Army pharmacist rank?

[ncj130]

Hello:

I was wondering if anyone knows what rank a pharmacist is commissioned as in the US Army? Everything I've found online and this forum indicates pharmacists are commissioned as O-3 but an AMEDD recruiter just told me he thought it was O-2. Thanks

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[pinksparkly]

My assumption would be O-3. O-2 wouldn't make much sense.

 

[Kansas Pharmer]

Hello:

I was wondering if anyone knows what rank a pharmacist is commissioned as in the US Army? Everything I've found online and this forum indicates pharmacists are commissioned as O-3 but an AMEDD recruiter just told me he thought it was O-2. Thanks

Your AMEDD recruiter is an idiot. All "DRs" get commissioned at CPT (O-3). This includes PhD nurses, MDs, PhD psychologists, and yes, Pharm Ds.

 

[ncj130]

Are there any current army pharmacists that can confirm the rank?

 

[FenderBender]

I work with these pharmacists. They are all Captains.

 

[KKHeal]

Hello:

I was wondering if anyone knows what rank a pharmacist is commissioned as in the US Army? Everything I've found online and this forum indicates pharmacists are commissioned as O-3 but an AMEDD recruiter just told me he thought it was O-2. Thanks

It will be great if someone can confirm this. I spoke to a recruiter today who is a captain himself. He said that pharmacists in Army active duty start as Captains and those in Reserve start out as Lieutenants.

I thought they all started as captains in both active duty and reserve. Has anyone heard about this?

 

[tablet]

"Reserves are different than active duty. If you come in active duty, you come in as an O3".

This is a quote from an SDN thread called "Navy Scholarships, Military Pharmacy," written by someone who is knowledgeable and active military.

 

[crazybob]

Did the recruiter think that the O-2 was Captain? Then what did he think O-3 was? Major?

 

[KKHeal]

Did the recruiter think that the O-2 was Captain? Then what did he think O-3 was? Major?

The recruiter I talked to is a Health professionals Recruiter and he is a Captain himself.

I was wondering if any pharmacist has enrolled in the Army Reserves recently and what rank they started at?

 

[ACE Rx]

Are there any current army pharmacists that can confirm the rank?

One of my classmate's parents is a pharmacist who started as a captain (O-3).

 

[tablet]

Do you sign up, then start making arrangements for Officer Candidate School? Or are there fewer available openings than applicants, and you are competing for a spot (like the civilian job market)?

 

[KKHeal]

One of my classmate's parents is a pharmacist who started as a captain (O-3).

This is absolutely correct for Active duty army pharmacist (O-3). Can anyone confirm about starting rank for Army Reserve Pharmacist?

 

[larobusty]

Do you sign up, then start making arrangements for Officer Candidate School? Or are there fewer available openings than applicants, and you are competing for a spot (like the civilian job market)?

I wanna bump this thread to see if someone can answer this question! I'd also like to know.

 

[ValeRx]

Army is a Direct Commission program. No OCS. You go to BOLC at Ft. Sam. There are more applicants than positions. Last year the Army as a whole only needed 13 or so pharmacists. I'm assuming it will be less this year. My packet is already completed and awaiting the October FY14 board.

 

[68quebec]

O3 captain...

 

[knight on horse]

Your average pharmacist is theoretically allowed to command almost 200 soldiers? Scary

Though I suppose those going military will on average be more masculine, even if not actually looking at combat duty. Also, the Army cutoff is about 90 IQ, below average, so at the basic level of troops there will be cannon fodder

 

[ValeRx]

Your average pharmacist is theoretically allowed to command almost 200 soldiers? Scary

Though I suppose those going military will on average be more masculine, even if not actually looking at combat duty. Also, the Army cutoff is about 90 IQ, below average, so at the basic level of troops there will be cannon fodder

In the Medical Corps, rank is commensurate to education and professional experience. Pharmacists are not commanders.. Though I suppose in certain circumstances they could occupy a commander position. Also, I was a grunt in the Army before I went to pharmacy school. Does that make me cannon fodder? Infantry soldiers tend to have a higher GT score than those in other MOS's.

 

[Caverject]

Your average pharmacist is theoretically allowed to command almost 200 soldiers? Scary

Though I suppose those going military will on average be more masculine, even if not actually looking at combat duty. Also, the Army cutoff is about 90 IQ, below average, so at the basic level of troops there will be cannon fodder

Perhaps you should educate yourself before coming off like a complete jack***** and talking about a subject you obviously know nothing about.

 

[Corpseman]

perhaps you should educate yourself before coming off like a complete jack***** and talking about a subject you obviously know nothing about.

+1

 

[knight on horse]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

 

[Corpseman]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

It is ok to admit that you do not understand how the military works.

 

[ValeRx]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

He plays Call of Duty.

 

[Caverject]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

You really have no idea what you are talking about or you're a troll...

 

[68quebec]

You really have no idea what you are talking about or you're a troll...

like!👍

 

[68quebec]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

goarmy.com
go find yourself. I highly encourage you😍

 

[type b pharmD]

Ranks should not be given out like candy

And you do yourself a disservice. The cutoff is 90, not the average, which means the Army is actually better off than the general population. Control yourself. The Army should not be a place of whining.

Nevertheless, how can any random pharmacist hold such a rank? It is because only so much can be expected of the regular troops, such that the complexity of commands and the expectations on both officer and soldier are within their ability to perform

Lol man. You are so far off base. I have no experience with the military at all, but I have read enough and am a fan of military organization and history to tell you, rank is assigned based on level of responsibility + skills. Medical professionals start at o3 because they have significant skills not found in the average soldier or officer , and because they also hold peoples lives in their hands which is a pretty big level of responsibility. Just because you are o3 doesn't mean you command 200 soldiers, it just means that this is the kind of expectation of responsibility that comes with the rank. As a pharmacist, you'll likely be responsible for the well being and safety of more than 200 people. But it makes no sense to compare a medical corps o-3 with a combat o-3.. both hold positions of responsibility and have obtained significant skill or experience in their area.. comparisons end there.

