Navy v. Air Force. Join during 3rd year?

[aperfektrain]

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So, I am sincerely thinking of joining either the Navy or Air Force Dentistry. I would like to know the pros and cons of each. Also, I am in my third year of school, so I feel like I missed out on all the benefits for my first 2.5 years. I just want to get the maximum benefits from my decision both during school and afterward. Would I be better off the sign on once I am a dentist? If not, what program should I get involved with?

I am just concerned about life after school because I will basically be on my own without a leg to stand on. Would love to have a bunch of loans payed back while serving my country and getting good experience.

 

[AFDDS]

So, I am sincerely thinking of joining either the Navy or Air Force Dentistry. I would like to know the pros and cons of each. Also, I am in my third year of school, so I feel like I missed out on all the benefits for my first 2.5 years. I just want to get the maximum benefits from my decision both during school and afterward. Would I be better off the sign on once I am a dentist? If not, what program should I get involved with?

I am just concerned about life after school because I will basically be on my own without a leg to stand on. Would love to have a bunch of loans payed back while serving my country and getting good experience.

I cannot comment on the Navy, because I don't live their life every day. Hopefully, someone will post to give you that piece of your question.

Pros to the AF
1. Our goal is for you to have a comprehensive practice. We don't have amalgam lines
2. Good working environment (I'm sure all the services can claim this one). In other words, we all get along.
3. Most of our sr. officers will treat you like a colleague and not like a slave. Notice, I said most. No matter which service you are in, you have to understand that it is a heirarchal society. There will always be some Superior/subordinate stuff, but most I know don't take it to the extreme
4. Opportunity to get paid your full salary while training. If you go to a specialty program, you continue to get paid. Again, the Navy will be the same way, so this is a ++ for both departments.
5. Training is some of the best in the world if not the best. Again, same for the Navy
6. Some say the overall lifestyle is better. to me that's a little subjective and I can't really say as I haven't lived a Navy lifstyle.

Cons
1. Pay is less starting out. As you get training and years, the pay gets more competitive with the civilian sector. The tax advantages, etc... help offset some of the lesser pay. Same for the Navy.
2. You're not completly in control of your destiny. You will have a commander and you do work for the AF, so you don't have 100% control. Not a big issue though as no one is out to get you. Navy will have the same issue.
3. When you tell someone you are in the AF, many will ask if you fly the planes....even after you tell them you are a dentist.

Once on active duty for 6 months, you can apply for the HPLRP and get some of your loans repaid. It does get you more obligation to the AF, however. Check with your recruiter to see what the signing bonus is at this point to see what you can potentially get up front. Sorry, I don't know this at this point.

 

[license2kill]

I cannot comment on the Navy, because I don't live their life every day. Hopefully, someone will post to give you that piece of your question.

Pros to the AF
1. Our goal is for you to have a comprehensive practice. We don't have amalgam lines
2. Good working environment (I'm sure all the services can claim this one). In other words, we all get along.
3. Most of our sr. officers will treat you like a colleague and not like a slave. Notice, I said most. No matter which service you are in, you have to understand that it is a heirarchal society. There will always be some Superior/subordinate stuff, but most I know don't take it to the extreme
4. Opportunity to get paid your full salary while training. If you go to a specialty program, you continue to get paid. Again, the Navy will be the same way, so this is a ++ for both departments.
5. Training is some of the best in the world if not the best. Again, same for the Navy
6. Some say the overall lifestyle is better. to me that's a little subjective and I can't really say as I haven't lived a Navy lifstyle.

Cons
1. Pay is less starting out. As you get training and years, the pay gets more competitive with the civilian sector. The tax advantages, etc... help offset some of the lesser pay. Same for the Navy.
2. You're not completly in control of your destiny. You will have a commander and you do work for the AF, so you don't have 100% control. Not a big issue though as no one is out to get you. Navy will have the same issue.
3. When you tell someone you are in the AF, many will ask if you fly the planes....even after you tell them you are a dentist.

Once on active duty for 6 months, you can apply for the HPLRP and get some of your loans repaid. It does get you more obligation to the AF, however. Check with your recruiter to see what the signing bonus is at this point to see what you can potentially get up front. Sorry, I don't know this at this point.

Are amalgam lines specific to the Army and or Navy?

 

[AFDDS]

Are amalgam lines specific to the Army and or Navy?

Can't say for sure. Sorry if I implied that. It's just an old story that a general dentist will just get stuck doing nothing but restorative dentistry, hence the name "amalgam line".

This isn't the case in the AF. We want you to have a comprehensive practice.

 

[aperfektrain]

Mainly I'm worried that if I join now I will basically have lost all of the perks of joining earlier. Would it be better to join after school to get the better benefits?

 

[Saddleshoes]

My experience was with the Air Force.

I always thought the Navy had better locations for their bases then the Air Force. My buddy was in San Diego, Japan, and Jacksonville Fla. While I was in Omaha, Iraq, and Sumter South Carolina.

 

[aperfektrain]

Being deployed away from the US is not something I would be thrilled about, but I guess that's how it works. Anybody know anything about the Commissioned Corps?

 

[Smills91]

Being deployed away from the US is not something I would be thrilled about, but I guess that's how it works. Anybody know anything about the Commissioned Corps?

Check out the National Guard program...

