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A few of you over the past couple of weeks asked how my military experience was and I thought I'd just write up a new thread. If you don't want to read the whole thing skip to the bottom...but I'll try to keep it short.
1998 - my second year of dental school and I took the 2 year HPSP scholarship. I went in wide eyed...since there was no SDN forum to turn to. I had nothing but the recruiter's word. Thankfully he was straight with me. I took it for four reasons: 1) UOP was an expensive school. 2) I was a broke dental student with rising credit card debt, and the stipend looked really good. 3) I worked the numbers, and even though I would be making less right out of school, it was temporary, and I would be saving tens of thousands in interest. 4) We achieved world peace (no war)
.
Because we had no long summer break at UOP, we never did the ADT. No one told us to fill any papers out or do anything else, so we let it slide.
A few months before graduation the assignment officer from HRC (Human resources Command) called and told me first that I was going to be assigned to Korea... oh-kaaay. Not my first choice. Then she said Japan, then finally Fort Hood.
I graduated, took my boards and went to OBC. OBC was my first real expereince of military life. I couldn't be late for anything. I couldn't fall asleep in class (dental students are good at both). I couldn't care less about nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; or how to disassemble an M16 or M9; how to put together a radio. I'm glad that I paid attention though, because what I learned at OBC was very helpful during my deployment in Iraq. The one big thing at OBC you'll learn, or start to learn is what is expected of you as an officer. It takes time and definitely a lot of experience to learn how to carry your rank.
We all got orders near the end of OBC, looking for the key unit designators - TDA and TOE. Long story short, a TDA unit doesn't deploy whereas a TOE unit does.
I graduated from OBC the last week of August, 2001, and not long after 9/11 happened. At that point I knew it might not be such a great time to be in the Army.
I reported to my first duty station, Fort Hood in September. At that point I was assigned to the Fort Hood Dental Activity (DENTAC), which was TDA.
My typical day was: reporting for work before 8 am. Seeing patients until 12pm, starting back up again at 1pm and seeing patients until 5. I would do personal physical training (PT) at the gym after work, not with the unit as customary. In a typical day, I'd have one patient scheduled every hour, so I'd have 8 patients in a day. In my clinic, I could schedule patients from my operatory and give myself however long or short that I wanted. I had some autonomy here, I did mainly operative, and mastered the amalgam onlay, but I snuck in some fixed pros, removable pros and a whole lot of extractions.
Some days I'd be assigned to work with an extended function dental assistant (EFDA) and run two chairs...drill one patient, jump to another chair and stat another, while the EFDA fills the first. Being a new student out of school I didn't trust anyone but myself filling the teeth, especially since my name was stamped in the chart, but once I got to know the ability of the EFDAs, I had no problems.
Some days I'd be assigned to do exams all day long. Army exams are notoriously short and sweet...you're expected to do a D0120/0150 examination in 3-5 minutes. Don't sweat it, you'll learn how to become efficient doing this.
Other days I'd be pulling sick call (emergency) all day long.
I worked in a clinic where the 2 year AEGD was located. If I got stuck with anything, I'd run upstairs to a specialist and get an instant consultation.
I was one dentist in a clinic of many. My classmate was a one man show in his clinic in Germany. So be prepared for any type of situation.
A few months after getting to Hood, I was moved to a TOE unit. It was a medical company in a Forward Support Battalion. I still worked out of the same clinic, but I had to report to the medical company for assemblies, maintenance of my vehicle and other tasks. Now I was no longer an asset of DENTAC, but an asset of the medical company. I reported to them first...this was slightly frustrating, but I adjusted. With them, I'd do field training exercises, which entailed a mock exercise where we set up the field equipment. I had my own area, and the physician assistants, medics and docs had their own. As a dentist, my job was to 1) make sure that the field equipment worked and 2) when there was a mass casualty exercise, it was the my job to be the triage officer for incoming casualties.
I was moved back into DENTAC, just in time to get orders to go to Kuwait in 2003. I was PROFIS'ed (Professional Officer Filing Information System?) to a deploying unit, an Area Support Medical Company. All TDA MDs, DDSs, RNs and other professionals are PROFIS'ed to a deployable unit and will go with that unit only when theunit is deployed.
So I went to Kuwait in 2003. It was stressful for my wife and I, since we had no idea how things would end up. The war started in March, and I was back home in July. I never saw combat, and I know I'm not a combat soldier, but my Iraq deployment was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Just in terms of the experience alone...what I saw, what I learned. Yes it was hot and miserable, but I was part of something bigger than myself, and I'm glad I did it.
In Kuwait, I did some regular dentistry at Camp Doha. When the war started, there was no time to do any dentistry, we were constantly on the move. Not until my last month or so did I get set up to do dentistry. Army field equipment is made for expedience, not ergonomics, so it wasn't the greatest set-up. In the few instances of a mass casualty event, I was the triage officer, sorting the priority of treatment for the incoming wounded. My understanding that right now, things are built up nicely, with AC units, cleaner work environments, sand proof rooms, etc. My understanding too is that there are some humanitarian missions going on as well.
