Military Pharmacy Career

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Pharmasaurus Rx

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Hi everyone, first time posting. I'm a pharmacy student I'm seriously considering joining the Air Force, Navy, or Army as one of their medical officers. Their websites offer a bunch of great things like monthly stipends while in school and saying I get to choose where I want to be placed (provided there are openings available). The only thing I am having trouble finding out are the trade-offs of choosing to work with them opposed to following a more conventional hospital/retail path and what the work environment is actually like. Has anyone here worked on a military base before or been in the same position with some insight they could share?
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I have a friend/classmate joining the Navy as a pharmacist - we're P4s now. He had to go through all the hoops to join the Navy just as though he was enlisting, a couple years ago. I think it was P2 year when he took a week to go to the base and do all the paperwork including background check, fingerprinting, drug testing, physical assessment. And since then he has been getting stipends and all the benefits of an enlisted person! Also to the peace of mind of having a job lined up after graduation. They told him about a month ago "You're probably going to New Hampshire" so he's getting ready. I'm not sure how flexible they were on where to send him but that'd be my gripe, not knowing when/where/how/why you're going somewhere and no power at all to change it. But lucrative with good benefits, sure! Good luck with your decision - sorry I don't have more details regarding job description since he hasn't officially started working yet.
 
I am a Naval Officer (non-Medical at the moment) looking to change my designation from a 1110 (Surface Warfare) to a 2505 (Medical Service Corps). In the Navy I worked with several enlisted pharmacy techs (Navy) while on various ships and one Air Force Pharmacist while in Haiti. The job descriptions are fairly similar with the only real difference between Naval and Air Force pharmacy being the base locations and the possibility to go to sea in the Navy (aircraft carriers and hospital ships). The Air force pharmacist was in Haiti from his normal station in South America. The South American deployment for him was his first and only in about 14 years and he was not allowed to bring his family for that tour (10 months).

Basically as an officer you will be doing a bit more management than what is traditional for a new pharmacist. From speaking with military Pharmacists I get the impression that they tend to be more up to date than their retail/hospital counterparts, but that could be due to the excellent continuing education. Residencies seem to be hard to come by, but now there are sabbaticals offered so you could possibly apply to a civilian residency (probably a lot of restrictions here).

I would welcome specific questions via AIM and if I can't answer it I can point you in the right direction.
 
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Maximum404 said:
I am a Naval Officer (non-Medical at the moment) looking to change my designation from a 1110 (Surface Warfare) to a 2505 (Medical Service Corps). In the Navy I worked with several enlisted pharmacy techs (Navy) while on various ships and one Air Force Pharmacist while in Haiti. The job descriptions are fairly similar with the only real difference between Naval and Air Force pharmacy being the base locations and the possibility to go to sea in the Navy (aircraft carriers and hospital ships). The Air force pharmacist was in Haiti from his normal station in South America. The South American deployment for him was his first and only in about 14 years and he was not allowed to bring his family for that tour (10 months).

Basically as an officer you will be doing a bit more management than what is traditional for a new pharmacist. From speaking with military Pharmacists I get the impression that they tend to be more up to date than their retail/hospital counterparts, but that could be due to the excellent continuing education. Residencies seem to be hard to come by, but now there are sabbaticals offered so you could possibly apply to a civilian residency (probably a lot of restrictions here).

I would welcome specific questions via AIM and if I can't answer it I can point you in the right direction.
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Are you positive about "deployments" on aircraft carriers? I don't claim to know everything, but I'm reasonably sure there are no pharmacist slots on ships. As I mentioned time and time again on this forum, there is very little to no difference between Army, Navy and Air Force Pharmacy. All three will deploy to hostile areas now. The Navy has big hospitals in Afghanistan and a few other middle eastern countries. As far as the "excellent CE", the military doesn't just give it to you. It's like any other job, you have to get it on your own. They may have professional education put on every once in a while but don't expect to get it all from the military. Civilian residencies are available in the military but its a lot of paperwork and a lot of "know how" of paperwork to get it done.

To the OP: You don't get a choice of where you want to go for your first assignment, its more like a negotiation. If they don't have what you want, they will offer you some other places and you get to "pick" your place. Tradeoffs of a military career: Military first, pharmacy second. That means extra duty at times (rare), deployments, etc. You are essentially trading in one set of issues in the civilian world for another set of problems. You will still put up with BS, but I love my benefits. I love being home at night (usually) and being off on the weekends. It all depends on what you want in your life. Good luck!
 
