Navy AEGD Bonus Pay??

[beachDMD]

I am finishing up my third year of dental school and am in the HSCP Navy program. I am thinking of doing an AEGD. I have heard that upon completion of the program, your salary is increased by $23K / year. Is this true? And is there additional commitment (time) to receive this $$$? I ask because I spoke with a DMD who is in her second yr. in the Navy Comprehensive 2 yr. Residency and she will get $53K / yr. extra, BUT with an additional 4 year commitment. Right now I'm looking at four years payback. I don't want six or seven!

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[eric275]

I am finishing up my third year of dental school and am in the HSCP Navy program. I am thinking of doing an AEGD. I have heard that upon completion of the program, your salary is increased by $23K / year. Is this true? And is there additional commitment (time) to receive this $$$? I ask because I spoke with a DMD who is in her second yr. in the Navy Comprehensive 2 yr. Residency and she will get $53K / yr. extra, BUT with an additional 4 year commitment. Right now I'm looking at four years payback. I don't want six or seven!

The AEGD's that your speaking of are two completely different programs. You do not recieve an increase after for simply completing a 1 year AEGD program, perhaps it some type of loan repayment program??

After completing the 2 year AEGD program (a.k.a. Comprehensive Dentistry Program) you are elgible for a ~50k/year bonus for a 4 year commitment typically after your 2 year payback is completed for the residency along with your HPSP/HSCP payback. You can opt to take the 50k before your commitment is payed back but you will not recieve the bonus on the tail end of your commitment...so basically you will have to pay back the years without a multi year retention bonus (MYRB) at some time during your career.

Also think of it this way, the Navy or any branch of the service is not going to throw extra money at you when you already owe them time. If you take a "bonus" you typically increase the amount of time that you owe.

 

[dheav005]

I am finishing up my third year of dental school and am in the HSCP Navy program. I am thinking of doing an AEGD. I have heard that upon completion of the program, your salary is increased by $23K / year. Is this true? And is there additional commitment (time) to receive this $$$? I ask because I spoke with a DMD who is in her second yr. in the Navy Comprehensive 2 yr. Residency and she will get $53K / yr. extra, BUT with an additional 4 year commitment. Right now I'm looking at four years payback. I don't want six or seven!

an AEGD is a completely different beast from comprehensive dentistry. as it stands right now in the Navy, after your AEGD/GPR/credentialing tour year, you go operational. this means 24 month orders to a ship or 24/36 with our good friends in the USMC. all the while, you get paid as an O-3 with your junior dental officer ASP and VSP. you have no critical skills retention bonus (which is what the DMD you spoke is expecting once her comp dent residency payback is complete).

while i have benefited professionally from my AEGD residency, i will only gain financially from it because i have another year to serve, as this one was a neutral year. basically, while 'comp dent' is unrecognized in the civilian sector as a specialty, the military calls it such so that highly trained GPs can be promoted against specialists, have greater bonus money tossed their way, complete for dept head/branch director/OIC slots, etc

 

[beachDMD]

Thanks for the info. It totally makes sense that you wouldn't get money without more time. That's what I was telling some other guys in my class who are also in the NAVY. I guess my next question is; Is it worth it to do the AEGD? I mean both in terms of knowledge AND staying off the amalgam express. My Removable Prosthodontics teahcer did one with the AF and told me that you'll learn as much in about three years of normal service. What do you think?

 

[Tooth]

I thought I heard that the Navy was considering the option of a yearly bonus to those who complete the AEGD due to the fact that it no longer counts as payback. It would be an incentive to do the AEGD. Does anyone know if this is the case or it's in the works?

 

[dheav005]

i have not heard such things, but since i am almost done with my AEGD, it wouldnt apply to me anyway. boo.

i can tell you that there is almost no way someone who did not go through a GPR/AEGD is as capable a dentist as i am. this is not to be arrogant, but the opportunities open to me in the residency are just not going to be there for someone on a credentialing tour. this year is not payback for me, but i do not regret taking it on. it is making me more proficient everyday. it is not just a speed issue, but also an issue of really learning to process every facet of someone's dental health.

in summary, a bonus for payback would be nice, but the AEGD is worth it anyway.

 

[dsweldon]

Just to clarify, the Navy AEGD is not the Comp Program. I finished the AEGD. I am about to begin the Comp program. The Comp program is a 2 year intensive dental residency. Upon finishing, you are eligible to take the American Board of General Dentistry Board exam and become board certified in addition you gain 500 hours of CE which enables you to complete the FAGD if you wish. The AEGD exposes you a little more to all specialites...TMD, Impacted 3rd's in OS, molar endo, tons more restorative and pros. The Comp program is a evidence based speciality with broad study which in my humble opinion is the hardest yet most gratifying reward for those you like it all, and want to do the most. Upon completion, and if your chose to become board certified, there is a additional bonus for board certification.

 

[Smills91]

Just to clarify, the Navy AEGD is not the Comp Program. I finished the AEGD. I am about to begin the Comp program. The Comp program is a 2 year intensive dental residency. Upon finishing, you are eligible to take the American Board of General Dentistry Board exam and become board certified in addition you gain 500 hours of CE which enables you to complete the FAGD if you wish. The AEGD exposes you a little more to all specialites...TMD, Impacted 3rd's in OS, molar endo, tons more restorative and pros. The Comp program is a evidence based speciality with broad study which in my humble opinion is the hardest yet most gratifying reward for those you like it all, and want to do the most. Upon completion, and if your chose to become board certified, there is a additional bonus for board certification.

