Army National Guard's new Med student program details.

[notdeadyet]

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working on it...lazy 4th year...it'll happen to you too 😉

<insert drooling here...>

 

[EMH]

I had a good long discussion with my recruiter today to try to clear up the confusion about what getting the control # means. First off there seems to be a change in how the program works. The memo on the program says they will take 200 new students each fiscal year. This meant they might have 600 in the program at a time. Now the word is they are going to have 200 total spots and new students will not be added until a spot is available. Getting the control # means you have one of the 200 spots reserved for you. You can apply for a control # after you pass the USAREC board and before you swear in. To know when your pay will start once you have a control # you have to ask your recruiter. Since they are getting away from the 200 / fiscal year I don't know why they would wait until the next fiscal year but this is a question you'll have to ask your recruiter/tech.

As of today there are 198 of the 200 occupied. Some of these people might leave the program for some reason, graduate, fail out, or back out of the commitment before they swear in. So spots will open up randomly. Also, NGB has told recruiters to keep recruiting for the program and get people on the waiting list. The logic being that if students are in the pipeline they would have a better chance of receiving the funding to add more spots. There is also talk of expanding the program to include RN's. My recruiter did add that this new information still isn't reflected in the program description memo and that they may wait til October to update the description.

So to answer the question I hear a lot, you can wait until you have the control # before you swear in and that will ensure you won't join and not get in.

 

[koojo]

I had a good long discussion with my recruiter today to try to clear up the confusion about what getting the control # means. First off there seems to be a change in how the program works. The memo on the program says they will take 200 new students each fiscal year. This meant they might have 600 in the program at a time. Now the word is they are going to have 200 total spots and new students will not be added until a spot is available. Getting the control # means you have one of the 200 spots reserved for you. You can apply for a control # after you pass the USAREC board and before you swear in. To know when your pay will start once you have a control # you have to ask your recruiter. Since they are getting away from the 200 / fiscal year I don't know why they would wait until the next fiscal year but this is a question you'll have to ask your recruiter/tech.

As of today there are 198 of the 200 occupied. Some of these people might leave the program for some reason, graduate, fail out, or back out of the commitment before they swear in. So spots will open up randomly. Also, NGB has told recruiters to keep recruiting for the program and get people on the waiting list. The logic being that if students are in the pipeline they would have a better chance of receiving the funding to add more spots. There is also talk of expanding the program to include RN's. My recruiter did add that this new information still isn't reflected in the program description memo and that they may wait til October to update the description.

So to answer the question I hear a lot, you can wait until you have the control # before you swear in and that will ensure you won't join and not get in.

Hmm, this is interesting. I'd like to see a memo or something concerning this, because in the Army, if it's not written somewhere then it's probably not true. If in fact that your recruiter is telling the truth then this is good news for people that have a control number but don't yet have their ASR orders. On the other hand I'm not sure if ASR will be a very good recruiting goal from now on because there is no guarantee that you will get into the ASR program sometime down the line.

I'm sure if this is the case then we will hear sometime official about it in the near future. The control number is your 'ticket' to ASR, not just a que that you have to wait in.

 

[notdeadyet]

As of today there are 198 of the 200 occupied.

To clarify, EMH (because I'm thick): The 198 includes folks like punkiesdad and koojo, who have have control numbers but have not been told of their start date, correct? So if they get the necessary boards and swear in before 1 June, anyone now with a control number should be able to start 1 JUL?

Also, this means that there should only be two more new control numbers issued, correct? Anyone after that will be put on a waiting list and when a spot opens, they will then be issued a control number (so the control number is not a spot in line, it's a spot in the program)?

 

[EMH]

To clarify, EMH (because I'm thick): The 198 includes folks like punkiesdad and koojo, who have have control numbers but have not been told of their start date, correct? So if they get the necessary boards and swear in before 1 June, anyone now with a control number should be able to start 1 JUL?

Also, this means that there should only be two more new control numbers issued, correct? Anyone after that will be put on a waiting list and when a spot opens, they will then be issued a control number (so the control number is not a spot in line, it's a spot in the program)?

Correct as of my understanding. There is a list of who has a control # and there are 198 people on it. Not all of them have sworn in yet.

 

[tech2doc]

To clarify, EMH (because I'm thick): The 198 includes folks like punkiesdad and koojo, who have have control numbers but have not been told of their start date, correct? So if they get the necessary boards and swear in before 1 June, anyone now with a control number should be able to start 1 JUL?

Also, this means that there should only be two more new control numbers issued, correct? Anyone after that will be put on a waiting list and when a spot opens, they will then be issued a control number (so the control number is not a spot in line, it's a spot in the program)?

This is how I understand it as well. Those of us that have a control number should start July 1 assuming we have swore in by then. Those that want to start in October (pending funding) are put into a queue for a control number.

 

[AlphaPower]

I had a good long discussion with my recruiter today to try to clear up the confusion about what getting the control # means. First off there seems to be a change in how the program works. The memo on the program says they will take 200 new students each fiscal year. This meant they might have 600 in the program at a time. Now the word is they are going to have 200 total spots and new students will not be added until a spot is available. Getting the control # means you have one of the 200 spots reserved for you. You can apply for a control # after you pass the USAREC board and before you swear in. To know when your pay will start once you have a control # you have to ask your recruiter. Since they are getting away from the 200 / fiscal year I don't know why they would wait until the next fiscal year but this is a question you'll have to ask your recruiter/tech.

