ARMY-PT Qualifications

[Apollo#1585...]

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Hey all,

First post on here so bear with me.

I was curious as to what people qualifications were that got accepted into the Baylor-Army DPT program within the last 3-5 years. I know they list the minimum on the website but I would like to know what people did and consequently got accepted for. Specifics would be extracurriculars, where you did your shadowing hours, did you have volunteer hours? how many and doing what? overall GPA? Pre-rec GPA? Is there anything that you notice many of your peers did that helped them in the interview/application process? Can you still apply if you get your Masters first?

The reason for asking is I really didn't have a goal or my life figured out until this previous semester, both with my major (changed 4 times in 2 years) and what I wanted to do with it. I want to know what else I can do to really show that I want to be in the program. As of now its my #1 goal to get into it.


Thanks

 

[cadetmerebear]

It definitely changes year to year, but they are looking at a more whole-person concept. Obviously if you have good stats along with other things as well as PT experience, either observation, volunteering, or PT aide jobs, you are on the right track. And yes you can still apply if you get your masters first (as long as it is not a PT degree but there are no longer masters of PT degrees) I would try to volunteer at a VA and/or observe an AD PT. I think a recruiter would be able to provide you with more specific stats though. Nothing is a guarantee and each year the amount of applicants increases.

 

[Brandyyyy]

I know there's another post on here for Baylor that I came across from the past year I believe if you are interested in searching that one. I have been looking at Baylor for a few years now, and the biggest thing I've heard is that you have to prove you want to be an Army Physical Therapist. It isn't enough to want to be a PT, you have to have a desire to serve. Being in the Army is a lot harder than people realize (yes I'm AD) and you have to pass all the basic Army tests (PT test, Body Fat/Body Composition, range quals, land nav, etc) which most applicants from what I heard aren't qualified to do medically/body size wise. Baylor is a fantastic school, but don't go unless you are mentally prepared since they usually augment PTs to deploy within the first year. If you are still interested after that, I say go ahead and go for it!! No other school pays you to attend, and they have a fantastic program.

 

[scrawnyguy]

I know there's another post on here for Baylor that I came across from the past year I believe if you are interested in searching that one. I have been looking at Baylor for a few years now, and the biggest thing I've heard is that you have to prove you want to be an Army Physical Therapist. It isn't enough to want to be a PT, you have to have a desire to serve. Being in the Army is a lot harder than people realize (yes I'm AD) and you have to pass all the basic Army tests (PT test, Body Fat/Body Composition, range quals, land nav, etc) which most applicants from what I heard aren't qualified to do medically/body size wise. Baylor is a fantastic school, but don't go unless you are mentally prepared since they usually augment PTs to deploy within the first year. If you are still interested after that, I say go ahead and go for it!! No other school pays you to attend, and they have a fantastic program.

Great point. I think some people look at Army-Baylor as a free ticket to PT school but they fail to realize that you're a Soldier first. From what I've seen thus far PTs seem to be good as physical fitness and height/weight standards. It's a profession that focuses on those areas and the PTs I've seen thus far pass the eye test. I bet stuff like land nav and weapon's qualification is more difficult. That stuff is really use or lose. I'm usually a good shot but I'm always a little rusty when it's time to dust off the compass.

As far a medical stuff goes you would be surprised at how many people aren't qualified. I did a tour as a recruiter and I think it was something like 70% of people are initially medically disqualified for military service. Of course when people obtain medical records they are often able to qualify but there are a lot of conditions that seem mundane that will keep you out. I once had a kid get kicked off the floor because he had too much cotton in his ears from using Q tips. He couldn't come back until he had his ears flushed.

 

[Apollo#1585...]

I know there's another post on here for Baylor that I came across from the past year I believe if you are interested in searching that one. I have been looking at Baylor for a few years now, and the biggest thing I've heard is that you have to prove you want to be an Army Physical Therapist. It isn't enough to want to be a PT, you have to have a desire to serve. Being in the Army is a lot harder than people realize (yes I'm AD) and you have to pass all the basic Army tests (PT test, Body Fat/Body Composition, range quals, land nav, etc) which most applicants from what I heard aren't qualified to do medically/body size wise. Baylor is a fantastic school, but don't go unless you are mentally prepared since they usually augment PTs to deploy within the first year. If you are still interested after that, I say go ahead and go for it!! No other school pays you to attend, and they have a fantastic program.

