HPSP and path for SOF medicine?

[foxmike123]

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I'm in the process of confirming whether I should pursue HPSP (Army), what is the path I should take, and what considerations I should be aware of with my goals in mind.

For context, I'm really interested in pursuing a career in SOF medicine as a physician. In university, I had some opportunities to spend quite a bit of time around SF officer classmates (fellows) and even spend some time at Bragg with some 3rd group ODAs to learn more about the role of SF and SOF. I was especially drawn to the world of austere medicine, UW, and performing care for civilians and indigenous forces. In my gap years, I've also worked (non-military related) with a few veterans from other SOF units as well, and it really cemented my interests hearing about their experiences working with physicians from the old GHOST teams, SORT teams, and the JMU. I'm a relatively huge adrenaline junkie who spends a lot of time active and outdoors with a keen interest in global health/medicine, and it just seemed from the get-go this was the path for me. (but also happy to take any criticism / advice from those more experienced than I)

I'm fairly certain HPSP is the right move for me, although I have some very slight concerns about not being able to get the best medical training humanly possible from a mil residency vs. a civ residency. (but I also understand the component of training is it is what you make of it)

Additionally, I was wondering what opportunities I can take advantage of during med school to set myself up besides what I've heard from some already, which is maintaining strong physical fitness and maintaining regular skills like land navigation and so forth. Like are there programs I should be trying to attend (e.g., getting a shot at getting airborne or air assault school, but from my understanding these ones are a flat no, at least from my HPSP recruiter).

Lastly, thinking very far ahead here, but for residency, should I be shooting for placement at somewhere like Womack so I can get close proximity and begin building conversations/relations with units I want to be assigned to/work with? Or should I shoot to be able to get civilian residency for the (potentially) better training? I know I'm far out, but my interests still remain relatively diverse with a big interest in family medicine or potentially emergency medicine but also could be interested in surgery from what I heard about what the JMU and SOST surgeons have been doing)

Sorry if I come off super ignorant, I've tried googling some information and reading across but couldn't find perspectives that really fit my interests/situation.

And I know I appear pretentious to think very far ahead about these things given interests change all the time, but wanted to also use this thread to get general insights from others before me, especially if they're critical.

 

[Volatile]

You are quite a ways out so I really wouldn’t be focusing on specialized
Medical training at this point and be prepared for your current interests to change. Focus on getting into medical school and picking a specialty that you will truly enjoy. If you enjoy the idea of being in the military then hpsp is fine, if you’re doing it for financial gain, I wouldn’t. If you pick a specialty that happens to be something that jives with special ops programs then great, but pick a specialty you enjoy. I did hpsp. I also worked with SF on the Air Force side. It was a year of applying, then a year of training. So with my 4 yr payback it was two years being attached to teams. Lots of constant training the whole time. Also know that you will deploy much more frequently and often times have very little heads up. This was fine when it was just my wife and I, but became pretty rough once we had kids.

 

[foxmike123]

You are quite a ways out so I really wouldn’t be focusing on specialized
Medical training at this point and be prepared for your current interests to change. Focus on getting into medical school and picking a specialty that you will truly enjoy. If you enjoy the idea of being in the military then hpsp is fine, if you’re doing it for financial gain, I wouldn’t. If you pick a specialty that happens to be something that jives with special ops programs then great, but pick a specialty you enjoy. I did hpsp. I also worked with SF on the Air Force side. It was a year of applying, then a year of training. So with my 4 yr payback it was two years being attached to teams. Lots of constant training the whole time. Also know that you will deploy much more frequently and often times have very little heads up. This was fine when it was just my wife and I, but became pretty rough once we had kids.

Thanks for the reply. I've already been admitted and I'm already aligned with selecting a specialty that I enjoy (as I mentioned before, I understand I'm far out). How did you end up selecting the AF, and did you at all know that SOF was a path you wanted to take before doing HPSP? I fortunately have the scores to have received a guarantee from the AF, but I was under the impression there are much fewer jobs/slots available for those at all interested in austere medicine.

 

[Package Guy]

You need to decide if you want to chase the thrill of SOF or have a career as a physician. They are very different things.

Focus on finding a specialty you enjoy in med school. Do research and get some publications going. If you are the kind that barely got into med school by the skin of your teeth, I wouldn’t do HPSP. HPSP isn’t worth it if you fail out. You’re stuck paying uncle Sam’s bill and you still have a service commitment. Lots of threads on the same topic. Lots of solid applicants and those that look good on paper don’t necessarily do well in med school.

It will be important you chose the right specialty. I wouldn’t pursue Air Force HPSP. Far fewer slots for fewer residencies. If you have any medical history it is harder to get waivers if Air Force. Air Force seems appealing because the family life is better by all metrics. Only do the Navy if you like it. Army HPSP will allow you to choose from more residency slots. Especially if you want surgery. Go civilian residency if you want the best training. Lots of threads on this (see below). Then serve your time.

The path will open up for you when you start med school. There are lots of cool opportunities in mil med without being on an FST surg team or inserted in a SOF unit. In fact, some of the only people (physicians) that get inserted into SOF units are people that were already on the teams then went to med school. Usually they just use the 18D medic for austere med and free clinics. They can’t be down one gun in a real fight if SHTF. So you already have to be an 18 series or similar to have a higher chance on the teams as a physician and even if you did that, your education and training make you too valuable as cannon fodder. You need to be behind the wire using your skills as a physician. If you want the thrill go to selection instead of med school.

Army doctrine has recently changed and now the way kinetic strikes and movement happen put more support personnel in harms way. Everything moves faster, including support. If you absolutely need to see some action it’s not a non-zero chance anymore. However, it’s never been a non-zero chance that something will happen.

Your questions have already been addressed in other threads so make sure you take the time to read the mil med threads up and down. Moderators and the older folks don’t like new threads on topics that have already been addressed like yours.

If you don’t finish med school by all means enlist and go to selection assuming you aren’t HPSP already.

Good luck.