As of today there are 198 of the 200 occupied. Some of these people might leave the program for some reason, graduate, fail out, or back out of the commitment before they swear in. So spots will open up randomly. Also, NGB has told recruiters to keep recruiting for the program and get people on the waiting list. The logic being that if students are in the pipeline they would have a better chance of receiving the funding to add more spots. There is also talk of expanding the program to include RN's. My recruiter did add that this new information still isn't reflected in the program description memo and that they may wait til October to update the description.

So to answer the question I hear a lot, you can wait until you have the control # before you swear in and that will ensure you won't join and not get in.

Wow that blows! So people on the waitlist could potentially wait a full 8 years before a spot would be available? What's the point then?

 

[notdeadyet]

Wow that blows! So people on the waitlist could potentially wait a full 8 years before a spot would be available? What's the point then?

Well, it's a lot better than the alternative. My understanding was that the control number was essentially a waitlist that may or may not workout. Then these folks would be hanging, not sure if they would get a seat.

At least with the system proposed, you either get the control number and a ticket to the show, or you're told "we'll put you in line" and know that there are no guarantees.

Hopefully we'll get word on the October seats in the coming months. It's going to be a lot harder to get people motivated to fill out the large amounts of paperwork without giving them something in return or at least firm word.

 

[punkiedad]

Correct as of my understanding. There is a list of who has a control # and there are 198 people on it. Not all of them have sworn in yet.

WHEW...........I think. I guess that would jive with the numbers I was guessing. Given what my recruiter told me and there being two USAREC boards after the fact, etc... that would make that 198 number seem possible. Either way, I hope so. I have kinda made plans as such and it would blow big time if I got put on a waitlist. I talked to my recruiter on the phone yesterday, though it was really loud and a lot of distractions around, but she said she checked with someone (dont know but it sounded like someone important) and her words were "If you have a control number you should be good to go." Now, I really can infer a lot based on that quote, so I will just have to wait and see... Btu it sounded like a start date was going to be either 7/1 or 10/1 not sometime when a spot opens up. I will anxiously await 4/23 to find out, though I am not really sure if the people I meet with then will know............I mean, there has to be someone that knows this answer we are all guessing at?? The funny thing is that everyone here that is active in the ASR program is a recruiter, so in order to do the jobs you (we hopefully) should know this information in order to do their job????!!!!! But, I digress and I know it is a new program, but someone has to know. It seems like everyone has a different response.

by the way good pics about OBLC.............one of the pics had a powerpoint slide up on the big screen in the back talking about fighting or wrestling,,,,,kinda like hand to hand combat? I wonder if that will suppliment the OMM techniques we DO hopeful's will learn..............lol

 

[FlaMedic]

Let me pose some questions to the group here:

Suppose, for whatever reason, that someone joins the guard and doesn't get in the ASR program initially. Can he/she take MDSSP for one year and then enroll in the ASR program? Koojo, I think you told me on the phone that if you took any of army's education benefits, then you would not be eligible for ASR, does anyone have any firm word on this?

Also, it seems to me that MDSSP is a pretty good deal as well. $1,900 stipend, plus drill pay plus $4,500 for federal tuition benefits. Could you also get monthly GI Bill? Stipend and drill alone could get you about $2250 a month before taxes, right? And then GI if your eligible. That's enough to get by on in Lewisburg anyway.

Koojo, our recruiter told me on the phone that you could take 4 years of MDSSP and 4 years of STRAPP (during residency) and only owe 8 years repayment because their is a clause in the rules that MDSSP is 2:1 and so is STRAP, but if you take them both they reduce repayment to 1:1. I also think I saw this somewhere.

 

[koojo]

WHEW...........I think. I guess that would jive with the numbers I was guessing. Given what my recruiter told me and there being two USAREC boards after the fact, etc... that would make that 198 number seem possible. Either way, I hope so. I have kinda made plans as such and it would blow big time if I got put on a waitlist. I talked to my recruiter on the phone yesterday, though it was really loud and a lot of distractions around, but she said she checked with someone (dont know but it sounded like someone important) and her words were "If you have a control number you should be good to go." Now, I really can infer a lot based on that quote, so I will just have to wait and see... Btu it sounded like a start date was going to be either 7/1 or 10/1 not sometime when a spot opens up. I will anxiously await 4/23 to find out, though I am not really sure if the people I meet with then will know............I mean, there has to be someone that knows this answer we are all guessing at?? The funny thing is that everyone here that is active in the ASR program is a recruiter, so in order to do the jobs you (we hopefully) should know this information in order to do their job????!!!!! But, I digress and I know it is a new program, but someone has to know. It seems like everyone has a different response.

by the way good pics about OBLC.............one of the pics had a powerpoint slide up on the big screen in the back talking about fighting or wrestling,,,,,kinda like hand to hand combat? I wonder if that will suppliment the OMM techniques we DO hopeful's will learn..............lol

I got an email back from the guy I've been dealing with about ASR and he told me the same thing. If you have your ASR control number the money is basically set aside waiting for you. Once you get your ASR orders you will start getting paid.

