4-year Army HPSP vs 3-year AF HPSP

[SpecialPR]

I am late for the 4-year Air Force HPSP Program (my first option).

I was told that I can still apply in October for the 3-year AF scholarship. Does anyone know what my chances are of getting the 3-year spot v.s. a 4-year candidate in the AF if I apply on the first day?

I got offered the 4-year Army scholarship and even though Army is not really my thing, if the chances of the Air Force accepting me are low, I'll have to consider it.

I will apreciate your feedback

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[ArmyJawBreaker]

Army is not really my thing

I would love to hear the insight regarding the US Army Dental Corps not really being your thing if you have never shadowed or seen the everyday workings of what an Army dental officer experiences.

Waiting with baited breath.

 

[SpecialPR]

I haven't had experience with army or af dentists, except in a Veteran's Affairs Hospital as a volunteer.

Since you are in the Army, could you tell me an average of how long a deployment for a dentist could be? This is a question I still have'nt answered.

Or do you know the deployment time of a Army Dentist vs an AF Dentist?

Thanks

 

[del Sol DOHC]

I got offered the 4-year Army scholarship and even though Army is not really my thing, if the chances of the Air Force accepting me are low, I'll have to consider it.

The Air Force has the lowest number of scholarships and is the most competitive. They can afford to be extremely picky with who they select. The reason they are so competitive is because their recruiters tell everyone that the Air Force treats their people better, has a higher standard of living, and deploys less often than the other services. And, for enlisted service members, this is mostly true. But for dental officers, the standard of living and deployment frequency is overwhelmingly similar between the services. As far as standard of living, the vast majority of dentists choose to live off base, negating any differences there may or may not be. In regards to deployments, they are 6 months for both Army and Air Force, and many dentists in both services have never been deployed at all. It is all about the luck of the draw. I will have to agree with ArmyJawBreaker in thinking that the reason the Army is "not your thing" is because you don't really know much about it. It would be a shame to throw away a guaranteed 4 year scholarship, and then not be selected for a 3 year with the Air Force at all.

Source: I am a prior enlisted Air Force medic, who talked to and shadowed many dentists of different branches, and decided to go Navy.

 

[ArmyJawBreaker]

I haven't had experience with army or af dentists, except in a Veteran's Affairs Hospital as a volunteer.

Since you are in the Army, could you tell me an average of how long a deployment for a dentist could be? This is a question I still have'nt answered.

Or do you know the deployment time of a Army Dentist vs an AF Dentist?

Thanks

Being in the US Army for 8 years now, I have seen it all. The typical US Army Dental Corps officer with less than 4 years in the military has a 70% chance of deploying. The deployments nowadays are only 6 months, unless you are in a division slot and the deployments are 12 months. I know many, many guys who never deployed due to various reasons to include being a residency, physical conditions that inhibit deployment. As a matter of fact, my partner who is an oral surgeon along with myself at our hospital clinic has 8 years in the military and has NEVER deployed because he spent over 4 years of his 8 year tenure in the oral surgery residency. General dentists deploy at a higher rate than specialist because there are only a total of 3-4 oral surgeons deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan currently vs. tons more general dentists.

So would you ever deploy during your initial 4 year payback in the US Army, I would say over the past 4 years given the up tempo to the wars your chance would be roughly 60-70% possibility. But now that Iraq is going away soon, over the next 4 years I anticipate deployment to go down by the time you commissioned into the Dental Corps.

 

[krmower]

I am late for the 4-year Air Force HPSP Program (my first option).

I was told that I can still apply in October for the 3-year AF scholarship. Does anyone know what my chances are of getting the 3-year spot v.s. a 4-year candidate in the AF if I apply on the first day?

I got offered the 4-year Army scholarship and even though Army is not really my thing, if the chances of the Air Force accepting me are low, I'll have to consider it.

I will apreciate your feedback

If you are basing your whole decision on whether to join the Army or other service based upon whether you could deploy or not - don't join. Look at the public health service, Indian health services, or federal bureau of prisons.

