Army scholarship program

[ColinHay]

The army guy was here again and this time he had the match numbers for the army - he paint a pretty picture with many available spots in competitive residencies and of course the monetary incentives.
They always fail to point out the responsibilities and dance around the questions.
Has anyone that signed up for this regret doing so? What hidden items do they have in the small print?

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[BusterDO]

You might want to ask this question in the military medicine section, I know it was helpful to me when i was looking into it.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72

Remember that the recruiters are just that...recruiters. They typically are not physicians and have not gone through med school, boards, the match, residency, etc. Their objective is to get people to sign up. This is usually why it looks like they dance around the issues, probably b/c they don't fully understand what you're asking. I had two recruiters (AF and Army), the army guy was new and had NO IDEA what the road to becoming a doctor was like, the AF guy had been doing for awhile and had a better grasp on it, but still didn't really understand my concerns for matching/specialty selection, etc.

IMHO: don't do it for the money, def. the wrong motivator no matter what circumstance you are in. Do it if you want to serve your country, like military life, etc. By no means is that negative, but just like medicine, the military is not meant for everyone. There are other programs through the military during residency - monetary benefit and less time to pay back, check that out too.

 

[Percival]

Buster DO gives excellent advice. I did 5 years active duty military in the past. I'm an M1 now, and I'm enrolling for the National Guard's stipend program.

I agree with EVERYTHING Buster said. Let me just add a couple of quick comments.

1) Don't be mad at recruiters. They don't lie or mislead any more than any other salesman. Also, the healthcare program is very complex, so be patient with them if they don't know all the details -- they probably don't.

2) I'd say pick at least two reasons to do it. Money and retirement, retirement and fun, honor of serving and money, etc. Like Buster said, it's exactly like medical school. It's great for some...not a good idea for others.

3) Nothing is free. My recruiter (he was nice, but slightly ignorant) tried to tell us that we could finish up residency and concurently pay off our committments at the same time. In other words, we would finish up residency with no committments and no deployability. That was absolutely wrong. Don't believe that for a second.

I'll leave it at that. I've said too much. If you want to know more about the National Guard program I'm in, send me a private message. I'd be happy to tell you more.

 

[MonkeyRalph]

Has anyone that signed up for this regret doing so? What hidden items do they have in the small print?

Yes, there are many vocal people who regret doing so. See the mil med forum.

Just some of the small print includes: there's the not so remote possibility that they will force you to do a transitional year in a place that isn't even on your rank list. happened to me and many others. anything that says "needs of the army" basically means, "we can tie you to a chair, pour fire ants down your shirt, make you watch 2girls1cup over and over again, and wax your bikini line, if we can justify that it falls within the needs of the army."

on the other hand, if you want to be a military physician and don't mind primary care, then it's a great deal.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

"needs of the army" = Blank check for your soul.

When I was getting out, there 2 billets at a NATO base in the Netherlands, one of which I wanted. I hadn't burned bridges, but I didn't exactly garner many favors with the string-pullers that could get it done. "Well, if you re-up needs of the army, we'll put in a 4187 to get you there." "No ****ing way! I'll just go back to school." The other guy that wanted one, who had two kids and a wife (and therefore no choice but to re-up) did so, and ended up at Ft. Lewis WA.

You'll find many more answers, as noted, in the mil med forum. Just be aware that some jaded people in there didn't know what the military was all about before going in, and would've been unhappy no matter what...