Ya they were looking at slides for combatives....basically hand to hand combat. You'll do some of that at OBLC, it's really fun!

Let me pose some questions to the group here:

Suppose, for whatever reason, that someone joins the guard and doesn't get in the ASR program initially. Can he/she take MDSSP for one year and then enroll in the ASR program? Koojo, I think you told me on the phone that if you took any of army's education benefits, then you would not be eligible for ASR, does anyone have any firm word on this?

Also, it seems to me that MDSSP is a pretty good deal as well. $1,900 stipend, plus drill pay plus $4,500 for federal tuition benefits. Could you also get monthly GI Bill? Stipend and drill alone could get you about $2250 a month before taxes, right? And then GI if your eligible. That's enough to get by on in Lewisburg anyway.

Koojo, our recruiter told me on the phone that you could take 4 years of MDSSP and 4 years of STRAPP (during residency) and only owe 8 years repayment because their is a clause in the rules that MDSSP is 2:1 and so is STRAP, but if you take them both they reduce repayment to 1:1. I also think I saw this somewhere.

Here is some info on the MDSSP + ASR, go to the 5th page, section 9:
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/arng/ocs/forms/DG_ASR_program.pdf

It looks like you can't take MDSSP in conjuction with ASR but says nothing about taking it a year prior to ASR. However, the problem with ASR is that there are limited slots available so you want to get on the train ASAP. Lets just say that you took MDSSP while waiting for a slot in ASR. A slot opens up but you still have a few months left on MDSSP...I'm not sure if you can quit MDSSP to join ASR. If you can't then they might give you slot up to someone else. This would be a good question to ask the recruiter. But I recommend you just sign up for ASR and do MDSSP your 4th year.

A few pages back in this thread there was a detailed discussion on the GI Bill, looks like there is several ways you could go and get paid.

Concerning the MDSSP/STRAP issue, didn't want to push all this info to you at one time as I wasn't sure how long you wanted to take the MDSSP and STRAP for. Just remember that if u take MDSSP + STRAP for 8 years you will owe 8 MORE years on TOP of your original 8 year obligation.....thus briging your total obligation to 16 years. However if you took MDSSP during your 4th year of school and STRAP during your 1st year of residency...then you'll only owe 2 years more (as opposed to taking just MDSSP without STRAP which will still incur a 2 year obligation) bringing your total obligation to 10 years.

Also, something to consider...I'm pressure sure you can't draw the Special Pay Bonus (75k now, probably more by then) and the Loan Repayment Program (50K) until you're completely done with any MDSSP/STRAP obligations. So you really have factor in the best route to go. Taking MDSSP/STRAP might mean more money for you now, but you will have to serve for a lot longer (if that's what you want to do, then that's fine...it's what I'm doing 🙂) and you might not be able ot take part in the monetary bonuses that are available until you're done with the obligation.

 

[notdeadyet]

Btu it sounded like a start date was going to be either 7/1 or 10/1 not sometime when a spot opens up.

Fingers tightly crossed for you, punkiedad. And I'm hoping 7/1 will come through; I'd make a pretty big distinction between 7/1 (this fiscal year) and 10/1 (next fiscal year). Folks I've talked to seem pretty optimistic about the ASR program for next year, but everyone's agreed that they don't know for sure that it'll be there until official word closer to October. Ah, the nail-biting.

I will anxiously await 4/23 to find out, though I am not really sure if the people I meet with then will know............I mean, there has to be someone that knows this answer we are all guessing at??

If the 4/23 is your last board meeting, and you have a control number, they just need to cut orders. For me, it was a matter of days after that the orders were cut. Since the deadline is 6/1 to have everything wrapped in a bow, I think you should be fine. Again, touching wood.

As for knowing about 10/1, I don't think anyone will know until the budget becomes a little more real. Folks I've talked to seemed to expect that not to be the case until late summer.

The funny thing is that everyone here that is active in the ASR program is a recruiter, so in order to do the jobs you (we hopefully) should know this information in order to do their job????!!!!!

I think we've all heard the same party-line, which is push ASR until told otherwise. No one has heard otherwise yet, so they're pretty consistent there. The only guesswork seems to come into play when folks start hypothesizing about what will happen in the future, which we're not told to do, so there you go.

 

[notdeadyet]

I got an email back from the guy I've been dealing with about ASR and he told me the same thing. If you have your ASR control number the money is basically set aside waiting for you. Once you get your ASR orders you will start getting paid.

Any updates on your orders, koojo? Are you going to be good for the 7/1 start?

Ya they were looking at slides for combatives....basically hand to hand combat. You'll do some of that at OBLC, it's really fun!

Do you know if these slides from the 7 week OBLC course or our Reserve Component 3-1/2 week OBLC? Just curious. Haven't looked through all the slides yet. Did 1 person take the thousand plus photos, or is this an amalgamation. Yikes!

I'm pressure sure you can't draw the Special Pay Bonus (75k now, probably more by then) and the Loan Repayment Program (50K) until you're completely done with any MDSSP/STRAP obligations.

