Navy Pharmacy - First Duty Station questions

[TLAD123]

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I'm in my last year of PharmD and am in HSCP (commission next Summer 2014). I'm told my wife and I will be able to rank our three preferences for placement this December-ish. I know that the Navy's needs come first and all that jazz...

I'm wondering if the opportunity is there, what is the likelihood of actually receiving placement at an ambulatory clinic like the one in Charleston, SC, if we rank it in our preferences? It's my understanding that it is a small clinic, and the Naval pharmacists I've spoke with already have said that they like to start new grads out at larger facilities for training purposes, then move them to smaller facilities if needed.

Does anyone know about this clinic and if it's a good place to work? I've read about it using the Medical Home model.

If you're a Naval pharmacist, where was your first duty station? Did you get something you ranked?

Thanks

 

[RutgersEMSOP10]

Odds that you will actually rank a top 3 are low. More likely you will be given 3 choices and allowed to pick from there. You might be given only 2 choices. Or even just told where you're going. First tour LTs are only allowed to go to certain places - Bethesda, San Diego, Jacksonville, Lejeune, Portsmouth, or Pensacola usually. Every ONCE in a while you might be able to get Okinawa (usually reserved for prior enlisted first tours).

I assume you mean Parris Island? No way, no how. You would be a 1 of 1. Who would train you? For the first year you will be basically useless as a Naval Officer. You won't even know how to be a pharmacist yet let alone know how to be an officer. You need to learn all of our (terrible) pharmacy management and EMR systems. You need to learn leadership skills, how to write FITREP (hell, even WHEN to write a FITREP), chain of command, etc. You need to go to a facility with inpatient services. You need to get inpatient trained at your first tour or it will be difficult to catch up.

Yes, there is a roster, but it will (probably) not be given to you for your initial tour. You have very limited options. Sure, the recruiter might ask you for a list, and hopefully one of the places you want to go is one you are allowed to go for your first tour, but even so, if they don't have an open billet, you're not going. You'd be better off deciding which region you want to live in - East coast, west coast? Do you want to be in the National Capitol Area (I advise against this for your first tour....Bethesda is a still kind of a weird place after the merge with Walter Reed - lots of politics). If you don't want to be on the west coast, make sure your recruiter knows that! Or vice versa. It will be easier to get work with you and get you a place you will be happy with if you don't try to be too picky.

I was told I was going to Lejeune or Jax. No list, no preferences, nothing. For your second tour, it will be different, but you already owe time, so your preferences will probably be further down than a direct accession that can still walk away if they're not made happy. I mean, they will definitely try to make everyone happy, but you know....

Oh, also, all DoD facilities are doing Medical Home. In the Navy, it's called Medical Homeport though. You probably won't be involved in the clinical side though, so I wouldn't let that sway your decision.

 

[TLAD123]

Odds that you will actually rank a top 3 are low. More likely you will be given 3 choices and allowed to pick from there. You might be given only 2 choices. Or even just told where you're going. First tour LTs are only allowed to go to certain places - Bethesda, San Diego, Jacksonville, Lejeune, Portsmouth, or Pensacola usually. Every ONCE in a while you might be able to get Okinawa (usually reserved for prior enlisted first tours).

I assume you mean Parris Island? No way, no how. You would be a 1 of 1. Who would train you? For the first year you will be basically useless as a Naval Officer. You won't even know how to be a pharmacist yet let alone know how to be an officer. You need to learn all of our (terrible) pharmacy management and EMR systems. You need to learn leadership skills, how to write FITREP (hell, even WHEN to write a FITREP), chain of command, etc. You need to go to a facility with inpatient services. You need to get inpatient trained at your first tour or it will be difficult to catch up.

Yes, there is a roster, but it will (probably) not be given to you for your initial tour. You have very limited options. Sure, the recruiter might ask you for a list, and hopefully one of the places you want to go is one you are allowed to go for your first tour, but even so, if they don't have an open billet, you're not going. You'd be better off deciding which region you want to live in - East coast, west coast? Do you want to be in the National Capitol Area (I advise against this for your first tour....Bethesda is a still kind of a weird place after the merge with Walter Reed - lots of politics). If you don't want to be on the west coast, make sure your recruiter knows that! Or vice versa. It will be easier to get work with you and get you a place you will be happy with if you don't try to be too picky.

