Anyone married to a civilian doc?

[DocFrog]

---

Members do not see this ad.

My husband is a 3rd year Navy HPSPer and I am a 4th year civilian. I have heard all manner of (baloney) information from military recruiters, but I want to know if there is anyone out there who is married to a civilian doc. I would like to know how much the Navy will actually consider the non-military spouse's job as far as deployments.

Also, has anyone's non-military spouse ever worked for DOD on overseas PCSes? I'm a D.O. going into EM, if that impacts it at all.

Thanks!

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

I would like to know how much the Navy will actually consider the non-military spouse's job as far as deployments.

Two words: they won't. You, as a civilian, are not considered at all in decisions regarding your husband. This includes PCS, deployments, etc. They don't give a rat's rectum about you or your career unless you are a waitress or cashier. If you are a doctor, lawyer, business woman...learn to either give up your career or live separate form your husband.

 

[FutureNavyFP]

Unfortunately I have to agree. As a civilian spouse you will be listed on DEERS and hopefully as the recipient of his SGLI 🙄 and that's about it. What you do for employment wont be mentioned or considered for anything else.

 

[navdoc47]

Every single military doc I know who is married to a civilian doc wishes they had never signed up for HPSP - they get out as soon as they can.

The military could care less what the civilian spouse does, and it has no bearing on your deployment schedule or where you will PCS.

If you're a civilian ER doc, you can work at US hospitals fairly easily (obviously). But if your husband PCS's overseas, you MIGHT be able to work for the military hospital. It just depends on whether they want to contract with you. I knew of an internal medicine civilian wife (husband was military physician) who worked part time at the overseas clinic as a VOLUNTEER.

So if you're willing to work for free, you should be able to maintain your skills if you're overseas. If you expect to get paid overseas, you may or may not be able to get paid.

But by all means, you should support your husband to stay in the military. Giving up your EM career (if hubby goes overseas) is definitely worth it for the overseas commissary privileges. When shopping at the commissary, you'll enjoy the previously frozen butter (has a real nice texture) or the past-their-expiration-date Healthy Choice microwave meals.

 

[fetch]

When shopping at the commissary, you'll enjoy the previously frozen butter (has a real nice texture) or the past-their-expiration-date Healthy Choice microwave meals.

Sounds to me like you need to take the time to place a nonconfrontational courtesy call to the Veterinary Services responsible for the AO. Not the Commander (at first); the 64A who's boots on the ground. You know, a "Hey there, you may not know me, but I just wanted to make sure you were aware this is going on in the commissary..." kind of call.

I honestly don't know what they can do, if anything, since it depends on where you are and who "owns" the commissary whether if falls under the Army's jurisdiction or not. And I'm ignorant about the finer points of OCONUS commissary operations to know the specifics. If they can't do anything directly they should be more than happy to pass the information on to the appropriate contact.

🙂

 

[BomberDoc]

I would like to know how much the Navy will actually consider the non-military spouse's job as far as deployments.

Hah! The military member is just a number that fits into a box. Nothing more. Spouse? What spouse? The number in that deployment box has a what?

The military member is a sub-human slave. The military member's spouse isn't even in the Animal kingdom... try Protist for how much they care about you.

 

[sethco]

Two words: they won't. You, as a civilian, are not considered at all in decisions regarding your husband. This includes PCS, deployments, etc. They don't give a rat's rectum about you or your career unless you are a waitress or cashier. If you are a doctor, lawyer, business woman...learn to either give up your career or live separate form your husband.

Cosign.

Unless they are also in the military, they don't give a crap what they do for a living or where they are. I have a friend with his wife currently in residency training in New Jersey. The "closest" they could put him was North Carolina, and as a GMO/FS nonetheless. The funny thing was when we were in AMP, we met a lot of single people that were given assignments much closer to New Jersey (i.e. Dover, Andrews, Langley, McGuire).

👎

 

[sethco]

Two words: they won't. You, as a civilian, are not considered at all in decisions regarding your husband. This includes PCS, deployments, etc. They don't give a rat's rectum about you or your career unless you are a waitress or cashier. If you are a doctor, lawyer, business woman...learn to either give up your career or live separate form your husband.

Cosign.

Unless they are also in the military, they don't give a crap what they do for a living or where they are. I have a friend with his wife currently in residency training in New Jersey. The "closest" they could put him was North Carolina, and as a GMO/FS nonetheless. The funny thing was when we were in AMP, we met a lot of single people that were given assignments much closer to New Jersey (i.e. Dover, Andrews, Langley, McGuire). Like my wife says, "despite popular belief, the military is not conducive towards family life".

👎

 

[The White Coat Investor]

My husband is a 3rd year Navy HPSPer and I am a 4th year civilian. I have heard all manner of (baloney) information from military recruiters, but I want to know if there is anyone out there who is married to a civilian doc. I would like to know how much the Navy will actually consider the non-military spouse's job as far as deployments.

Also, has anyone's non-military spouse ever worked for DOD on overseas PCSes? I'm a D.O. going into EM, if that impacts it at all.

Thanks!

I know two docs with civilian physician wives. They both work at the hospital (stateside) as contractors and are paid very, very well. I would do all you could not to go overseas, although I suppose it is possible to get a contractor position there, particularly in less desirable locations (Korea, maybe Japan etc.) Don't expect to get a job at Landstuhl or similar desirable area.

 

[IgD]

When your husband is up for orders he will talk to the detailer. The detailer is supposed to take into consideration family requests and other issues before giving assignment. Like the other posters suggested the needs of the Navy come first. You mentioned you are or will be an ER physician. You might call the Emergency Medicine Navy specialty leader and explain the situation. He or she might have some input into the detailing process.

 

[drchick331]

As the spouse of a Navy intern, I have to say the phrase the "needs of the Navy" dominates all matters of choice. You learn to deal with it even though, at times, it sucks to say the least.

As most of the other posters have stated, the Navy doesn't give a crap about your personal situation...have your spouse do his time, get out, and then move on to better things - hopefully he will match near where you would like to do your residency if you don't go straight through...sorry if I sound a bit jaded, but my husband and I are facing 4 years of separation and no amount of money is worth that.🙁