Army National Guard's new Med student program details.

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notdeadyet said:
It's all speculation.

Some folks have apparently heard from recruiters that they'll be recycling spots as folks graduate. Other folks haven't heard this. But no one has seen this proposed or promised anywhere in writing.

It might happen, but how much weight you want to put into the rumors that spots might get recycled is largely a matter of your optimism. Rumors in the military are big in general, and recruiters seem especially susceptible. We've also heard rumors that ASR wasn't going to come back this year and that it was going to expand in size.

It's your call. My personal take (though I'm conservative by nature when it comes to hope) is that I don't believe anything until I see something in writing.
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Any chance we can get an email from someone up above to just shoot a direct email to and have them clarify the plans? MG Deborah C. Wheeling would know what's up.
 
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n618ft said:
Any chance we can get an email from someone up above to just shoot a direct email to and have them clarify the plans? MG Deborah C. Wheeling would know what's up.
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That's not exactly how the military works. 2LTs do not shoot emails to MG's asking them to state their plans.

The orders are very clear: ASR is no longer taking new applicants. They have not announced if they will ever open ASR up again. If they knew, or if they wanted us to know, it would be announced and posted here within hours. Until then, ASR is closed for new applicants.
 
notdeadyet said:
That's not exactly how the military works. 2LTs do not shoot emails to MG's asking them to state their plans.

The orders are very clear: ASR is no longer taking new applicants. They have not announced if they will ever open ASR up again. If they knew, or if they wanted us to know, it would be announced and posted here within hours. Until then, ASR is closed for new applicants.
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There was sarcasm in my post - but someone must have an idea of what's in the works!
 
So originally I thought that the first post said that we would be promoted to captain (O-3) upon graduation so long as we complete OBLC. But when I just checked the first post of this forum again that part is gone. Does anyone know if we make captain or not for sure when we FINALLY get our MD's?
 
utedoc said:
So originally I thought that the first post said that we would be promoted to captain (O-3) upon graduation so long as we complete OBLC. But when I just checked the first post of this forum again that part is gone. Does anyone know if we make captain or not for sure when we FINALLY get our MD's?
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All MDs and DOs enter the military with at least the rank of O-3. I believe physicians with some work experience may actually qualify for a rank higher than O-3 based on experience, but I'm not certain on that point.
 
utedoc said:
So originally I thought that the first post said that we would be promoted to captain (O-3) upon graduation so long as we complete OBLC.
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That is correct. I'm not sure why that part of the post would have disappeared. But when you get your MD, you are promoted to Captain.
 
Guys, does anyone know if we (the ASR's) are allowed to apply to military match but stay in the national guard?
 
UBMEDICINE2011 said:
Guys, does anyone know if we (the ASR's) are allowed to apply to military match but stay in the national guard?
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My understanding is that you'd first have to get your state Guard to release you, which would be quite an accomplishment: seeing as how they're essentially paying for you to become a doctor, I can't imagine they'd be excited about releasing you from the obligation you owe.

I never tried this, so I'm just getting this from what one of the recruiters once told me.
 
Anyone know of a summer (June/July) OBLC yet? Come on NGB....
 
DrRoast said:
Anyone know of a summer (June/July) OBLC yet? Come on NGB....
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Check the page before this one. I posted the link to the official site for the course calendar and directions on how to look it up. Should be the most up-to-date info you'll get.
 
UBMEDICINE2011 said:
Guys, does anyone know if we (the ASR's) are allowed to apply to military match but stay in the national guard?
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I would imagine we're not allowed to. The problem with the idea is that you incur an Active Duty obligation by going through a military residency and I don't believe the Guard has many (or even any) AD physicians. As notdeadyet said, this would mean the Guard would have to conditionally release you from your contract. It's possible, since the money is all coming from the federal government and you'd still be paying them back.

DrRoast said:
Anyone know of a summer (June/July) OBLC yet? Come on NGB....
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It appears the 4 wk OBLC which ASR people need is not running during June/July to permit the 6 wk HPSP/USUHS course to run during that time frame. Not sure if we are allowed to attend the HPSP version. I'm asking around about it right now and I'll post anything I learn...
 