Caverject said:
All three will deploy to hostile areas now. The Navy has big hospitals in Afghanistan and a few other middle eastern countries.
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Don't mean to derail, but if you were a young rph and interested in trauma and really wanted to deploy to the sandbox, could you, or is it totally random choosing or based on seniority or something? Just wondering.
 
psychoandy said:
Don't mean to derail, but if you were a young rph and interested in trauma and really wanted to deploy to the sandbox, could you, or is it totally random choosing or based on seniority or something? Just wondering.
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If you raise your hand (volunteer) for deployment, more than likely you will be sent. They typically like to see about 1 year under your belt before they deploy you. Your chances of sniffing a trauma is rare though unless you really want to be involved. You will have enough on your plate just working in the pharmacy. It is what you make of it though. I was involved in all trauma cases at my Role IIE. I would have never had that opportunity at a Role III.
 
Caverject said:
Are you positive about "deployments" on aircraft carriers? I don't claim to know everything, but I'm reasonably sure there are no pharmacist slots on ships. As I mentioned time and time again on this forum, there is very little to no difference between Army, Navy and Air Force Pharmacy. All three will deploy to hostile areas now. The Navy has big hospitals in Afghanistan and a few other middle eastern countries. As far as the "excellent CE", the military doesn't just give it to you. It's like any other job, you have to get it on your own. They may have professional education put on every once in a while but don't expect to get it all from the military. Civilian residencies are available in the military but its a lot of paperwork and a lot of "know how" of paperwork to get it done.

To the OP: You don't get a choice of where you want to go for your first assignment, its more like a negotiation. If they don't have what you want, they will offer you some other places and you get to "pick" your place. Tradeoffs of a military career: Military first, pharmacy second. That means extra duty at times (rare), deployments, etc. You are essentially trading in one set of issues in the civilian world for another set of problems. You will still put up with BS, but I love my benefits. I love being home at night (usually) and being off on the weekends. It all depends on what you want in your life. Good luck!
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I just talked to a Navy Pharmacist and she says that the Carrier deployments are available, but not forced. Supposedly it is seen as a good career move, but I am not too sure about that. Again, the information I have comes from conversations I have had with military Pharmacists and I do not have military medical first-hand knowledge.
 
My fiance is a Navy pharmacist, so I'll just provide a little info from what we've experienced and he's told me.

There were a lot of delays in finding out where he would be stationed after graduation. He was able to rank places, but he didn't really get to choose where he went. We're here for 3 years, unless something comes up.

Deployments do happen, and they can be on the ships (humanitarian missions) and to war areas. I don't know where else they might be. We have a friend who graduated in 2009 leaving for Afghanistan soon.

Officers in the Navy have a lot more administrative/managerial duties than the civilian world, at least right out of school. I'm guessing it is similar in the other branches. If this is something you're interested in going into, that could be a huge advantage. I hate administrative things. These duties also might add to your time at work. My SO works long hours M-F. He probably doesn't HAVE to be on the committees and go to all the meetings, but it certainly is helpful for someone looking to move up/make a career out of things.

One really nice thing we experienced when we moved was the push for all the officers to get to know each other outside work. It was really helpful when moving far away from home.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am also looking for is stability with my career. Personally I hate dealing with piles of paperwork but I kind of accept that as the nature of a pharmacist's work. I realize that I would probably be deployed somewhere low on my list of preferences and have to be pretty mobile for my first few years. The only other thing I guess I'm wondering is after gaining some seniority or rank, would I be able to settle down at a single base or area for the most part?
 
Pharmasaurus Rx said:
Thanks for all the replies. I guess what I am also looking for is stability with my career. Personally I hate dealing with piles of paperwork but I kind of accept that as the nature of a pharmacist's work. I realize that I would probably be deployed somewhere low on my list of preferences and have to be pretty mobile for my first few years. The only other thing I guess I'm wondering is after gaining some seniority or rank, would I be able to settle down at a single base or area for the most part?
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The AF Pharmacist I was with did his first deployment after 14 years of service. I am not sure if that is the exception to the rule, but I would say it is probably not uncommon to continue to deploy after putting on O4. O5's probably not as much and I would assume they have a "command" of some sort.