Good advice. Unless you're prior service, it's very hard to be confident now that you want to make the Guard a lifelong thing. It's an honor to serve, but if your plans change, Guard obligations can eliminate opportunities like Doctors Without Borders or living in Australia for a year. I'd be careful about taking extra cash that prolongs your obligations much beyond the initial 8 before you really know what you're getting into.

Also, a lot of us have heard to expect Special Pay and (especially) Loan Repayment to jump up in the coming years. Taking anything that precludes that might be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

 

[notdeadyet]

I got an email back from the guy I've been dealing with about ASR and he told me the same thing. If you have your ASR control number the money is basically set aside waiting for you. Once you get your ASR orders you will start getting paid.

Any updates on your orders, koojo? Are you going to be good for the 7/1 start?

Ya they were looking at slides for combatives....basically hand to hand combat. You'll do some of that at OBLC, it's really fun!

Do you know if these slides from the 7 week OBLC course or our Reserve Component 3-1/2 week OBLC? Just curious. Haven't looked through all the slides yet. Did 1 person take the thousand plus photos, or is this an amalgamation. Yikes!

I'm pressure sure you can't draw the Special Pay Bonus (75k now, probably more by then) and the Loan Repayment Program (50K) until you're completely done with any MDSSP/STRAP obligations.

Good advice. Unless you're prior service, it's very hard to be confident now that you want to make the Guard a lifelong thing. It's an honor to serve, but if your plans change, Guard obligations can eliminate opportunities like Doctors Without Borders or living in Australia for a year. I'd be careful about taking extra cash that prolongs your obligations much beyond the initial 8 before you really know what you're getting into.

Also, a lot of us have heard to expect Special Pay and (especially) Loan Repayment to jump up in the coming years. Taking anything that precludes that might be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

 

[ohio23]

I was hoping to make the 21 APR 09 USAREC board date, but just heard from my recruiter that all the packets pushed after 1 APR 09 are on hold due to a DCA glitch and that the 21 APR 09 board is now being pushed to 9 MAY 09. 😱

I am really feeling like this whole ASR deal is quickly slipping through my fingers.

Any news on getting a control number before USAREC? Punkie are you the one that got a control number after the state board before USAREC?

 

[EMH]

Also, something to consider...I'm pressure sure you can't draw the Special Pay Bonus (75k now, probably more by then) and the Loan Repayment Program (50K) until you're completely done with any MDSSP/STRAP obligations. So you really have factor in the best route to go. Taking MDSSP/STRAP might mean more money for you now, but you will have to serve for a lot longer (if that's what you want to do, then that's fine...it's what I'm doing 🙂) and you might not be able ot take part in the monetary bonuses that are available until you're done with the obligation.

I was told this as well. It's unfortunate but you should avoid having a strap obligation post residency cause it will cost you not just time but also $.

 

[tech2doc]

I was hoping to make the 21 APR 09 USAREC board date, but just heard from my recruiter that all the packets pushed after 1 APR 09 are on hold due to a DCA glitch and that the 21 APR 09 board is now being pushed to 9 MAY 09. 😱

I am really feeling like this whole ASR deal is quickly slipping through my fingers.

Any news on getting a control number before USAREC? Punkie are you the one that got a control number after the state board before USAREC?

There's an ASR document I posted a link to a little while back that says you can apply for a control # after you pass the USAREC boards. I think most states do their state boards after the USAREC boards, and this makes it possible to have a control number before the state board and swear in.

 

[superiordoc]

Just back from passing my state board this morning, waiting on USAREC next week. I am assuming there will be more than two ASR applicants in the stack there, any idea how they will decide which candidates get the control numbers?

Also, if some students currently on ASR graduate this spring, would their spot be handed immediately to those at the top of the list for inclusion into the summer start date?

 

[ThirstyTurtle]

Although I probably shouldn’t speculate, I’ll do it anyway. I am very optimistic ASR will be around next year and this is why; The budget proposed by Gates does not represent a cut in spending rather it is an overall 4% increase in defense spending compared to this year (the cuts that you hear on tv are on big ticket items like F-22s) . Furthermore, one of the stated goals in this budget is to increase the size of the military, which includes a proposed 10-11 billion dollars increase in spending for recruitment efforts. So, hopefully this means that ASR will still be around.

 

[ohio23]

There's an ASR document I posted a link to a little while back that says you can apply for a control # after you pass the USAREC boards. I think most states do their state boards after the USAREC boards, and this makes it possible to have a control number before the state board and swear in.

Yep tech, that is what I am basing my assumptions on: I need to pass the USAREC hurdle before I can even think about getting a control number.

I thought someone on here posted that they went out of order by doing state board first, got a control number and then waited to get USAREC board results. I was hoping to jump in the same boat with them.

Control numbers are like winning lottery tickets. I want mine in my hand, not just a theoretical promise that may never come to be.

 

[FlaMedic]

Concerning the MDSSP/STRAP issue, didn't want to push all this info to you at one time as I wasn't sure how long you wanted to take the MDSSP and STRAP for. Just remember that if u take MDSSP + STRAP for 8 years you will owe 8 MORE years on TOP of your original 8 year obligation.....thus briging your total obligation to 16 years.