I was told I was going to Lejeune or Jax. No list, no preferences, nothing. For your second tour, it will be different, but you already owe time, so your preferences will probably be further down than a direct accession that can still walk away if they're not made happy. I mean, they will definitely try to make everyone happy, but you know....

Oh, also, all DoD facilities are doing Medical Home. In the Navy, it's called Medical Homeport though. You probably won't be involved in the clinical side though, so I wouldn't let that sway your decision.

Thank you; it's good to finally have some of this information. We definitely want east coast (no interest in west), and don't want the capitol (too congested, sky high housing costs, etc).

What is the likelihood of having a second station within the first three years? I've heard multiple times it always varies... I'm wondering because if we choose to not go career, we would consider purchasing a home in the area, but don't want to get sent out last minute during third year....

 

[RutgersEMSOP10]

If you decide to get out after the first duty station, you will tender your resignation 9-12 months out from your projected rotation date. Once that letter is accepted, you will not be eligible for PCS. If you PCS as a geo-bachelor, you owe a year to the Navy. If they move your family, you owe at last 2 years. They will not move you if you have made your intention to get out known.

 

[TLAD123]

If you decide to get out after the first duty station, you will tender your resignation 9-12 months out from your projected rotation date. Once that letter is accepted, you will not be eligible for PCS. If you PCS as a geo-bachelor, you owe a year to the Navy. If they move your family, you owe at last 2 years. They will not move you if you have made your intention to get out known.

Thanks - just getting details. Are you going career? When's your next move?

 

[Caverject]

You need to learn leadership skills, how to write FITREP (hell, even WHEN to write a FITREP), chain of command, etc. You need to go to a facility with inpatient services. You need to get inpatient trained at your first tour or it will be difficult to catch up.

Anybody interested in the Navy or the military in general would be wise to adhere to the advise above. The two most important skills you need to make it as a military pharmacist is leadership skills and writing skills. If you can write a great evaluation, whether it's a FITREP, an OPR or an OER, you are good to go!

 

[vwslayer]

I am seriously considering applying for one of these scholarships and am weighing the pros and cons. Interesting how the recruiter makes it sound like you will get to choose where you are going to be for your first three years. I am interested in becoming an inpatient pharmacist and am wondering what kind of experience this opportunity provides. I am currently a P1 and don't have any attachments, so the moving thing isn't that big of a deal. What I am wondering is how will this benefit me more than doing a residency right after school?

 

[demihope]

Get them to write in your first duty station in your contract

the ranking system is for the most part bull**** BUT I believe you can pull some strings to ensure you get the coast of your choice

First lesson of the military if it's not in writing it doesn't exist !

 

[Sparda29]

Are there any naval stations in NYC or LA?

 

[Dred Pirate]

Good friend from pharmacy school was told likely VA or SD - ended up in Corpus Christi - second tour Rota Spain - basically told where he will go -

 

[Caverject]

Good friend from pharmacy school was told likely VA or SD - ended up in Corpus Christi - second tour Rota Spain - basically told where he will go -

Yeah, Rota is an awful place to be....I can't imagine a worse place in the world than being on a beautiful beach in Spain! [/sarcasm]

Rota is one of the top destinations in Navy pharmacy. If you can get it, you better go!!!

 

[Caverject]

Get them to write in your first duty station in your contract

the ranking system is for the most part bullcrap BUT I believe you can pull some strings to ensure you get the coast of your choice

First lesson of the military if it's not in writing it doesn't exist !

Actually, the first lesson of the military is to figure out who is full of crap when it comes to offering advice. The advice you offer above is all crap. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about...

 

[demihope]

Actually, the first lesson of the military is to figure out who is full of crap when it comes to offering advice. The advice you offer above is all crap. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about...

tell you what whip out your DD 214 and I will believe you

only a fool believes a recruiter

 

[Caverject]

I don't have a 214...take a look at my posting history and you will know why...

 

[Misaenator]

Sheesh, dont tell me sdn has become a battle field among pharmacists thinking they can manipulate the military system. Its overrated and not as shine and bright as you think anymore. Why pulling the DD214 card for here?? Ppl talk, words are words, who care!!!

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