On a side note, does anyone have stats as to the rank distribution among military officers of any of the branches?
 
If there are openings, do the military allow their pharmacists to work on there off time for a retail company?
 
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I am a Navy pharmacist - commissioned in July of last year, stationed in at NAS Jax (FL), and currently deployed on the USNS Comfort for Continuing Promise 2011. We leave Norfolk, VA on Friday and will visit 9 countries providing humanitarian aid over the next 5 and a half months, returning in September.

Don't take anyone's word for anything. Go speak to a Medical Service Corps recruiter and believe nothing they tell you unless they point you to the reference (NAVADMIN). There are college programs, yes. They may or may not pay for all of your schooling. There are sign on bonuses, yes. They are taxed and commit you to a longer time while disqualifying you from other incentives. There is loan repayment - it cannot be taken concurrently with any other incentive. If it sounds to good to be true, it is. You will NOT make more as a Navy pharmacist than a civilian due to incentives - you may match, but not more.

Sorry to sound brutal, but the false information is rampant and the promises of money entice people to join the service out of selfishness - which makes life for those of us who WANT to be here harder. Plus 2 weeks at sea and I've got some salt on me.

You will join as an O3, which sounds great because you get to skip the piss ant ensign and JG rank....EXCEPT you are held to a higher standard. You have 2 bars - you are expected to know 2 bars worth of stuff. You have 5 minutes in but people see your rank and think you've been around the block at least once. So you have to have thick skin, open ears and eyes, and check the ego on the quarterdeck (at the door for you land lubbers).

You will be thrown into your new job as a pharmacist AND expected to lead. Three months after stepping foot into the Navy's 4th largest hospital (and therefore, pharmacy) I was made DIVO (division officer). I am responsible for the management of a pharmacy that fills over 600,000 scripts a year. I am responsible for 6 civilian pharmacists, 12 civilian techs, and 25 sailors (corpsman). Those sailors are mine. They're career depends on me (and my chief - more so on him, but he needs to count on me not to be a roadblock; to make the pharmacy a place where his sailors can grow and advance). I love it. I flourish. Some do not. Some come in thinking they will sit down and check scripts all day and not have to deal with insurance so it's great. Those people fail.

Now I get to go to 9 Central and South American countries as one of 5 pharmacists on one of our hospital ships, the USNS Comfort. I wouldn't trade where I am right now for anything.
 
Oh and there are no pharmacist on carriers.

Pharmacists have 2 ships and 2 ships only - the USNS Comfort (east coast) and the USNS Mercy (west coast).
 
There is no OPSEC when it comes to humanitarian aid missions. You could find the Comfort's planned route, liberty ports, logistic ports, etc with a quick Google search.
 
Sigh

No. I shouldn't. This is a PR, feel good mission. They WANT everyone to know what we're doing and where we're going. I've been briefed by my CO - I'm up to date on the OPSEC requirements of my mission. I appreciate the concern.


And 'troops movements' is a little bit of a mislabeling...
 
RutgersEMSOP10 said:
You will be thrown into your new job as a pharmacist AND expected to lead. Three months after stepping foot into the Navy's 4th largest hospital (and therefore, pharmacy) I was made DIVO (division officer). I am responsible for the management of a pharmacy that fills over 600,000 scripts a year. I am responsible for 6 civilian pharmacists, 12 civilian techs, and 25 sailors (corpsman). Those sailors are mine. They're career depends on me (and my chief - more so on him, but he needs to count on me not to be a roadblock; to make the pharmacy a place where his sailors can grow and advance). I love it. I flourish. Some do not. Some come in thinking they will sit down and check scripts all day and not have to deal with insurance so it's great. Those people fail.
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That's pretty much what I hear from my fiance. He loves it too. Just out of curiosity, are you on the inpatient or outpatient side at the hospital?
 
RutgersEMSOP10 said:
Sigh

No. I shouldn't. This is a PR, feel good mission. They WANT everyone to know what we're doing and where we're going. I've been briefed by my CO - I'm up to date on the OPSEC requirements of my mission. I appreciate the concern.


And 'troops movements' is a little bit of a mislabeling...
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You know what I meant by the word troop movement...I have no idea what the Navy calls it or the Air Force and I shouldn't be expected to. I didn't want to say seaman movement cause I don't know what it's called and it sounded funny to me.

