I've been accepted to a few MD schools and would like to apply for this. I submitted the questionnaire on the air force website a while back and never heard anything. Is it too late?
I read somewhere that their last meeting is in Jan. Is that just for the dental program? Is the dental program earlier than the MD? This is frustrating as hell getting the ball rolling on this.
What about Army and Navy? Do they fill around the same time? What are the major differences between them? How do I know which one is right for me? Do people apply to more than one or can you only choose 1?
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I would drive back by early next month. There will be a bit of time between initial visit and commissioning, took me about a month (Oct-Nov) to fill out all the damn paperwork, write the essay, etc. That was 4 years ago though, may have changed. In the meantime take the opportunity to read up on this huge life decision if you haven't already. You can always take the 3-year scholarship or FAP if you miss the deadline.
If history is any indication, an Air Force recruiter likely will not contact you -- even though you filled out the information on the website. Instead, you will have to seek out a recruiter on your own. You will have to fill out lots of paperwork, hound the recruiter to put the paperwork through, and pray that you don't have a disqualifying physical condition which would bar you from military service. The good news is that January certainly is not the last time that the Board convenes. When I went through, the board would meet every month on the 15th and then release its results soon thereafter. I didn't find out about my scholarship until the end of May.
The first thing you should do, however, is read through this entire website to see the pros and cons of going the HPSP route. Once you think you have enough information to make an educated decision about whether or not to join the program, then you should begin to contact a recruiter. Take it from me, if I had known four years ago what I know now, I would have thrown away my application and blocked my recruiter's phone number.
The first thing you should do, however, is read through this entire website to see the pros and cons of going the HPSP route. Once you think you have enough information to make an educated decision about whether or not to join the program, then you should begin to contact a recruiter. Take it from me, if I had known four years ago what I know now, I would have thrown away my application and blocked my recruiter's phone number.
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This attitude while still a med student, wow you're going to be a peach when you actually get to work. What do you know so far? That your tuition got paid and you received your stipend every month. Your ADTs must have been terrible.
I've enjoyed my time as a flight surgeon because I went in with eyes wide open. I actually choose the flight doc route to pay back my commitment and move on. I'm finishing up my four years and have a residency lined up that quite honestly I wouldn't have gotten out of med school. Worked great for me, but it's certainly not for everyone.
I checked and there are two scheduled boards left and then as needed. If your recruiter won't call you, call 1-800-airforce or look in another area.
I realized I'd made mistake as an MSII. I was treated poorly even as a med student. No contacts. Unable to get simple questions answered. Delays in reimbursement. Pay screwed up. Not given critical information about the military match. My ADTs were my worst two rotations (as far as educational experiences) during my entire last two years of med school. I did a sub-I in medicine where my team (resident/intern/me) admitted 1-2 patients per call. What a joke. My EM rotation was mostly urgent care (just like my job now.) Yes, it is possible to regret going the military route long before internship.
I'm glad the flight surgeon thing worked out for you. Many of us went in with blinders on (the recruiters and the HPSP folks during med school certainly didn't bother pointing that out BTW) but certainly didn't need the extra GMO experience to get into residencies in our specialty of choice, at least in a real match.
Call your local recruiter and ask to speak to the Medical Corps recruiter. They should be able to transfer you up the line. If your MC recruiter isn't barking down your door in a hurry, then you'll have to start hounding them. You need Standard From 86 (EG) (security) and the physical paperwork.
Sooner is better.
j/k