Hello everyone,
This is my first time posting here. I am 21 years old and currently thinking of joining the Army Reserves after delaying my applying cycle for 2020 because of personal issues. I decided I wanted to try something worthwhile so one day an Army recruiter contacted me and I decided to go along with the plan. I am set out to ship in October, but right now I am starting to have second thoughts because, why am I even doing this? Personally, I know myself well, I have always been a pushover, I get persuaded easily into things and I admittedly got blinded by all the benefits that my recruiter told me and joined with little hesitation. I am ignorant and naive and make bad decisions. I don't trust myself so I hope to hear from you guys who hopefully know more than I do.
I started doing a lot of research recently and the more I dig, the more I became reluctant to join. My physical ability sucks, I cannot run one mile without stopping, or do more than 5 pushups nonstop, and I tried shooting once and it terrified me. I realized that my aim for joining the Reserve has been the financial benefit all along, not about serving the countries (yeah it sounds nice and tempting, I love to be someone like that, but it isn't my number one focus in life, I can do that just fine by being a civilian doctor).
My real goal is to become a doctor, that's it. So why did I even join the Reserve when the job they gave me ain't even medical-related (I got CBRN)? Thus, I turned to HPSP, which would help me pay for medical school as well as giving me the ability to work as a military doctor if I want to. If not, I can just complete my military obligation and return to my normal life, while having all these benefits offered to me, debt-free. It sounds almost too good to be true.
Make notes, I am aware signing up for HPSP will not exempt me from doing physical training, however I am willing to change if the goal I am reaching for is to be a doctor and financially-stable. I even hired a PT to help me become fit as well as taking gun-control classes. Mentally, I can't really tell how I will fare in the military. I heard they break you down and rebuild you, so this is the thing that worries me the most about joining, that it would change who I am for the worse, or even give me trauma. I heard stories from vets about people who only joined for the money and most of the times it doesn't end well...
So in sort, I am interested in HPSP for two reasons: they give me a chance to serve the country using the career that I love (doctor) and financial-stability. My interest in medical specialty right now is undecided, so I can't really envision how much limit the Army will place on your freedom in choosing your specialty residency, since I don't even know which specialty to prefer right now. For me as of now, whichever is good. I know that civilian doctors usually come out on top compared to military doctors despite having tuition debts, and that any specialty can earn you good money. My biggest issue with this is IF you manage to get a job. The uncertainty here terrifies me. I have met with many failures and rejections over the years, be it landing a medical scribe job or obtaining a shadowing spot at a local hospital. Therefore, I cannot place my trust on the "if" here. A little bit about myself, our family moved to America roughly 10 years ago, and my father started pursuing his career as a pharmacist, took up extra 5 years of his life. My mother worked days and nights to pay for both mine and his college's tuition. Guess what he is doing now? Unemployed. He couldn't find a job, especially considering Covid-19 takeover. I also got laid off from my job at the university. My mother continued to work to take care of us, all by herself, during this whole pandemic which also damaged her small business quite a bit. I was hoping that my father, now that he got a license, can finally alleviate the burden she carries, but he couldn't because the future is unpredictable. What I am trying to say is, I am scared of repeating the same thing he did. To study for 4 yrs medical school, got myself thousands in debt, and couldnt find a job. I do not want to do that to my mother. My drive for financial stability originates mostly from my wish to help her. I love her to death, that woman has done so much for me. So, if HPSP gives me job guarantee in the military to which I can use to take care of my mother, whether they limit my freedom or not, I am willing to do it.
Now that you read my ranting diary, do you think I should do HPSP or not? And if I should, what advice or warning do you have for me? I heard people in HPSP have to complete their DCC and BOLC training, is that true? If so, what time do you have to complete them with all your medical school stuffs in between? Do you get deployed to other countries a lot? Although I like traveling, I prefer to stay by my family's side. Which branch is better to do HPSP in? So and so.
Also, should I continue with my Army Reserve plan? Just to make myself look more well-rounded as a medical applicant. I am also afraid I won't get accepted to medical schools the next cycle.
Thank you all for your time in reading this.
