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ArmyDoc1999

ArmyDoc1999

LT Evans, USA, MSC
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Greetings, fellow servicemembers. This is only my second post on SDN, but I wanted to make my presence known in this military forum, as I may be able to be of some assistance on the MILITARY side of the house, as opposed to the medicine side. I will be starting my MS-1 year in August at OSU-COM, but I have been in the Army since I was 17 years old. Just a few months ago, in fact, I was a Sergeant on active duty at Fort Polk, LA.
Although my areas of expertise are primarily in Army subjects, I am an Air Force Brat, and I have relatives in the Navy, so pretty much any topic from any service is fair game for me. I look forward to talking with all of you, and asking many questions of my own. HOOAH!
 
Grant:

Welcome aboard! There are several of us here with prior active duty service in specialties other than medicine. I've been cruising this forum for almost 5 years now, and it's helped me through the MCAT, AMCAS, and now USMLE. I think it's a great opportunity to share fleet (or field) experiences with the new guys and give back a little of what we take away.

As I'm sure you've seen there are also several active duty docs here who are willing to provide unbiased info and to answer some of the question the HPSP recruiters might not be able or willing to address.

Again, welcome. It's guys like you that make this forum the truly invaluable tool that it is.

Joe
(aka "Spang", or the aviator formerly known as "Antboy")

PS: I would encourage you to give a buck or two to SDN if you feel it's worth it. They do a lot of hard work for little reward!
 
Hey, Joe.

Thanks for the warm welcome. So you were an aviator? What branch? I am going to assume the Navy, since you made a reference to active time in a fleet. I did my time as an enlisted man and NCO as a Fire Support Specialist (Forward Observer) in the Army Field Artillery. Rock Hard FISTer, HOOAH!
I have yet to meet any of the active duty docs on here, but I am sure I will in due time. How would I go about donating money to SDN?
 
Grant:

Yeah, Navy for 13 years flying CODs on Saratoga and America and then C-12s in Key West before going TAR and getting out to go to medical school. Great time, great experience, glad it's over!!

To donate: Click on USER CP in the upper left of your screen. Then all the way down on the left under "Miscellaneous" click on "Paid Subscriptions" then give until it hurts!! Seriously, I figure guys like us with some cash in the bank and a wife that works can give a few bucks for the cause. Know what I'm saying?

Regards,

Joe
 
Welcome to the club, Grant! Former AF F15E aviator here. Give me a couple days to reroute your donation to SDN into my bank account. I'm one of the poor med students w/ a family.
 
Two aviatiors in as many days. I always wanted to be a pilot. Being born at the Air Force Academy and into an Air Force family will do that to you, I guess. Never had much desire to land on a postage stamp in the middle of the Pacific, though. 😀
If you guys ever want to swap war stories, I'm always game. Oh, and Heeed!, that money is ready for you to re-route at your leisure.
By the way, where do you guys go to school and what year are you in?
 
Welcome Grant!
Another aviator for you: I was an EA-6B Prowler flight officer, flew on the USS KITTY HAWK, been in for 14 years, an MS2 at AZCOM in Phoenix. Landing on a postage stamp at night in the middle of the Pacific was a kick in the pants. Feel free shoot me any questions.
Todd
 
Grant-

ANOTHER aviator here - (when do I start saying "ex-aviator"?). Outprocessing enroute to USUHS right now, been flying UH-60/UH-1/C-12 MEDEVACs for the last 9 years. Try to get to the flight surgeon course here at Fort Rucker, AL when you are a 3rd or 4th year - its 6 weeks long, you can specialize in whatever you want in the end, but you can be on flight status (as a FS this means just riding in the back) with flight pay - nice bonus. Good luck!
 
Damn! Am I the only grunt, ground-pounder, former NCO to go to medical school?!? 😀 I am planning to go to Flight Surgeon School when I can as a student. I've already discussed it with my S-1 (who is also my recruiter). So, now we've got a Prowler jock and a Blackhawk and Huey rotorhead. Awesome! What made you all decied to persue a change of career to physician? Was it planned all along, or did you just decide to? Oh, and pilotdoc, were you a Warrant or commissioned officer. Just curious.
 
Welcome Armydoc, good to have as many of us as possible on the board. I'm one of the active duty, practicing Docs out there that Antboy talked about. I guess you could say that I try to stick up for the side that's actually happy to have joined the military. I'm a realist, and the system is broken, no one argues that fact. But, on balance, HPSP was the best decision I ever made.