I "googled" what you are talking about and now realize what you meant as far as your tour being published. You should appreciate the others around here with military experience and actually give a hoot by mentioning opsec to you.

For those of you wondering what I and Maximum are talking about, opsec stands for Operational Security. It's standard practice to not talk about future missions or allocations of troops (or seaman in this case), material, weapons, vehicles to certain missions.
 
RutgersEMSOP10 said:
Don't take anyone's word for anything. Go speak to a Medical Service Corps recruiter and believe nothing they tell you unless they point you to the reference (NAVADMIN). There are college programs, yes. They may or may not pay for all of your schooling. There are sign on bonuses, yes. They are taxed and commit you to a longer time while disqualifying you from other incentives. There is loan repayment - it cannot be taken concurrently with any other incentive. If it sounds to good to be true, it is. You will NOT make more as a Navy pharmacist than a civilian due to incentives - you may match, but not more.

Sorry to sound brutal, but the false information is rampant and the promises of money entice people to join the service out of selfishness - which makes life for those of us who WANT to be here harder. Plus 2 weeks at sea and I've got some salt on me.

You will join as an O3, which sounds great because you get to skip the piss ant ensign and JG rank....EXCEPT you are held to a higher standard. You have 2 bars - you are expected to know 2 bars worth of stuff. You have 5 minutes in but people see your rank and think you've been around the block at least once. So you have to have thick skin, open ears and eyes, and check the ego on the quarterdeck (at the door for you land lubbers).

You will be thrown into your new job as a pharmacist AND expected to lead. Three months after stepping foot into the Navy's 4th largest hospital (and therefore, pharmacy) I was made DIVO (division officer). I am responsible for the management of a pharmacy that fills over 600,000 scripts a year. I am responsible for 6 civilian pharmacists, 12 civilian techs, and 25 sailors (corpsman). Those sailors are mine. They're career depends on me (and my chief - more so on him, but he needs to count on me not to be a roadblock; to make the pharmacy a place where his sailors can grow and advance). I love it. I flourish. Some do not. Some come in thinking they will sit down and check scripts all day and not have to deal with insurance so it's great. Those people fail.
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All of this information is absolutely true for anyone interested in the military. Everything Rutgers described is true for the Army and Air Force as well. Great post!
 
Pharmasaurus Rx said:
Hi everyone, first time posting. I'm a pharmacy student I'm seriously considering joining the Air Force, Navy, or Army as one of their medical officers. Their websites offer a bunch of great things like monthly stipends while in school and saying I get to choose where I want to be placed (provided there are openings available). The only thing I am having trouble finding out are the trade-offs of choosing to work with them opposed to following a more conventional hospital/retail path and what the work environment is actually like. Has anyone here worked on a military base before or been in the same position with some insight they could share?
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I don't know if someone already said this (I just skimmed the thread) but I was able to tour the base and the clinics twice. The health professions recruiter I went through set this up. I think this allowed me to get a small taste of what it will be like as a pharmacist there. Of course, I only know a small part of what is going on yet, but I would suggest you talk to a pharmacist on active duty and ask lots of questions.

Talk to the people on this board, they know whats going on 🙂. I can really only answer specific questions on AFHPSP (AKA the air force scholarship) at this point. I'll be honest, I don't know much outside of that.

What kind of pharmacy do you like/not like so far?
 
I'll second that this is excellent advice. ALWAYS do your due diligence with respect to getting into the NAVADMINs. Just don't take the "piss ant" ENS/LTJG comment seriously as they make up the majority of Division Officers in the Navy and are the workhorse of the Officer ranks (in general).

As to the OPSEC comment, you mostly correct, but it is an oversimplification.

Good luck growing into an officer. You will look back in a couple years, then a few years and realize each time just how much you've changed. It is really an amazing transformation and one that never stops challenging you. Humanitarian missions are fun and very rewarding and I wish you a safe deployment.

I just had to smile at the 2 weeks at sea comment. So salty 🙂.


RutgersEMSOP10 said:
I am a Navy pharmacist - commissioned in July of last year, stationed in at NAS Jax (FL), and currently deployed on the USNS Comfort for Continuing Promise 2011. We leave Norfolk, VA on Friday and will visit 9 countries providing humanitarian aid over the next 5 and a half months, returning in September.

