Army Reserve

[SeekerOfTheTree]

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Does anyone know what this program is about? They said they'd give me money!

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Does anyone know what this program is about? They said they'd give me money!

You post in jest?

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

No seriously is it a good deal or not really. They made it seem like I wouldn't do much.

 

[Croooz]

Wait until you're BE/BC to seek money from the military...or any other source for that matter. There are strings attached and those strings don't cut easy especially military strings. You are in control when you're BE/BC and can make a better judgement with the other money that is going to be thrown your way from other employers...plus EM in the military, stateside, is about as boring as it gets, or so I've heard. At least when I was an EMT decades ago we loved being on duty because we got to sit in the room, watch TV, and play tonk...avoiding all those first-time mother emergency visits...or the E2's wife with 6 kids who comes in for cough medicine because they don't have money...yet driving a pimped-out Expedition...but I digress. 😳

No seriously is it a good deal or not really. They made it seem like I wouldn't do much.

You won't...until you're deployed. If you still have to serve then join up after you have BC in hand and can get a sign-on bonus. I think it's $400k for active duty, but don't quote me.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

Dude thanks for the great advice. I am staying away!

 

[Arcan57]

Dude thanks for the great advice. I am staying away!

The other issue is that with our perpetual state of war, being in the Reserves means you're going to get deployed regularly.

 

[glorfindel]

The other issue is that with our perpetual state of war, being in the Reserves means you're going to get deployed regularly.

+1

We'll never see peacetime officially again in our lifetimes.

"War" gives government officials too much leeway to do whatever they want, and they'll never give up that power.

 

[Druggernaut]

The other issue is that with our perpetual state of war, being in the Reserves means you're going to get deployed regularly.

I briefly considered enlisting with the National Guard for the last two years of medical school. I came across a Department of Defense report highlighting this issue and how it threatens to make reserve units like the NG and army reserves unsustainable, as the frequency of deployments takes too big a toll on the domestic lives of soldiers.

I can't speak to the reimbursements of other branches, but the National Guard's recruitment pitch of only one weekend a month of service still puts you financially behind a person who chooses to work those weekends as a civilian EP instead of doing the monthly training. And that doesn't even touch the fact that you'll likely be getting deployed for two months every year or two (I forget the exact timespan that you're "safe" from deployment after getting called up, but it's around there), which is a huge economic hit, and something the recruiters gloss over completely. Plus the fact that potential employers will find you to be a less attractive candidate and discriminate against you since it'd be next to impossible to prove that's why you didn't get the job, time away from family, and the remote but real possibility of getting killed or wounded, and it's even less appealing. The payout is better if you're a physician and not a medical student, but it's still not going to come anywhere close to breaking even.

There's no way you come out ahead financially, so don't do it because of that. It's a shame, because I liked the idea of serving on a limited basis, but it asks too much while giving too little.

 

[DeadCactus]

The information in this thread is about on par with "Just do family medicine, you can always work in the ED on the side. Still, the military in any form is probably a bad choice given your first post...

 

[Bojack Horseman]

You won't...until you're deployed. If you still have to serve then join up after you have BC in hand and can get a sign-on bonus. I think it's $400k for active duty, but don't quote me.

I know you said don't quote you on this... but $400k? Really?!?

 

[deleted109597]

They aren't giving 400K bonuses.
If you join the Guard, you're defended a little from intermittent random deployments, as the governor has to deploy you. When you're in the reserve, the President can decide to wag the dog and send you to Kosovo, or Somalia, or wherever.
If you feel it is important to you, you'll do it regardless of the monetary costs. Soldiers need doctors. They're generally the most thankful, healthy group you'll ever see. It's the exact opposite of the VA.

 

[Apollyon]

First, the Military Medicine forum here on SDN is ground zero for the information you for which you are asking. It's right above the "practicing physicians forum".

As for VA patients, granted, my experience was as a resident, and on inpatient units, but I thought the VA inpatients were about the best ever - you couldn't kill them, and they would let you do ANYTHING - "It's OK, doc - I trust you!" And, if one of them had an appointment, they would be there. They very well might not know why, but, 22 May at 1430, they were there.

 

[Deuce Doc]

I never worked with any docs that joined for the money that weren't annoyed and filled with regret. Most everybody that I met who joined to serve (but took the money) was able to find meaning or purpose in of some of the most insane and ridiculous situations that you ever came across. Living your life in hock to the government is tough and definitely not for everyone (or their wives). I'm satisfied with my choice though.

 

[RustedFox]

The other issue is that with our perpetual state of war, being in the Reserves means you're going to get deployed regularly.

But Eurasia has always been at war with Eastasia.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

No seriously is it a good deal or not really. They made it seem like I wouldn't do much.

The military will find a way to get their money's worth out of you. Don't do it for the money.

 

[Croooz]

I know you said don't quote you on this... but $400k? Really?!?

Four years ago. Now? The government's broke and I doubt it's anywhere close to that. It was also not a sign-on bonus but spread out throughout four years. Once the other EM guys did the math it still worked out that you would be underpaid. By agreeing to this bonus you forfeited the others so it wasn't a big deal.

As it's been said, as a physician you don't join the military for the money. There are plenty of reasons to serve and money ain't one of them. Hang in there. The big paydays are coming...you can't be in scutlandia forever....can you?

 

[deleted109597]

Four years ago. Now? The government's broke and I doubt it's anywhere close to that.

Agree about not doing it for the money. That's not what it's for. However, the absolute most I ever saw was close to your $400K number, but for orthopedic and neurosurgeons. The most I ever saw in writing was $100K for loan repayment for EPs, and this was in the heady days of 2007. Anything the government offers, make sure to get it in writing. Especially if you're considering joining during residency.

 

[Old_Mil]

avoiding all those first-time mother emergency visits...or the E2's wife with 6 kids who comes in for cough medicine because they don't have money...yet driving a pimped-out Expedition...but I digress. 😳

That's the best part of military medicine...you end up caring for a subset of the population that is generally higher speed than what filters through your most ED waiting rooms. Even the ones who smoke and drink in excess haven't lived long enough to suffer the consequences. You won't make as much but (in my opinion) your quality of life will be better.

 

[Dwindlin]

It's right above the "practicing physicians forum".

This gets referenced often, I don't think everyone can see this forum. Right below my mil med fourm is the "Internship, Residency, and Fellowship positions" forum.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

The military will find a way to get their money's worth out of you. Don't do it for the money.

Having taken signing bonuses, and known many who have, do, and will in the future, I can't highlight the truth in this enough. If you do it for the money, you will lose. Do it because it speaks to you.