When you say deploy, Do you know where to? Obviously there's tons of places but do you know where the "main" spots are? Or do they give you a choice at all? I was told by a Navy recruiter (for Enlisting) that they get to choose where they go based on how they performed at basic. Anything like that for Army DPT? Call me naïve, but what does AD mean? I assumed Army Doctor.

Another thing is a coworker of mine is retired Army, he said that there's a clause for Army DPT that says you have to make Major within X amount of time or you have to pay them back for all the schooling. Anyone know if this is true?

What types of qualifications are needed for land nav/weapons etc? Basically, what else do I need to know that isn't posted on their website?

 

[scrawnyguy]

When you say deploy, Do you know where to? Obviously there's tons of places but do you know where the "main" spots are? Or do they give you a choice at all? I was told by a Navy recruiter (for Enlisting) that they get to choose where they go based on how they performed at basic. Anything like that for Army DPT? Call me naïve, but what does AD mean? I assumed Army Doctor.

Another thing is a coworker of mine is retired Army, he said that there's a clause for Army DPT that says you have to make Major within X amount of time or you have to pay them back for all the schooling. Anyone know if this is true?

What types of qualifications are needed for land nav/weapons etc? Basically, what else do I need to know that isn't posted on their website?

It's really hard to say where you could deploy to. Who knows where we will be in 4 or so years when we are done with school. All of my time was in the Army so I can't speak for the other services. PTs did deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many were stationed at the larger bases, which obviously had larger medical facilities. Many brigades now have PTs and even battalions have them in special operations units such as the Rangers. If they are stationed at a remote FOB (Forward Operating Base) you would be, too. Are you going to be kicking down doors on raids? Probably not. That's not the best use of your skill set. You will be, however, treating those guys. One PT I talked to deployed like this and said he had nothing more than athletic tape, toilet paper, and his imagination. He was probably exaggerating but I can imagine they have to improvise a lot in those situations. Some people might hate that but that actually intrigues me. This might sound harsh but if you don't want to deploy you should probably look elsewhere. I've known people who have been in since long before 9/11 that never deployed and I've known people who can't count their deployments on one hand. I've done 3 myself.

Your recruiter was sort of telling the truth. In many instances there is something called an OML (Order of Merit list). It's basically a ranking based on a number of factors including physical fitness test scores, performance in school, etc. People at the top of the OML may have more say in where they are stationed but the needs of the Army always come first. You may really want to go to Hawaii but there might not be any positions there. Someone has to go to Ft. Riley, Kansas (Hell, I was born right next to post and I would never want to go there). There are a lot of factors that go into duty stations. I don't think anyone really has carte blanc, but a lot of times you get a short list of locations to choose from. I think my last time around I had 2 choices.

AD=Active Duty, AR=Army Reserves, NG=National Guard

I've never heard anything about having to pay the school back if you don't make Major. I've heard up West Point cadets who drop out having to pay the Army back but nothing like that for the Army Baylor DPT. I think the average time to make Major now is around 10 years in service. The PT school is 30 months and there is a 54 month service obligation when you are done. Unless you already have a prior commission you won't make Major during initial obligation.

There is a land nav course that you will have to pass once a year I believe. You are trained up before hand on map reading, how to shoot an azimuth with a compass, how to get a pace count, etc. You'll probably do weapon's qual twice a year. I was a pretty good shot so I'm honestly not sure what the bare minimum is. I think it is 26 hits out of 40 with an M4/M16 rifle using a variety positions. As an officer you might carry a pistol so would have to qualify with that. They teach you the basics of marksmanship before you fire. I'd never fired a weapon before basic and I did fine. It was a little intimidating but you get over it real fast.

I think that hit's all of your questions. Hope that helps.

 

[Apollo#1585...]