Don't take anyone's word for anything. Go speak to a Medical Service Corps recruiter and believe nothing they tell you unless they point you to the reference (NAVADMIN). There are college programs, yes. They may or may not pay for all of your schooling. There are sign on bonuses, yes. They are taxed and commit you to a longer time while disqualifying you from other incentives. There is loan repayment - it cannot be taken concurrently with any other incentive. If it sounds to good to be true, it is. You will NOT make more as a Navy pharmacist than a civilian due to incentives - you may match, but not more.

Sorry to sound brutal, but the false information is rampant and the promises of money entice people to join the service out of selfishness - which makes life for those of us who WANT to be here harder. Plus 2 weeks at sea and I've got some salt on me.

You will join as an O3, which sounds great because you get to skip the piss ant ensign and JG rank....EXCEPT you are held to a higher standard. You have 2 bars - you are expected to know 2 bars worth of stuff. You have 5 minutes in but people see your rank and think you've been around the block at least once. So you have to have thick skin, open ears and eyes, and check the ego on the quarterdeck (at the door for you land lubbers).

You will be thrown into your new job as a pharmacist AND expected to lead. Three months after stepping foot into the Navy's 4th largest hospital (and therefore, pharmacy) I was made DIVO (division officer). I am responsible for the management of a pharmacy that fills over 600,000 scripts a year. I am responsible for 6 civilian pharmacists, 12 civilian techs, and 25 sailors (corpsman). Those sailors are mine. They're career depends on me (and my chief - more so on him, but he needs to count on me not to be a roadblock; to make the pharmacy a place where his sailors can grow and advance). I love it. I flourish. Some do not. Some come in thinking they will sit down and check scripts all day and not have to deal with insurance so it's great. Those people fail.

Now I get to go to 9 Central and South American countries as one of 5 pharmacists on one of our hospital ships, the USNS Comfort. I wouldn't trade where I am right now for anything.
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RutgersEMSOP10 said:
I am a Navy pharmacist - commissioned in July of last year, stationed in at NAS Jax (FL), and currently deployed on the USNS Comfort for Continuing Promise 2011. We leave Norfolk, VA on Friday and will visit 9 countries providing humanitarian aid over the next 5 and a half months, returning in September.

Don't take anyone's word for anything. Go speak to a Medical Service Corps recruiter and believe nothing they tell you unless they point you to the reference (NAVADMIN). There are college programs, yes. They may or may not pay for all of your schooling. There are sign on bonuses, yes. They are taxed and commit you to a longer time while disqualifying you from other incentives. There is loan repayment - it cannot be taken concurrently with any other incentive. If it sounds to good to be true, it is. You will NOT make more as a Navy pharmacist than a civilian due to incentives - you may match, but not more.

Sorry to sound brutal, but the false information is rampant and the promises of money entice people to join the service out of selfishness - which makes life for those of us who WANT to be here harder. Plus 2 weeks at sea and I've got some salt on me.

You will join as an O3, which sounds great because you get to skip the piss ant ensign and JG rank....EXCEPT you are held to a higher standard. You have 2 bars - you are expected to know 2 bars worth of stuff. You have 5 minutes in but people see your rank and think you've been around the block at least once. So you have to have thick skin, open ears and eyes, and check the ego on the quarterdeck (at the door for you land lubbers).

You will be thrown into your new job as a pharmacist AND expected to lead. Three months after stepping foot into the Navy's 4th largest hospital (and therefore, pharmacy) I was made DIVO (division officer). I am responsible for the management of a pharmacy that fills over 600,000 scripts a year. I am responsible for 6 civilian pharmacists, 12 civilian techs, and 25 sailors (corpsman). Those sailors are mine. They're career depends on me (and my chief - more so on him, but he needs to count on me not to be a roadblock; to make the pharmacy a place where his sailors can grow and advance). I love it. I flourish. Some do not. Some come in thinking they will sit down and check scripts all day and not have to deal with insurance so it's great. Those people fail.

Now I get to go to 9 Central and South American countries as one of 5 pharmacists on one of our hospital ships, the USNS Comfort. I wouldn't trade where I am right now for anything.
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Is it easy to participate in something like that after joining? Women are aloud on those ships correct? Is there an opportunity for reservists in the Navy or other branches to easily get to participate?
 
I'm a new AF pharmacist, just back from COT this weekend and reported today.

