HPSP OBLC Question

[Sarg's kid]

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I've looked, but can't find an answer to this scenario. I can't go to OBLC before I start school, as the only AMEDD OBLC overlaps my start date. My school also runs too long to do it in between 1st and 2nd year. The recruiter tells me that I can do it after graduation. My question is this: am I going to get hosed into doing it in between 3rd and 4th year instead of doing an ADT to a MEDCEN in order to set myself up for the match?

(The recruiters told me that it would be fine to do it after graduating. Although, they also told me that it could be put off until after residency if the residency program started too early, which seems dubious.)

Also, are the ADT timeframs locked in to anything specific? Meaning, if I wanted to do an ADT for 45 days in, say October/November, is that possible (school willing of course)? Or are they restricted to summers?

 

[Mcrap]

Hey so I am in the same boat as you are as far as OBLC happening when school is going on. From what a Lt. Col. told me OBLC is only necessary for promotion to Major, and that would be well after medical school and residency. Since if I am not mistaken promotion to Major from Captain doesn't happen until after 6 years of service. Then again this is what I understood that as. I'm only a MS 0 so.. yeah..

 

[colbgw02]

I'm pretty sure they won't make you go in lieu of a clinical ADT. At least, I've never heard of them doing that. They certainly won't make you go between graduation and residency. Unless your school has an unusually early graduation date, then there is simply no time to do it. In this case, even the military has to listen to the ACGME. If you end up doing a civilian residency, then they'll make you go before reporting to your first duty station. Otherwise, you can apply for constructive credit during your active duty residency.

 

[Sarg's kid]

I'm pretty sure they won't make you go in lieu of a clinical ADT. At least, I've never heard of them doing that. They certainly won't make you go between graduation and residency. Unless your school has an unusually early graduation date, then there is simply no time to do it. In this case, even the military has to listen to the ACGME. If you end up doing a civilian residency, then they'll make you go before reporting to your first duty station. Otherwise, you can apply for constructive credit during your active duty residency.

So, you're saying that if I do a military residency, then I won't go to OBLC at all? (Or does constructive credit mean that I'll go after residency?) That's a little disappointing.

And, if I decide to make this a career, is that going to hurt me?

 

[psychbender]

They won't force you to go between 3rd and 4th years, as they don't know what your school's schedule is, and whether this would be allowed. Further, not completing OBC prior to the match should not harm you, but it is always possible (maybe for something competitive, with two otherwise equal applicants). A classmate of mine has not gone to OBC, and he matched both his specialty and location (then again, it was Peds, which didn't fill in the Army). I have heard that the CSC option is no longer recognized, and OBC before/during school is being "strongly encouraged," but this was just from one of the moderators on the Army MODS forum a few months ago. Also, in my OBC class last summer, we had a Neurosurgeon who did not do OBC during medical school, and was told that he was required to complete it with the rest of us...and he was a Major.

 

[colbgw02]

So, you're saying that if I do a military residency, then I won't go to OBLC at all? (Or does constructive credit mean that I'll go after residency?) That's a little disappointing.

And, if I decide to make this a career, is that going to hurt me?

If you get constructive credit, then you won't go, but as psychbender said, getting constructive credit is no longer a given. You may end up having to go following residency and before your first duty station irrespective of where you completed residency. The idea behind constructive credit is that you will learn everything you learn at OBC by being on active duty for X number of years.

 

[Sarg's kid]

You know what, I found the answer to most of my questions. When all else fails, read the manual.

From Chapter 4 of the Policy handbook:
"Failure to attend teh six-week HPSP OBLC results in the requirement to attend the full length all Corps OBLC.
HPSP participants may be excused from attending OBLC if:
...2) They are prevented by the academic schedule from attending OBLC."

It also said that, if your academic schedule precluded OBLC attendance after 1st year, then you would be required to go during either your 2nd year ADT or your 3rd year clinical ADT. But it did state plainly that it is possible to do an NADT (student expense, no application required). This might let me get in a clinical rotation before the match.

We shall see. Thanks for the input.

 

[psychbender]

You know what, I found the answer to most of my questions. When all else fails, read the manual.

From Chapter 4 of the Policy handbook:
"Failure to attend teh six-week HPSP OBLC results in the requirement to attend the full length all Corps OBLC.
HPSP participants may be excused from attending OBLC if:
...2) They are prevented by the academic schedule from attending OBLC."

It also said that, if your academic schedule precluded OBLC attendance after 1st year, then you would be required to go during either your 2nd year ADT or your 3rd year clinical ADT. But it did state plainly that it is possible to do an NADT (student expense, no application required). This might let me get in a clinical rotation before the match.

We shall see. Thanks for the input.

Even if you have to use your 3rd year ADT for OBLC, you can still get in several rotations before the match. OBLC is mid-June through July, leaving August, September, and October available for rotations. That's pretty much what I did...August and October were NADTs, while September was my last ADT.