I'm the only Diving Medical Officer that posts on the site, and I'm heading back to residency in about 2 weeks, so I guess I'll have to add "back when I was a DMO..." to everything.

I can't help you with the grunt thing, I came in right out of med school. I've jumped and rappeled out of helo's, but never flown anything. All of my time has been spent on things meant to submerge, be they submarines or diving stages.

Anyway, good luck with everything, I'll still be lurking even after residency starts.

Antboy, enjoy PC for me.
NDD
 
Grant-

I'm a commissioned guy - a very lucky one at that, who stayed in the cockpit for my entire 9 years - but that can be normal for a MEDEVAC guy, we fall under the medical service corps, not aviation branch (not to get into a huge discussion about it, but aviation branch guys have to do all the non-flying stuff all along, MEDEVAC has non-flying medical service corps guys doing that so we get to fly ALOT - I've flown more than most of my warrant officer friends who have been at it for 10-15 years). Always intended to go back to school from the start, just kept flying about two years longer than originally planned because I was enjoying it. If I were to stay medical service corps, though, flying would be minimal, as I would become a staff guy, probably one more assignment flying as a company commander and that would be it for the next ten years - holds no appeal to me at all. So off to school I go.

Massimo
 
ArmyDoc1999 said:
Damn! Am I the only grunt, ground-pounder, former NCO to go to medical school?!?
Click to expand...

No you're not the only one. I was a Marine Combat Engineer for 6 years. Spent the first 3 years as my platoon's M60-gunner, so I've definitely done my share of ground pounding. I made Corporal a few years in, then picked up Sergeant on my way out.

Anyway, welcome to SDN. This forum has some wonderful active duty military docs that are a wealth of information.

Good luck with your MS1 year!
 
I guess I'm a third year? Finished Step 1 about 6 hours ago.

I go to Southern Illinois School of Medicine. Got accepted to USUHS but decided to go civilian, not sure why now.

Off to sunny Pensacola for a few day of sun and diesel fuels at Flounder's!

Antboy
 
ArmyDoc1999 said:
Damn! Am I the only grunt, ground-pounder, former NCO to go to medical school?!? 😀
Click to expand...

Hey ArmyDoc-
I wasn't the ground-pounding type, but I did pound on the AH-64, UH-60, and OH-58 whirly-birds back in the day. I was an aircraft electrician/armament (68F) in the late 80's and early 90's. I participated in the first Gulf fiasco, got out, and then became a slacker. Finally got my act together and got into medschool this year (KCOM) and waitlisted at TCOM. I'm currently sitting on the fence in regards to HPSP whether it be Army or AF. The idea of being medschool debt free is tempting, however I think what tempts me more is the chance to go FS, travel, and to be a tad better off financially as a military resident as opposed to civ. resident. But, the commitment is long and like so many have stated over and over.....the gov't owns you and is out for THEIR own best interests! Still fence balancing.....
 
Wow, I had forgotten all about diesel fuels. Way back when I went to COT, we got a 5 day weekend for July 4th...a bunch of us road-tripped down to Pensacola. What a way to celebrate the 4th...Sand volleyball, drinks, new friends, and the Blue Angels!

BTW, I was an E-5 Army ground pounder before going to med school. I was a tactical communications specialist. The Air Force made the HPSP process much easier though so I switched services. I also spent 2 years as a flight surgeon before returning to general surgery residency...which I just finished. Now I'm awaiting my active duty orders and doing some locum work at the local VA.
 
Heeed! said:
Yeah, stick to Flounder's. No FloriBama for you!
Click to expand...


Oh man, the memories are flooding back.....wait I guess I don't remember much of those days, it was the diesel fuel for sure. Don't forget to stop in at MacGuires while you're there.
 
Another former NCO, future Doc here. I was a Corpsmen with a Marine Helicopter Attack Squad (HMLA-169) in Desert Shield/Storm, A respiratory therapist and LPO of surgical team on USS WASP for Operation Deny Flight( Bosnia), and finally an Army medic for engineers/EOD/MP's for Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2002-2003. The last one cost me a year of undergrad, so I am finishing up soon. I have applied to USUHS ( good option b/c I was a resp therapist for 3 years in Bethesda for 3 years) or will pursue HPSP at civilian med schools if possible. I love this thread, gives me hope.
 
Well, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only grunt in Med School. Gives me hope, too. Thanks for all of the responses, gentlemen. It's always nice to know that you are not alone in an endeavor this challenging.
 
FliteSurgn said:
I also spent 2 years as a flight surgeon before returning to general surgery residency...which I just finished.
Click to expand...