This is my first time posting here. I am 21 years old and currently thinking of joining the Army Reserves after delaying my applying cycle for 2020 because of personal issues. I decided I wanted to try something worthwhile so one day an Army recruiter contacted me and I decided to go along with the plan. I am set out to ship in October, but right now I am starting to have second thoughts because, why am I even doing this? Personally, I know myself well, I have always been a pushover, I get persuaded easily into things and I admittedly got blinded by all the benefits that my recruiter told me and joined with little hesitation. I am ignorant and naive and make bad decisions. I don't trust myself so I hope to hear from you guys who hopefully know more than I do.
I started doing a lot of research recently and the more I dig, the more I became reluctant to join. My physical ability sucks, I cannot run one mile without stopping, or do more than 5 pushups nonstop, and I tried shooting once and it terrified me. I realized that my aim for joining the Reserve has been the financial benefit all along, not about serving the countries (yeah it sounds nice and tempting, I love to be someone like that, but it isn't my number one focus in life, I can do that just fine by being a civilian doctor).
My real goal is to become a doctor, that's it. So why did I even join the Reserve when the job they gave me ain't even medical-related (I got CBRN)? Thus, I turned to HPSP, which would help me pay for medical school as well as giving me the ability to work as a military doctor if I want to. If not, I can just complete my military obligation and return to my normal life, while having all these benefits offered to me, debt-free. It sounds almost too good to be true.
Make notes, I am aware signing up for HPSP will not exempt me from doing physical training, however I am willing to change if the goal I am reaching for is to be a doctor and financially-stable. I even hired a PT to help me become fit as well as taking gun-control classes. Mentally, I can't really tell how I will fare in the military. I heard they break you down and rebuild you, so this is the thing that worries me the most about joining, that it would change who I am for the worse, or even give me trauma. I heard stories from vets about people who only joined for the money and most of the times it doesn't end well...
So in sort, I am interested in HPSP for two reasons: they give me a chance to serve the country using the career that I love (doctor) and financial-stability. My interest in medical specialty right now is undecided, so I can't really envision how much limit the Army will place on your freedom in choosing your specialty residency, since I don't even know which specialty to prefer right now. For me as of now, whichever is good. I know that civilian doctors usually come out on top compared to military doctors despite having tuition debts, and that any specialty can earn you good money. My biggest issue with this is IF you manage to get a job. The uncertainty here terrifies me. I have met with many failures and rejections over the years, be it landing a medical scribe job or obtaining a shadowing spot at a local hospital. Therefore, I cannot place my trust on the "if" here. A little bit about myself, our family moved to America roughly 10 years ago, and my father started pursuing his career as a pharmacist, took up extra 5 years of his life. My mother worked days and nights to pay for both mine and his college's tuition. Guess what he is doing now? Unemployed. He couldn't find a job, especially considering Covid-19 takeover. I also got laid off from my job at the university. My mother continued to work to take care of us, all by herself, during this whole pandemic which also damaged her small business quite a bit. I was hoping that my father, now that he got a license, can finally alleviate the burden she carries, but he couldn't because the future is unpredictable. What I am trying to say is, I am scared of repeating the same thing he did. To study for 4 yrs medical school, got myself thousands in debt, and couldnt find a job. I do not want to do that to my mother. My drive for financial stability originates mostly from my wish to help her. I love her to death, that woman has done so much for me. So, if HPSP gives me job guarantee in the military to which I can use to take care of my mother, whether they limit my freedom or not, I am willing to do it.
Now that you read my ranting diary, do you think I should do HPSP or not? And if I should, what advice or warning do you have for me? I heard people in HPSP have to complete their DCC and BOLC training, is that true? If so, what time do you have to complete them with all your medical school stuffs in between? Do you get deployed to other countries a lot? Although I like traveling, I prefer to stay by my family's side. Which branch is better to do HPSP in? So and so.
Also, should I continue with my Army Reserve plan? Just to make myself look more well-rounded as a medical applicant. I am also afraid I won't get accepted to medical schools the next cycle.
Thank you all for your time in reading this.