Serving Overseas: where to ask to go?

[qpwoeiruty]

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Odd question here:
I am a Sr dental student and im not currently associated with the military in any way, i.e. no HPSP. That being said i have recently become aware that as i get older i will more than likely find a mate and start a family. However, whilst im young and single i want to "see the world" so i was thinking of joining the Navy once i graduate as a Dentist. I would like to serve overseas/get out of the US and be paid to do it. 😀

Im just curious about what places are most sought after/fun.... Or even if the Navy is the best rout to go when considering this. So, army, navy or airforce? Which overseas locations would be fun and which bases/posts would i more than likely be deployed at most of the time (= or > 1/3 time) as id like to avoid those places. Also i probably wont do Army. Been there done that and im not too fond of deserts...

Those who should not reply to this thread:

Anyone that is going to tell me not to join the military to have fun. Ive been in the military and i know, first hand, it can be super fun with the right attitude! I was an army reserve enlisted soldier/grunt for 8 yrs 😉

 

[Vigilante]

I'm just curious...are you sure you can just join once you graduate? I was told that, in the air force at least, all positions for dentists are filled by HPSP recipients and they very rarely accept anyone through any other route.

And as for your question, I've heard germany is awesome. I know a few people that ended up there and they all loved it...super cool country and people and easy access to all across Europe. Also, if you're single, I've heard Korea is surprisingly fun.

 

[qpwoeiruty]

Well the navy has some recruiters coming out to talk to our sr class next week. kind of a "hail Mary" for any of us Sr's that still might want to join. so im pretty sure it possible.

Apparently the bonuses for "accession" (dentists who join after already getting their license) dentists are pretty huge if you wait till youre done with school and depending on how many years xp you have, or so the rumors go. ill have exactly 0 years xp though lol. ive heard bonus numbers from 80-150k depending on how many years you sign up for, and the xp thing. And i might be wrong but i think you can still do the loan repayment thing too. I knew this was an option back in the day thats why i didnt go with hpsp...didnt want to tie myself down too early...i wanted to look at my options once i was done with school. The HPSP thing is better monetarily, but money isnt that important to me, although i do want to get out of debt.

where i go and what i do are at the top of my priority list.

i had a few chances to go to Germany when i was in the army and passed on the opportunity. I have been kicking myself ever since. But what is there to do in korea?

**all that bonus talk up there is just what ive heard and could be completely false info. ill know more when the recruiters come to talk.

 

[krmower]

Odd question here:
I am a Sr dental student and im not currently associated with the military in any way, i.e. no HPSP. That being said i have recently become aware that as i get older i will more than likely find a mate and start a family. However, whilst im young and single i want to "see the world" so i was thinking of joining the Navy once i graduate as a Dentist. I would like to serve overseas/get out of the US and be paid to do it. 😀

Im just curious about what places are most sought after/fun.... Or even if the Navy is the best rout to go when considering this. So, army, navy or airforce? Which overseas locations would be fun and which bases/posts would i more than likely be deployed at most of the time (= or > 1/3 time) as id like to avoid those places. Also i probably wont do Army. Been there done that and im not too fond of deserts...

Those who should not reply to this thread:

Anyone that is going to tell me not to join the military to have fun. Ive been in the military and i know, first hand, it can be super fun with the right attitude! I was an army reserve enlisted soldier/grunt for 8 yrs 😉

Army will take direct accessions. I thought all the bonuses were the same among all the services - here is what you can get with the Army. $40k loan repayment each year for a max of 4 yrs ($160k) for Active Duty, $40k each year with Reserve for up to 6 yrs ($250k), $70k in your pocket (not loans) for Active Duty.

As far as assignments in the Army - Vicenza, Italy, almost anywhere in Germany, and Japan.

Army doesn't have anymore dental companies in Germany - so your chance of deploying from Germany is the same as it is anywhere else in the US. In the Army it doesn't matter what base you go to, they can ask you to deploy - you won't be able to pick a base based upon a preference to stay put.

So look at where you might like to go and pick it. As it stands now - I may be in Germany next summer.

