On the fence

[Thousandth]

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First off thanks to all the current docs that post and reply to our questions. Your comments and opinions have provided greatly needed insight for prospective docs.

Now with that said I find myself pretty much on the fence about accepting Navy HPSP (AF closed & Army recruiter was a slacker). I am prior service Navy and had some good times but had more bad times (got screwed before don't want to get screwed again). I have read the threads repeatedly and every time I decide to go one way I worry and change my mind and go the other. I wont lie the lack of debt is a big attraction, along with the level of pay for the first 4-10 years (it is definatly better than civillian). What I worry about is the quality of training, ability to select my desired residency, work after residency and ability to reach 20 years (already have ~5). I have spoken now to 4 navy docs (including DiveDoc) and they all seem happy with their choice but then there are the other docs in this fourm who aren't so happy.

I guess I am looking for a definitive answer to go or not to go.
Sorry for the rant. 😕

 

[militarymd]

There are no right answers.

The training will be ok. You will most likely get to choose your residency...just not when or where.

Count on "getting screwed".....can't avoid that...but you may get lucky.

It is very unlikely that you won't get 20 years....unless you're fat. However, you will most likely have to do administrative stuff to get to 20.

 

[texdrake]

Well if you already have 5 years and you do a 5 year residency with your 4 year packback you would already be at 14 years. Another option is to train during medical school. I know a couple guys who actually went active reserve and trained during medical school (one is on the reserve scholarship, the other on HPSP). I believe that you can accrue time as a reservist that way, alhtough I am not sure.

 

[bobbyseal]

"It is very unlikely that you won't get 20 years....unless you're fat."

This could be one of the best quotes from MilMD yet!!!

 

[r90t]

OP, were you prior enlisted? If so, whole different world. I had prior enlisted and commissioned time and I will tell you that it is a night and day difference. Now going from line to staff (to staff again, long story), the lifestyle change is even greater.

 

[R-Me-Doc]

I have spoken now to 4 navy docs (including DiveDoc) and they all seem happy with their choice but then there are the other docs in this fourm who aren't so happy.

One of the things that strikes me about the posts of a lot of the "satisfied" docs on this board is that the things they seem to enjoy most about military medicine are, well, the "military" stuff: jumping out of planes, diving, shooting and blowing things up, holding the SEAL's jock straps, etc. Most of these folks seem to be military lifers or prior service who just plain like the organization, traditions, activities etc related to being soldiers/sailors. They are basically soldiers who just happen to practice medicine (as opposed to slackers like me and MilitaryMD who are doctors who just happen to wear uniforms). Bottom line: the medical corps, while very different from a line unit, is still the military, and if you didn't like it the first time around, you probably won't like it much the second time around either.
R-M-D 2-1-6

 

[Thousandth]

OP, were you prior enlisted? If so, whole different world. I had prior enlisted and commissioned time and I will tell you that it is a night and day difference. Now going from line to staff (to staff again, long story), the lifestyle change is even greater.

Yeah I am prior enlisted. That is one of the downsides, I know how crappy bad treatment can get. That along with the whole " I'm senior to you therefore I'm right" mentality.

MilMD: do you think there is more opportunity for a desired resedency in the Army vs. Navy? Also what is your specialty?

 

[HeavyD]

Trying to find out MilMD's specialty is like guessing Tom Hanks's civilian career in "Saving Private Ryan"! My money's on Peds. $400K is about going price now-adays for a good Peds guy, right? 😉

 

[Thousandth]

He's a school teacher posing as a doctor posing as a soldier? hmmm...how tricky. And I his specialty is really Family practice, I mean every one makes $400k at that right?