- Joined
- Aug 5, 2005
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 2
I wanted to write all of you misguided souls in medical school. I am an attending at "the flagship hospital" of Air Force medicine. I have served in Iraq and was awarded a combat medal. My commitment ends in 2012. Make no mistake, if you are an HPSP student or have an obligation to the military, you have made the largest mistake of your life. If you are comtemplating a military scholarship: DO NOT!!!! I am still having nightmares of the horrors of combat. I could have already payed off both my college and med student loans if I was a civilian. I make about 30% of what my civilian counterparts make and work about 3 times as many hours. Granted, medicine in general is not an easy profession, but the military has made it terrible. By the way, the residency in the specialty you want is NO GUARANTEE!! If you are not the top then you get "stuck" in a surgery or medicine prelim. spot and then get to be a GMO for ATLEAST 2 years before being able to re-apply...the entire time making less than some residents make!! The medical care in the military is poor. Oh yeah, you will get a letter like I did that says you will be sent to war every 16 months for the next 6 years for 6 month periods. IF YOU DO WANT TO JOIN, wait until you have finished residency and then decide...TRUST ME, the military will pay off your loans then and welcome you with open arms. Making a decission at this point is a MISTAKE!! Your life will change so much. Try leaving a sick wife and a 4 month old child in an unfamiliar city to go fight a war you don't believe in...it's hell. The hospitals are underfunded and the residencys are poor training programs. Please, wait. If you have any other questions, write me, I will respond. Thanks.