If you join any of the services realize you could deploy, accept the fact, and DO NOT be one of those individuals that tries to get out of unpleasant things once you are active duty. If you are not willing to accept the risk - look at other options.

Why "settle" and come into an organization that you are going to be unhappy with. You will be happier if you don't as will the other dental officers that will have to serve with you.

 

[SpecialPR]

Thank you for your help. I don't mind being deployed. I know I'll be deployed. I am worried about the difference in deployment time periods in the Army and AF.

I though the deployments were longer in the Army, and if that were the case (being deployed for more than a year at a time), then I would have to really think about it. But I was surprised to read here that apparently the deployment time for dentists in the army are 6 months, which is fine.

Does anyone know if a AF dentist has been deployed for more than 6 months at a time?

 

[krmower]

Thank you for your help. I don't mind being deployed. I know I'll be deployed. I am worried about the difference in deployment time periods in the Army and AF.

I though the deployments were longer in the Army, and if that were the case (being deployed for more than a year at a time), then I would have to really think about it. But I was surprised to read here that apparently the deployment time for dentists in the army are 6 months, which is fine.

Does anyone know if a AF dentist has been deployed for more than 6 months at a time?

A small number of Army general dentists do deploy for 12 months (not specialists - including graduates of 2 yr AEGD). However, the majority go for 6 months.

 

[ArmyJawBreaker]

Thank you for your help. I don't mind being deployed. I know I'll be deployed. I am worried about the difference in deployment time periods in the Army and AF.

I though the deployments were longer in the Army, and if that were the case (being deployed for more than a year at a time), then I would have to really think about it. But I was surprised to read here that apparently the deployment time for dentists in the army are 6 months, which is fine.

Does anyone know if a AF dentist has been deployed for more than 6 months at a time?

As of right now, the only people that deploy for 12 months are the division dentists. For example, the 3rd Infantry Division has 4 brigades, thus 1 general dentist assigned to each brigade. The brigades are deployed right now and will be for a total of 12 months. Those specific dentists will be deployed for 12 months and will come home with their unit (brigade). Now that is a select few and there are many more general dentists who deploy with dental companies and they only deploy for 6 months now. Dental companies deploy in order to support dental health in the entire theater of operations. There are no greater than 12 month deployments in the US Army now. If you are a specialist, you deploy for a maximum of 6 months.

This the Army standard as of right now.

 

[AFDDS]

Thank you for your help. I don't mind being deployed. I know I'll be deployed. I am worried about the difference in deployment time periods in the Army and AF.

I though the deployments were longer in the Army, and if that were the case (being deployed for more than a year at a time), then I would have to really think about it. But I was surprised to read here that apparently the deployment time for dentists in the army are 6 months, which is fine.

Does anyone know if a AF dentist has been deployed for more than 6 months at a time?

The only dentists deploying for over 6 months have volunteered to do so. Most deployments are 6 months.

 

[SpecialPR]

Thanks for all your help.

If I went with the 3 year scholarship, how does this affect the "4-year plan"? Would I still become Captain when I graduate? or does the rank suffer? Do you still get the 20K bonus? Aren't you supposed to train for 4 summers?, how will this change with a 3 year scholarship?

 

[del Sol DOHC]

Thanks for all your help.

If I went with the 3 year scholarship, how does this affect the "4-year plan"? Would I still become Captain when I graduate? or does the rank suffer? Do you still get the 20K bonus? Aren't you supposed to train for 4 summers?, how will this change with a 3 year scholarship?

You will only train for 3 summers, instead of 4. You will still be an O-3 upon graduation, but you will only have a 3 year active duty obligation. If you take a 3 year scholarship with the $20,0000 accession bonus, you will have a 4 year active duty obligation.

