Doctor with an active duty spouse?

[JBG4]

I am not sure what category to post this in, so if this is the wrong one, then please tell me. I am going to post it in several spots. I also searched for the topic, but didn't find anything of assistance.

I am a senior in under-grad, and just applied to med school. My fiance is active duty Air Force. There are no doubts that we will stay together, but I just wanted some advice from someone who has been/is in the same situation. How does it work? How do you become a doctor and have a spouse active duty? Do you travel with them? How does it work with med school and residency and moving for both? I have heard of doctors traveling with their spouses and filling in for other doctors when they go on vacation, but can you really make a career out of that?

Any advice would be appreciated. Send me in the right direction please.

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[colbgw02]

Unless you are both active duty, then the military will have precisely zero consideration for the servicemember's spouse's career.

Once you are finished with training, you could probably make a living by doing locum tenens wherever your spouse is stationed, assuming that he/she is not stationed in some far recess of the planet. Notice that I didn't say "make a career".

The bigger issue will be during your training. You're looking at spending between 7 to 10 years in medical school and residency. An active duty servicemember can expect to have at least two, and probably more like 3-4, duty stations over that time. There is absolutely no guarantee that you'll be anywhere close to each other. In fact, it's pretty unlikely.

 

[tellsarah]

I posted this on the spouse forum also**

Long distance relationship. I would recommend the book "Married to the Military". To be married to a active duty service member, typically means their career dictates where you live, unless you opt to make them a geographical bachelor. Many spouses, with their own careers, choose to stay put because of the constant moving associated with the military lifestyle. This is all from my own personal experiences and observations.

Just a heads up, this is a hard life, especially for someone who wants their own career.

Good luck 😉

 

[TheGoose]

im curious if the OP were to theoretically go to USUHS, and be on 'active duty' as a med student - would they station his wife at like Andrew's AF base or something to keep them close? And if so, would they keep her there indefinitely through the 4 years of med school and then have her follow him through residency?

this would obviously depend on the OP having a desire to be in the military (which i couldnt really feel out from the original post)

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

im curious if the OP were to theoretically go to USUHS, and be on 'active duty' as a med student - would they station his wife at like Andrew's AF base or something to keep them close? And if so, would they keep her there indefinitely through the 4 years of med school and then have her follow him through residency?

this would obviously depend on the OP having a desire to be in the military (which i couldnt really feel out from the original post)

If he were to attend USUHS, that would only mean that co-location would become a higher priority - there are never any guarantees in the military. Further, she would likely not receive 4 year orders; the more likely scenario would be 3 year orders, with the option to extend for a year.

Most importantly, as you pointed out in your last statement, this would absolutely have to be driven by his desire to practice medicine within the military. With a wife who is an active duty Ob-Gyn, I was faced with a very similar situation when deciding between pursuing a career in civilian medicine or participating in the HPSP. While my wife's extended commitment to the Navy certainly played a role in my decision, I ultimately decided to participate in HPSP because I enjoyed serving, and because I love the patient population.

 

[IgD]

I've observed the best career medical officers a lot of times are single. They seem to travel around like nomads, work excessively and love doing so. Has anyone else seen this?

 

[hattie]

I am a non-military MD who went through medical school with an active duty spouse, and basically the only way to do it is with a very firm commitment to your marriage, an open mind about education/training, lots of compromise (for both of you) and a little luck. Anyone with specific questions, feel free to pm me (I already sent you a note, OP)...

 

[JBG4]

Thanks for your replies. For future reference, I'm actually a female. I already know that we will have to continue a LDR. We have done this for the 3 years he has been in, so I'm no stranger to those hardships. I was looking more for options/advice to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

I will look into the USUHS. Never heard of it before. No, I have not ruled out practicing military medicine.

Any further advice/tips would be appreciated.

 

[TheGoose]

in regards to USUHS, keep in mind that if you enroll there, you are then committed to the 4 years of med school followed by 7 years of active duty commitment (excluding internship and residency)...if your spouse decided not to be a career military man - youre still locked in and have the same problem as now in reverse.

 

[JBG4]

Yes, I looked it up, and saw that.

And my SO is making a career out of the military. This is the reason I am trying to find other people who have been through a similiar situation. He will be in for another 17 years.

 

[Re3iRtH]

in regards to USUHS, keep in mind that if you enroll there, you are then committed to the 4 years of med school followed by 7 years of active duty commitment (excluding internship and residency)...if your spouse decided not to be a career military man - youre still locked in and have the same problem as now in reverse.

If by "committed to 4 years of med school" at USUHS you mean "having
a blast as a med student, good education, free to do what you want when
you want, good financial security, not stressed out." then yes it is
"committed to med school." 😉

 

[MicroBugs]

I'd also love to hear responses on this. Really I'm considering whether it'll be easier to work as a physician with an active duty spouse in the military myself or as a civilian. I understand all the HPSP arguements, that's not the issue. In fact, if I went the military route, it'd be via FAP. Deployments aside, is it hard to align two married officers assignments?

P.S. we're a Navy family

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

I'd also love to hear responses on this. Really I'm considering whether it'll be easier to work as a physician with an active duty spouse in the military myself or as a civilian. I understand all the HPSP arguements, that's not the issue. In fact, if I went the military route, it'd be via FAP. Deployments aside, is it hard to align two married officers assignments?

P.S. we're a Navy family

It is significantly easier to stay together if you are both on active duty. From the perspective of the individuals that control assignments, spousal considerations are only given priority when it involves a spouse that is also on active duty.

Don't get me wrong - they will try to accommodate requests. However, the needs of those couples that are on active duty will ALWAYS (perhaps with the exception of those couples that participate in the Exceptional Family Member Program - look that up if you do not know what I am referring to) be considered before yours.

 

[alpha62]

I've observed the best career medical officers a lot of times are single. They seem to travel around like nomads, work excessively and love doing so. Has anyone else seen this?

For once, I agree with you totally IgD.👍

 

[Mirror Form]

im curious if the OP were to theoretically go to USUHS, and be on 'active duty' as a med student - would they station his wife at like Andrew's AF base or something to keep them close? And if so, would they keep her there indefinitely through the 4 years of med school and then have her follow him through residency?

this would obviously depend on the OP having a desire to be in the military (which i couldnt really feel out from the original post)

Co-location is NOT guaranteed. The only way to be sure the OP and his spouse will be together is for him to stay out of the military.

This isn't the first time I've seen someone post this advice before, and it's abysmal advice.

 

[LadyDev]

As most new posters say, I apologize if this has been clarified before.

As a member of the military, I understand the fact that nothing is guaranteed. However, say, for instance, that I was to enter USUHS with my service of choice being the army. Also, let's say my husband who is currently in army ROTC, decides to serve his obligation via active duty. Would MACP (Married Army Couple Program) be able to be applied to our situation in increasing the likelyhood that he would be able to be stationed at Fort Belvoir/Fort Meade?
Or does the USUHS contract specifically prevent MACP from applying for dual-army couples?

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I think it is easier as a civilian. Most bases have a hospital that will hire you as a contractor, even if you're overseas. Some specialties are easier than others.