Air Force, Navy, Or Army?

[coolen2000]

what do you guys think about military paying for tutition?

pros vs cons.....thanks

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[STARCITY]

what do you guys think about military paying for tutition?

pros vs cons.....thanks

Pros: Free tuition and small monthly check. They bring you in as an officer(big **** in my opinion, probably big deal to those who arent an officer).



Cons: Everytime you have vacation during dental school you will have to report and go do something for the military, they will own your @zz for 6-8 years afterwards and tell you exactly where you have to live and work, and you may have to go work overseas in a combat zone. Also, after school you will work at a reduced government salary(thats where they come out ahead).



I for one would rather have a loan(no matter the size) and start a family, buy a sports car, start my own practice and have a normal life.

 

[fightingspirit]

what do you guys think about military paying for tutition?

pros vs cons.....thanks

if you are str8, then go for it: it's a great way to not only become a dentist but also to develop your time management skills and discipline. also, all three of them are respectable and important institutions that kinda make you look sexy among your peers. not to mention the fact that you'll end up being in a great physical shape. if i were a citizen or a green card holder, i'd totally do it in a heartbeat. if you are gay, then you should stay away or do a heck of a good job hiding it.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

I hear the Air Force has the best conditions and the best perks. I don't know any specifics but people always say that they give the best quality of life. I think Army uniforms look better though. Air Force is all blue.

 

[STARCITY]

I hear the Air Force has the best conditions and the best perks. I don't know any specifics but people always say that they give the best quality of life. I think Army uniforms look better though. Air Force is all blue.

great advice, make decisions based on color.

 

[mochafreak]

I hear the Air Force has the best conditions and the best perks. I don't know any specifics but people always say that they give the best quality of life. I think Army uniforms look better though. Air Force is all blue.

My brother's been Air Force and Air National Guard and they wear cammies to work...I believe the blue is dress uniform.

 

[STARCITY]

My brother's been Air Force and Air National Guard and they wear cammies to work...I believe the blue is dress uniform.

Yea I was talkin with my friend the other day and I said I sure do like blue so instead of going into the army I think Ill join the air force......

 

[wpeck]

Cons: Everytime you have vacation during dental school you will have to report and go do something for the military, they will own your @zz for 6-8 years afterwards and tell you exactly where you have to live and work, and you may have to go work overseas in a combat zone. Also, after school you will work at a reduced government salary(thats where they come out ahead).

Is it really 6-8 years? I thought it was 3-4?

 

[EyeAmCommi]

Cammies? really? I must be mistaken

 

[coolslugs]

Whatever you decide, do not take HPSP just for the money. At least do it because you want to experience the military life and/or respect its customs and courtesies.

To answer your question, I would choose the Air Force because I can not see myself being assigned to a ship or close to the ground troops. Every branch has its own distinctive style. You really have to be hardcore to survive in the Army, even just being a dentist.

 

[crazy_sherm]

Is it really 6-8 years? I thought it was 3-4?

It's one year of active duty for each year of school they pay for, plus one year of reserve-type duty for each year you serve. But I hear the reserve duty portion varies, some people are regular weekend warriors and others only get called up if WWIII breaks out.

Whatever you decide, do not take HPSP just for the money. At least do it because you want to experience the military life and/or respect its customs and courtesies.

To answer your question, I would choose the Air Force because I can not see myself being assigned to a ship or close to the ground troops. Every branch has its own distinctive style. You really have to be hardcore to survive in the Army, even just being a dentist.

I hear Air Force is the most competitive, then Navy and Army last. A lot of guys that wanted to do Air Force at school only qualified for 2 years. Navy seems to be the most popular at UOP among the military brats. Its funny because noone goes to the Army recruit meetings at school, so the reps try to make it sound cool. Word is, it kinda sucks though.

One of my instructors is a Navy commander. He's had to go to Iraq twice so far. He showed us pictures of him working in a tented operatory in the middle of the desert. Not much water there for a boat.

 

[coolslugs]

One of my instructors is a Navy commander. He's had to go to Iraq twice so far. He showed us pictures of him working in a tented operatory in the middle of the desert. Not much water there for a boat.

Yeah, thanks for reminding me. Marine units do not have their own medical personnel...the Navy provides it for them. Therefore, navy dentists can be assigned to marine units.

 

[PDizzle]

As Crazy said, it's one year of service for every year of financial help they give you.

Remember one thing about the military. When you join up, no matter how many years of active duty you think you are signing up for, you are actually joining for 8 years. Those years can be either active duty, active reserve or inactive reserve.

Active reserve is where you do one weekend/month and 2 weeks in summer.