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DeadCactus said:
this would mean the Guard would have to conditionally release you from your contract. It's possible, since the money is all coming from the federal government and you'd still be paying them back.
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Except that the state Guard loses a doctor and now has a very hard to fill open req. I'd imagine they'd want you to satisfy your commitment to the Guard first and pay back a bit of that $150K a lot of us take.
 
I am a new direct commission to the Guard, and have been working on all my stuff with anticipation of a 1 JAN launch date. I have passed the FedREC and USAREC boards, have my orders, and have been given a control #. Does this mean I am good and will begin the ASR program 1 JAN? I have already been drilling since I received the results of the FedREC board. I just don't want to get basically screwed out of this.
 
tylerh87 said:
I am a new direct commission to the Guard, and have been working on all my stuff with anticipation of a 1 JAN launch date. I have passed the FedREC and USAREC boards, have my orders, and have been given a control #. Does this mean I am good and will begin the ASR program 1 JAN? I have already been drilling since I received the results of the FedREC board. I just don't want to get basically screwed out of this.
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If you are sworn in and have a control number, you should be absolutely fine for the 01JAN start. Check with your CO to confirm, but you shouldn't have a problem by the way you describe it.
 
UBMEDICINE2011 said:
Guys, does anyone know if we (the ASR's) are allowed to apply to military match but stay in the national guard?
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I looked into this and was told flatly no. If anyone finds out otherwise please share.
 
Any recommendations on a CAC reader?



notdeadyet said:
Except that the state Guard loses a doctor and now has a very hard to fill open req. I'd imagine they'd want you to satisfy your commitment to the Guard first and pay back a bit of that $150K a lot of us take.
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Agreed. Sorry, I lost track of what I was saying. I meant to say it was theoretically possible, but not very likely.
 
EMH said:
I asked my unit's readiness NCO and he gave me a USB reader and a CD with installation software.
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It would be nice to grab one for free, but the time and gas to get to my unit would probably add up to more than the $20 they seem to be sold for. Are we alright just buying one online?
 
[/Quote] It appears the 4 wk OBLC which ASR people need is not running during June/July to permit the 6 wk HPSP/USUHS course to run during that time frame. Not sure if we are allowed to attend the HPSP version. I'm asking around about it right now and I'll post anything I learn...[/QUOTE]

I was under the impression that the Guard OBLC and the 6 week HPSP/USUHS course always ran concurrently. Thats what my recruiter told me, as did an LT in my unit who went to the course last summer. He said he was there with all the HPSP/USUHS people and during the field ex, a bus came and picked up all the 4wk Guard people while the rest of the 6wk HPSP/USUHS guys stayed out there. Is this not how it works, someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
DrRoast said:
I was under the impression that the Guard OBLC and the 6 week HPSP/USUHS course always ran concurrently. Thats what my recruiter told me, as did an LT in my unit who went to the course last summer. He said he was there with all the HPSP/USUHS people and during the field ex, a bus came and picked up all the 4wk Guard people while the rest of the 6wk HPSP/USUHS guys stayed out there. Is this not how it works, someone correct me if I'm wrong.
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I based my statement purely on the schedules I saw listed on-line. What you've heard makes perfect sense to me and hopefully it's correct. I've started the ball rolling on getting signed up to go and should have an answer in a few days. I'll post what I find out.

On a tangent, what do the HPSP/USUHS folks cover during the last two weeks?
 
DeadCactus said:
I based my statement purely on the schedules I saw listed on-line. What you've heard makes perfect sense to me and hopefully it's correct. I've started the ball rolling on getting signed up to go and should have an answer in a few days. I'll post what I find out.

On a tangent, what do the HPSP/USUHS folks cover during the last two weeks?
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All I know for sure is that they just complete a longer field exercise (which would really suck since its going to be 100+degrees every day). The remaining 8-9 days, I would imagine they just learn things about being on active duty, things we don't need to know, but this is based on logic not on evidence, I have no idea. Definitely post what you find out, I need to get signed up for it as well b/c its the only time I can ever go, and I know it will fill up fast.
 
