealing as I see it. Please correct any of my above assumptions if they are incorrect. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
-Yes you can finish your BA in the Guard, then when accepted go into the MSC once you start med school
-If you do FP for residency you will get the stipend which currently is about $900-1000/mth, with a 1:1 payback.
-5 AD, 2 ANG, 4 MSC, 3 FP stipend (and still get drill pay), 4 loan with concurrent payback of FP stipend (you may only need to keep drilling to recieve loan repayment, not 100% sure if you would owe additional time), this brings you to 18, may or maynot owe 4 more which would bring you to 22 years. Thus you are correct with 8 years deployable (you are NOT deployable during residency).
-Retirement pay will not kick in until 60yoa, unless they change the law which they are throwing around.
-Also with deployments, right now if you do backfill, they are only 90 day rotations, pretty sweet, unless your whole medical unit gets activated, then you get the 1-2 year deployment. However, any 90 day rotations you may have performed during a certain time period counts towards your time.
-Yes it is a sweet deal, allows you to get some good extra $, stay off the radar for deployments during school & residency, not be jerked around as some of the HPSP'ers do, and serve your country.
-I have 8 years left, 4 med school (MSC), 4 residency (probably gas, so I will not get the stipend) non-deployable, then thanks but no thanks to any more with Uncle Sam. I've deployed twice during my AD days, so it will be bye-bye.

I hope this thread gives some people an alternative to going HPSP, or attempting to stay in another career field in the reserves during med school, and residency where they may be pulled out at a bad time...
 
I am a MS-2 and I got called up for deployment this past August. I had been placed in IRR status (Army) earlier this year and had not really thought much about deployment until my orders came in the mail. First, I freaked out, then I sent a packet requesting an exemption and letters in support of my reasons for the request. I asked for an exemption on grounds that I am in medical school. Fortunately, it was granted. A year from now they are going to reassess my situation and determine whether I will be granted a further exemption. I am due to ETS in March of 2006, so I do not really see a reason for them to deploy me at that time. My situation will still be same, only worse (3rd year). Plus, I will have only 4 months left in my enlistment. My advice is for no one in medical school to join the reserves unless they want their education disrupted.
 
chrisaina said:
I am due to ETS in March of 2006, so I do not really see a reason for them to deploy me at that time. My situation will still be same, only worse (3rd year). Plus, I will have only 4 months left in my enlistment. My advice is for no one in medical school to join the reserves unless they want their education disrupted.
Click to expand...

Think again... they can either bring you in for the needs of the Army if only for a few months, and if the choose to, extend/resind your enlistment for the needs of the Army. Ask around, they have done it before and they will do it again.

I would look into a congressional request to get this off of your back.

Again to anyone reading this thread, you can transfer or join the Guard (not the reserves... HPSP is the other option but you will be making a deal with the devil himself and he will own you) and prevent yourself from being deployed while in med school and residency.
 
MountaineerDoc said:
Think again... they can either bring you in for the needs of the Army if only for a few months, and if the choose to, extend/resind your enlistment for the needs of the Army. Ask around, they have done it before and they will do it again.

I would look into a congressional request to get this off of your back.

Again to anyone reading this thread, you can transfer or join the Guard (not the reserves... HPSP is the other option but you will be making a deal with the devil himself and he will own you) and prevent yourself from being deployed while in med school and residency.
Click to expand...


2 Words for you "chrisaina"

Stop Loss...

Been there , seen it , etc...
 
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