-
Scholarship Access: Becoming a Student Doctor course
Free access to comprehensive medical school prep. Eligible students include AAMC FAP recipients and HS graduates from underserved areas. Apply today. -
Military Pharmacist
- Thread starter keren
- Start date
I am not a military pharmacist, but I am an Air Force pharmacy technician (over 6 years experience), so I can shed a little bit of light. You have to go to pharmacy school to become a pharmacist before you can practice pharmacy in the military. In the military, any license in any state will let you practice at any military installation-as long as you have one. So, let's say I graduated pharmacy school in Missouri and I am licensed in Missouri. If I wanted to work at a pharmacy as a civilian pharmacist at an air force installation in Texas, I would be able to do so without having to have a license for Texas. Now, if you wanted to work at a civilian pharmacy part time on weekends, lets say, then you need to have a license for that state (in my case, Texas). From talking and working with many military pharmacist, the air force will pay you an extra stipend, because they want to compensate you similar to what you can make as a civilian. Now, you will not make as much as a civilian pharmacist (a little less), but you will make more as a Captain or Major who is not a doctor (same applies with dentist, physicians, etc.) The other bonus is that being a health professional automatically gives you the O-3 (captain) rank when you graduate from Officer Training School. They also have a program where the air force will pay for your last 1-3 years of pharmacy school and will give you a stipend (you have to enlist in the air force and owe them back those years once you become a pharmacist). Another good thing about being a military pharmacist is most of the time, you have set hours. Now, you are in the military, so you have to respond 24/7 if you are active duty. The technicians do most of the work (we are allowed to do some things that only a pharmacist can do in the civilian side), so it is not as stressful. There are alot of perks to being a military pharmacist and you go TDY alot (conferences, etc.). It is a great career path and if you can handle alot of structure and discipline, then go for it. I did my time, so when I become a pharmacist, I want to stay civilian. I wouldn't mind working at a military installation, though. Good luck!!
I have alot more to say about the subject. If you have any particular questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I think it's awesome that you want to go that direction. Good luck again, and let me know if you need anything else!!
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2009
- Messages
- 7,504
- Reaction score
- 12
- Points
- 4,591
- Location
- Palo Alto, CA
- Pharmacy Student
I wonder why there's no pharmacy program in the Armed Forces Uni. For the Health Sciences.
Caverject is an Army pharmacist. I'd direct any questions to him.
This is an excellent question. I have inquired, but have yet to receive a satisfactory answer.
As to military pharmacy, I can't speak from experience in the field, but as a Naval Officer I can certainly answer any questions about the Navy in general. I am working with two Naval pharmacists now and they have nothing but excellent things to say about the program. Just be sure to understand the differences between what each military branch has to offer as the Army, Air Force, and Navy vary as to the scholarship given. I will be going Naval Pharmacy as it fits in with my prior service and I have enjoyed my time as a Surface Warfare Officer. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and I can direct any that I can't to a Naval Pharmacist. Take care and good luck!
Mmm...interesting topic. I do believe you would have to be a US citizen to do that (not yet a citizen).
Not being a US citizen makes it more complicated to get a Secret security clearance, which is a requirement for any officer in the US military.
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2014
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
Im in my senior year in high school and military resurfaced as an option. As of now im torn between the army or air force. I understand each branch has the goods and bads. I have always had my mind set on taking the medical path and gained interest in pharmacy; now the question is what branch to side with...
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2012
- Messages
- 849
- Reaction score
- 160
- Points
- 5,266
- Location
- Durham, North Carolina
- Medical Student (Accepted)
wow, 2009 post is up again. Here's the fact at least for this year. No branch is recruiting pharmacist. I asked Army, Air Force, Navy.. (no marine though.. go try it)