Inactive reserve is nothing but they can call you back in whenever they want.

Keep that in mind because your recruiter will probably leave that part out!

I considered doing this if I went to a private (expensive) school like USC or UoP. If I got into UCSF/UCLA I would take loans.

I've been in the military for several years so I know what to expect.

As far as going to Iraq or any other war, you will be in little or no danger. I never heard of a combat dentist, in the front lines doing a root canal on soldiers while bullets are whizzing by. You will be, "in the rear with the gear" so to speak.

 

[786mine]

pros: you get paid while you go to school, you have no student loans. when you graduate you have a job waiting for you with a salary. you don't have to worry about liability or any of that insurance. you get also get military discount.

cons: for $200,000 (school cost for 4 years say), you are giving up 8 years of your life. you have basically no control of major life decisions. if you are married, you better talk it through with your wife/husband. you have little fear of dying in a combat zone, however you will be asked to serve there for x moths/years. active or inactive or reserve, whatever it may be, i must say that you do become lazy - i say that because you are told every day what to do, you don't have much decision making power and so eventually you just "rott" away.

if you have no moral objection about the govt's decision on going to wars etc, then join the army. if you are "cheap" and think for the long run, the military is great. if you are thinking for the now, get loans. lets us know what you decide. have you even got in somewhere or is this all hypotechical?

 

[tinman831]

If you are thinking about joining the armed forces strictly to pay off your loans, its not worth it. They'd own your soul you are done with school. On the other hand, if you are already considering enlisting or are already enlisted, than this would be great for you.

Here is a REALLY good thread on scholarships and the armed forces.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=245394&highlight=army+navy

 

[MC4]

I have been an officer in the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) for three years now. I am using the Army HPSP scholarship to go to dental school. I have seen Army docs and dentists work in garrison and deployed. If you have specific questions, I may be able to answer them for you. Most of my time observing has been with Army dentists.

 

[BigRedDentist]

There are a lot of threads on this issue already.

I am in the Air Force 4 year HPSP. If you have any questions please PM me.

Good luck.

 

[pmoney]

AF definitely has best quality of life and is of course considered the chair force but as a dentist in today's force you will probably be working pretty hard, its not as cushy as it was 15-20 yrs ago, so take what the old timers who did HPSP back then with a grain of salt.

I would never go squid, who wants to sit on an f-ing carrier for 6 months?

As for Army, you might get posted in bum****, georgia but promotions are ridciulously easier in the Army than the AF, which if you aint a pilot you aint shiet. While that's not really the case, the AF already is like what 50% officers, so just watch for that.

I'd say army with AF close second.

And you realize that though they pay for D school (I am seriously considering it when I get there), you forego 4yrs (+ residency + more payback) in terms of real earnings potential. With interest rates at what they are, economically it may not be what it is made out to be. But if you end up liking the service life and are willing to stick out 20 yrs, it is a damn good job .

 

[THO]

one year in the navy heres what i see as pros/cons

PROS: Patient load is a lot less that my buddies on the outside ( i average about 8-9 patients a day while my buddies outside average around 25-30) A little less stress, the fact that you can work at a slower pace; a lot of specialists around especially if youre at a big clinic and you run into a problem; good experience (you get pretty good at extracting wisdom teeth)

CONS: pay sucks, don't have the freedom in terms of your schedule, you have to deal with all the military stuff/politics, you'll be deployed either on a ship for 6 months at a time, sent to places like Iraq for 6 months, or be overseas for two years, and you have duty once in a while

 

[coolen2000]

thank you for your replies

does anyone know about

salary?
benefits?
housing?
living expenses?
health insurance?
retirement?
pension?

 

[tissy]

I think I've posted this before but here it goes again... I'm a dental assistant in the Air Force and have been for the past 8 years. I will be applying to dental school in May; I'm so jazzed. Anyways, I think that the Air Force offers many opportunities such as specializing, working in huge dental clinics with 30+ dentist, and living all over the world. I've worked with plenty of dentist and can tell you that only a couple of them were unhappy. The ones that were unhappy seemed to be the ones who would hide in their office so they wouldn't have to see a sickcall patient...meaning they were lazy and could careless about anything in life. There are so many good things to say about the air force but don’t want to bore ya! However, there are pros and cons. I think the main con is deploying and overworking. (which is very rare but can happen) For example, I was overseas during September 11th and was pulled out of dental assisting to be a security guard for our medical building. What I mean by that is you will be a dentist but they can technically use you anywhere they need to. Another thing is they can send you anywhere they want. For example, when training comes up and they don't offer it where your currently stationed, you will have to leave to the nearest base where they have that training. It's fun experience for the most part....