I came back home and finished up my last year in the Army. My superiors tried to entice me with a spot in the 2 year program, but I respectfully declined since I wanted out and make some money.
Transitioning from Army to civilian life actually wasn't all too bad. While I had become speedy gonzales with operative, I was woefully slow with crown and bridge and removable pros. 0 experience with implants in 3 years of the Army. Only a handful of removable pros cases. Like anything else though, speed came with time.
The Army did screw me over once. Technically it was the recruiter. Immediately after separating, I went into the IMA reserves (Individual Mobilization Augmentee). In this group of reserves, you condense your "one weekend a month/two weeks a year" obligation into a single 3-4 week ADT in a CONUS or OCONUS spot. The recruiter told me I'd be eligible for the HPLR immediately after coming off of active duty. I did one year in the IMA, but when it was pay time, I found out that I wasn't eligible. So I'm currently riding out the rest of my obligation time in the IRR to go back either into the ARNG or IMA reserves.
What do I regret?
1) Not doing an AEGD. My decision was based on the fact that I would be in longer, and I'd definitely be deployed again. What I didn't see was that I'd learn more and be able to do more in my own practice.
2) Not taking the time to understand that being a dental student/reservist meant that I could build those years into good years for retirement. One could easily make 20 good years for retirement if he/she makes use of the student years.
3) Not doing more fixed pros or implant cases. The pros specialists invited me to do some cases with them, I should have utilized them more.
What did I have to learn to accept in the military?
1) I honestly had no problem being ordered to my duty station. I wish it was someplace more exotic than central Texas though
. What I would have a problem with is packing up and moving every 4 years or so, which is one reason I didn't make it a career.
2) EFDAs are there to make operative procedures run more efficiently. I had a hard time trusting them to do a job that I was happy with. It took time, but it happened.
3) As much as I wanted to be in the clinic, if my TOE unit told me to be at place X at time Y on Z day, I had to do it.
In all, my short three years of active duty were great. I saw new places and met the best group of freinds I've ever had Now that I'm out, I'm looking for a way back in. I love the military, but I love the civilian life more, which is why having a private practice while being a "part time" soldier is the direction I'm headed.
Don't get me wrong, I had head butts with superior officers, junior officers, civilian employees, and sometimes it was my fault, but that comes with any job. There were days that I wish I wasn't in the Army (like sitting in my gas mask in the middle of the night on the first day of the war). But when it really comes down to it, if I were about to start dental school I'd sign up all over again.
It's not glamorous, and others on the forum are sure to have better ones, but that's my story.
1998 - my second year of dental school and I took the 2 year HPSP scholarship. I went in wide eyed...since there was no SDN forum to turn to. I had nothing but the recruiter's word. Thankfully he was straight with me. I took it for four reasons: 1) UOP was an expensive school. 2) I was a broke dental student with rising credit card debt, and the stipend looked really good. 3) I worked the numbers, and even though I would be making less right out of school, it was temporary, and I would be saving tens of thousands in interest. 4) We achieved world peace (no war)
.Because we had no long summer break at UOP, we never did the ADT. No one told us to fill any papers out or do anything else, so we let it slide.
A few months before graduation the assignment officer from HRC (Human resources Command) called and told me first that I was going to be assigned to Korea... oh-kaaay. Not my first choice. Then she said Japan, then finally Fort Hood.
I graduated, took my boards and went to OBC. OBC was my first real expereince of military life. I couldn't be late for anything. I couldn't fall asleep in class (dental students are good at both). I couldn't care less about nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; or how to disassemble an M16 or M9; how to put together a radio. I'm glad that I paid attention though, because what I learned at OBC was very helpful during my deployment in Iraq. The one big thing at OBC you'll learn, or start to learn is what is expected of you as an officer. It takes time and definitely a lot of experience to learn how to carry your rank.
We all got orders near the end of OBC, looking for the key unit designators - TDA and TOE. Long story short, a TDA unit doesn't deploy whereas a TOE unit does.
I graduated from OBC the last week of August, 2001, and not long after 9/11 happened. At that point I knew it might not be such a great time to be in the Army.
I reported to my first duty station, Fort Hood in September. At that point I was assigned to the Fort Hood Dental Activity (DENTAC), which was TDA.
My typical day was: reporting for work before 8 am. Seeing patients until 12pm, starting back up again at 1pm and seeing patients until 5. I would do personal physical training (PT) at the gym after work, not with the unit as customary. In a typical day, I'd have one patient scheduled every hour, so I'd have 8 patients in a day. In my clinic, I could schedule patients from my operatory and give myself however long or short that I wanted. I had some autonomy here, I did mainly operative, and mastered the amalgam onlay, but I snuck in some fixed pros, removable pros and a whole lot of extractions.
Some days I'd be assigned to work with an extended function dental assistant (EFDA) and run two chairs...drill one patient, jump to another chair and stat another, while the EFDA fills the first. Being a new student out of school I didn't trust anyone but myself filling the teeth, especially since my name was stamped in the chart, but once I got to know the ability of the EFDAs, I had no problems.
