Sarah9, I sincerely apologize for offending you. In my defense my last post was a joke, thus the smiley face and wink emoticons. The Secretary of Defense of the United States, 2nd in the military chain of command behind only the President, did not, in fact call me and order to me shut up about my stats, nor did he threaten to have me shot if I disobeyed that order. This was a joke meant to be self deprecating and offered as an apology to all those I have pissed off with my neuroticism.
As to your questions, I would be happy to help as I have been obsessivley researching the different branches of the service.
Air Force:
Pros:
-The most comfortable bases, (the joke in the military is that they design the golf course first and build the rest of the base around it).
-Shortest deployments, about 3-4 months long, then its back to your home base.
Cons:
-Smallest Service, which means the smallest # of specialty residencies and research slots. If you don't match into a residency you do a GMO tour as a flight surgeon. After a GMO tour, 2 years, your odds of matching in the second time go up dramatically.
-Worst Base locations, I have heard that many FPs and IMs, (who matched in the first round of residencies) are miserable because they stationed in wasteland locations such as Idaho, and Minot, North Dakota. Apparently the bases are built far from cities and towns to minimize damage should a plane crash, but this means that you are pretty much stuck on base with only whatever entertainment they have.
Navy:
Pros: Nicest base locations, almost all are coastal including fabulous areas such as San Diego, Pearl Harbor and some in Florida, (also guam is nice for an overseas deployment).
-Lots of specialties, this is the second largest branch and has almost as many residencies as Army, (some specialties such as Rads, it exactly the same) This probably refers also to research spots, although I am sure with ASAAMRID, army has more.
Neutral: 6-7 month deployments, potentially aboard a ship. This may be an adventure for some, hell for others, depends on your mindset. Sea sickness isn't a real problem because of the size of the ships, in case you do get sick they have drugs for that.
Cons: 2/3 of GME1s do GMO tour rather than go straight through to resdiency, unless you are doing FP or IM, which it sounds like you are not. As long as you don't mind doing a GMO you should eventually get into the specialty you want, including research.
Army:
Pros: Biggest branch so the most specialties, oppertunities for research. This is an important consideration for most, since most med students change their minds about what residency they want to pursue during 3,4th years.
USAAMRID- specifically a great reseach oppertunity, don't know if other braches have their own version of this.
Cons: Longest deployments, 12-14 months, bases are located in places such as Texas, Ohio and a lot of other inter continental sites. Its not as bad as AF, (as I understand it) because they are built close to towns and cities, so you can go off base and enjoy civilian recreational facilities such as night clubs, movie theaters, ect. Also keep in mind that Army has the most bases, so despite some crappy ones, they also have nice ones in California and even Hawaii, (FP residency there).
BUT keep in mind that Army bases are the oldest and not as plush as AF.
Conclusion: IN AF you are most likely to face comfortable bases, though many are located in isolated wastelands and with less oppertunity for choosing a non primary care specialty, or research. You will be deployed for less time but may spend your time wishing you were practicing in another specialty.
In Navy their are plenty of oppertunities for specializing, as long as you are willing to do a GMO tour, but the base locations are fantastic. You may be deployed on a ship, which may or maynot be your cup of tea but you can communicate with family and friends on a daily basis, even aboard ship.
The army has the oldest bases and you may find their location undesirable and deployments are long, but if you have the right mindset, (that you will be deployed in any branch and take it as an oppertunity for adventure and personal growth) you will be rewarded with the greatest chance to do what you love, (specialty) and have the best chance at doing research, such as at the US Army Advanced Research into Infectious Disease Research Base, (USAAMRID).
From what you described about yourself, (that doing research is the most important thing for you) I would agree that you probably want to choose the Army route.
Here is the website with great data regarding the number of specialties in each of the branches.
http://www.militarygme.org/4.html
Hope this helps and sorry again about the misunderstanding regarding my joke. I honestly meant no offense and I apologize for being so inconsiderate to reapplicants, those with lower scores and non traditional path students.
As I have said to teacherman84, I realize that stats can't tell you about quality of a doctor and I am sure you are a highly qualified and wonderful person who will contribute much to the medical profession, especially if you plan to pursue research.
I have always been in awe of those with the academic and mental acumen to do medical research, as I haven't got the chops for it and so i defer to you, my intellectual superior and beg your forgiveness for the insult you recieved.
As I have sworn on the military medical USUHS thread, I shall not speak of my stats again and as I have promised on this thread, (and as ordered by Robert Gates
🙂 I shall calm down and help my fellow USUHS hopefuls by shareing any and all knowledge I have learned regarding USUHS and mil med and by supporting the efforts of all who apply and post on these forums.
Sorry again and thank you for your patience and understanding. Please have a wonderful week, a terrific summer and may you and yours know only health, joy and prosperity in the days to come.
Sincerely,
XMSR3
