Army Residency and Retention Bonus

[lphiewok]

I know this topic has been beaten to death so I apologize for bringing it up again.

I have asked few people at my clinic but I am getting conflicted answers so I wanted to ask here instead of wasting another person's time.


I have decided that I want to pursue OMFS in the Army and I am in the process of doing some calculation to see how it will work out financially.

I am going into my 4th Army year. My 4 year HPSP commitment will be coming to an end in 2018.
If I were to apply for this year's application, the residency will begin in year 2019.


Let's assume that I will be selected for 4 year OMFS program:

2014-2018: 4 years of ADSO from HPSP
2018-2022: 4-years Retention bonus as 63A ($25k / 4 years)
2019-2023: 4 years of OMFS Residency
2023-2027: 4 years of ADSO from Residency


My question is: how much you will be paid when you finish residency but still paying back the residency time payback (4 years in this case)?

Is there any other forms of financial incentives (not including pay raise from years of service / promotion) that I will receive other than Dental Specialty Bonus (which I am receiving right now as a general dentist)?

I know it is pretty sweet that I will be receiving retention bonus during first 3 years of residency.
But once that retention bonus runs out I will be making less money than someone who hasn't done a specialty but has obtained their 2nd retention bonus in theory (assuming same years of service, rank, etc.).

Or am I missing something here?
Is there a pay raise or bonus for being a specialist whether you are paying back some sort of ADSO?


Thank you!

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[vellnueve]

In the Navy OMFS gets an additional 30K or so in both the old and new pay plans, added on to your normal bonus, and our base bonus goes up by 5K. Our pay plan is based off the same DOD directives as yours. Thus, you should still see a small pay bump once you finish residency relative to the retention bonus amount.

I am on RB in residency now and will look to be making an extra 10-15K once I finish residency and my current RB contract - the pay I lose from RB ending is less than the bonus for specializing in OMFS. (my RB and residency are staggered only by a couple weeks) My coresidents without RB will see a bigger pay bump since they aren't on RB now.


It's a great deal. On RB you literally get paid more than any resident or fellow pretty much anywhere else - no one in the civilian sector pays 130K in pay and benefits to physicians in training.

The details of your pay may be different but I'll be shocked if the numbers don't end up the same, as DOD directives guide each service's pay plans.

 

[lphiewok]

Thank you very much for your response!

Obviously money is not the motivation for pursuing the residency but it is always an important factor when you are looking at a long term commitment (as I am getting married this year and planning our financial calendar for next 10 years).

 

[Bis-GMA111]

Thank you very much for your response!

Obviously money is not the motivation for pursuing the residency but it is always an important factor when you are looking at a long term commitment (as I am getting married this year and planning our financial calendar for next 10 years).

is fort polk as bad as everyone says?

 

[lphiewok]

lol it honestly is not as bad as everyone says.

I got here last year after spending 2 years at Ft. Lee, VA and I honestly like it here much better than Ft. Lee.


I am from originally from Texas and I actually volunteered to PCS to Polk due to my fiancee living in Houston (about 3+ hours away from Polk and within 250 mi radius for no need for Mileage Pass).

So it is definitely better for my personal reasons but more importantly we have an awesome leadership (new leadership) who is very very supportive of our professional development.
Ft. Lee was great in terms of being in vicinity of large metropolitan areas and geographic location, but I think your happiness comes from your daily interaction with peers/command.

If you have any questions regarding Polk, feel free to msg me lol

 

[USArmyHPSP]

it honestly is not as bad as everyone says.

And then there is the food, there is always the Cajun food....