National Guard After Dental School

[GoDental101]

I wanted to see if any one has experience joining the National Guard as a newly graduated dentist. How was your experience? Is this a viable option or do you need to have prior active duty experience? Thanks!

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[nealofgrafton]

you can join at any point. you do not need active duty experience
i joined the month after I started dental school. one dentist in my unit joined after being a dentist for 20+ years. the loan repayment is pretty sweet

 

[ElCubanito]

I joined National Guard in 2011, our unit had 6+ dentists and a couple of specialists....Loan Repayment pain in the ass to get, Bonus (25K yearly) was okay.
We sat around during drill weekends with nothing to do, and doing powerpoint training (SHARP). Time would really drag! In 8 years we didn't see a single patient. It will take you 2+ years to become "credentialed". It was the biggest waste of time of my life, in terms of doing something productive and helping others. I would feel like a hack every time I would write my OER , because all we would do is sit on our asses....all year long.
My opinion...the suck factor is not worth the money you get out of it, and Im not even factoring time away from family.

 

[GoDental101]

I joined National Guard in 2011, our unit had 6+ dentists and a couple of specialists....Loan Repayment pain in the ass to get, Bonus (25K yearly) was okay.
We sat around during drill weekends with nothing to do, and doing powerpoint training (SHARP). Time would really drag! In 8 years we didn't see a single patient. It will take you 2+ years to become "credentialed". It was the biggest waste of time of my life, in terms of doing something productive and helping others. I would feel like a hack every time I would write my OER , because all we would do is sit on our asses....all year long.
My opinion...the suck factor is not worth the money you get out of it, and Im not even factoring time away from family.

Yikes, that sounds terrible!

 

[PracTxDentist]

I joined National Guard in 2011, our unit had 6+ dentists and a couple of specialists....Loan Repayment pain in the ass to get, Bonus (25K yearly) was okay.
We sat around during drill weekends with nothing to do, and doing powerpoint training (SHARP). Time would really drag! In 8 years we didn't see a single patient. It will take you 2+ years to become "credentialed". It was the biggest waste of time of my life, in terms of doing something productive and helping others. I would feel like a hack every time I would write my OER , because all we would do is sit on our asses....all year long.
My opinion...the suck factor is not worth the money you get out of it, and Im not even factoring time away from family.

Yes, that sounds painful. I am currently looking into the Army Reserves to add a little variety to my life (no debt etc.). Do you have any insight into the Reserves?

 

[ElCubanito]

Yes, that sounds painful. I am currently looking into the Army Reserves to add a little variety to my life (no debt etc.). Do you have any insight into the Reserves?

You want variety, pick up golf or a stripper girlfriend....Reserve is the same ****. Depends on the unit you land on; but overall its a **** sandwich. Units are usually run by institutionalized loosers with chips on their shoulders. Really, what you do is so insignificant and is such a waste of space that you will end up hating yourself. There is nothing patriotic about it, just a bunch of people chasing pay and bonuses and pretending to do actual work.

I recall this one instance where the morale was so low in our unit that they had 3 GPs and 2 Periodontists and 1 Prosthodontist giving out flu shots and taking blood pressure. That was the low point of my career.

Ohh...and your rank dont mean ****. Your company commander will be someone of lower rank and they will put you to pick up trash or other really non essential duties. So you learn to lie and pretend to do work on your drill weekend, which is really tiring, day drags as you sit on your computer and pretend to do 'training'.

 

[Unwind]

I joined National Guard in 2011, our unit had 6+ dentists and a couple of specialists....Loan Repayment pain in the ass to get, Bonus (25K yearly) was okay.
We sat around during drill weekends with nothing to do, and doing powerpoint training (SHARP). Time would really drag! In 8 years we didn't see a single patient. It will take you 2+ years to become "credentialed". It was the biggest waste of time of my life, in terms of doing something productive and helping others. I would feel like a hack every time I would write my OER , because all we would do is sit on our asses....all year long.
My opinion...the suck factor is not worth the money you get out of it, and Im not even factoring time away from family.

Whoa, that's wild. In 8 years and you didn't see a single patient? How's that? What am I missing? Everyone at least needs a cleaning from time to time.

 

[nealofgrafton]

not all guard or reserve units like that. not in the least. my unit in wisconsin see's soldiers for soldier readiness exams. I have dealt with non of the things that ElCubanito had to. experiences are different by unit
9.5 years in right now

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Anyone worried about getting activated and pulled from their practice? I’ve heard stories of this happening and it killing someone’s established patient base.

Big Hoss

 

[ESPN907]

Anyone worried about getting activated and pulled from their practice? I’ve heard stories of this happening and it killing someone’s established patient base.

Big Hoss

I’ve always been curious if you’ve considered doing the reserves after active duty and why you would or wouldn’t do it?

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

I’ve always been curious if you’ve considered doing the reserves after active duty and why you would or wouldn’t do it?

My last Command ruined whatever intention I had of joining the Reserves. Unless they make me a Fleet Admiral, I’m not going back.

Big Hoss