Anyone is working as an Army Reserve Pharmacist in So Cal?

[ice712]

With retail employment getting worse and worse, I was thinking about being an army pharmacist; however, I didn't know if doable.

Is anyone familiar with this? I am not available to relocate but it looks like they place you to the unit max. 50 mile to home. It also mentioned about serving 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks during summer. What about the rest of the days?

Anyone knows? any input is appreciated!

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[zona2016]

@BC_89 might be able to help with this one, however joining the military is a very important decision that is not for everyone and requires a lot of thought and information gathering.

 

[Saiyo]

The rest of the time you work your dayjob. It's not a full time thing.

 

[ice712]

@BC_89 might be able to help with this one, however joining the military is a very important decision that is not for everyone and requires a lot of thought and information gathering.

I agree

 

[BC_89]

Is anyone familiar with this? I am not available to relocate but it looks like they place you to the unit max. 50 mile to home. It also mentioned about serving 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks during summer. What about the rest of the days?

On this merit alone I would not consider it. Albeit its reserves, your would be coming in as a commissioned healthcare officer. Presuming your talking about army reserves, the training itself is "fulltime" at Fort Sam Houston located in San Antonio, TX by which you undergo your own version of "basic training" designed for healthcare professionals. This fulltime status will take over a month away from your family.

As a reservist, you can see yourself "backfilling" for those active duty pharmacists who may be separated from their "home base" for field training or deployments and you'll be required to fill in the gap for as long as it takes. Also, despite how rare some may say it is now a days, deployment is always there:

PROFIS - Wikipedia

With the latest cutbacks in healthcare professionals within the different branches, I would recommend to either go active duty and collect what loan forgiveness and lump sum they still have to offer or stay clear of it for the time being (that is, if you haven't done enough research on it I wouldn't consider the reserves if relocation is a problem for you).

 

[SCRph2014]

We have a reserve pharmacist working for my company that was just recently deployed to the middle East for 11 months.

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[mentos]

I don't see how anyone is unable to relocate in this job market.

 

[APN-59 rph]

We have a reserve pharmacist working for my company that was just recently deployed to the middle East for 11 months.

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Combat Druggist..."all thru the battle he counted"

 

[ice712]

We have a reserve pharmacist working for my company that was just recently deployed to the middle East for 11 months.

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I was concerning about this too

 

[right500]

I believe the board just met for this year so you have time to consider your decision. I would say reach out to an AMEDD recruiter now and start your packet in the Spring if you are still interested. Active duty pay is competitive with civilian pay when you consider the housing allowance and free benefits. Your reservist training would be a month at Fort Sill and then either 3 or 8 weeks at Fort Sam Houston (the Army might get rid of the short course for reservists) in 2021. A lot of the information about this training on internet boards is out of date because "Big Army" TRADOC is taking over. I can attest that new Army pharmacists are combat trained. No more gentleman's course BOLC; now we get 72 hour continuous operations exercises, live fire, et cetera, et cetera. It's not Infantry BOLC or Ranger level training obviously (for example: we sleep in tents the first two field weeks) but nothing to sneeze at either.

 

[ice712]

I believe the board just met for this year so you have time to consider your decision. I would say reach out to an AMEDD recruiter now and start your packet in the Spring if you are still interested. Active duty pay is competitive with civilian pay when you consider the housing allowance and free benefits. Your reservist training would be a month at Fort Sill and then either 3 or 8 weeks at Fort Sam Houston (the Army might get rid of the short course for reservists) in 2021. A lot of the information about this training on internet boards is out of date because "Big Army" TRADOC is taking over. I can attest that new Army pharmacists are combat trained. No more gentleman's course BOLC; now we get 72 hour continuous operations exercises, live fire, et cetera, et cetera. It's not Infantry BOLC or Ranger level training obviously (for example: we sleep in tents the first two field weeks) but nothing to sneeze at either.

Very informative! Thank you so much!

 

[ValeRx]

When I spoke with an AMEDD recruiter this year, their mission was one pharmacist, so it's not like you just apply and get it. Times have changed.

 

[fistbumpsgalore]

I just got off the OML for the reserve slot in so cal. waiting on assignment orders.

We have a reserve pharmacist working for my company that was just recently deployed to the middle East for 11 months.

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How is your company handling his long term leave? I'm pretty worried that my org is going to find a way to give me the boot and replace me if I deployed for that long.

 

[SCRph2014]

I just got off the OML for the reserve slot in so cal. waiting on assignment orders.




How is your company handling his long term leave? I'm pretty worried that my org is going to find a way to give me the boot and replace me if I deployed for that long.

To my knowledge, military leave has slightly different rules than regular FMLA leave. His position is technically being held. Staff pharmacist got "promoted" to his position and a floater is filling in the staff position for the year. However, our upper management has used some language implying they are long term looking to fill the position (saying things like "IF he comes back" rather than "when he comes back" etc)

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