National Guard / Reserve Duty and OMFS

[Lankers]

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Hello,

Is anyone familiar with being in the guard/ reserves and being in an OMFS residency? I know that you would technically be protected from discrimination, but I am concerned program directors would simply not select you if they knew you might have drill.

I am under the impression that depending on the state and unit you can do a flexible drill schedule or simply fill out a specific form and miss drill entirely. As a resident in a critical wartime specialty( you you enter the guard / reserve through MDSSP), you are protected from deploying while in residency- from my understanding.

Thanks you

 

[TenaciousT]

Hi,

I'm in my final year of OMFS residency and I joined the guard as a sophomore in dental school. I've been in the guard for 6 years. It really depends on your unit. I'm currently in California but I'm in the Georgia national guard. I worked out an agreement so I just send a split form to them every month just stating what I'm doing currently in residency and that satisfies the drill requirement. I just report in person for my annual PHA (yearly physical) as well as my physical fitness test. Once again, I think it's unit specific though. Originally was going to transfer to a California unit but they rather I stay with Georgia to maintain their quota for dentist in the guard. Lastly, yes you fill out a form so you don't get deployed during residency.

 

[Lankers]

Thank you so much for the reply?

have you done BOLC/DCC? It seems my class scheudle would not allow me to attend without missing class. Can I do BOLC after dental school / residency? My recruiter hasn’t given a straight answer.

 

[TenaciousT]

Thank you so much for the reply?

have you done BOLC/DCC? It seems my class scheudle would not allow me to attend without missing class. Can I do BOLC after dental school / residency? My recruiter hasn’t given a straight answer.

Since I've joined I haven't had to opportunity to attend BOLC due to not having the time to attend as it's only offered at certain times a year. I plan on going after I finish residency.

 

[Lankers]

Thank you, I really appreciate your reply. I think the MDSSP is a great program and it seems not as many people are familiar with this.

 

[nealofgrafton]

Thank you, I really appreciate your reply. I think the MDSSP is a great program and it seems not as many people are familiar with this.

Damn! did they get you to sign for MDSSP? when i joined you couldn't get any of the other 'bonuses' while paying back your MDSSP time plus it was a 2 for 1 deal. if none of that has changed MDSSP is a terrible idea

 

[Lankers]

I haven’t signed MDSSP. Your situation is not my situation. For me it is a great deal. I will get to serve, get out of dental school for under 200K, have the opportunity for student loan repayment, then almost be at my 20.
Student loan repayment is about 29K after taxes, the bonus is 25K. I would rather take the repayment. Like I said I want 20 so I am fine with it.

why do you think it is a terrible deal?

 

[nealofgrafton]

see previous post
unless they have changed the MDSSP you serve the MDSSP time at 2:1 and can't utilize any other programs so...
you take MDSSP, you pay back MDSSP -then- you get loan or multi year retention
* therefore you get a little bit of money every month now but defer the big money until down the road

 

[Lankers]

see previous post
unless they have changed the MDSSP you serve the MDSSP time at 2:1 and can't utilize any other programs so...
you take MDSSP, you pay back MDSSP -then- you get loan or multi year retention
* therefore you get a little bit of money every month now but defer the big money until down the road

You are eligible for HPLRP after graduating. If you take HPLRP your MDSSP obligations start AFTER HPLRP. You can serve two (incentive) obligations at the same time.

I guess it is possible my recruiter is wrong, but I do not see any army regulation stating otherwise. The AR that details these incentives do not mention that either

 

[BMEndo]

You are eligible for HPLRP after graduating. If you take HPLRP your MDSSP obligations start AFTER HPLRP. You can serve two (incentive) obligations at the same time.

I guess it is possible my recruiter is wrong, but I do not see any army regulation stating otherwise. The AR that details these incentives do not mention that either

Unless something has changed in the last year then your recruiter is mistaken again. You are not eligible until after your MDSSP obligation is paid back.

 

[Lankers]

Unless something has changed in the last year then your recruiter is mistaken again. You are not eligible until after your MDSSP obligation is paid back.

I don’t know. That was copy and paste from what she said. Also, she is 100% adamant as well as the state surgeon / deputy/ some other high rank officer that you have three years after commission to complete DCC/BOLC. There are no if and or buts about it. 36 months or separation procedure are started. This is in contrast to what other state guards have said as well as every reserve officer or recruiter I spoke with.

Idk maybe the guard is different...

 

[BMEndo]

I don’t know. That was copy and paste from what she said. Also, she is 100% adamant as well as the state surgeon / deputy/ some other high rank officer that you have three years after commission to complete DCC/BOLC. There are no if and or buts about it. 36 months or separation procedure are started. This is in contrast to what other state guards have said as well as every reserve officer or recruiter I spoke with.

Idk maybe the guard is different...

Guard must be different. This is not the case in the reserves.

 

[Lankers]

Guard must be different. This is not the case in the reserves.

I am hoping so but I think I will double check. Too many people on here saying different things. I want to be sure...

 

[BMEndo]

I am hoping so but I think I will double check. Too many people on here saying different things. I want to be sure...

Your best bet is to find out what unit they would be assigning you to and ask past MDSSP recipients or talk with retention.

 

[Lankers]

Your best bet is to find out what unit they would be assigning you to and ask past MDSSP recipients or talk with retention.

Apparently there are no dental students on the MDSSP. Only medical students. Their situation is hard to compare since they can take STRAP and that changes everything. I wonder there is a reason there are no dental students 🤔