Navy or Army HPSP in 2016??

[ubertrooper60]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I am a senior in university who has been fortunate enough to be accepted to medical school and will be attending in the fall. I am strongly considering the HPSP, but I just have a few aversions/questions. I know this has been posted many times on SDN, but things change over the years, and I would really appreciate your honest thoughts/opinions, particularly if you have been through either.

Why should I pick one branch over the other? I know the Army is larger and less competitive, which means more residency spots and the likelihood of me getting the specialty I would want. It also means likely not doing a GMO tour following medical school. However, some of their locations are bases essentially in the middle of nowhere. The Navy, on the other hand, is smaller, which means more competition. I may have to do a GMO tour with them. Yet, their base locations are more lucrative. I also really like the humanitarian and service oriented mission of the Navy, which seems more prevalent than the Army. I also think it could be fun to travel on a ship for awhile.

However, my biggest trepidation right now is the GMO tour. My recruiter has informed me that tour is the time to do some pretty awesome things, like flight school, dive medicine, serving with the Marines, etc. He said I would most certainly not be simply taking care of runny noses for two years. I understand the GMO's are still the grunts in the military medicine world, but what exactly would such a tour be like? Will I be doing boring stuff for two years? Can you do all the awesome things I mentioned? Did you like your GMO time? I've heard it can be a nice, refreshing break from the constant grind of the medical training process, similar to a gap year.

I am really, really strongly considering the HPSP, but I want to get more opinions and advice.

What are your thoughts? Which branch, and why?

 

[The Buff OP]

So I am a senior in university who has been fortunate enough to be accepted to medical school and will be attending in the fall. I am strongly considering the HPSP, but I just have a few aversions/questions. I know this has been posted many times on SDN, but things change over the years, and I would really appreciate your honest thoughts/opinions, particularly if you have been through either.

Why should I pick one branch over the other? I know the Army is larger and less competitive, which means more residency spots and the likelihood of me getting the specialty I would want. It also means likely not doing a GMO tour following medical school. However, some of their locations are bases essentially in the middle of nowhere. The Navy, on the other hand, is smaller, which means more competition. I may have to do a GMO tour with them. Yet, their base locations are more lucrative. I also really like the humanitarian and service oriented mission of the Navy, which seems more prevalent than the Army. I also think it could be fun to travel on a ship for awhile.

However, my biggest trepidation right now is the GMO tour. My recruiter has informed me that tour is the time to do some pretty awesome things, like flight school, dive medicine, serving with the Marines, etc. He said I would most certainly not be simply taking care of runny noses for two years. I understand the GMO's are still the grunts in the military medicine world, but what exactly would such a tour be like? Will I be doing boring stuff for two years? Can you do all the awesome things I mentioned? Did you like your GMO time? I've heard it can be a nice, refreshing break from the constant grind of the medical training process, similar to a gap year.

I am really, really strongly considering the HPSP, but I want to get more opinions and advice.

What are your thoughts? Which branch, and why?

Try on the uniforms. Which ones make your eyes pop? Also I would ask the pissed off docs at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/military-medicine.72/

Have you considered the Air Force?

 

[Cookie04]

Keep in mind for the Navy you may be stationed on a ship for 3-6 months at a time. Not everyone is stationed at the Naval base. The Air Force is better then both in my opinion, but I'm biased since I grew up in an Air Force family.

 

[dpmd]

I can't give you specific hpsp advice, but as prior military i can tell you that you should take anything said to you by a recruiter with a really big grain of salt. Nothing they say is guaranteed unless it is spelled out in your contract.

 

[TBV]

I almost did HPSP when I was coming in and now I'm so glad I didn't. Don't believe what they say about getting your desired residency, you are at their mercy. And for the BS about applying for a waiver to enter the civilian match... You are applying for a waiver and one that from what I hear is hard to come by. Debt < Specialty that makes me happy and I have to live with for the rest of my life.

