Question..

[Jps17kl]

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After graduating dental school and serving the three or four years in the army/navy/AF, how much of a voice do you have as to where you are stationed? I am Korean American and my fiance is studying in South Korea right now. I would love to be stationed in South Korea..

Thank you in advance.

 

[vellnueve]

Air Force or Army, it's possible. Not for Navy.

 

[krmower]

Air Force or Army, it's possible. Not for Navy.

It's possible but it will be based on how many spots are open the year you graduate and how many other people want to go there. No guarantee you will get it, but you can ask when the time comes.

 

[ChapelHillT]

I think what he/she is trying to ask is when (or if) you gain any 'clout.' Will you have more say re: your location after the first operational tour, not until you make O-4 or O-5, not until you're 10+ yrs in, etc?? Or if you stay all 20, will your location ALWAYS be determined by a combination of openings + luck?

I've heard that the 'better' locations such as Italy are nabbed by the senior guys, and am curious myself as to what the breaking point is for your wish list carrying more weight.

 

[krmower]

I think what he/she is trying to ask is when (or if) you gain any 'clout.' Will you have more say re: your location after the first operational tour, not until you make O-4 or O-5, not until you're 10+ yrs in, etc?? Or if you stay all 20, will your location ALWAYS be determined by a combination of openings + luck?

I've heard that the 'better' locations such as Italy are nabbed by the senior guys, and am curious myself as to what the breaking point is for your wish list carrying more weight.

As a general dentist locations will always be based on luck + openings. As a specialist once you have been in a while your chances to get where you want will improve, but not at the first. When you are first coming out of your residency you are at the bottom of the priority list. Even then it is still based on what is open, when you are available to move, and what skills/career path that individual is on (education, command, etc...).

 

[coolslugs]

As a general dentist locations will always be based on luck + openings. As a specialist once you have been in a while your chances to get where you want will improve, but not at the first. When you are first coming out of your residency you are at the bottom of the priority list. Even then it is still based on what is open, when you are available to move, and what skills/career path that individual is on (education, command, etc...).

What's the difference between the education and command paths and how do you pursuit them? How will it affect promotions and what type of military education do you need for each?

How competitive are Torri Station and Camp Zama for general dentists and specialists?

 

[krmower]

What's the difference between the education and command paths and how do you pursuit them? How will it affect promotions and what type of military education do you need for each?

How competitive are Torri Station and Camp Zama for general dentists and specialists?

What's the difference between the education and command paths and how do you pursuit them?
Education = You teach people. Command = You lead people. That's the difference 🙂 You wouldn't start to seek either path until after you have specialized and hit at least Major. So my recommendation would be not to worry about it at this point and get into the Army so that you can see and make those decisions after you specialize and have an idea what things are.

How will it affect promotions and what type of military education do you need for each?
Currently it does not affect promotions. Either track will promote well to Colonel. My guess is that in the future as the Dental Corps becomes more competative (due to more dentists coming in) that Command may be a little better for promotions - but not drastically different.

How competitive are Torri Station and Camp Zama for general dentists and specialists?
Japan is small to start with, therefore it is very competative since there are few spots (supply vs. demand).

 

[coolslugs]

How will it affect promotions and what type of military education do you need for each?
Currently it does not affect promotions. Either track will promote well to Colonel. My guess is that in the future as the Dental Corps becomes more competative (due to more dentists coming in) that Command may be a little better for promotions - but not drastically different.

Curious...since the Army is downsizing right now...how does that affect the Dental Corp?

 

[teeth63a]

Right off the bat in the Guard, our $2500 allowance to do CE is gone, and my understanding is that this is gone for the active duty dentists as well. Krmower can answer, but I'm sure there will be fewer scholarships available.

 

[coolslugs]

Right off the bat in the Guard, our $2500 allowance to do CE is gone, and my understanding is that this is gone for the active duty dentists as well. Krmower can answer, but I'm sure there will be fewer scholarships available.

Well I hope that's not true for AD.

 

[teeth63a]

The CE cut info came from the director of the 2 year AEGD program here in Hawaii, so I'm pretty sure it is...

 

[coolslugs]

The CE cut info came from the director of the 2 year AEGD program here in Hawaii, so I'm pretty sure it is...

What other incentives are being taken away for dental officers due to budget cuts?

 

[krmower]

Curious...since the Army is downsizing right now...how does that affect the Dental Corp?

As the military downsizes and the interest in the HPSP scholarship continues, then the scholarship will continue to get more competitive. If dentists currently in stay in rather than get out then there will be fewer spots available to come into and more competition.

My personal opinion is that natural attrition will alleviate any need for the Army to force any type of cuts on the Army Dental Corps now.

The decrease in funding has hit the funded CE's the hardest. We have been told that there will likely not be any funded CE this year, although we can still be given time off to attend on our own dime.

 

[coolslugs]

As the military downsizes and the interest in the HPSP scholarship continues, then the scholarship will continue to get more competitive. If dentists currently in stay in rather than get out then there will be fewer spots available to come into and more competition.

My personal opinion is that natural attrition will alleviate any need for the Army to force any type of cuts on the Army Dental Corps now.

The decrease in funding has hit the funded CE's the hardest. We have been told that there will likely not be any funded CE this year, although we can still be given time off to attend on our own dime.

Are all these affecting the Navy and Air Force as well?

 

[Destiny11]

As the military downsizes and the interest in the HPSP scholarship continues, then the scholarship will continue to get more competitive. If dentists currently in stay in rather than get out then there will be fewer spots available to come into and more competition.

My personal opinion is that natural attrition will alleviate any need for the Army to force any type of cuts on the Army Dental Corps now.

The decrease in funding has hit the funded CE's the hardest. We have been told that there will likely not be any funded CE this year, although we can still be given time off to attend on our own dime.

And once again the Army fights the war, and gets hit the hardest in funding. If they keep this up natural attrition won't be a problem.

 

[vellnueve]

Are all these affecting the Navy and Air Force as well?

Have you heard of something called sequestration?

 

[coolslugs]

Have you heard of something called sequestration?

Yes. That still doesn't answer my question.