 

[OSU_DentGirl]

I have been an officer in the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) for three years now. I am using the Army HPSP scholarship to go to dental school. I have seen Army docs and dentists work in garrison and deployed. If you have specific questions, I may be able to answer them for you. Most of my time observing has been with Army dentists.

I was just commissioned as an officer in AMEDD two days ago, and am attending OBC in June. Any advice on what to expect? Where have you gone to see the Dentist observations? What school do you go to now?

 

[tissy]

thank you for your replies

does anyone know about

salary?
benefits?
housing?
living expenses?
health insurance?
retirement?
pension?

I'll pm you the salary which is I'm estimating around 80,000 to "sit around and travel" j/k..but the benefits/housing/living expenses/health insurances are free.... I've had friends get breast plants and lips done in san antonio..just to give you an ideal of the health insurance. Retirement is a choice you can choose to be deducted from your salary.

 

[stryder]

I've noticed a lot of negativity toward the HPSP, with people saying they would rather have debt and what not. I'm looking at attending USC where total expenses are projected at $330,000 and by the time I pay that debt off it will be more like 6-8 hundred thousand. To me the army seems worth it looking at those numbers. What do you guys think?

Also, I keep hearing that the Air Force is better. I was under the impression that they only offer 3 year scholarships unless you graduated from the Air Force Academy. Is that true or not?

 

[eric275]

I've noticed a lot of negativity toward the HPSP, with people saying they would rather have debt and what not. I'm looking at attending USC where total expenses are projected at $330,000 and by the time I pay that debt off it will be more like 6-8 hundred thousand. To me the army seems worth it looking at those numbers. What do you guys think?

Also, I keep hearing that the Air Force is better. I was under the impression that they only offer 3 year scholarships unless you graduated from the Air Force Academy. Is that true or not?

The Air Force is now offering 4 year HPSP scholarships, I guess it's fairly new according to the recruiters. A couple of guys in my class recieved them.

I agree with you in that attending expensive schools makes the HPSP scholarships more appealing.

Some rough numbers from my school:
- Tuition + Fee's = 55,000 x 4years = ~$220,000
- ~$1200/month stipend + 45 days Active duty pay ~$14,000 x 4 = $56,000
- 4 years active duty pay @ ~$80,000/ year = $320,000
- Not to mention the value of 30 days paid vacation, health insurance, etc..

It's ~$600k in compensation for a 4 year active duty comittment plus 4 years inactive reserve not to mention the fact that your debt free. I think it's a pretty good deal.

Best of luck in your decision and make sure you do as much research as possible about the HPSP scholarships and the branches of service. Better to find out now and make an informed decision than find out later and hate it. Just know that there are no absolutes in the military. What someone experienced two years ago or today could be totally different than your experience will be, for better or worse.

 

[coolen2000]

how competititive is it to get a HPSP award?

if you don't qualify for the beginning of dental school (due to a low GPA), can you reapply and get reimbursed (with the interest from loans) for the your second year if you make it the second time ?


what the most popular bases and hardest to be stationed at?

 

[virginiabeach]

The navy offers the HSCP scholarship as well. This is a scholarship that people with not so high tuition costs could consider. With this scholarship, you are considered active duty E-6 while in school and recieve E-6 pay grade (with possible E-7 upgrade) as well as housing allowance, food allowance, and dental and medical benefits for you and your immediate family. You don't wear uniforms or do anything during the summers while you are in school. After your four years of school your rank is raised to O-3E which is about $1000/month more than just the O-3 pay grade you recieve with HPSP, because you already have 4 years or active duty service under your belt which you accumulate while in school. Another great thing about this scholarship is that your can use the Active Duty Mongomery GI Bill after two years. So basically, you get an extra ~$1100 a month to pay towards tuition on top of your monthly pay check. You only can use this GI bill after two years of active duty so it would be your D-3 and D-4 years. This offer sounded too good to be true to me. Ive done a lot of research about the scholarship and have a bunch of links and a budget worked up. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[grmaster1]

You don't wear uniforms or do anything during the summers while you are in school.

If it sounds too good to be true--it most likely is!

You have to take and pass a Navy physical readiness test twice a year,

be within body fat standards at all times,

talk to your recruiter and meet with them on a monthly basis,

maintain a 3.0 GPA, and send it to your recruiter every semester/quarter while in school...

So, there are some contingencies to this program...