I went to the Guard/Reserve component of this past summer's OBLC. The HSPS student's had a 6 week long course. Ours was four. They were there for a week earlier of classroom. We joined them the next week, but were in different class rooms. The next three weeks were all FTXs. We had the same amount of time at lovely Camp Bullis in the TX heat. Never been so hot in my life, but it was really fun. The last week the HSPS students had a few more classroom things and touring BAMC. Just might be relavent to those curious what is was like.
 
Anyone familiar with how the GI Bill works in regards to ASR folks?

My understanding is that we are eligible for the reserve version of the bill and that if either a) we end up federally deployed for a certain amount of time or b) they change the rules to allow state deployments to count; then we become eligible for the full GI Bill. Beyond that, I don't really know much.

Do we have to pay anything into either version of the GI Bill?

When can we start using the reserve version?

Does using the reserve version negate access to the AD version if we later become eligible?
 
J DUB said:
I decided to fill out the paperwork just in case they bring the ASR back. You never know.....:xf:
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If it's not prohibiting you from signing up for another program, you have absolutely nothing to lose... Good call...
 
notdeadyet said:
If it's not prohibiting you from signing up for another program, you have absolutely nothing to lose... Good call...
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thanks for all the info...I have not called the national guy yet.

My local recruiter FINALLY called me back and I have a meeting next week.

I have decided on ASR or nothing.....

:xf:
 
J DUB said:
I have decided on ASR or nothing.....
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Fair enough. If there is ever any indication that they are going to bring ASR back again, I'm sure you'll hear it here first.
 
DrRoast said:
All I know for sure is that they just complete a longer field exercise (which would really suck since its going to be 100+degrees every day). The remaining 8-9 days, I would imagine they just learn things about being on active duty, things we don't need to know, but this is based on logic not on evidence, I have no idea. Definitely post what you find out, I need to get signed up for it as well b/c its the only time I can ever go, and I know it will fill up fast.
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I received an email form my CO 2 days ago stating that med students are no longer allowed to go to the 27 day course. He sent me the dates for the HPSP/RC 6 week course from mid-june to july. This kind of sucks for me because being prior service I'd rather go to the shortest course possible, but if this means we can get to 1LT faster (more ASR pay 🙂) than I'll gladly do it. Fort Sam Houston is awesome anyway...spent 4 months there before and it was great. Anyway I'll keep you guys in the loop
 
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koojo said:
I received an email form my CO 2 days ago stating that med students are no longer allowed to go to the 27 day course. He sent me the dates for the HPSP/RC 6 week course from mid-june to july.
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Is it that med students aren't "allowed" or can't because the 27 day course is no longer offered over the summer?

A whole bunch of us enrolled in the 27 day course for 2010 dates a few weeks ago. Hope we're grandfathered in somehow...

ATRRS is still showing the four 27 day classes that were up before and still taking enrollments. Weird...
 
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notdeadyet said:
Is it that med students aren't "allowed" or can't because the 27 day course is no longer offered over the summer?

A whole bunch of us enrolled in the 27 day course for 2010 dates a few weeks ago. Hope we're grandfathered in somehow...

ATRRS is still showing the four 27 day classes that were up before and still taking enrollments. Weird...
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He told me the short course is only for clinicians...but I'm going to look into it and see if I can find that in writing and see what's going on
 
notdeadyet said:
Is it that med students aren't "allowed" or can't because the 27 day course is no longer offered over the summer?

A whole bunch of us enrolled in the 27 day course for 2010 dates a few weeks ago. Hope we're grandfathered in somehow...

ATRRS is still showing the four 27 day classes that were up before and still taking enrollments. Weird...
Click to expand...

He told me the short course is only for clinicians...but I'm going to look into it and see if I can find that in writing and see what's going on
 
koojo said:
He told me the short course is only for clinicians...but I'm going to look into it and see if I can find that in writing and see what's going on
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The 6 week course (6-8-C20B (HPSP RC)) is offered 1x and has a size limit of 250. The 3-1/2 week course (6-8-C20B (RC)) is offered 4x and has 185-195 capacity each time.

