National Guard Drilling - Your Experiences?

[imperfection]

So, I've read pretty much every thread I can find on here about the ARNG plus everything the NG has on their own website about AMEDD and the MDSSP. I'm feeling pretty comfortable in my understanding of the logistics (financials, service commitments, etc.) but was wondering: what have folks' experiences been of actually drilling (weekends and summers)?

What do you actually do at drill? What kinds of things does the ARNG train you in? Do the ARNG docs you meet at drills seem happy with being in the ARNG? There seems to be lots of information on SDN about people's experiences of HPSP and the big three services, but the ARNG info is mostly the financial and logistical stuff.

In terms of background on where I'm coming from, I'll be starting med school this fall and am looking at signing on for 8 years ARNG (taking FTA and drill pay, but no MDSSP or STRAP). I'd originally looked at HPSP because I am interested in serving in the military anyway, but the lack of autonomy in picking a residency was a bit of a dealbreaker for me. The ARNG doesn't give the same level of financial incentive as the HPSP, but it seems like a perfect way to get a feel for serving without signing a huge chunk of my life away (and the financial help they would give is definitely a plus!). As I understand it I'd only have one year of deployable time left at the end of residency (assuming a 3yr FM residency, though that plan may very well change over the next few years!) but could add extra years with HPLRP at that point if I wanted. I'm having trouble seeing the downside of this setup unless drilling is an absolute bore!

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[Logically]

what have folks' experiences been of actually drilling (weekends and summers)?

I haven't had too much experience with docs in the guard, I've only ever seen PA's (we just don't have docs filling in the slots in our IN BN).
I've had lots of experience working hand in hand with the Medic section during AT though (not always going to be in the summer BTW). Sometimes they have an entire building (60+ beds) to themselves that they use as the BN Aid Station and sleeping quarters; they'll play XBOX and drink beer (two things not authorized during AT), and command won't say ****. I've also seen them in tents with terrible lighting and lots of leaks (big deal in Florida) and no power. Usually our PA just sees someone and either sends them back to the field or sends them to nearest hospital, no treatment provided. The Medics are required to be at all live ranges and ruck marches; for both they just chill in their "ambulances" reading or playing cards waiting for something to happen (usually at least one dehydration case a day at each range minimum). The worst I've ever seen was a spotter who removed his eye-protection and took the HOT casing of a .50 cal into the eye.

seems like a perfect way to get a feel for serving without signing a huge chunk of my life away

Guard life is vastly different just because you have to switch from being a civilian to being a SM every month. It gets real old real quick. You also won't do anything that the AD side does; so it is not a good judge if you'll like AD.

I'm having trouble seeing the downside of this setup unless drilling is an absolute bore!

Drill is what you make of it. You said that you've read through this forum exhaustively about the NG and military; so you've probably read that most Med Students in the guard study the entire time, not many opportunities to make a couple hundred bucks a month + benefits + discounts you get being in the military for doing nothing but studying. Once you finish school drill weekends will either be chill and you can work on anything you want to (our PA usually uses the weekend to catch up on civilian world paper work) or you'll be busy seeing soldiers, briefing the CO, or other administrative tasks. All in all, "boring" is not really a decent reason to turn the guard down. You do two days a month of stuff that doesn't matter, but the current loan repayment is $240K over 6 years plus additional pay (that does not incur additional service) for specialties. The loan repayment is enough to justify 6 years of the BS weekends.

Hope my guidance helped. Please do take into consideration that I am not a Med Student, Resident, or Attending. Nor am I a medical MOS. I am pre-med and work in the Intel Section.

 

[imperfection]

I've had lots of experience working hand in hand with the Medic section during AT though (not always going to be in the summer BTW). Sometimes they have an entire building (60+ beds) to themselves that they use as the BN Aid Station and sleeping quarters; they'll play XBOX and drink beer (two things not authorized during AT), and command won't say ****. I've also seen them in tents with terrible lighting and lots of leaks (big deal in Florida) and no power.

Honestly, the leaky tents appeal to me more than the XBOX and beer. My idea of fun is more in line with minimalist backbacking, obstacle course runs, sparring, etc. than video games and lounging about (though a bit of R&R is nice!).

