I hope this is not too negative
.....
How inevitable is a tour of duty as a GMO?
Very...there's a good reason for the increase in HPSP slots-- from some good resources (US Medicine - a military physician newspaper) the military wide retention rate after HPSP payback (ie the first voluntary extention) is 5%
This means the 'GMO pipeline' is shrinking.
Ask the recruiter this year's GMO numbers/ture retention rate, I'll be surpised if he gives them to you..
There's alot of talk about how to manage this...They are currently shrinking the number of shore billets for GMOs.
Personally- if my payback had been just 2 years, I'd have probably like it alot better-the light at the end of the tunnel would have been closer and less like a train.
Anybody have any thoughts or input on doing flight surgery or undersea medicine for a GMO tour?
Most of my friends who went this route had a much better time...both these areas are alittle better funded/supported/regulated.
Both flight and undersea medicine have extra "school" - which does count towards payback, therefore your total 'payback' tour is usually 3 years- at that point you can stay in/goto residency or get out. If your planning on getting in a compeditive navy residency this is a good route---IF you pass the physical (it's stricter) AND get pick (they are relatively compeditive).
I got turned down due to asthma
Bustin'-- I've had several patients that were "told" by there recruiter (the recuiter's all deny it of course) "don't worry I'm sure you don't need that HALDOL (lithium or anti-psychotic of your choice), just quit taking it before you get to boot camp". There a tremendous amount of pressure on the recruiters to make the "numbers"
I had some childhood orthopedic problems that were "blown off" in the recruiting process- as a pre-med I didn't know that it would reoccur with running in formation (alot).. after surgery/steroids I can still walk at the end of the day (now), but I'll have pain for the rest of my life (I really don't mean that to sound bitter- I pushed myself too far). This is another reason I'm getting out- I will never be able to pass, never mind get outstanding, on the physical readiness standards again.
I wonder if a lot of her problems stem from the fact that she's a women... I've been told that shipboard duty is very tough as a female (this is the military we are talking about).
I DO NOT want to give the impression that testosterone was a major part of my dissatifaction.. I would call a small annoyance.
I do think you have a small point .... I was one of the first female physicians to take that postition with the Seabees (they just started to take women as enlisted/officers in '95). I was one of 1-3 women out of 17-20 people in the wardroom (it varied). Many did not know how to relate to women as "cohorts"--most were engineers and did not even work with many in college (I think most women there were dates or competition). I think the fact that 95% of the male officer's wives did not work outside the home only added/emphasized this...
...
The enlisted (construction workers) were initally unsure of what to expect, but after treating a few "personal" problems (ie asking the diabetics about erectile dysfunction--AND treating it with viagra) they were probably the most accepting after that ....
Of all the people I had problems with, it was actually the officer's wives- for people that I never did anything to, they were VERY cold and rude.
That was something I was not expecting.
Testosterone/Estrogen aside ,......have only met 1 CAPTAIN (a reservist) that recommended staying in-over the past 3-4 years!! MANY,MANY other physicians have told me (male and female) that if given the chance they would get out !!
Military Medicine is going though a VERY painful "growth' period.. to the HMO mind set. Overwhelming Paperwork (for every 2 patients there's 1 hours worth of forms/notes/consults- most must be hand written/rewritten), poorly trained support staff, the demand for more work- with less support and money, poor business practices(outdated information managment,lack of CMEs etc), lack of control of your schedule (NON-medical people make the appointments- so your new diabetic c HTN and CHF has a 20 min appointment AND oh by the way he's having chest pain :eek
and little to no pay raise in 10 years all contribute to significant portion of physicians being dissatified.
There are people out there that had better experiences as a GMO, but most are STILL getting out. Of the people that are staying, most are afraid of civilian residencies/life or too close to retirement (ie 2-3 yrs or less)- there are ones staying because they like it, but they are in a small minority (I have met 2).
AGAIN- I did gain some maturity, experience, and leadership skills- YOU WILL still get a benefit from being a GMO (staying in or gettin out) and if you planning on making the military a career it's still VERY improtant-you WILL get NO respect if you havn't been on the operational side-- AND you will be at the bottom of the residency canidate list.