 

[AFDDS]

Being deployed away from the US is not something I would be thrilled about, but I guess that's how it works. Anybody know anything about the Commissioned Corps?

Every decision has its good and bad.

Commissioned Corps is a good choice. It covers USPHS, IHS, Coast Guard, and BOP. They have some good locations, but many of their's are "remote" in the sense that they are in the middle of nowhere.

Chances of being deployed are less, but the Coast Guard does go some. However, I'm not sure if they deploy dentists or not.

 

[snorkelingdoc2b]

Hello AFDDS:

You mention: "6. Some say the overall lifestyle is better. to me that's a little subjective and I can't really say as I haven't lived a Navy lifstyle."

Can you please elaborate on what aspects of lifestyle might be subjective across the AF, specifically in comparison with the Army? What aspects of the AF lifestyle might one not like (other than being in NON coastal areas?).

What would be some of the upsides, downsides and differences of the AF and Army directly in comparison:

Directly comparing the Army with the AF:
1) How these might affect my spouse. Would my spouse find life more challenging as an Army wife vs AF wife?
2) Amalgam lines. Are amalgams lines the same in the AF and the Army? I've been told by others that there are amalgam lines in the AF. Are there differences betw the amalgam lines in the AF versus the Army?
3) Quality of life. (Other than living in non-coastal areas).
4) Deployment. (I know there is a chance I can get deployed for 12-15months with the Army if I'm a bridge dentist)
5) Experience, and likelihood of Assignment and acceptance into a 2 yr comprehensive AEGD?
6) Specialty selection? I hear it is actually harder in the AF?
7) Ability to do things outside of dentistry - such as humanitarian work, or even the opportunity to get more firearms training or field work with grunts, or medical triage?
8) What about raising a family, or freedom?
100) Anything else I've not thought of that might have possible differences across these two branches.

Thanks so much!
kind regards

 

[AFDDS]

Hello AFDDS:

You mention: "6. Some say the overall lifestyle is better. to me that's a little subjective and I can't really say as I haven't lived a Navy lifstyle."

Can you please elaborate on what aspects of lifestyle might be subjective across the AF, specifically in comparison with the Army? What aspects of the AF lifestyle might one not like (other than being in NON coastal areas?). Again, most of this is subjective to the person you are talking to at the time. Personally, I wouldn't want ship duty. I've known some that just loved it. The only way to get reliable info on this is to get info from people in the other services. I've loved the AF from day 1.

What would be some of the upsides, downsides and differences of the AF and Army directly in comparison:

Directly comparing the Army with the AF:
1) How these might affect my spouse. Would my spouse find life more challenging as an Army wife vs AF wife? I don't think your spouse will notice much either way. My wife likes being an AF wife.
2) Amalgam lines. Are amalgams lines the same in the AF and the Army? I've been told by others that there are amalgam lines in the AF. Are there differences betw the amalgam lines in the AF versus the Army? I've never seen or heard of a true "amalgam line" in the AF. For those that don't know this term, let me explain a little. Amalgam lines are a term of endearment for a group of general dentists who practice nothing but operative dentistry day in and day out. Does this happen from time to time in the AF. It may occasionally as the mission dictates, but it is not an overall way of life. One of our goals is for you to have a comprehensive practice. We encourage this all the way up to our 2-star Corps Cheif. I've been in the AF for 11 years and I've always been able to practice the way I want and I've been able to do all aspects of General Detistry. 99% of the General Dentsits in the AF will say the exact same thing. If the mission dictates the need for us to focus on restorative dentistry, we will. I wouldn't worry about an amalgam line, no matter which service you join.
3) Quality of life. (Other than living in non-coastal areas). True, we have less bases on the coast, but we do have some. That being said, I've been at some great assignments. Look back, I've said many times, it's not where you are, it's who you are there with. Great locations don't mean much if you are miserable at work. "less than desirable" locations can be tons of fun if you get involved and are there with good people. My experience in the AF has been with lots of those good people.
4) Deployment. (I know there is a chance I can get deployed for 12-15months with the Army if I'm a bridge dentist) Our deployments are 6 months. Anything over that is by volunteer basis.
5) Experience, and likelihood of Assignment and acceptance into a 2 yr comprehensive AEGD? The comprehensive AEGD program is awesome. All 3 servcies have the best 2-year programs in the nation. The AF is about to get even better, since I'm going there to be a training officer in the summer of 2010. 😀
6) Specialty selection? I hear it is actually harder in the AF? Not really. Statistically, it's about the same.
7) Ability to do things outside of dentistry - such as humanitarian work, or even the opportunity to get more firearms training or field work with grunts, or medical triage? I've done all of these except working with the grunts. I have been the triage officer for my base since I've been there.
8) What about raising a family, or freedom? I'm doing it and many others have.
100) Anything else I've not thought of that might have possible differences across these two branches. We wear different uniforms.

Thanks so much!
kind regards

I've answered these the best I can. I made the decision when I started posting here that I would not comment on the Army or Navy way of life. I haven't been a dentist in either service and I don't live their daily lives, so everything I said would be hearsay and could therefore be a misconception. It would be inappropriate for me to say anything, especially negative things (since they would be just an opinion) about either service. I can give you a USAF perspective and you can PM some other Army or Navy brethern and/or sisters to get their take on their way of life.