Are you positive of this Kooj? Our recruiter is telling me you can take 4 years of MDSSP and 4 years of STRAP and only owe 8 years, begining immediately and ending when residency ends. He always says if you take both you only owe 1:1....

Sincer your ASR you guys probably didn't discuss this part. Do you have this policy on paper? I'd rather be perfectly informed you know?

 

[notdeadyet]

Are you positive of this Kooj? Our recruiter is telling me you can take 4 years of MDSSP and 4 years of STRAP and only owe 8 years, begining immediately and ending when residency ends. He always says if you take both you only owe 1:1....

Here's how it works:

Both STRAP and MDSSP are 2:1 obligations (two years owed for every year you take it). But if you dual enroll (take your four years of MDSSP and then follow it with STRAP), the MDSSP becomes a 1:1 obligation, but STRAP stays 2:1. They can't be paid off concurrently and payback doesn't begin until after residency, so the 1:1 thing is kind of a wash.

Example:

You enter med school this fall for a 2013 graduation. You take MDSSP for four years, followed by a four year anesthesia residency with STRAP. You owe 1:1 on MDSSP, so you owe four years there, plus you owe 8 years on your 2:1 STRAP. You owe a total of 12 years drilling time beginning when you finish your residency, so you'd be done with the Guard in 2027.

So if you're taking both MDSSP and STRAP, pretty much plan on staying in the Guard until retirement.

There's a data sheet that has information regarding the Dual Participation in MDSSP and STRAP from a National Guard PDF

 

[koojo]

Here's how it works:

Both STRAP and MDSSP are 2:1 obligations (two years owed for every year you take it). But if you dual enroll (take your four years of MDSSP and then follow it with STRAP), the MDSSP becomes a 1:1 obligation, but STRAP stays 2:1. They can't be paid off concurrently and payback doesn't begin until after residency, so the 1:1 thing is kind of a wash.

Example:

You enter med school this fall for a 2013 graduation. You take MDSSP for four years, followed by a four year anesthesia residency with STRAP. You owe 1:1 on MDSSP, so you owe four years there, plus you owe 8 years on your 2:1 STRAP. You owe a total of 12 years drilling time beginning when you finish your residency, so you'd be done with the Guard in 2027.

So if you're taking both MDSSP and STRAP, pretty much plan on staying in the Guard until retirement.

There's a data sheet that has information regarding the Dual Participation in MDSSP and STRAP from a National Guard PDF

Ya that's what I figured, except I didn't know that STRAP was still on a 2:1 even after you take MDSSP. So ya, if you want to do both, you're going to be in for some time 🙂

 

[EMH]

Ya that's what I figured, except I didn't know that STRAP was still on a 2:1 even after you take MDSSP. So ya, if you want to do both, you're going to be in for some time 🙂

Plus the big kicker which was mentioned earlier. You can't take the bonuses until your obligation from these programs is up.

 

[punkiedad]

I got an email back from the guy I've been dealing with about ASR and he told me the same thing. If you have your ASR control number the money is basically set aside waiting for you. Once you get your ASR orders you will start getting paid.

Ya they were looking at slides for combatives....basically hand to hand combat. You'll do some of that at OBLC, it's really fun!



Here is some info on the MDSSP + ASR, go to the 5th page, section 9:
http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/arng/ocs/forms/DG_ASR_program.pdf

It looks like you can't take MDSSP in conjuction with ASR but says nothing about taking it a year prior to ASR. However, the problem with ASR is that there are limited slots available so you want to get on the train ASAP. Lets just say that you took MDSSP while waiting for a slot in ASR. A slot opens up but you still have a few months left on MDSSP...I'm not sure if you can quit MDSSP to join ASR. If you can't then they might give you slot up to someone else. This would be a good question to ask the recruiter. But I recommend you just sign up for ASR and do MDSSP your 4th year.

A few pages back in this thread there was a detailed discussion on the GI Bill, looks like there is several ways you could go and get paid.

Concerning the MDSSP/STRAP issue, didn't want to push all this info to you at one time as I wasn't sure how long you wanted to take the MDSSP and STRAP for. Just remember that if u take MDSSP + STRAP for 8 years you will owe 8 MORE years on TOP of your original 8 year obligation.....thus briging your total obligation to 16 years. However if you took MDSSP during your 4th year of school and STRAP during your 1st year of residency...then you'll only owe 2 years more (as opposed to taking just MDSSP without STRAP which will still incur a 2 year obligation) bringing your total obligation to 10 years.

Also, something to consider...I'm pressure sure you can't draw the Special Pay Bonus (75k now, probably more by then) and the Loan Repayment Program (50K) until you're completely done with any MDSSP/STRAP obligations. So you really have factor in the best route to go. Taking MDSSP/STRAP might mean more money for you now, but you will have to serve for a lot longer (if that's what you want to do, then that's fine...it's what I'm doing 🙂) and you might not be able ot take part in the monetary bonuses that are available until you're done with the obligation.

couple of things............

--When I got the USARECO board results it listed me as MDSSP and I FREAKED......when I did talk to my recruiter she says her unit puts all ASR candidates in as both MDSSP and ASR . She said that is IN CASE you want to do MDSSP after ASR you are already in the funnel. I don't know anything about payback and concurrent obligations etc.....