What does the board certification do for you OUTSIDE of the military? I understand you'll learn more and be more comfortable with more procedures. So I guess my question is more, what does the board certification do for you in terms of a recognition standpoint outside the military?

 

[Hawk2thDoc]

anyone can become board certified in general dentistry once they have completed enough CE hours, not just 2 year residency grads.

there is a new program for 1 year AEGD grads that does give you a retention bonus once you complete your initial ADSO. all military branches fall under the same pay laws, so this should apply to Navy and AF as well. you must complete a two page long list of requirements in order to be eligible for the retention bonus. The requirements in my opinion are very difficult to fulfill, due to most general dentists being stuck on the "lead line." I myself am trying to fulfill the requirements, but I am having trouble doing so because of the lead line.

ARMY ADVANCED CLIN PRACTICE:
LEVEL 4: 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR
$13,000 $19,000 $25,000

 

[Hawk2thDoc]

I did a 1 year AEGD in the Army, so my experience is based on that. Doing the AEGD doesn't keep you off the "amalgam express" I do the same things on a day to day basis as the guys in my clinic that didn't do the AEGD. It does give you a lot of knowledge and experience that you will not get on the "lead line." I think it was very worth my time, as other wise I would have gone three years without getting much endo, perio, or pros experience. I don't think you can get those experiences in the military without doing a residency. If I could go back in time, I probably would choose to do the 2 year, as I think it would be worth the extra year of active duty in both experience and because a 2yr AEGD grad gets treated much better than other general dentists. Doing the 2yr AEGD probably would keep you off the lead line for the most part.

 

[Smills91]

I did a 1 year AEGD in the Army, so my experience is based on that. Doing the AEGD doesn't keep you off the "amalgam express" I do the same things on a day to day basis as the guys in my clinic that didn't do the AEGD. It does give you a lot of knowledge and experience that you will not get on the "lead line." I think it was very worth my time, as other wise I would have gone three years without getting much endo, perio, or pros experience. I don't think you can get those experiences in the military without doing a residency. If I could go back in time, I probably would choose to do the 2 year, as I think it would be worth the extra year of active duty in both experience and because a 2yr AEGD grad gets treated much better than other general dentists. Doing the 2yr AEGD probably would keep you off the lead line for the most part.

Can you do the 2 year AEGD right out of Dental school? Also, can you do the 1 year GPR then a 2 year AEGD? If so, would that make your 'total' commitment to the military 9 years on Active Duty, in which point you'd be wise to make a career out of it? Thanks guys.

 

[eric275]

Can you do the 2 year AEGD right out of Dental school? Also, can you do the 1 year GPR then a 2 year AEGD? If so, would that make your 'total' commitment to the military 9 years on Active Duty, in which point you'd be wise to make a career out of it? Thanks guys.

For doing the 2 AEGD (Comp) program right out of school, yes.

As for doing a GPR then the 2 year AEGD, after doing a 1 year AEGD/GPR you typically have to do one operational tour before you can apply for additional training. So 1 year GPR, + operational tour 2-3 years, + 2 year Comp, + 2 year payback = ~8years

 

[umkcdds]

What does the board certification do for you OUTSIDE of the military? I understand you'll learn more and be more comfortable with more procedures. So I guess my question is more, what does the board certification do for you in terms of a recognition standpoint outside the military?

it means nothing outside the military.

For doing the 2 AEGD (Comp) program right out of school, yes.

As for doing a GPR then the 2 year AEGD, after doing a 1 year AEGD/GPR you typically have to do one operational tour before you can apply for additional training. So 1 year GPR, + operational tour 2-3 years, + 2 year Comp, + 2 year payback = ~8years

i guess you are navy, but in the army, you can do a 1-year, then do a 2-year also. you would not be able to do them back-to-back, because of the one year wait after getting accepted to the 2-year aegd. i'm pretty sure it works the same way for the navy.

if you came out of dental school and did a 1-year, then waited a year and did a 2-year, i believe you would have to be in for a total of six years minimum. i THINK the HPSP adso would be served concurrently with the adso incurred from the 2-year aegd. if it isn't, then you would have to be in for seven years minimum.

 

[krmower]

I thought I heard that the Navy was considering the option of a yearly bonus to those who complete the AEGD due to the fact that it no longer counts as payback. It would be an incentive to do the AEGD. Does anyone know if this is the case or it's in the works?

All services pay the same. None offer bonus pay simply for completing the AEGD program. AF and Army (not sure about Navy) offer a program to qualify for Tier 3 bonus pay called the ACP program (Advanced Clinical Practice). Upon completion of a 1 yr AEGD and completing several more requirements (may take anywhere between 9 months to 2 years in the Army) - you can qualify for a multi-year retention bonus - similar to, but less than the specialty bonuses.

Additionally all services will offer a retention bonus to general dentists beginning sometime after January - but it will only be as a way for them to stay in past their initial obligation - not collected during your initial pay back.

 

[krmower]

anyone can become board certified in general dentistry once they have completed enough CE hours, not just 2 year residency grads.

there is a new program for 1 year AEGD grads that does give you a retention bonus once you complete your initial ADSO. all military branches fall under the same pay laws, so this should apply to Navy and AF as well. you must complete a two page long list of requirements in order to be eligible for the retention bonus. The requirements in my opinion are very difficult to fulfill, due to most general dentists being stuck on the "lead line." I myself am trying to fulfill the requirements, but I am having trouble doing so because of the lead line.

ARMY ADVANCED CLIN PRACTICE:
LEVEL 4: 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR
$13,000 $19,000 $25,000

I think those numbers are off - here's the correct ones:

Category 3: -------------------2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR
Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) $18,000 $27,000 $35,000