Help with military question (service type, duration)...

[TysonCook]

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I've been reading for a few days and somewhat confused with options for my situation....

1)I'm starting my last year of Emergency Medicine residency (civilian), after this upcoming year, I should be able to start as an attending. I'd like to work in private practice for obvious reasons.

2) I'm not concerned with loan payback, monthly stipends, or to be completely honest millitary pay for that matter (private EM pays well, and wife makes a good living).

3) I'm looking at military service for some of the following reasons, none of which are financial.
a) I feel like (and my entire family agrees), that every american owes some military service in their lives.
b) If I had to do the "norm" day to day suburban crud every day I'd most likely puke.
c) Always have been interested in military (applied and almost went to both AF Acad, and USUHS).
d) Seen most of the world growing up, and would like to see more of it.


My questions are the following (after reading other threads):
1) Shortest length of obligation? Reserve, Nat Guard, etc? (hate to get locked in if I hate it).
2) Any benefit in signing now vs in a year (residency vs attending level)?
3) General suggestions/thoughts...

Most threads are HPSP etc and are for MSI's so I have not had much luck in PGY's, or attending level.

Thanks in advance from all of you (both for advice and for your hard work!)👍

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I've been reading for a few days and somewhat confused with options for my situation....

1)I'm starting my last year of Emergency Medicine residency (civilian), after this upcoming year, I should be able to start as an attending. I'd like to work in private practice for obvious reasons.

2) I'm not concerned with loan payback, monthly stipends, or to be completely honest millitary pay for that matter (private EM pays well, and wife makes a good living).

3) I'm looking at military service for some of the following reasons, none of which are financial.
a) I feel like (and my entire family agrees), that every american owes some military service in their lives.
b) If I had to do the "norm" day to day suburban crud every day I'd most likely puke.
c) Always have been interested in military (applied and almost went to both AF Acad, and USUHS).
d) Seen most of the world growing up, and would like to see more of it.


My questions are the following (after reading other threads):
1) Shortest length of obligation? Reserve, Nat Guard, etc? (hate to get locked in if I hate it).
2) Any benefit in signing now vs in a year (residency vs attending level)?
3) General suggestions/thoughts...

Most threads are HPSP etc and are for MSI's so I have not had much luck in PGY's, or attending level.

Thanks in advance from all of you (both for advice and for your hard work!)👍

Why don't you come up and work a couple of shifts with me later this summer? I'm only a few hours away from you and I can give you opportunities to see what it is really like. If you don't like "the suburban crud" you'll likely hate the urgent care stuff we spend most of our time doing.

I think the shortest obligation is 2 years for an attending coming in. No benefit to signing as a senior resident over an attending, except you might get your signing bonus the year before so you would be in a lower tax bracket.

I would recommend you spend AT LEAST 2 years doing "suburban crud" to solidify your skills and pass your boards before coming on active duty. The biggest complaint that military EPs have is that they feel they cannot maintain their skills. Would you be interested in knowing how many intubations I've done since leaving residency? I've worked in 4 different places over two years, including a deployment, and the answer rhymes with Nero. Is that the experience you're looking for?

 

[TysonCook]

I'll hit you up, thanks...

I didn't mean that I'd be bored w/the day-to-day medicine component of EM, but more of the standard, day-to-day wake/work/eat/sleep cycle of suburbia

I'll keep looking as well🙂

any other thoughts?

 

[Gastrapathy]

I'll hit you up, thanks...

I didn't mean that I'd be bored w/the day-to-day medicine component of EM, but more of the standard, day-to-day wake/work/eat/sleep cycle of suburbia

I'll keep looking as well🙂

any other thoughts?

If you want to play a little and are in good shape, I'd consider dive school and a DMO job. Work as a staff EM for a couple years first, then talk to the DMO specialty leader. They would love to have you and it is a pretty fun job. After 3 years, you could get back out and have scratched this itch .