 

[krmower]

Being in the US Army for 8 years now, I have seen it all. The typical US Army Dental Corps officer with less than 4 years in the military has a 70% chance of deploying. The deployments nowadays are only 6 months, unless you are in a division slot and the deployments are 12 months. I know many, many guys who never deployed due to various reasons to include being a residency, physical conditions that inhibit deployment. As a matter of fact, my partner who is an oral surgeon along with myself at our hospital clinic has 8 years in the military and has NEVER deployed because he spent over 4 years of his 8 year tenure in the oral surgery residency. General dentists deploy at a higher rate than specialist because there are only a total of 3-4 oral surgeons deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan currently vs. tons more general dentists.

So would you ever deploy during your initial 4 year payback in the US Army, I would say over the past 4 years given the up tempo to the wars your chance would be roughly 60-70% possibility. But now that Iraq is going away soon, over the next 4 years I anticipate deployment to go down by the time you commissioned into the Dental Corps.

Current deployment stats are:
about 50% of Army dentists have deployed.
about 35% of Army dental Captain's have deployed (guys in their first 6 yrs out of school)

I also expect deployment numbers to drop.

 

[AirborneDentist]

Air force dentists rarely deploy. In 19 months of deployment, I never saw one air force dentist. They always came to us for dental care. I had several friends in the air force who also told me they rarely deploy. If you are at all concerned about deployments whether it be length or deploying at all....do not do army. Deploying is a great experience though that makes you a better dentist and is very fulfilling.

 

[AFDDS]

Air force dentists rarely deploy. In 19 months of deployment, I never saw one air force dentist. They always came to us for dental care. I had several friends in the air force who also told me they rarely deploy. If you are at all concerned about deployments whether it be length or deploying at all....do not do army. Deploying is a great experience though that makes you a better dentist and is very fulfilling.

This is highly dependent on where you are. When I was deployed, I was the only dentist for the area and had more Army pts than Air Force.

 

[Roto Picante]

There is no way to know if you will receive the 3 yr AF scholarship this year. From what I hear, this last year was very competitive and many great candidates were passed over.

 

[Koogy]

The Air Force has the lowest number of scholarships and is the most competitive. They can afford to be extremely picky with who they select. The reason they are so competitive is because their recruiters tell everyone that the Air Force treats their people better, has a higher standard of living, and deploys less often than the other services. And, for enlisted service members, this is mostly true. But for dental officers, the standard of living and deployment frequency is overwhelmingly similar between the services. As far as standard of living, the vast majority of dentists choose to live off base, negating any differences there may or may not be. In regards to deployments, they are 6 months for both Army and Air Force, and many dentists in both services have never been deployed at all. It is all about the luck of the draw. I will have to agree with ArmyJawBreaker in thinking that the reason the Army is "not your thing" is because you don't really know much about it. It would be a shame to throw away a guaranteed 4 year scholarship, and then not be selected for a 3 year with the Air Force at all.

Source: I am a prior enlisted Air Force medic, who talked to and shadowed many dentists of different branches, and decided to go Navy.

Del Sol, I know your post is quite old (2010) but I wanted to ask you, why did you decide on Navy? Are you commissioned by now? If so, any regrets? What are the best /worst parts about being in the Navy?

Many Thanks

 

[del Sol DOHC]

Del Sol, I know your post is quite old (2010) but I wanted to ask you, why did you decide on Navy? Are you commissioned by now? If so, any regrets? What are the best /worst parts about being in the Navy?

Many Thanks

Yes, I am commissioned and active duty with the Navy now. It was an easy choice. Air Force did not have the 20k bonus that the Army and Navy did. I decided on the Navy because they had better base locations (coastal) than the other branches. Plus, it didn't hurt that the Navy has the best looking uniforms! Hahaha. No regrets.

Best part of the Navy for me is getting to work with the Marine Corps (others might say serving on a ship, but I haven't done that yet). Worst part of the Navy is the same worst part of any military branch: bureaucracy and people in leadership positions who shouldn't be.

 

[wodehouse]

I had a similar situation five years ago when I applied for the scholarships. I could wait for a shot at the AF or accept the Army. I accepted and I have never regretted it. I am in residency now, and it's great! It's all the military, so if you're okay with that the service doesn't matter nearly as much as making that first choice.