How do you become a general?

[sarahlindner]

Just asking the question out of curiosity. Starting at the point of a freshly commissioned HPSP/USUHS student, how do you eventually rise up to become a General in the military medical corps? What kind of positions and commands would you apply for as a resident, attending, etc? How long would it take?

I've heard that becoming a O6 is pretty much guaranteed if you commit to 20 years, but how about beyond that?

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[pgg]

Just asking the question out of curiosity. Starting at the point of a freshly commissioned HPSP/USUHS student, how do you eventually rise up to become a General in the military medical corps? What kind of positions and commands would you apply for as a resident, attending, etc? How long would it take?

1) Give up practicing medicine and choose to be an administrator full time, starting at about the O4 to O5 level.
2) 25 years +/-
3) Political abilities
4) Luck

I've heard that becoming a O6 is pretty much guaranteed if you commit to 20 years, but how about beyond that?

This was true 20 years ago.

O6 is very unlikely, even in a 20 year career, unless you commit to significant administrative and operational jobs that limit your clinical time.

O5 has become unpredictably difficult, and likely requires similar admin or operational time mid-late O4. In zone selection rate this year was under 50%.

O4 is still guaranteed, provided you're not a problem child or out of physical / weight standards.

 

[pgg]

Just asking the question out of curiosity. Starting at the point of a freshly commissioned HPSP/USUHS student, how do you eventually rise up to become a General in the military medical corps? What kind of positions and commands would you apply for as a resident, attending, etc? How long would it take?

1) Give up practicing medicine and choose to be an administrator full time, starting at about the O4 to O5 level.
2) 25 years +/-
3) Political abilities
4) Luck

I've heard that becoming a O6 is pretty much guaranteed if you commit to 20 years, but how about beyond that?

This was true 20 years ago.

O6 is very unlikely, even in a 20 year career, unless you commit to significant administrative and operational jobs that limit your clinical time.

O5 has become unpredictably difficult, and likely requires similar admin or operational time mid-late O4. In zone selection rate this year was under 50%.

O4 is still guaranteed, provided you're not a problem child or out of physical / weight standards.

 

[haujun]

Read bio of generals in medical corps and you should have some rough idea what it takes... Get a lot of above OERs in operational and command positions signed by 0-7 saying that you have what it asked to be general etc And have ranger tab which wont hurt. I think all these stuff go against why we become physician in first place

 

[HighPriest]

Become a nurse, not a doctor. Use more buzzwords than regular, meaningful ones. Kiss the ass of everyone you're not stabbing in the back. Concern yourself far more with appearances than you do with outcomes. Blame others, always.

Not saying there aren't others ways, but that track got someone there faster than anything else I've ever seen.

 

[68PGunner]

1) 300+ PT Test
2) Combat Medical Badge, Airborne Tab, Assault School Badge, Ranger School Tab
3) Admin for 5-10 years w/ a few combat tours by the time that you're at O6

 

[DrMetal]

Sleep with your biographer.

 

[Red Lobster Actual]

Sleep with your biographer.

I thought that happens after you pin on a star?

 

[jabreal00]

It is difficult now to get O6 but doable. It is very difficult to get 07, most who are deserving won't ever get it. But like said above, to get to 07, one has to basically go the operational route almost straight out of residency. Pick up all the tabs available (Combat Medical Badge, Airborne Tab, Ranger School). Max APFT. Be ready to deploy with an operational unit or volunteer to deploy regularly. Keep in mind even with all this the chances are still stacked against one to pin on 07.

 

[Chonal Atresia]

It is difficult now to get O6 but doable. It is very difficult to get 07, most who are deserving won't ever get it. But like said above, to get to 07, one has to basically go the operational route almost straight out of residency. Pick up all the tabs available (Combat Medical Badge, Airborne Tab, Ranger School). Max APFT. Be ready to deploy with an operational unit or volunteer to deploy regularly. Keep in mind even with all this the chances are still stacked against one to pin on 07.

I rather hang with Pennywise in the sewers than complete the list above.

 

[WernickeDO]

I rather hang with Pennywise in the sewers than complete the list above.

You make it sound bad! We float down here! And you'll float too...

 

[deuist]

Are you talking about Army or Air Force? In the Air Force, you are required to become a flight surgeon in order to make general. Clinical competence is really a nonissue as most of the admin types stop seeing patients usually within four years of graduating residency.