My advice, knowing what little I know now. Make sure you want to be in the military before you join. Don't think it's just a pharmacist job with a uniform. You are a military officer first and a pharmacist second. You will do things the way your branch dictates.

I am very happy to be in the Air Force, and I am happy to be a pharmacist in the Air Force. But I am an Air Force Captain first, and Pharmacist Tim second. I didn't really agree with that idea before hand, but it makes sense and seems very appropriate now.
 
Jbuprepharm said:
I'm a new AF pharmacist, just back from COT this weekend and reported today.

My advice, knowing what little I know now. Make sure you want to be in the military before you join. Don't think it's just a pharmacist job with a uniform. You are a military officer first and a pharmacist second. You will do things the way your branch dictates.

I am very happy to be in the Air Force, and I am happy to be a pharmacist in the Air Force. But I am an Air Force Captain first, and Pharmacist Tim second. I didn't really agree with that idea before hand, but it makes sense and seems very appropriate now.
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Were you HPSP or did you join after graduation? Why I ask is that I wonder what the time line is going to COT... is it generally right after graduation or is it months off in the distance? Any help is appreciated...thanks.
 
I was not HPSP, but I was selected during my P4 year. I would have gone to COT right after graduation but the classes filled up, so I was delayed about 9 months. Thankfully I had a job in the meantime.
 
Caverject said:
How do you like San Antonio so far?
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It's great, I've only been here since Saturday, but I've been in Texas most of my life and I have family here so I'm somewhat familiar with the area.

It's quite a step up from Amarillo in terms of amenities and options for anything

Where are you located these days? (your coordinates say SA as well)
 
Does JBU in jbuprepharm happen to be John Brown University? Congratulations on becoming an USAF pharmacist by the way!
 
Jbuprepharm said:
It's great, I've only been here since Saturday, but I've been in Texas most of my life and I have family here so I'm somewhat familiar with the area.

It's quite a step up from Amarillo in terms of amenities and options for anything

Where are you located these days? (your coordinates say SA as well)
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The coordinates are still correct until next summer 🙂 I'm quite jealous of you. I wish I could of started my career at a small facility/clinic! Good luck!
 
Caverject said:
The coordinates are still correct until next summer 🙂 I'm quite jealous of you. I wish I could of started my career at a small facility/clinic! Good luck!
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thanks man, where are you headed after here? Let me know if you like beer and want to drink some some time 😎

PharmTheQuah said:
Does JBU in jbuprepharm happen to be John Brown University? Congratulations on becoming an USAF pharmacist by the way!
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it does indeed 👍 and thanks!
 
I grew up about an hour from John Brown University. I went to Northeastern State University (OK) and I am will graduate from Rx school a year from May. I am also an Air Force HPSP recipient. Hope to meet you sometime!
 
PharmTheQuah said:
I grew up about an hour from John Brown University. I went to Northeastern State University (OK) and I am will graduate from Rx school a year from May. I am also an Air Force HPSP recipient. Hope to meet you sometime!
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ahh, our big Rugby rivals, let us know where you end up once you're out
 
So, I like Navy Pharmacy, what OCONUS station would be really nice as a first duty location? Any ideas?
 
twiga said:
So, I like Navy Pharmacy, what OCONUS station would be really nice as a first duty location? Any ideas?
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How many places have enough pharmacists that they are actually reasonable places for someone new? They aren't likely to send new pharmacists (or new Navy pharmacists) to stations where they are practically alone.

Or it an incorrect assumption on my part that not many people get to go away (outside US) for their first location?
 
ucrx said:
How many places have enough pharmacists that they are actually reasonable places for someone new? They aren't likely to send new pharmacists (or new Navy pharmacists) to stations where they are practically alone.

Or it an incorrect assumption on my part that not many people get to go away (outside US) for their first location?
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the AF only does CONUS for new pharmacists, dunno about the Navy
 
I think it would be interesting to go into AF pharmacy, but I have a few questions, if anyone can help.

1) So if we go into AF pharmacy with our Pharm.D but no bach., we go in as an officer with the rank of Captain?

2) What is CONUS that you spoke of, and what does it mean for an AF pharmacist?

3) This might seem like a weird question, but can I go into the AF with my Pharm.D (w/ no bach.) and enter as an officer, but get an AFSC for a non pharmacy job? I wondered because I thought it would be interesting to go in (as an officer, using my pharm.D in lieu of a bach. for the officer qualification) and do an AFSC assigned to me for a couple years and then cross-train/transfer into the medical division for pharmacy later. Is that a situation anyone's ever heard of happening?