--Do physicians in the guard qualify for special pay? I thought this was only active duty? So, for special pay, you get the 50-75k or whatever it is for your specialty just for reupping for a certain period or is it a yearly thing like active duty? If so, it sounds like a type of insurance pay in case of deployment? Do you still get drill pay?

--I am not sure of all these boards. I really can't keep it straight but, I thought I had a state board first, then USAREC and then the federal recognition board / swearing in? If I have it correct, I had my state board first, then USAREC (yes I had to wait an extra month too cause of some ice storm in KY during March USAREC) then the federal review board / swearing in on 4/23. That being said, my impression is it is the USAREC bord step in the process tht gets you the box checked in order to apply for your control number.

 

[EMH]

couple of things............

--When I got the USARECO board results it listed me as MDSSP and I FREAKED......when I did talk to my recruiter she says her unit puts all ASR candidates in as both MDSSP and ASR . She said that is IN CASE you want to do MDSSP after ASR you are already in the funnel. I don't know anything about payback and concurrent obligations etc.....

I was listed the same way. Got the same reasoning. I don't see any reason to doing MDSSP, wait til you graduate and take the bonuses.

--Do physicians in the guard qualify for special pay? I thought this was only active duty? So, for special pay, you get the 50-75k or whatever it is for your specialty just for reupping for a certain period or is it a yearly thing like active duty? If so, it sounds like a type of insurance pay in case of deployment? Do you still get drill pay?

Only if you're AGR or deployed for more than 30 days. Special pay is different from the bonues we've been talking about on this thread. There are two bonuses that the NG has for docs depending on your speciality (you're either on the list of docs they want or you're not). If you qualify you can get $25k a year over 3 years and then at the end of the 3 you can sign up for another 3 if the program is still offered.

--I am not sure of all these boards. I really can't keep it straight but, I thought I had a state board first, then USAREC and then the federal recognition board / swearing in? If I have it correct, I had my state board first, then USAREC (yes I had to wait an extra month too cause of some ice storm in KY during March USAREC) then the federal review board / swearing in on 4/23. That being said, my impression is it is the USAREC bord step in the process tht gets you the box checked in order to apply for your control number.

I hate to say it but I eventually gave up on trying to keep all this straight. I've got a recruiting tech I trust to just tell me what I need to know. I found out the other day that even after you swear in you only have a temporary federal recognition and your packet has to be approved by someone else before all is final. This all happened for me without my being aware it was going on.

 

[koojo]

couple of things............

--When I got the USARECO board results it listed me as MDSSP and I FREAKED......when I did talk to my recruiter she says her unit puts all ASR candidates in as both MDSSP and ASR . She said that is IN CASE you want to do MDSSP after ASR you are already in the funnel. I don't know anything about payback and concurrent obligations etc.....

Ya my name was listed as MDSSP as well. The reason is what you said. If you weren't down for MDSSP and you wanted to use it your 4th year then you can't because you didn't initial the block in the first place. You don't have to take it your 4th year, but it's there in case that you do.

--Do physicians in the guard qualify for special pay? I thought this was only active duty? So, for special pay, you get the 50-75k or whatever it is for your specialty just for reupping for a certain period or is it a yearly thing like active duty? If so, it sounds like a type of insurance pay in case of deployment? Do you still get drill pay?

I think in the National Guard it's called the Healthcare Professional Bonus:
http://www.nationalguard.com/explore/medical/hpb.php

This is after your 8 year MSO. So if you reinlist for 3 more years you get $75k paid out as $25k/yr.

--I am not sure of all these boards. I really can't keep it straight but, I thought I had a state board first, then USAREC and then the federal recognition board / swearing in? If I have it correct, I had my state board first, then USAREC (yes I had to wait an extra month too cause of some ice storm in KY during March USAREC) then the federal review board / swearing in on 4/23. That being said, my impression is it is the USAREC bord step in the process tht gets you the box checked in order to apply for your control number.

In order for me to get my ASR paperwork on time, my state (not the state where I will be going to school) did a temporary fed rec board for me. However I still need to get the regular fed rec orders, and after that I'm set. I'm just waiting for that, it's already in the pipeline. I check the status of it every day. But ya, first it's the state board (paper board, you don't show up), then USAREC board, then the federal rec board (you show up for this one).

 

[koojo]

I was listed the same way. Got the same reasoning. I don't see any reason to doing MDSSP, wait til you graduate and take the bonuses.

MDSSP is great for prior service people like myself. My obligation expires in 2013 (I reinlisted for last year), which is basically when I start residency. I don't think I can start drawing the Bonus until I graduate residency...but maybe I can, I'm not sure. If I can't then I'll take enough of MDSSP/STRAP to get me to the end of my residency and then take the Bonus 🙂

 

[FlaMedic]

I see. I thought your repayment for MDSSP and STRAP begins immediately like ASR. That changes everything. I agree with the fact that there really is no point to MDSSP and you might as well take the after grad bonuses.....better deal.

Thanks for the info. Hope I get and ASR number for October at least.....