 

[Sparda29]

If someone with a PharmD wanted to join the Reserves but NOT join to be a military pharmacist, would they still be an O-3?

I was thinking Coast Guard Reserves or Air Force reserves could be fun and pull in some extra cash plus qualifying for the FHA zero down home loans?

And before anyone asks, yeah I know you can't smoke pot when you're in the military.

 

[APN-59 rph]

If someone with a PharmD wanted to join the Reserves but NOT join to be a military pharmacist, would they still be an O-3?

I was thinking Coast Guard Reserves or Air Force reserves could be fun and pull in some extra cash plus qualifying for the FHA zero down home loans?

And before anyone asks, yeah I know you can't smoke pot when you're in the military.

I guess the first question is "why do you want to join?" You mention the Coast Guard which would likely mean living near a big body of water...a Great Lake or ocean or big river. I've done a little with the Coasties and they have a challenging and interesting mission..but be aware that they do get dragged into the sandbox and more than a few got assigned to Deepwater Horizon for a good bit of time..Other than that you need to talk with a Coastie recruiter who is not likely to recognize the appellation "PharmD". Likely 0-1 to start. AF Reserves? Word is that they are essentially part time USAF which is trending the opposite of..how did you put it? "could be fun"?...Ask a recruiter but I would predict 0-1 to start with them too..prepare to say "hi" to the sandbox...

 

[Sparda29]

I guess the first question is "why do you want to join?" You mention the Coast Guard which would likely mean living near a big body of water...a Great Lake or ocean or big river. I've done a little with the Coasties and they have a challenging and interesting mission..but be aware that they do get dragged into the sandbox and more than a few got assigned to Deepwater Horizon for a good bit of time..Other than that you need to talk with a Coastie recruiter who is not likely to recognize the appellation "PharmD". Likely 0-1 to start. AF Reserves? Word is that they are essentially part time USAF which is trending the opposite of..how did you put it? "could be fun"?...Ask a recruiter but I would predict 0-1 to start with them too..prepare to say "hi" to the sandbox...

Air Force wouldn't be fun? Can't imagine flying an F22 not being fun. I live in NYC, so coast is literally right there.

How often would a reservist be deployed overseas?

 

[Junfan50]

If someone with a PharmD wanted to join the Reserves but NOT join to be a military pharmacist, would they still be an O-3?

I was thinking Coast Guard Reserves or Air Force reserves could be fun and pull in some extra cash plus qualifying for the FHA zero down home loans?

And before anyone asks, yeah I know you can't smoke pot when you're in the military.

You can choose a different MOS, but you will not go in as an 03 if you choose to do that. They are giving you that 0-3 rank based on your education and MOS.

Once you join the Reserve, it takes 6 years before you qualify for a VA loan. The exception to that would be if you end up serving 90+ days on active duty.

How “fun” it is will definitely depend on your unit. Some units are flexible and laid back, some are not.

 

[Sparda29]

You can choose a different MOS, but you will not go in as an 03 if you choose to do that. They are giving you that 0-3 rank based on your education and MOS.

Once you join the Reserve, it takes 6 years before you qualify for a VA loan. The exception to that would be if you end up serving 90+ days on active duty.

How “fun” it is will definitely depend on your unit. Some units are flexible and laid back, some are not.

Ah, so you only get the O-3 rank if you do pharmacy in the military, not if you choose to go for Combat Controller or Pararescue or Space Operations for example.

Another issue preventing me from joining is my feelings on certain countries, which will really depend on who the POTUS is. I will gladly fight against ISIS, Al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda or any Wahhabi group.

However, they could not pay me any amount of money to fight against Iran or any Shia militia.

 

[Junfan50]

Ah, so you only get the O-3 rank if you do pharmacy in the military, not if you choose to go for Combat Controller or Pararescue or Space Operations for example.

Another issue preventing me from joining is my feelings on certain countries, which will really depend on who the POTUS is. I will gladly fight against ISIS, Al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda or any Wahhabi group.

However, they could not pay me any amount of money to fight against Iran or any Shia militia.

If you go in as a pharmacist, you’re not exactly going to be holding a rifle on the front line. Not all deployments are to the Middle East either.

 

[APN-59 rph]

Ah, so you only get the O-3 rank if you do pharmacy in the military, not if you choose to go for Combat Controller or Pararescue or Space Operations for example.

Another issue preventing me from joining is my feelings on certain countries, which will really depend on who the POTUS is. I will gladly fight against ISIS, Al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda or any Wahhabi group.

However, they could not pay me any amount of money to fight against Iran or any Shia militia.

Soooo....you are be-bopping around in your fun F-22 and get a call from some dude on the ground that needs a couple of "things" lit up..You gonna ask for their makin's before you roll in? This could be the entertainment of the week for some recruiter..Are any of the military services even hiring pharmacists to commission these days?

 

[Sparda29]

Soooo....you are be-bopping around in your fun F-22 and get a call from some dude on the ground that needs a couple of "things" lit up..You gonna ask for their makin's before you roll in? This could be the entertainment of the week for some recruiter..Are any of the military services even hiring pharmacists to commission these days?

Intentionally miss. Oops, there go some Saudi oil fields. Or just say the **** is malfunctioning and return to base.