Questions about initial USAF tour

[Omahahahaha]

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I'm a dental student applying this for the HPSP. I understand there are a lot of Air Force MD's on this thread but I'm sure things are pretty much the same.

My recruiter told me that it would be very unlikely for me to be sent overseas, and even more rare for me to be sent somewhere overseas where my family cannot come with me in my intial tour of duty. Can anyone verify this? I would think that newbies are the FIRST people they would send.

Also, how long does the Air Force usually keep you at a base before they move you?

 

[IgD]

When you finish your training you will be one of the most junior dentists in the air force. Anticipate that you will be sent to the most undesirable location because others will have seniority. I don't know the specifics about your speciality but most likely your recruiter doesn't either. My experience has been that the detailers will almost always give you an accompanied billet and save the others for single people.

 

[USAF MD '05]

My recruiter told me that it would be very unlikely for me to be sent overseas

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HAHAHAHAHA....*cough* excuse me. Your recruiter is a lying idiot looking for a fat bonus. The dentists I have talked to have uniformly been deployed. After all, there is a pesky set of teeth that starts coming in during a person's late teens, and someone has to be there to take them out. Not to mention trauma and just plain old toothaches. While you are gone, your colleagues back in the states will be trying to do the work of 2 or 3 people each to deal with the deploymenets.

and even more rare for me to be sent somewhere overseas where my family cannot come with me in my intial tour of duty

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This is a safer bet, just because we have relatively few permanent assignments that are considered remote tours.

Can anyone verify this?

I will verify that your recruiter is a lying sack of bloody poo. (the worst smell in all of the world, IMHO. )

I would think that newbies are the FIRST people they would send.

You win the kewpie doll here, though most everybody will go at some point.

Also, how long does the Air Force usually keep you at a base before they move you?

Depends how long your commitment is if you get moved at all. Generally (at least for the medical corps) you stay in one place for 3 years before you are eligible to PCS, and then you move only if there is more than a year left on your contract and they need you somewhere else. Some of my more senior colleagues can correct me on this, I may have the right idea but the wrong numbers.

Good luck. Come to the blue only if you really want to see yourself in uniform. Don't do it for the cash or you'll kick yourself later.
Steve