From following the board results each month when recruiting for ASR, it seems like we have had a LOT more folks get commissioned via ASR and MDSSP than via STRAP or otherwise. Even with ASR alone, the 6 week course wouldn't be large enough, never mind with all the HPSP/MDSSP/etc folks.

And what happens to the fair number of students who do not happen to have those six weeks available?

Interesting. Let us know what you hear. I'll try to look into it as well. I know I can't make the 6 week course next year. I'd hate to have to take a month off late in residecy to do OBLC.
 
notdeadyet said:
Interesting. Let us know what you hear. I'll try to look into it as well. I know I can't make the 6 week course next year. I'd hate to have to take a month off late in residecy to do OBLC.
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I'm trying to make time to do it in my 4th year (and having some difficulty). The thought of having to tell my residency program up front that I'll have to take off a month in my intern year doesn't sound like fun.

I just noticed that something has changed on ATRRS. I can't find any of the OBLC dates listed for either FY 2010 or 2011. 6-8-C20(RC) is the code that used to pull them up. Anyone have any ideas?
 
EMH said:
I'm trying to make time to do it in my 4th year (and having some difficulty).
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Having difficulty to make the 6 wk Jun/Jul class, or difficulty finding any time at all in 4th year?
EMH said:
The thought of having to tell my residency program up front that I'll have to take off a month in my intern year doesn't sound like fun.
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Yeah, that would be the worst. Doing it in 4th year is a near-must.
EMH said:
I just noticed that something has changed on ATRRS. I can't find any of the OBLC dates listed for either FY 2010 or 2011. 6-8-C20(RC) is the code that used to pull them up. Anyone have any ideas?
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Do a search on 6-8-C20 and it should display the courses.

For the 6 week class, it's here.
For the 3-1/2 week classes, it's here.

They don't have listings for FY2011 up yet...
 
notdeadyet said:
They don't have listings for FY2011 up yet...
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Thank you for that help. I was a little concerned. Anyhow, my problem is as you stated. They don't have FY2011 dates up yet and I've got to pick my senior schedule next month.
 
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I am a first year student in NYU. Do I still have chance for this ASR program if I apply right now? Please PM me if you know a great recruiter in NYC area.
Thanks.
 
gobears01 said:
I am a first year student in NYU. Do I still have chance for this ASR program if I apply right now? Please PM me if you know a great recruiter in NYC area.
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ASR is suspended as a program. You can try contacting the NY National Guard AMEDD recruiting office to see if they'll take an application, but I'd be dubious. The guy I've sent everyone to nationally has shut down as well, as they are no longer recruiting for ASR.

The webpage for NYARNG AMEDD is here. There should be a recruiting number on it someplace. Good luck!
 
notdeadyet said:
ASR is suspended as a program. You can try contacting the NY National Guard AMEDD recruiting office to see if they'll take an application, but I'd be dubious. The guy I've sent everyone to nationally has shut down as well, as they are no longer recruiting for ASR.

The webpage for NYARNG AMEDD is here. There should be a recruiting number on it someplace. Good luck!
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so is ASR officially over then?
 
Well, I just talked to my local recruiter and he told me to fill out all the paperwork and get the physical done....basically all the steps except swearing in.

I told him I would only sign for ASR at this point. He said that was fine and we would just go through the process and prepare as if it will be available at some point. He told me I would not be "in" the Guard until I swore in and signed afterwards.

Is that true? I dont wont to get signed up without my knowledge, lol!!

Wow, it is alot of paperwork!! Reminds me of my old job doing insurance and retirement!!! 😍
 
J DUB said:
Well, I just talked to my local recruiter and he told me to fill out all the paperwork and get the physical done....basically all the steps except swearing in.
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Yep. I think some recruiters will be okay with this and others won't.

You're not actually applying for ASR, you're applying for commissioning. You don't go before the board or swear in, so you haven't joined, but if you decide to join later, it would be a much quicker prospect.

The benefits to the recruiter: if a new program comes up (or if ASR comes back), it's quick to get the applicant to jump on it.

The drawback to the recruiter: they have to take the time to process a bunch of paperwork for an applicant that may not decide to join the Guard.