 

[The Buff OP]

Keep in mind for the Navy you may be stationed on a ship for 3-6 months at a time. Not everyone is stationed at the Naval base. The Air Force is better then both in my opinion, but I'm biased since I grew up in an Air Force family.

+1
Air force is known to have better duty stations and I heard you get the chance to do your residency in a civilian residency.

OP, if you really want to serve, then go through this path (HPSP).

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

+1
Air force is known to have better duty stations and I heard you get the chance to do your residency in a civilian residency.

OP, if you really want to serve, then go through this path (HPSP).

Air Force does allow (or force) many of their residents to seek training on the civilian side. Military residencies are a plus in my opinion because you accrue time towards military retirement, get paid almost double, and gain experience working in the military medical system. The Air Force has decided to not dedicate as much resources to GME as the other services and so relies heavily on civilian programs to train their doctors.

 

[The Buff OP]

Air Force does allow (or force) many of their residents to seek training on the civilian side. Military residencies are a plus in my opinion because you accrue time towards military retirement, get paid almost double, and gain experience working in the military medical system. The Air Force has decided to not dedicate as much resources to GME as the other services and so relies heavily on civilian programs to train their doctors.

I see doing the residency at a civilian hospital as a plus. I'm I right or wrong (patient diversity, different POV's)?

 

[thenyitmedicineman]

Go Army! You don't want to be stuck in a submarine for a few months...

 

[Gastrapathy]

Lol at this advice. OP, this is why there is a milmed forum. Doctors don't serve on submarines. There are about 5 other factual mistakes here. Read the milmed forum, all the truth is in there.

 

[Oo Cipher oO]

I see doing the residency at a civilian hospital as a plus. I'm I right or wrong (patient diversity, different POV's)?

Civilian residency can be a plus if you want more freedom in choosing your location, possibly more prestigious program, more diversity, etc. But what can suck is if you want to do a military residency and can't because the Air Force doesn't have nearly enough for their graduates.

As a DO, military GME affords me a decent to good ACGME residency and I place high value in that. I have seen too many Air Force medical students be denied a military residency and left to scramble in the civilian match. Just something premeds can think about when deciding what branch to apply to.

 

[The Buff OP]

Lol at this advice. OP, this is why there is a milmed forum. Doctors don't serve on submarines. There are about 5 other factual mistakes here. Read the milmed forum, all the truth is in there.

I guess fashion is not important then.... Hahaha

 

[The Buff OP]

Civilian residency can be a plus if you want more freedom in choosing your location, possibly more prestigious program, more diversity, etc. But what can suck is if you want to do a military residency and can't because the Air Force doesn't have nearly enough for their graduates.

As a DO, military GME affords me a decent to good ACGME residency and I place high value in that. I have seen too many Air Force medical students be denied a military residency and left to scramble in the civilian match. Just something premeds can think about when deciding what branch to apply to.

I would prefer a civilian residency, but if that's a no, then it's alright. In the future I'm probably looking into the army or air force for HPSP. I might end up doing FAP because I could end up doing a specialty that the military doesn't really need (that way I can go military or stay a civilian).

 

[Trefoil]

I realize that this is a late response, but I figured not too late to be of value to someone. Each branch has positives and negatives. Air Force does grant civilian deferral, but you are generally encouraged to place the military residencies higher (they want the best students for their own residencies). Deferral is not granted for every specialty, and some of the smaller specialties may have 15-20 applicants for 2 positions. You may not start residency until after a flight surgery year.

Army has the most spots, but the residency application is still very competitive for many fields. There are plenty of unmatched TY's in many fields. They too will likely reapply after a GMO year, but they may match into something after TY year.

Navy does not require GMO for everything. I believe peds and family are direct residencies.

Bottom line: In general, expect military residency matches to be similar, but generally more competitive than civilian match. On a positive note, you are less dependent on matching initially as you can improve your application over time with a GMO tour, meaning you can likely reach for specialties that may have been out of reach if you are willing to invest a few extra years. Trainees can also switch careers and pick an entirely new field more easily than in a civilian residency. Army is better for small or competitive specialties. Air Force may be better if you are hoping for civilian training (not guaranteed). Navy is better for location and uniform variety...that last part is actually an inside joke.