It's really hard to say where you could deploy to. Who knows where we will be in 4 or so years when we are done with school. All of my time was in the Army so I can't speak for the other services. PTs did deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many were stationed at the larger bases, which obviously had larger medical facilities. Many brigades now have PTs and even battalions have them in special operations units such as the Rangers. If they are stationed at a remote FOB (Forward Operating Base) you would be, too. Are you going to be kicking down doors on raids? Probably not. That's not the best use of your skill set. You will be, however, treating those guys. One PT I talked to deployed like this and said he had nothing more than athletic tape, toilet paper, and his imagination. He was probably exaggerating but I can imagine they have to improvise a lot in those situations. Some people might hate that but that actually intrigues me. This might sound harsh but if you don't want to deploy you should probably look elsewhere. I've known people who have been in since long before 9/11 that never deployed and I've known people who can't count their deployments on one hand. I've done 3 myself.

Your recruiter was sort of telling the truth. In many instances there is something called an OML (Order of Merit list). It's basically a ranking based on a number of factors including physical fitness test scores, performance in school, etc. People at the top of the OML may have more say in where they are stationed but the needs of the Army always come first. You may really want to go to Hawaii but there might not be any positions there. Someone has to go to Ft. Riley, Kansas (Hell, I was born right next to post and I would never want to go there). There are a lot of factors that go into duty stations. I don't think anyone really has carte blanc, but a lot of times you get a short list of locations to choose from. I think my last time around I had 2 choices.

AD=Active Duty, AR=Army Reserves, NG=National Guard

I've never heard anything about having to pay the school back if you don't make Major. I've heard up West Point cadets who drop out having to pay the Army back but nothing like that for the Army Baylor DPT. I think the average time to make Major now is around 10 years in service. The PT school is 30 months and there is a 54 month service obligation when you are done. Unless you already have a prior commission you won't make Major during initial obligation.

There is a land nav course that you will have to pass once a year I believe. You are trained up before hand on map reading, how to shoot an azimuth with a compass, how to get a pace count, etc. You'll probably do weapon's qual twice a year. I was a pretty good shot so I'm honestly not sure what the bare minimum is. I think it is 26 hits out of 40 with an M4/M16 rifle using a variety positions. As an officer you might carry a pistol so would have to qualify with that. They teach you the basics of marksmanship before you fire. I'd never fired a weapon before basic and I did fine. It was a little intimidating but you get over it real fast.

I think that hit's all of your questions. Hope that helps.

Yeah man that's definitely really informative. I dont mind deploying. The info for that is for my mom who equates every job in the military to being infantry front lines. I mean that almost literally.

I'm actually in KS right next to Ft Riley. I can imagine why you wouldn't want to be there, we got a nickname for them its "Riley Rat" Ill leave you to your imagination on why we call em that.

None of that sounds like something i couldn't do. Thanks for all the info man!

 

[scrawnyguy]

Yeah man that's definitely really informative. I dont mind deploying. The info for that is for my mom who equates every job in the military to being infantry front lines. I mean that almost literally.

I'm actually in KS right next to Ft Riley. I can imagine why you wouldn't want to be there, we got a nickname for them its "Riley Rat" Ill leave you to your imagination on why we call em that.

None of that sounds like something i couldn't do. Thanks for all the info man!

No problem.

Deployments aren't all bad. Being away from home sucks, especially if you're in a relationship or have kids. I had a lot of down time though and I made the most of it. I always came home in killer shape. I also had some time to work on college courses. I actually finished my degree on my last deployment. Unless you have an Amazon addiction you generally come home with a decent amount of savings as well. On my first two deployments I was able to buy cars (the deployments were several years apart). On the last deployment I tucked everything into savings. It helped pay for my wedding and the rest has helped supplement my GI Bill this past year when I went back to school to knock out my prereqs.

You being right next to Riley makes me chuckle a bit. I was almost went with Ft. Leonard Wood, MO but I always pick on that post. I was born in Manhattan and my mom grew up in Junction City. I actually grew up in Kansas City and we used to visit Junction City often to visit my grandmother. I still have a lot of friends in KC so I actually wouldn't mind being stationed there, but I know a lot of people hate. Unfortunately a lot of Army bases are in less than ideal locales. Personally I'm hoping to be be stationed at Ft. Carson, CO when all is said and done.

I'm applying for the class that starts in the fall of 2016. It's my #1 choice as well. It's a big commitment but personally I think it's worth it. Whatever you decide, good luck!