MilMed headhunters

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denali

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  1. Attending Physician
Got an unsolicited email at my mail.mil account from a representative of Arthur & Associates Medical Search because "It appears that you may be completing your military obligation in 2015/16." Apparently they specialize "in placing military physicians after they have completing their obligation."

I knew there were headhunters that targeted ETSing junior military officers, but wasn't aware of ones for military docs. Anyone heard about/dealt with this firm? A Google search was disappointing...
 
Never heard of them. The major job websites are practice link and healthcareers. Posting your cv on either one will get the attention of recruiters (and endless spam so pick the email address carefully). Many of the best jobs won't be advertised that way. Kaiser has their own job website. You also should do the math on the va plus reserves transition if that appeals to you (your years count twice and you get seniority).
 
Never heard of them. The major job websites are practice link and healthcareers. Posting your cv on either one will get the attention of recruiters (and endless spam so pick the email address carefully). Many of the best jobs won't be advertised that way. Kaiser has their own job website. You also should do the math on the va plus reserves transition if that appeals to you (your years count twice and you get seniority).

Dear Sir or Ma'am, can you please explain this a little bit more? Does the VA add to the years served on active duty, or are they separate? Also, I have been wondering how reserve years count for retirement. If I serve 12 years on active duty and 8 in the reserves, does that count for retirement? Or is there a formula?
 
This only applies if you are ineligible for an AD retirement. If so, your AD years can be "bought back" for a trivial sum and thereby added to a FERS retirement ( ie what you get from the va or as a dod civilian). You are eligible for a FERS retirement in your 60s generally but qualify for it after a minimum of 5 years of employment (your ad years don't meet this requirement but count in all other respects). This is not unique to physicians.

The VA is very reserve friendly and your AD years also are credited here towards a 20 year reserve retirement that begins paying at age 60.

You lose the early retirement income from an AD retirement but get more money later. Lots of info on the opm website.
 
It appears to be a phishing attempt given the poor grammar and the paucity of Google info. I'm a little puzzled over how they knew enough to target the message to my mail.mil account; I don't think the DoD sells mailing lists, but I could be wrong.

I'm within 5 years of AD retirement; I've done the math on the VA and GS and they're definitely an alternative if I can't put up for the next 5, or get forced out. Biggest decision right now is whether to sign up for the 4 year MSP and willingly extend my ADSO. AD retirement benefits are nice, but some days I just don't know...
 
Not hard to figure out. Your npi lookup probably gives you away as military. Then it's just a question of guessing the address with no penalty for wrong answers.

FWIW, inside 5 years i would stay .
 
This only applies if you are ineligible for an AD retirement. If so, your AD years can be "bought back" for a trivial sum and thereby added to a FERS retirement ( ie what you get from the va or as a dod civilian). You are eligible for a FERS retirement in your 60s generally but qualify for it after a minimum of 5 years of employment (your ad years don't meet this requirement but count in all other respects). This is not unique to physicians.

The VA is very reserve friendly and your AD years also are credited here towards a 20 year reserve retirement that begins paying at age 60.

You lose the early retirement income from an AD retirement but get more money later. Lots of info on the opm website.

Great. Thanks.
 
This only applies if you are ineligible for an AD retirement. If so, your AD years can be "bought back" for a trivial sum and thereby added to a FERS retirement ( ie what you get from the va or as a dod civilian). You are eligible for a FERS retirement in your 60s generally but qualify for it after a minimum of 5 years of employment (your ad years don't meet this requirement but count in all other respects). This is not unique to physicians.

The VA is very reserve friendly and your AD years also are credited here towards a 20 year reserve retirement that begins paying at age 60.

You lose the early retirement income from an AD retirement but get more money later. Lots of info on the opm website.

Any insight into non-VA government jobs (IHS, CDC, etc.)? Doing the military reserve + government civilian route is appealing but I don't think the VA is a good option for me.
 
It's all the same. I know one guy who separated as a major and then spent several years as a DOD civilian overseas then went to the VA and now is working for another branch of govt. he also left with a 50% disability ( which somehow doesn't preclude being a reservist).

all the options are searchable on usajobs.gov.
 
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