 

[tingting]

In the Navy you can get to Japan if you want to. Guam possibly. Anywhere else overseas as a junior officer-- unlikely

 

[Vigilante]

What's there to do in Korea? Party like a rock star, apparently. I only have one friend who is there (a fighter pilot) and he says it is crazy. They party all the time and get away with everything. He says the locals love servicemen and the police always let them off the hook, and he's had more than a few run-ins since he's been there. Also, it's only for a year, you can't be deployed while you're there, and I've heard they are really hard up to find people willing to go so they will give you first choice on your next assignment. Obviously, nothing is a guarantee in the military, so I wouldn't quote me on the last part, and everything else I've said is based off of one guys opinion who is not a dentist, but certainly sounds tempting if you're a single guy.

I've heard not so great things about Japan, mostly having to do with the fact that the locals hate servicemen. I've read a few stories in the news about it and have one friend who was there for a year as a flight surgeon and wasn't a big fan.

I also have two friends who were in Guam and they both hated it. It's a tiny island and gets old pretty fast.

 

[koobpheej]

Army will take direct accessions. I thought all the bonuses were the same among all the services - here is what you can get with the Army. $40k loan repayment each year for a max of 4 yrs ($160k) for Active Duty, $40k each year with Reserve for up to 6 yrs ($250k), $70k in your pocket (not loans) for Active Duty.

The Army Dental Corps website lists reserve loan repayment as 3 yrs, $20K, $20K, and $10K ($50K total).

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/army-health-care-corps/dental-corps/benefits.html

Just wondering if you can explain the discrepancy. Is there a different program that is not listed? Is this something new that is coming down the pipes? It seems counter-intuitive that the reserves would offer more repayment than active duty.

 

[krmower]

The Army Dental Corps website lists reserve loan repayment as 3 yrs, $20K, $20K, and $10K ($50K total).

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/army-health-care-corps/dental-corps/benefits.html

Just wondering if you can explain the discrepancy. Is there a different program that is not listed? Is this something new that is coming down the pipes? It seems counter-intuitive that the reserves would offer more repayment than active duty.

Sucks when they don't update information uniformly. Here's a better link that talks about the program.

http://www.goarmyreservedocs.com/

Each component (Active and Reserve and National Guard) has their own pile of money that they can use to fill their ranks. The Reserve is using theirs to entice docs/dentists for 6 yrs at $250k - not a bad deal. The active has the ability to offer specialty training and bonuses for specialties - it's all about what your long-term goals are.

 

[koobpheej]

Sucks when they don't update information uniformly. Here's a better link that talks about the program.

http://www.goarmyreservedocs.com/

Each component (Active and Reserve and National Guard) has their own pile of money that they can use to fill their ranks. The Reserve is using theirs to entice docs/dentists for 6 yrs at $250k - not a bad deal. The active has the ability to offer specialty training and bonuses for specialties - it's all about what your long-term goals are.

I am sorry to seem like I am contradicting you, that is not my intention. When I read that site you posted, it seems to suggest that offer is reserved for a specific handful of medical specialties categorized as wartime critical. Dentistry (or dental specialties) does not seem to be included in the eligibility for that offer. Am I not understanding the site correctly? I have regretted not doing the military and now because of my debt load I can't really afford it. I was thinking this may be a realistic opportunity to serve. Thank you for the information you have provided.

 

[krmower]

I am sorry to seem like I am contradicting you, that is not my intention. When I read that site you posted, it seems to suggest that offer is reserved for a specific handful of medical specialties categorized as wartime critical. Dentistry (or dental specialties) does not seem to be included in the eligibility for that offer. Am I not understanding the site correctly? I have regretted not doing the military and now because of my debt load I can't really afford it. I was thinking this may be a realistic opportunity to serve. Thank you for the information you have provided.

I understand you want to cover your bases. I have the digital copy that the recruiters use that I can send to you that state it also covers dental (PM me your email). You could also just call a recruiter to verify.

Either way $250,000 is the max that you can get through the Reserve, and $160,000 for active duty in loan repayment.