 

[deleted806128]

I realize that this is a late response, but I figured not too late to be of value to someone. Each branch has positives and negatives. Air Force does grant civilian deferral, but you are generally encouraged to place the military residencies higher (they want the best students for their own residencies). Deferral is not granted for every specialty, and some of the smaller specialties may have 15-20 applicants for 2 positions. You may not start residency until after a flight surgery year.

Army has the most spots, but the residency application is still very competitive for many fields. There are plenty of unmatched TY's in many fields. They too will likely reapply after a GMO year, but they may match into something after TY year.

Navy does not require GMO for everything. I believe peds and family are direct residencies.

Bottom line: In general, expect military residency matches to be similar, but generally more competitive than civilian match. On a positive note, you are less dependent on matching initially as you can improve your application over time with a GMO tour, meaning you can likely reach for specialties that may have been out of reach if you are willing to invest a few extra years. Trainees can also switch careers and pick an entirely new field more easily than in a civilian residency. Army is better for small or competitive specialties. Air Force may be better if you are hoping for civilian training (not guaranteed). Navy is better for location and uniform variety...that last part is actually an inside joke.

StupidRoo,

How does Army HPSP work after medical school? Do you know if most, like 80%, go straight into residency? Any sources where I can find data, other than the brochure from recruiters that says 95%? For the Army medical students that do not match what happens? Whats is this transitional year TY? I thought only Navy medical students do GMO before residency?

Thank you!

 

[Goro]

Navy: Great duty stations like Pensacola or San Diego, but also being on ship is like being in jail, but with a chance of drowning.

So I am a senior in university who has been fortunate enough to be accepted to medical school and will be attending in the fall. I am strongly considering the HPSP, but I just have a few aversions/questions. I know this has been posted many times on SDN, but things change over the years, and I would really appreciate your honest thoughts/opinions, particularly if you have been through either.

Why should I pick one branch over the other? I know the Army is larger and less competitive, which means more residency spots and the likelihood of me getting the specialty I would want. It also means likely not doing a GMO tour following medical school. However, some of their locations are bases essentially in the middle of nowhere. The Navy, on the other hand, is smaller, which means more competition. I may have to do a GMO tour with them. Yet, their base locations are more lucrative. I also really like the humanitarian and service oriented mission of the Navy, which seems more prevalent than the Army. I also think it could be fun to travel on a ship for awhile.

However, my biggest trepidation right now is the GMO tour. My recruiter has informed me that tour is the time to do some pretty awesome things, like flight school, dive medicine, serving with the Marines, etc. He said I would most certainly not be simply taking care of runny noses for two years. I understand the GMO's are still the grunts in the military medicine world, but what exactly would such a tour be like? Will I be doing boring stuff for two years? Can you do all the awesome things I mentioned? Did you like your GMO time? I've heard it can be a nice, refreshing break from the constant grind of the medical training process, similar to a gap year.

I am really, really strongly considering the HPSP, but I want to get more opinions and advice.

What are your thoughts? Which branch, and why?

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

Lol at this advice. OP, this is why there is a milmed forum. Doctors don't serve on submarines. There are about 5 other factual mistakes here. Read the milmed forum, all the truth is in there.

b-but I want to be a doctor on a submarine.

 

[Ayy_MadScientist]

I am choosing to do the Navy HPSP. There is a generic HPSP facebook group where you can ask questions - I found it really helpful and got a lot of information from current students/residents.

 

[itscleanslateme]

I am choosing to do the Navy HPSP. There is a generic HPSP facebook group where you can ask questions - I found it really helpful and got a lot of information from current students/residents.

could you post the link to the fb group? thank you 🙂

 

[Ayy_MadScientist]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2213662183/

 

[deleted806128]

Does anyone know the website that has the Navy's match's results?