I'm wondering whether it is possible for folks with a med student MOS to do some of the more physically challenging and/or combat-related training (as opposed to only studying, pushing paper, or drinking beer). Beyond the fact that those things appeal to me on a hobby level, I'd really prefer to go into a combat zone with more understanding of and preparation for combat than I could possibly get in a few weeks of accelerated OLC.

Guard life is vastly different just because you have to switch from being a civilian to being a SM every month. It gets real old real quick. You also won't do anything that the AD side does; so it is not a good judge if you'll like AD.

*nod* Excellent point. The main service experience I'm expecting is from post-residency deployments, but I think I may also have an unrealistic expectation of what drilling with the guard before that will be like (hence this post).

Drill is what you make of it. You said that you've read through this forum exhaustively about the NG and military; so you've probably read that most Med Students in the guard study the entire time, not many opportunities to make a couple hundred bucks a month + benefits + discounts you get being in the military for doing nothing but studying. Once you finish school drill weekends will either be chill and you can work on anything you want to (our PA usually uses the weekend to catch up on civilian world paper work) or you'll be busy seeing soldiers, briefing the CO, or other administrative tasks. All in all, "boring" is not really a decent reason to turn the guard down. You do two days a month of stuff that doesn't matter, but the current loan repayment is $240K over 6 years plus additional pay (that does not incur additional service) for specialties. The loan repayment is enough to justify 6 years of the BS weekends.

Ha, yes, "bore" probably wasn't the best choice of words on my part. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what the catch in this amazing deal is (as well as getting a feel for what to expect and how I can make the most of it). As you outlined it above, it sounds pretty sweet! Particularly as I might be interested in doing my 20 (lots more to learn before I think that far ahead) and 7 years during med school and residency plus a few years HPLRP gets me a good portion of the way there.

Hope my guidance helped. Please do take into consideration that I am not a Med Student, Resident, or Attending. Nor am I a medical MOS. I am pre-med and work in the Intel Section.

Very helpful! I'm really hoping my local recruiter gets back to me soon so I can get some more local information and maybe speak to some ARNG docs around here. Not sure what stage of pre-med you're at, but best of luck with the road to medicine!

 

[notdeadyet]

I'm wondering whether it is possible for folks with a med student MOS to do some of the more physically challenging and/or combat-related training (as opposed to only studying, pushing paper, or drinking beer).

That depends on your unit and what they think of you. They will not be sending you to any hooah schools. You will qualify on the M9 and M16 at the range. You can participate in drill activities of your unit. But you won't be going to sapper school and the like.

Keep in mind that any time you're spending doings not related to improving your skillset as a doctor or helping the unit with its mission is time wasted.

The main service experience I'm expecting is from post-residency deployments, but I think I may also have an unrealistic expectation of what drilling with the guard before that will be like (hence this post).

Drilling in the Guard for most people is very much dependent on what role you can play with the unit. As a medical student not there for every drill, you will likely play little-to-no role. Hence all the states where the medical students mostly spend drill studying. Some states are a little more hooah and you'll have some minimal responsibilities. But they will be minimal since you can't be counted on to be there at every drill.

Things change a little after you finish medical school, but not much as an intern. After you are licensed and get that license recognized by the Guard and get privileges, then you will have a lot more to do.

But again, it will be medical. Training a doc to kick in doors and clear rooms is a waste. You could spend that time learning how to suture quicker and an actual warfighter could take that time to improve a skill they'll actually use.

Very helpful! I'm really hoping my local recruiter gets back to me soon so I can get some more local information and maybe speak to some ARNG docs around here.

Run the other way from local recruiters. Call 1-800-Go-Guard and ask to speak to an AMEDD Officer recruiter. Anyone else's advice is going to be dodgy.

 

[imperfection]

Run the other way from local recruiters. Call 1-800-Go-Guard and ask to speak to an AMEDD Officer recruiter. Anyone else's advice is going to be dodgy.

Thank you very much notdeadyet for your detailed response! Don't worry, I'm not hoping they'll train me up to get my wings or anything 🙂!

I am planning to go to as many drills as possible, but I'm guessing it's naive to think I'll make it to all of them so having much of an active role in the unit probably still wouldn't work out... I guess I'll see how it goes in terms of how much time I can give the ARNG and what my unit's like. Thanks for the perspective!

As to the above, thanks for the pointer. I'll try giving them a call tomorrow.

Thanks again!