FliteSurgn-
I'm interested in your endeavours as a flight surgeon. If I go HPSP and the AF takes me, I would want to do a FS tour after internship and then complete residency afterwards, like you are planning. I'm just wondering about all the basics of being an FS. What type of unit were you attached to? What was a typical work day/week like? How much flight time? Do the FS's and flight crews generally gel well together? What did you hate and what did you love about being a FS? Did or would you have plenty of family time? Where did you get stationed? How was the FS course? Sorry for all the questions, but just wanted to give you some ideas on what to respond to when you get a chance. Thanks much and don't be afraid to throw in anything else you would like!!!
 
Snack said:
FliteSurgn-
I'm interested in your endeavours as a flight surgeon. If I go HPSP and the AF takes me, I would want to do a FS tour after internship and then complete residency afterwards, like you are planning. I'm just wondering about all the basics of being an FS. What type of unit were you attached to? What was a typical work day/week like? How much flight time? Do the FS's and flight crews generally gel well together? What did you hate and what did you love about being a FS? Did or would you have plenty of family time? Where did you get stationed? How was the FS course? Sorry for all the questions, but just wanted to give you some ideas on what to respond to when you get a chance. Thanks much and don't be afraid to throw in anything else you would like!!!
Click to expand...
Take a look at a couple of threads that will answer some of your questions.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=82571
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=80478

I was the flight surgeon for a tanker (aerial refueling) squadron. If the doc shows interest in flight operations and goes the extra mile for his patient-pilots, they can really take care of you. Hanging out with the crew socially is also very important since this will not only help to build rapport, but the flyers will likely be more comfortable in this setting to ask about medical issues that may be bothering them.

I never wanted to do primary care. Fortunately flight medicine provided enough extra "stuff" that it was actually fun. When you're at your home station, it's basically a 40 hour a week job. The aerospace medicine course was a lot of fun...Lots of good people looking to blow off some steam after internship in San Antonio.

That should give you a little background. Let me know if you want anymore details. Good luck.
 
I just want to mention how great it is to see positive attitudes about the military! I can't say that I've always had the greatest attitude during my 9 years in, but as I've matured, I now realize that the negatives of the military are just part of the whole - and that whole has provided me with more stories to tell my grandchildren than I'll ever need. When I visit my buds back home, I realize how unique our experiences are - sure, I have spent some time without a shower in a crappy place, but none of my buds have seen the world the way I have or gotten their hands on the aircraft they only get to see on the Discovery Channel. Anyway, its great to see people proud and happy with their service.
 
Well although not a grunt I used to be in the Army as a 54B and my hubby is an 18B. I will be starting Mayo medical school this summer July 26th! Glad to hear that some of you prior enlisted will be staying in! I have nothing but great experiences with military physicians....they kept my husband alive thank God!
 
FliteSurgn said:
Take a look at a couple of threads that will answer some of your questions.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=82571
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=80478

I was the flight surgeon for a tanker (aerial refueling) squadron. If the doc shows interest in flight operations and goes the extra mile for his patient-pilots, they can really take care of you. Hanging out with the crew socially is also very important since this will not only help to build rapport, but the flyers will likely be more comfortable in this setting to ask about medical issues that may be bothering them.

I never wanted to do primary care. Fortunately flight medicine provided enough extra "stuff" that it was actually fun. When you're at your home station, it's basically a 40 hour a week job. The aerospace medicine course was a lot of fun...Lots of good people looking to blow off some steam after internship in San Antonio.

That should give you a little background. Let me know if you want anymore details. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info FliteSurgn. I'm really interested in doing a stint as an FS. You seem like you really enjoyed it.

When can you go to SAM? only post internship or can you do it as an ADT.

How long can you sign on for FS for, like is there a minimum? Did the FS tour extend your committment post residency much?
 
Nevermind the first question, i checked out the SAM website and see the difference between the HPSP orientation SAM and the other courses and residencies. I'll try to go to it next summer...
 
kingcer0x said:
How long can you sign on for FS for, like is there a minimum? Did the FS tour extend your committment post residency much?
Click to expand...
You will not be allowed to return to residency until you have served a minimum of 2 years at your duty station. This did not add to my committment, it counted as payback time. So, now I only have 2 years remaining from my HPSP contract.
 
FliteSurgn said:
You will not be allowed to return to residency until you have served a minimum of 2 years at your duty station. This did not add to my committment, it counted as payback time. So, now I only have 2 years remaining from my HPSP contract.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info... sounds like a great experience
 
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