While I have no doubts you worked for some real losers, and I will assume that your technical skills and work ethic are ok, I also however have no doubt that your "jaywalking" LOR was a way for your command to stick it to a prick.
The *****s that I experienced in command are far more common than not. I'm quite sure by your behavior on this board that you've been called far more than a prick by your underlings, perhaps those above you as well.
For you to label me as a cheerleader is perhaps one of the most bizarre statements you have made.
It really is not. EVERY single time we point out criticisms you take the immediate offense, and attack our personality. You are by far the highest military medicine advocate on this forum even though you have acknoledged some shortcomings.
Perhaps you forget that my criticisms of military medicine and the bureaucracy, AHLTA and other military specific stupities has been withering. I've never argued that the individual cannot get screwed by Uncle Sam. What I have consistently argued it the following:
1. Military servicemembers deserve fanstastic care - this requires idealistic individuals to give of themselves, in other words serve in the military -not necessarily for 20 years.
I agree that military servicemembers deserve fantastic care. I do not, however, think they get it. Its not because of idealistic individuals lack of trying, its because of the bureaucracy continually makes our jobs exceedingly more difficult, and snuffs out that idealism. Multiple examples of that have been given, but you seem to downplay them as service specific, or because the individual somehow must have deserved it. Its your typical MO, and its one of the reasons you come across as such a prick.
2. Your obligation is first and foremost to your patient and no matter how much you want to confabulate that the military is going to somehow compromise this you are wrong.
Once again, I believe and experienced the system directly affecting and compromising patient care. Multiple people have posted so here, its even been on the lay media, and in Pulitzer Prize winning exposes, but once again you denigrate our experiences by outright saying that we are lying. Do you think that we have made these things up? There are bad physicians everywhere. However, there seems to be a preponderance of them in the military, and clearly one reason is the emphasis on people management, as they ascend in time and rank, instead of continuing medical practice and advancement to be a mentor to younger physicians. The medical military culture is that they do not expect to keep physicians long term. They have no incentive to create leaders who actually practice medicine. God knows how you seem to have carved out a little niche for yourself where other than AHLTA and other military specific stupidities, you seem to be as happy as a pig in a poke, and have no trouble taking care of your patients. Its good for you. I have never said you confabulated your current experience. I don't understand it, and I'm sure in the past I have said you must be a mediocre physician to be able to say those things, but I may be very wrong. Its just that the experience you are having seems to be quite unique, and clearly just not what many of us experienced. So when we post negative experiences why is it that you must think every person asking about military medicine will have it as good as you?? Most intelligent and highly educated people will not tolerate the somnambulism with which most medical leadership take their jobs.
3. While there are major problems, there are also opportunities for personal and professional growth in the military.
Yes there are. You can fly, (ride in) military aircraft, go on humanitarian missions, go to war, ride a tank, etc etc.... But I would dare say that if medicine is you ultimate goal in life, the military can stifle and not even present some of those opportunities. Even you think there is a problem with surgeons not being able to keep their skills up. What about other subspecialits?? Everything feeds off the same system, and if one area is not getting support, its going to affect other areas as well. If you are an 18 yo going nowhere, yes I think there are great opportunities. If you are not set on what kind of physician you want to be, and want to take a chance on not having the ability to have a residency of your choice, then it may also be good. BUT, just like in the military, civilian training and life can give you opportunities for personal and professional growth. We point out negative events, and missed opportunities that have happened to us and others as a direct result of military medicine.
4. The tenor of this board is overly negative and the membership seems to consist of very bitter, and self centered narcasistic individuals who put themselves above all else.
Now why do you think that is, the overly negative part?? But then you take up your old MO and insult us. Do you ever think you are the narcissist?? Why would it be that a majority of attendings have varying negative experiences, but you have to point out how they are all wrong, and must have a personal defect. If that is not self centered, then I don't know what is. Perhaps that is only one of the reasons that I have wondered about your medical care of patients. One who thinks so highly of himself to point out that everybody who had it bad must be an idiot, is also highly likely to never admit or consider that he is really not that good a doctor. I don't know if you are or not. Certainly your venomous sarcasm and attacks against us don't say much about your personality. How do you react when a patient questions your treatment?
Most of us on this forum have finally found a place where we can be heard. Where we can tell our story, so that others know with alot more information if they think the military is going to be a place for them. The VAST majority do it for the money. I think so far there has at least been a concensus that its the wrong reason to do it. There are many others, and why us posting them gets your panties in such a wad, is really a strange thing. Notice once again, that I usually end my "rants" with the further advice to call current AD military physicians and get as many opinions as they can.
I get disappointed in myself when I get pulled into the muck and the ad hominem attacks that your and your fellow bashers engage in, but so long as you put garbage on this site, I will refute it. If you would like me to stop posting, please do the same.