 

[tsbuqh]

MDSSP is great for prior service people like myself. My obligation expires in 2013 (I reinlisted for last year), which is basically when I start residency. I don't think I can start drawing the Bonus until I graduate residency...but maybe I can, I'm not sure. If I can't then I'll take enough of MDSSP/STRAP to get me to the end of my residency and then take the Bonus 🙂

If you want your MDSSP/STRAP obligation to be complete by the end of residency, then you can not take STRAP, even for prior service. Here is the reason:

NGB-ARS
SUBJECT: Army National Guard (ARNG) Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer Incentive Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 09
page 8

c. The STRAP may be taken for any number of years during the residency period. However, if the applicant only desires to take STRAP for a portion of the remaining residency period, the start date must be calculated from the residency end date. For example, if a Physician with a 4-year program ending June 2008 only wants 2 years of STRAP, he or she is not authorized to start the stipend receipt until July 2006.

I am prior service too, and was thinking of taking MDSSP 4th year, and STRAP PGY1 (or maybe just the first 6 months, depending on the length of residency), but the above regulation looks like it prohibits that.

 

[koojo]

If you want your MDSSP/STRAP obligation to be complete by the end of residency, then you can not take STRAP, even for prior service. Here is the reason:

NGB-ARS
SUBJECT: Army National Guard (ARNG) Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer Incentive Programs for Fiscal Year (FY) 09
page 8

c. The STRAP may be taken for any number of years during the residency period. However, if the applicant only desires to take STRAP for a portion of the remaining residency period, the start date must be calculated from the residency end date. For example, if a Physician with a 4-year program ending June 2008 only wants 2 years of STRAP, he or she is not authorized to start the stipend receipt until July 2006.

I am prior service too, and was thinking of taking MDSSP 4th year, and STRAP PGY1 (or maybe just the first 6 months, depending on the length of residency), but the above regulation looks like it prohibits that.

That kind if sucks that they don't let you take it STRAP in the beginning of residency. Hmm, maybe I won't do that then.

 

[notdeadyet]

I am prior service too, and was thinking of taking MDSSP 4th year, and STRAP PGY1 (or maybe just the first 6 months, depending on the length of residency), but the above regulation looks like it prohibits that.

What's the logic there? You don't start payback on STRAP or MDSSP until after residency anyway, so why would they care if you took it for the first portion or last portion of residency?

 

[FlaMedic]

I am kind of wary of the need for STRAP anyway. You do get paid pretty decent during yoru residency and any loans you have are deferred via 20/220.

Seems to me if you took STRAP, it would put you into repayment since your income would be higher than the 20/220 allows so what would the point be? You would just be getting money from the governent in order to give money to the government and gaining a post-residency obligation for this...

I got my physical on Monday...wish me luck.

Have a good Easter fellow NG and hopefuls.

 

[tsbuqh]

What's the logic there? You don't start payback on STRAP or MDSSP until after residency anyway, so why would they care if you took it for the first portion or last portion of residency?

MDSSP alone will start payback after medical school. So if you take it fourth year, as a prior service (I am not sure how it works with your MSO obligation), you will be obligation free in time for HPLP or Special Pay (as long as you do not take STRAP).

The wishful thinking part was if you could combine MDSSP and some STRAP and still be obligation free by the end of residency, but you are correct that it is not allowed... I keep forgetting about the part that STRAP repayement does not start until after residency.

 

[tsbuqh]

I am kind of wary of the need for STRAP anyway. You do get paid pretty decent during yoru residency and any loans you have are deferred via 20/220.

Pretty decent pay? What does a new JD or MBA make right out of school? They are still wet behind the ears and need on the job training just like new MD's. But that is my soapbox...

As far as loan deferment goes, I believe that is dead, but here is a link the financial aid forum, where they are looking for letters to your representatives to try to reinstate it. 20/220 AOA bill

 

[tsbuqh]

Now the word is they are going to have 200 total spots and new students will not be added until a spot is available.

As of today there are 198 of the 200 occupied.

This has made me very anxious. I have been in the pipeline since Oct. My packet keeps getting kicked back or "called out", for small things - mostly different peoples interpretations of the SOP for USAREC 195 (if you are a non-trad who has not taken 3 courses in the last year, I hope you have an easier time of it than me).

I asked my recruiter about the above change today. He neither confirmed nor denied it. What he did say was that there were about 48 people graduating out of ASR this year so it will open up a few more seats. So there is still some hope of getting into ASR for next year.

​

 

[iatrosB]

What's the logic there? You don't start payback on STRAP or MDSSP until after residency anyway, so why would they care if you took it for the first portion or last portion of residency?

Because you're more likely to need it in the beginning as opposed to the end (new job start up costs, moving expenses, etc...). And at the end, you may be getting money from a hospital or something like that.

Since they know this, it forces you to take strap for the whole residency since you can't take it for the 1st year alone.

 

[iatrosB]

I asked my recruiter about the above change today. He neither confirmed nor denied it. What he did say was that there were about 48 people graduating out of ASR this year so it will open up a few more seats. So there is still some hope of getting into ASR for next year.

​

I bequeath my spot to you

 

[FlaMedic]

I don't know. Something tells me that they will not cap the entire program at 200 spots. The entire point of ASR was to recruit student physicians. If it is working that well, why wouldn't they continue it?

I find it hard to believe that they are thinking "Wow, this worked so well, let's just get rid of it."

If you ask me it's the best recruiting idea the military has ever come out with.....