4) Is there any benefit to doing ROTC, getting a private pilots license, etc. during pharmacy school if I plan on working as an AF pharmacist?

5) Do AF pharmacists get stationed only on U.S. bases, or does the opportunity to be stationed abroad exist?

6) How do promotions work in the medical division? If we come into the AF pharmacy as a Captain, do you ever get promoted? How does that work? Do you become a Major or is that only for non-medical officers? Will I be a Captain the entirety of my AF career then?

To give some background on some of these questions, I always wanted to go into the AF, but my family and friends always objected. I am starting pharmacy school in july, and thought the AF pharmacist position would be cool, but I was hoping maybe I could simply enter as an officer with my pharm.D, and then transfer to pharmacy a few years down the road/whenever the AF allows me to based on need. I apologize if some of these are dumb questions. I'm very unfamiliar with AF policies. Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
 
redfield said:
I think it would be interesting to go into AF pharmacy, but I have a few questions, if anyone can help.

1) So if we go into AF pharmacy with our Pharm.D but no bach., we go in as an officer with the rank of Captain?

2) What is CONUS that you spoke of, and what does it mean for an AF pharmacist?

3) This might seem like a weird question, but can I go into the AF with my Pharm.D (w/ no bach.) and enter as an officer, but get an AFSC for a non pharmacy job? I wondered because I thought it would be interesting to go in (as an officer, using my pharm.D in lieu of a bach. for the officer qualification) and do an AFSC assigned to me for a couple years and then cross-train/transfer into the medical division for pharmacy later. Is that a situation anyone's ever heard of happening?

4) Is there any benefit to doing ROTC, getting a private pilots license, etc. during pharmacy school if I plan on working as an AF pharmacist?

5) Do AF pharmacists get stationed only on U.S. bases, or does the opportunity to be stationed abroad exist?

6) How do promotions work in the medical division? If we come into the AF pharmacy as a Captain, do you ever get promoted? How does that work? Do you become a Major or is that only for non-medical officers? Will I be a Captain the entirety of my AF career then?

To give some background on some of these questions, I always wanted to go into the AF, but my family and friends always objected. I am starting pharmacy school in july, and thought the AF pharmacist position would be cool, but I was hoping maybe I could simply enter as an officer with my pharm.D, and then transfer to pharmacy a few years down the road/whenever the AF allows me to based on need. I apologize if some of these are dumb questions. I'm very unfamiliar with AF policies. Thanks for any help anyone can give me!
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1) Correct

2) CONUS = Continental United States (Lower 48 States) OCONUS means everywhere else in the world including Alaska and Hawaii

3) No. You would have to enter Officer Candidate School and start as a Lieutenant as if you hold a degree in English or something.

4) ROTC yes because it helps pay for undergrad school and it may open the door for an AF Scholarship opportunity for pharmacy school. The other stuff is meaningless.

5) AF Pharmacists are stationed all over the world, including combat deployment zones. This includes Germany, Italy, Japan, Guam, etc...

6) You will get looked at for promotion within 4 to 6 years. You will get promoted to Major, then Lieutenant Colonial, then Colonial. It is a competitive process and you will be going against your peers for promotion.

I'm not AF but I will tell you being an AF Pharmacist is not much different than Army or Navy Pharmacist. One thing you may want to do for yourself when it comes time to picking rotations in your final year of school, pick a military one and see how you like it. Thats how I decided to join the military. Good luck.
 
SpirivaSunrise said:
After 5 years there...would love to go back one day! 👍
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Rota is on a downward spiral. The country and surrounding area is beautiful and the people are great, but the base seems like it has seen better days. I was only there for a couple weeks in 2009 and 2010, but I was not too impressed.
 
Maximum404 said:
Rota is on a downward spiral. The country and surrounding area is beautiful and the people are great, but the base seems like it has seen better days. I was only there for a couple weeks in 2009 and 2010, but I was not too impressed.
Click to expand...

Yeah...I was there from 1983 - 1988. Long time ago! So, I'm sure things have changed. My brother was born @ the Naval Hospital. Though we lived off base. I have a lot of great memories there...hopefully one day I'll get the chance to go back!
 
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