am i qualified for residency in the navy?

[anatomy1]

hi! im just new in this forum..i hope that you can help me with the informations that i need..im a foreign medical graduate, already passed usmle step 1 and currently reviewing for step 2, im a US permanent resident. im thinking of joining the navy as an enlisted, my question is if i pass all the usmle steps and eventually have a medical license, will i be qualified to apply in residency programs? if yes, will i be required to have medical experience here in US? i do not have a US clinical experience and already have 4 years gap from my graduation year. i will greatly appreciate informations that you can share, thank you.🙂

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[colbgw02]

All U.S. military physicians are officers. To be an officer you must be a U.S. citizen. So, no, as a permanent resident, you are not qualified for residency in the navy.

 

[anatomy1]

colbgw02,

hi! thanx for replying. anyway, i was informed by a recruiter that once i get in any branch of military, i can file for US citizenship .now, if i already have medical license and is already a US citizen, shall this make me eligible for applying for residency?

 

[colbgw02]

It's true that many non-citizens use the military as a path to citizenship, but you need to be very leary of whatever this recruiter is telling you. Necessarily, he/she is referring to joining the military by enlisting, which is fundamentally different from being an officer. Even with a degree, the relevant licenses, and U.S. citizenship, you would still have a signed contract obligating you to service as enlisted personnel. There is very little reason to trust that the Navy would automatically let you become an officer and practice medicine. I'm not saying it's impossible, but, as a physician, I would not want to obligate myself for several years of service just hoping that the military figures out that you're much more useful as a doctor than as a diesel engine repairman.

 

[IgD]

You could join as a contractor and get paid more🙂

 

[Gastrapathy]

colbgw02,

hi! thanx for replying. anyway, i was informed by a recruiter that once i get in any branch of military, i can file for US citizenship .now, if i already have medical license and is already a US citizen, shall this make me eligible for applying for residency?

I know of someone who did exactly this 20 years ago. You would have to take an initial enlistment of at least 2 years (there are some shorter enlistments now) and get citizenship. Then you could apply to any residency in or out of the military. Enlisting as a path to citizenship would not require you to do a military residency but do not expect that they would break the period of your initial enlistment to allow you to apply. Also, since you are already a permanent resident, you can apply for civilian residency now. Also, if you are already 4 years out, spending a few years chipping paint could be problematic for completing all 3 steps in time.

 

[anatomy1]

thank you for all the infos..this is the reason why i registerd in this forum, to get more truthful infos because i'm assuming that if i only listen to the recruiter, he/she may tell me everything to make me join,that's their job. im in so much dilemma, because i also need the citizenship for a very personal reason..im choosing of joining the navy and get the citizenship right away, but not being able to finish all mle steps in the right time plus a record of a non medical job on my cv(because being a foreign md is not qualified in the hospital corpsman in the enlisted) or not join the navy, work while reviewing for the usmle chances of finishing all the mle steps in the right time is better but wait for several years before i have my citizenship..this is a ver hard decision for me, and i cant focus reviewing.

 

[DocGene]

colbgw02 is correct. You need to be a US citizen to be a Navy Officer. The Navy will only accept you into the Medical Corps if you are a US med school grad. You would probably make a great Corpsman, but if you've already sat for the Step 1, enlisted Navy would be a huge waste of your time in my opinion. I'm in the Navy HPSP and I really like it. It's definitely not for everyone though. Keep moving towards step 2!!

 

[NavyFP]

The Navy will only accept you into the Medical Corps if you are a US med school grad.

Not true. FMGs can join the Medical Corps after they are licensed and have completed a US accredited residency program.

 

[DocGene]

Good to know. I guess it is only the HPSP that requires a US school. I know that's true for sure. I know of 2 people that went off shore to Ross and couldn't get in the HPSP.

 

[NavyFP]

Good to know. I guess it is only the HPSP that requires a US school. I know that's true for sure. I know of 2 people that went off shore to Ross and couldn't get in the HPSP.

yes, that is true.