 

[dexadental]

I know a little about the Navy scholarship, my application is being processed currently...just need to finish the required bloodwork! Its a great deal if you look at it in the long term. I see it as a way to come out after 4 years with great qualifications, and then take loans to start my own practice or do a specialty. Over 1200/month stipend for living and expenses, and all tuition, fees, and books paid for by the Navy. Not a bad deal at all...especially for someone like me...attending Nova this fall.

 

[BigRedDentist]

talk to your recruiter and meet with them on a monthly basis,

I dont have to meet with my recruiter on a monthly basis, just log into the AFIT website

 

[pmoney]

how competititive is it to get a HPSP award?

if you don't qualify for the beginning of dental school (due to a low GPA), can you reapply and get reimbursed (with the interest from loans) for the your second year if you make it the second time ?


what the most popular bases and hardest to be stationed at?

If you have the required gpa and dat, getting a hpsp is a joke. They need so many bodies right now they are taking everyone. I don't know how it works with a min GPA while in d school.

The APFT is also a joke, passing that is very easy. Getting a good score might take a tad bit more effort and training...I don't know how hard it is to get in good workouts in dental school but I am sure it is somewhat possible.


And you will end up in korea or some other undesirable place before you end up in Germany unless you are one lucky bastard.

 

[BigRedDentist]

If you have the required gpa and dat, getting a hpsp is a joke. They need so many bodies right now they are taking everyone. I don't know how it works with a min GPA while in d school.

The APFT is also a joke, passing that is very easy. Getting a good score might take a tad bit more effort and training...I don't know how hard it is to get in good workouts in dental school but I am sure it is somewhat possible.


And you will end up in korea or some other undesirable place before you end up in Germany unless you are one lucky bastard.

You also have to pass the physical test and I believe maintain above a 3.0 while in school. Also, for your first deployment, three years, you have to be in the continental US and have to sign another commitement if you decide that for your fourth year you want to go abroad.

 

[coolslugs]

If you have the required gpa and dat, getting a hpsp is a joke. They need so many bodies right now they are taking everyone. I don't know how it works with a min GPA while in d school.

What is the required gpa and dat?

 

[dexadental]

For the Navy, my officer recruiter who I am going through told me 3.0 and 18. I far exceed that with a really high GPA and 20 on my DAT as most people do as well. Like someone said before, the military is starving for dentists and health professionals. When I got my bloodwork done down in Tampa, three other students were with me, a girl doing pharmacy, a guy going to Univeristy of Miami for med school next fall, and another guy doing dentistry from USF. I think the military option is a good deal if you are really concerned about debt, and don't mind the sacrifice.

 

[pmoney]

What is the required gpa and dat?

Someone who is in the program would be able to better help you out, but iirc it was about 18 for the DAT when I talked to an army healthcare recruiter a year ago.

 

[coolraz]

Someone who is in the program would be able to better help you out, but iirc it was about 18 for the DAT when I talked to an army healthcare recruiter a year ago.

LOL. If you got less than a 3.0 and less than an 18, how did you get into dental school in the first place? (I know, I know there's exceptions, more power to you but still....).
Do you know if the military makes you sign a contract where all the terms are clearly spelled out or is it kinda like "Oookay I sign here where it says Me go military and y'all take care of the rest right?"

 

[dexadental]

You aren't tied down to anything. If you back out, you owe the military the money they spent on you (for everything...tuition/stipend/all that). Sounds fun doesn't it? Just don't back out if you do it.

 

[BigRedDentist]

LOL. If you got less than a 3.0 and less than an 18, how did you get into dental school in the first place? (I know, I know there's exceptions, more power to you but still....).
Do you know if the military makes you sign a contract where all the terms are clearly spelled out or is it kinda like "Oookay I sign here where it says Me go military and y'all take care of the rest right?"

Yup, the contract is about 20 pages long.

 

[thewince7]

A rumor i heard about the army scholarship is that they dont send you to places like iraq (warzone area) unless you want to go there and you get an increase in pay. Someone looking at the army said there was a clause about that. Another thing, does anyone know when the navy deadline is. I am also curious to know if in the navy you get to choose to fulfull your duty on the base or if normally everyone gets duty on a ship.

 

[Lidopaine82]

A rumor i heard about the army scholarship is that they dont send you to places like iraq (warzone area) unless you want to go there and you get an increase in pay. Someone looking at the army said there was a clause about that. Another thing, does anyone know when the navy deadline is. I am also curious to know if in the navy you get to choose to fulfull your duty on the base or if normally everyone gets duty on a ship.

the army will send you wherever they need you. but since you're a dentist its not like you are on the front lines. Look on the brightside, if you go to bahgdad you could work on high value detainees. this dentist i work with in the guard went over and filled two cavities on Sadam. ...he has gingavitis by the way