Is the 200 cap on paper somewhere? You know rumors....there is always someone who will tell you no or discourage you and has no clue what they are talking about. It's always "I heard..." or "My recruiter said..." If there is one thing that I have learned from this process, its the recruiters don't know everything....

 

[notdeadyet]

I don't know. Something tells me that they will not cap the entire program at 200 spots. The entire point of ASR was to recruit student physicians. If it is working that well, why wouldn't they continue it?

Because it's very expensive. It's about $150-$180k per doctor.

If you ask me it's the best recruiting idea the military has ever come out with.....

It's without a doubt the most expensive recruiting program, body for body, that the National Guard has. I think it's great, and I'm hoping it will continue as well. But I can see why folks with a vested interest are nervous. It has two things that make a program worried come belt tightening time: it's costly and its benefit isn't recognized for years.

That said, though folks are concerned, none of us have heard any official word about the program not continuing next year.

Is the 200 cap on paper somewhere?

The limit of 200/fiscal year is definitely in the paperwork about the program.

The 200 seats total that EMH heard from his recruiter I don't think is on paper anywhere that we've seen. We'll have to wait and see about that one.

 

[FlaMedic]

Yeah, you def. make some solid points there notdeadyet. It's just a shame they won't use this to the max.

#7 of this thing....(see attachment) says total enrollment is capped at 600 pending funding or whatever....has this changed?

Does anyone know what the committment is if you simply join the Guard as a Medical Student and take no education incentives whatsoever? (Obviously this would be solely to gain residency status). And does your time begin immediately?

 

[notdeadyet]

#7 of this thing....(see attachment) says total enrollment is capped at 600 pending funding or whatever....has this changed?

I read that to be 600 slots. If someone dies/quits, I wouldn't read that to mean the seat opens up again. With what EMH is describing, it may create a pinch short-term, but would keep a flow of seats open as long as the program ran.

Does anyone know what the committment is if you simply join the Guard as a Medical Student and take no education incentives whatsoever?

Anytime you join the National Guard as an officer, you incur 8 years of military service obligation. Of that 6 years must be in drilling status.

(Obviously this would be solely to gain residency status). And does your time begin immediately?

You mean to get in-state residency for tuition purposes? Make sure you know where you are going before you do this. It varies a lot by state and medical school. Not all states give in-state tuition to National Guardsmen.

And if you were to do it, take an educational benefit like MDSSP that keeps you in non-deployable status and within the medical field. Most units announce a drill and you're expected to be there; in medical school, you don't have this type of control over your schedule. And a one year deployment while in medical school can set your graduation back two years. This would be a lot more expensive than any tuition savings you got from being considered in-state.

 

[koojo]

WV has a policy where anyone in the military in WV is considred in-state for tuition purposes. It brought my tuition from $52k/year to $21k/year .You need to go to your state's website and go into the legislation part of it and check the codes that have to do with education.

 

[notdeadyet]

You need to go to your state's website and go into the legislation part of it and check the codes that have to do with education.

I'd contact the individual schools you're looking at too. Privates have given discounts and other deals to National Guardsmen.

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

I am going to be released from active duty Army this fall to finish my undergrad on a Green to Gold scholarship. I will be a ROTC student, and I am signing an 8 yr contract with the National Guard. I will be applying to medical school next year to matriculate in 2011. My original plan is to see where I get accepted and then transfer to that state guard unit. I would appreciate if someone could take the time to answer my question. Does anyone know if it would be possible to sign an ASR contract, while having and existing contract?

 

[koojo]

I am going to be released from active duty Army this fall to finish my undergrad on a Green to Gold scholarship. I will be a ROTC student, and I am signing an 8 yr contract with the National Guard. I will be applying to medical school next year to matriculate in 2011. My original plan is to see where I get accepted and then transfer to that state guard unit. I would appreciate if someone could take the time to answer my question. Does anyone know if it would be possible to sign an ASR contract, while having and existing contract?

Yes you can. I did. As long as you're able to commission and get into med school you can try signing up for ASR.

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

Hey thanks man, that is good to here. Were you in ROTC? Was your Guard unit cool with everything, and supportive?

 

[koojo]

Hey thanks man, that is good to here. Were you in ROTC? Was your Guard unit cool with everything, and supportive?

No I was just a regular soldier in my cav unit. If you don't have anything stopping you from commissioning such as a prior bonuses (after I reinlisted and got a bonus I had to wait a year before I could swear in) then no one can stop you. Units are usually very supportive if you want to commission.

 

[DoctaJMa]

I want to join the Guard and I am headed down to Texas next weekend for a tour. OK, so I just want to make sure I got this straight. There has been alot of talk lately that the ASR may not be around for the next fiscal year. However, I dont want to take the chance of not being in the Guard if ASR isnt there. So, can I join the Guard normally, then if ASR is around come October is it possible for me to get into ASR? I have no prior military experience like some of the peeps that have been talking. Any help would be great!!

 

[COMBAT MEDIC172]

I am eligible for commisioning, I was accepted into the ROTC program through the Green to Gold program for active duty soldiers to finish their college degree. I get a honarable discharge and then I will owe the National Guard 8 years, however I am going to apply to medical school the following year.