So again, whether you can fill out Guard paperwork without applying to a specific program is going to depend largely on your individual recruiter.
countryboy75 said:
Is that true? I dont wont to get signed up without my knowledge, lol!!
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Read everything you sign and you should be fine. You don't join the Guard until you interview, swear in, and sign the commissioning paperwork. It would be very hard to do by accident.

tele turnin- let me know if the above few posts don't answer your question.
 
J DUB said:
Well, I just talked to my local recruiter and he told me to fill out all the paperwork and get the physical done....basically all the steps except swearing in.

I told him I would only sign for ASR at this point. He said that was fine and we would just go through the process and prepare as if it will be available at some point. He told me I would not be "in" the Guard until I swore in and signed afterwards.

Is that true? I dont wont to get signed up without my knowledge, lol!!

Wow, it is alot of paperwork!! Reminds me of my old job doing insurance and retirement!!! 😍
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Your commitment starts when you raise your hand with an officer, recite the Oath of Office, and sign a document stating that oath. You can go all the way through the process (including both boards) without swearing in and assuming a commitment. As long as your recruiter knows your stance, there shouldn't be any problems...
 
Is anyone out there having any trouble with flexi training? Word is our new CO wants us all (med and dent students) at drill every month. I heard his background is logistics, not med/dent.

Even if he tells us to bring our books to study all weekend, the drive is a couple hours each way. That's making a lot of us nervous. (You don't really get med or dent school until you've GONE to med or dent school. I had a SSG ask how much we get paid to go to school. I think they all sort of think it's like getting your master's in English literature and you're a TA with grants and free tuition and plenty of time to drink.)

I know flex training is approved nationally but it's also up to individual COs -- just wondering if this is him being fired-up, or if there's a sort of shift happening nationally?
 
TheWholeTooth said:
Is anyone out there having any trouble with flexi training? Word is our new CO wants us all (med and dent students) at drill every month. I heard his background is logistics, not med/dent.

Even if he tells us to bring our books to study all weekend, the drive is a couple hours each way. That's making a lot of us nervous. (You don't really get med or dent school until you've GONE to med or dent school. I had a SSG ask how much we get paid to go to school. I think they all sort of think it's like getting your master's in English literature and you're a TA with grants and free tuition and plenty of time to drink.)

I know flex training is approved nationally but it's also up to individual COs -- just wondering if this is him being fired-up, or if there's a sort of shift happening nationally?
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You may have some luck if you talk to your recruiter. The officer in charge of AMEDD recruiting may be able to write a letter to your unit's CO and explain the situation. If the unit you're with is completely incompatible with you going to school see if there is another unit that would work for you. I think most states have a unit full of medical professionals of some sort. Also talk to the docs that you know in your state. They remember what you're going through and can probably advise you better than anyone how to proceed.
 
EMH, Thanks for the quick reply! (And I heart your profile pic)

Here's the weird thing. The new CO was the AMEDD recruiter for a couple of months. I'm not sure how he's able to do both jobs now, so maybe he's transitioning out of recruiting (though that seems like a mighty short tour as a recruiter). One of the dentists in the unit told me not to worry, that they'll make sure we don't, you know, all start failing our classes. I'm telling myself there's nothing to worry about until there's something to worry about ... but monthly attendance at drill is a dramatic change from what all the students in the unit have been doing for years now.

We'll find out more in January, but from your reply I'm guessing this doesn't necessarily reflect a national shift in policy. Which is good.
 
Oh, and this IS the medical detachment unit I'm with. (I'm not clear on why a logistics-turned-recruiter is now CO.)
 
TheWholeTooth said:
We'll find out more in January, but from your reply I'm guessing this doesn't necessarily reflect a national shift in policy. Which is good.
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I don't think this is a national shift in policy. Just a change in leadership. My unit received a new deputy state surgeon and a new first sergeant since I joined and we've had some changes but they just have to do with what they thought was important. The changes were quite drastic but by no means unreasonable. For example our unit does physical exams for soldiers. We had no formation in the morning, everyone just showed up around the time that they would have something to do, get their job done and leave. Now we have formation and roll call at 0700 and again at the end of the day. Changes will happen.
 
All righty. Then I'll go back to "nothing to worry about until there's something to worry about." 🙂
 
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