All Branch Topic (ABT) Desire to serve - When is the best time?

[doresdoc]

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New physician here just getting ready to start my anesthesiology residency. I've always had the burning desire to serve in the military and almost attended the Naval Academy for undergrad. Now, as a resident physician I am wondering if the timing is right to serve my country or should I wait to sign up as an attending?

I'm not interested in serving full time in a program like FAP, instead, I want to work in academics while serving part time in the reserves or ANG (ARNG told me they have no need for anesthesiologists). For what it's worth, I am also planning on doing a 1 year fellowship after residency. I've enjoyed reading the wealth of information here on SDN, but would like some advice on my particular situation. Would one branch make sense over the other?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DeadCactus]

Signing up with the reserves or Guard during residency means possibly being required to drill during reidency which is a negative in terms of already having limited free time. The benefits are that your obligation and retirement clocks are counting down during a time when you are protected from deployment, you get some money, and you get a taste of the military while still having the resident title to shield you a bit. The on the job experience is also probably beneficial to your CV if you plan to make the military a career as you'll leave residency with a decent chunk of military experience rather than being completely new to everything.

In your position, I would probably sign up with no incentives. Then in PGY-3 year, take The STRAP stipend and HPLRP loan repayment incentives at a 2:1 payback obligation. The 2 years before taking the incentive will let you test things out and if you hate it you can avoid the incentive and bail at 6 years. If you like it, you get a decent financial bonus with the incentives while only owing 4 years post residency (rather than 8 if you took the incentives through all of residency) to let you try out the full experience.

 

[doresdoc]

Thanks for the advice, DeadCactus.

I'm leaning towards the Navy TMS program (without taking stipend or loan repayment). If I understand what I am reading correctly, I would serve as a reservist throughout my residency and fellowship (uninterrupted) and would owe only 3 years in the navy reserves and IRR thereafter (assuming I don't take the stipend or loan repayment). Is there a catch? TMS sounds too good to be true compared to other programs I am reading about.

Also, if someone knows of a good Navy recruiter to work with, please PM me their info.