Still a little misinformation out here that needs to be cleaned up.
I spent 3 years active duty with the Army after graduation. Still finishing my IRR time. Two of those years I was attached to a Forward Support Battalion. I carried a M16 and had to qualify yearly on my M9 (qualified "expert" too!). Just because we become dentists DOES NOT mean we are not soldiers, sailors or airmen FIRST. Push comes to shove, you have a weapon and are expected to use it if necessary.
If someone honestly thinks that holding up your little Geneva Conventions card during combat will save you, get real. Do you honestly think that your enemy cares if you are a noncombatant? That card if not a bullet-proof shield. Bullets do not discriminate.
When assigned to my unit, I had a dental assistant assigned to me. He had to post himself outside the tent (along with the x-ray techs and lab tech in my tent) and defend it. I was told to stay inside and not come out if we were attacked. My First Seargent told me he would shoot me himself if I stuck my head out!
When we all signed on the dotted line, we signed for an 8-year obligation. Most get out with a 3 or 4 year committment for active duty. That doesn't mean then military HAS to let you out! In times of need, the military can, and will, keep you past your intended service. I knew a bunch of guys kept in over a year past their active duty committment. Granted, they were not dentists, but the military has to keep their numbers at a minimum level and will not let you leave if they are below it. I actully was concerned that I may be held for an additional year as my unit deployed to Afghanistan a month after I left. Fortunately, there was another dentist replacing me so I got to go. If there wasn't though, I'd probably have been deployed. They can actually deny your resignment of your commission at the end of eight years if the numbers aren't there as well.
I certainly didn't get my uniform out, dust it off and just do dentistry. That's what I did most of the time, but the military has several required training sessions that happens every year for everyone in the military. It's not bad, but it's unrealistic to assume that your only duty will be to do dentistry.
If you're ever assigned to a REAL unit (I don't consider the dental clinic a "real unit"), you'll train with the rest of the military. PT, weapons, field exercises, you name it. I spent several weeks out in the elements ranging from -10 at night to over 105 during the day, and we never stopped. I was lucky to have a "cushy" job out in the field as a dentist and triage officer, but everyone else kept going. Dental emergencies and mass casualties happen in every form of weather, so we train in it too!
On a side note, chaplains were out there with me in the Brigade Support Area. Usually their tent was close by as they were in the middle of the BSA with HQ and Medical tents. They never carried a weapon with them. They did have an assistant next to them at all times that were assigned to protect them. They DID have a weapon and were expected to use it.
I am a big fan of dentists entering the military to the get the training available as well as debt reduction. Training in the military's AEGD programs is top notch. I learned a lot from it and use it every day in my civilian practice. There is no way I would be as successful as I am now without it. It's sad to see some of my classmates still stuck doing dentistry they learned in dental school. Bet I take home more then 90% of the GPs from my class. (And they thought I was crazy to join up!)
I spent 3 years active duty with the Army after graduation. Still finishing my IRR time. Two of those years I was attached to a Forward Support Battalion. I carried a M16 and had to qualify yearly on my M9 (qualified "expert" too!). Just because we become dentists DOES NOT mean we are not soldiers, sailors or airmen FIRST. Push comes to shove, you have a weapon and are expected to use it if necessary.
If someone honestly thinks that holding up your little Geneva Conventions card during combat will save you, get real. Do you honestly think that your enemy cares if you are a noncombatant? That card if not a bullet-proof shield. Bullets do not discriminate.
When assigned to my unit, I had a dental assistant assigned to me. He had to post himself outside the tent (along with the x-ray techs and lab tech in my tent) and defend it. I was told to stay inside and not come out if we were attacked. My First Seargent told me he would shoot me himself if I stuck my head out!
When we all signed on the dotted line, we signed for an 8-year obligation. Most get out with a 3 or 4 year committment for active duty. That doesn't mean then military HAS to let you out! In times of need, the military can, and will, keep you past your intended service. I knew a bunch of guys kept in over a year past their active duty committment. Granted, they were not dentists, but the military has to keep their numbers at a minimum level and will not let you leave if they are below it. I actully was concerned that I may be held for an additional year as my unit deployed to Afghanistan a month after I left. Fortunately, there was another dentist replacing me so I got to go. If there wasn't though, I'd probably have been deployed. They can actually deny your resignment of your commission at the end of eight years if the numbers aren't there as well.
I certainly didn't get my uniform out, dust it off and just do dentistry. That's what I did most of the time, but the military has several required training sessions that happens every year for everyone in the military. It's not bad, but it's unrealistic to assume that your only duty will be to do dentistry.
If you're ever assigned to a REAL unit (I don't consider the dental clinic a "real unit"), you'll train with the rest of the military. PT, weapons, field exercises, you name it. I spent several weeks out in the elements ranging from -10 at night to over 105 during the day, and we never stopped. I was lucky to have a "cushy" job out in the field as a dentist and triage officer, but everyone else kept going. Dental emergencies and mass casualties happen in every form of weather, so we train in it too!
On a side note, chaplains were out there with me in the Brigade Support Area. Usually their tent was close by as they were in the middle of the BSA with HQ and Medical tents. They never carried a weapon with them. They did have an assistant next to them at all times that were assigned to protect them. They DID have a weapon and were expected to use it.
I am a big fan of dentists entering the military to the get the training available as well as debt reduction. Training in the military's AEGD programs is top notch. I learned a lot from it and use it every day in my civilian practice. There is no way I would be as successful as I am now without it. It's sad to see some of my classmates still stuck doing dentistry they learned in dental school. Bet I take home more then 90% of the GPs from my class. (And they thought I was crazy to join up!)