Some days I'd be assigned to do exams all day long. Army exams are notoriously short and sweet...you're expected to do a D0120/0150 examination in 3-5 minutes. Don't sweat it, you'll learn how to become efficient doing this.
Other days I'd be pulling sick call (emergency) all day long.
I worked in a clinic where the 2 year AEGD was located. If I got stuck with anything, I'd run upstairs to a specialist and get an instant consultation.
I was one dentist in a clinic of many. My classmate was a one man show in his clinic in Germany. So be prepared for any type of situation.
A few months after getting to Hood, I was moved to a TOE unit. It was a medical company in a Forward Support Battalion. I still worked out of the same clinic, but I had to report to the medical company for assemblies, maintenance of my vehicle and other tasks. Now I was no longer an asset of DENTAC, but an asset of the medical company. I reported to them first...this was slightly frustrating, but I adjusted. With them, I'd do field training exercises, which entailed a mock exercise where we set up the field equipment. I had my own area, and the physician assistants, medics and docs had their own. As a dentist, my job was to 1) make sure that the field equipment worked and 2) when there was a mass casualty exercise, it was the my job to be the triage officer for incoming casualties.
I was moved back into DENTAC, just in time to get orders to go to Kuwait in 2003. I was PROFIS'ed (Professional Officer Filing Information System?) to a deploying unit, an Area Support Medical Company. All TDA MDs, DDSs, RNs and other professionals are PROFIS'ed to a deployable unit and will go with that unit only when theunit is deployed.
So I went to Kuwait in 2003. It was stressful for my wife and I, since we had no idea how things would end up. The war started in March, and I was back home in July. I never saw combat, and I know I'm not a combat soldier, but my Iraq deployment was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Just in terms of the experience alone...what I saw, what I learned. Yes it was hot and miserable, but I was part of something bigger than myself, and I'm glad I did it.
In Kuwait, I did some regular dentistry at Camp Doha. When the war started, there was no time to do any dentistry, we were constantly on the move. Not until my last month or so did I get set up to do dentistry. Army field equipment is made for expedience, not ergonomics, so it wasn't the greatest set-up. In the few instances of a mass casualty event, I was the triage officer, sorting the priority of treatment for the incoming wounded. My understanding that right now, things are built up nicely, with AC units, cleaner work environments, sand proof rooms, etc. My understanding too is that there are some humanitarian missions going on as well.
I came back home and finished up my last year in the Army. My superiors tried to entice me with a spot in the 2 year program, but I respectfully declined since I wanted out and make some money.
Transitioning from Army to civilian life actually wasn't all too bad. While I had become speedy gonzales with operative, I was woefully slow with crown and bridge and removable pros. 0 experience with implants in 3 years of the Army. Only a handful of removable pros cases. Like anything else though, speed came with time.
The Army did screw me over once. Technically it was the recruiter. Immediately after separating, I went into the IMA reserves (Individual Mobilization Augmentee). In this group of reserves, you condense your "one weekend a month/two weeks a year" obligation into a single 3-4 week ADT in a CONUS or OCONUS spot. The recruiter told me I'd be eligible for the HPLR immediately after coming off of active duty. I did one year in the IMA, but when it was pay time, I found out that I wasn't eligible. So I'm currently riding out the rest of my obligation time in the IRR to go back either into the ARNG or IMA reserves.
What do I regret?
1) Not doing an AEGD. My decision was based on the fact that I would be in longer, and I'd definitely be deployed again. What I didn't see was that I'd learn more and be able to do more in my own practice.
2) Not taking the time to understand that being a dental student/reservist meant that I could build those years into good years for retirement. One could easily make 20 good years for retirement if he/she makes use of the student years.
3) Not doing more fixed pros or implant cases. The pros specialists invited me to do some cases with them, I should have utilized them more.
What did I have to learn to accept in the military?
1) I honestly had no problem being ordered to my duty station. I wish it was someplace more exotic than central Texas though
. What I would have a problem with is packing up and moving every 4 years or so, which is one reason I didn't make it a career.2) EFDAs are there to make operative procedures run more efficiently. I had a hard time trusting them to do a job that I was happy with. It took time, but it happened.
3) As much as I wanted to be in the clinic, if my TOE unit told me to be at place X at time Y on Z day, I had to do it.
In all, my short three years of active duty were great. I saw new places and met the best group of freinds I've ever had Now that I'm out, I'm looking for a way back in. I love the military, but I love the civilian life more, which is why having a private practice while being a "part time" soldier is the direction I'm headed.
Don't get me wrong, I had head butts with superior officers, junior officers, civilian employees, and sometimes it was my fault, but that comes with any job. There were days that I wish I wasn't in the Army (like sitting in my gas mask in the middle of the night on the first day of the war). But when it really comes down to it, if I were about to start dental school I'd sign up all over again.
It's not glamorous, and others on the forum are sure to have better ones, but that's my story.
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