Two-Year AEGD Locations

[TheLeviathan]

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So there seems to be a wide range of areas where one might get sent for an AEGD.





Let's say you are on the fence about the two-year AEGD. Are you able to turn it down once you find out where it would be located?

Cutting to the point, my wife would be far more likely to be on board if the location of training were desirable.

 

[coolslugs]

So there seems to be a wide range of areas where one might get sent for an AEGD.





Let's say you are on the fence about the two-year AEGD. Are you able to turn it down once you find out where it would be located?

Cutting to the point, my wife would be far more likely to be on board if the location of training were desirable.

So Hawaii or bust 🙂

 

[TheLeviathan]

So Hawaii or bust 🙂

Not quite that extreme (I think). 😳

At the end of the day though, it's a happy wife or bust. I could always take CE to replace the lost AEGD experience, but I cannot replace the parts of me that I fear will be lost if I place us into the middle of nowhere by choice.

I felt blessed as it is to have gotten such a warm reception when pitching the scholarship.

 

[TuckyDent]

Once you have decided that you want to do it, they make the decision where to send you, not the other way around. If at that point you say you don't want to anymore you will be stuck at the location of the AEGD.

There really are advantages to all 3 AEGD locations

1: Hawaii-You're in Hawaii

2: Bragg- East coast-close to lots of stuff including the beach, new clinics

3: Hood- No other residency programs which means you get to do a lot of stuff you may not get to see otherwise.

My wife and I ranked Hawaii 1, Hood 2, and Bragg 3 based on the clinical experience I would get if I went to Hood. We really didn't expect to get Hawaii. To make a long story short, we ended up at Hood, and are really pleased with the area after hearing bad things beforehand. 1 hour to Austin, 2.5 to Dallas, 2.5 to San Antonio, and 3 to Houston. Lots of lakes and outdoor things to do. Low cost of living. We live near a lake 25 mins from post and couldn't be happier.

As the saying goes, if you bloom where you're planted, life will be good.

 

[Rlow04]

Once you have decided that you want to do it, they make the decision where to send you, not the other way around. If at that point you say you don't want to anymore you will be stuck at the location of the AEGD.

There really are advantages to all 3 AEGD locations

1: Hawaii-You're in Hawaii

2: Bragg- East coast-close to lots of stuff including the beach, new clinics

3: Hood- No other residency programs which means you get to do a lot of stuff you may not get to see otherwise.

My wife and I ranked Hawaii 1, Hood 2, and Bragg 3 based on the clinical experience I would get if I went to Hood. We really didn't expect to get Hawaii. To make a long story short, we ended up at Hood, and are really pleased with the area after hearing bad things beforehand. 1 hour to Austin, 2.5 to Dallas, 2.5 to San Antonio, and 3 to Houston. Lots of lakes and outdoor things to do. Low cost of living. We live near a lake 25 mins from post and couldn't be happier.

As the saying goes, if you bloom where you're planted, life will be good.

I'm hoping for Ft Hood - I'm coming out to visit in Feb for a week. I'm assuming you're not living in Killeen, so where are you guys?

 

[toothfixeralex]

As was stated earlier, when accepted you're told where you're going. In other words, your not so much accepted into the "comprehensive program" in general but rather into a specific comprehensive program.

In my case, I was wait listed, so I got an e-mail last March that said I'd been offered the position at Ft. Bragg if I wanted it. I accepted it and really enjoy it here.

As was stated, all 3 locations have a benefit. I initially ranked Hawaii as 1st, Bragg 2nd, and Hood 3rd. Going back now I'd switch Hawaii and Bragg. Hawaii is great, but there are a lot of issues with using leave in the Army and when you're on an island it's not as easy to avoid wasting leave time.

In the end, if you want to do the program talk to the wife about what Army life is like. You need to be realistic. You're more likely to get a "good" base if you do a residency than if you simply go in as a new grad. I know the majority of my class ended up at a base that either wasn't even on their wish list (i.e. Polk, Sil, Drum, middle of nowhere TX) or on the very bottom of their list where as all of us that got the 2-year are super excited for where we are.

I know my wife and I went into this as if it was an adventure and we'd be getting a new surprise every couple of years. You'll make each assignment only as good as you want it to be. You can make Polk exciting if you go into it that way. If you dread it you'll hate your time there.

Good Luck and I hope you apply!!

 

[toothfixeralex]

So there seems to be a wide range of areas where one might get sent for an AEGD.





Let's say you are on the fence about the two-year AEGD. Are you able to turn it down once you find out where it would be located?

Cutting to the point, my wife would be far more likely to be on board if the location of training were desirable.

One more thing, I'm pretty sure that if you decline your 2-year offer (if accepted) you aren't necessarally going to be stationed at the base offered. I know here at Bragg the person that dropped so I can have a spot is not stationed here. That might be an isolated incident, but ultimately Human Resources Command decides where to send you and they don't make those decisions until Spring whereas residency acceptances go out in December. Just know that it's a small Army and an even smaller Dental Corps, so if you apply and then decline due to location you could already be making a name for yourself.

 

[toothdoc1]

It depends on when you decline. If you are coming out of school and don't decline until after the Army moves you, you will stay at that location for at least a year or 2, and then could potentially move. If you decline before you move, then they will more than likely send you to a different location where they need general dentists.

 

[Kallistos]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but can someone give me more details about this whole process? At what time during your 4th year of dental school do you rank locations and when are you notified of your assignment? Are you able to do the 2 year AEGD right off the bat, or is it more common to serve for a couple years and then apply. Thank you in advance for the info!

 

[toothfixeralex]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but can someone give me more details about this whole process? At what time during your 4th year of dental school do you rank locations and when are you notified of your assignment? Are you able to do the 2 year AEGD right off the bat, or is it more common to serve for a couple years and then apply. Thank you in advance for the info!

I don't remember the exact time range but it went a bit like this.

1) In Summer of your last year you'll get an e-mail with instructions on your assession packet and application for 1 year AEGD. This packet, including application, is MANDATORY. Everyone on the HPSP has to apply for the 1 year AEGD. You do not have to accept it however. Due late September if I recall correctly.
2) Shortly after that application packet you'll get an e-mail with details on Graduate Dental Education applications. This is one application that is for all the specialities. You cannot apply for more than one, but the application for all of them is the same. Due late October if I recall correctly.
3) In January/February we got an e-mail from LTC Grant (the Dental Assignment Officer at HRC) that listed the openings for a General Dentist. We were asked to rank our preferences and send them back.

Board results come out in December typically which is well before you even get the list of places you can go. We received our assignments in late March if I recall correctly. In my case I was informed in December that I was on the alternate list for the 2-year so I began to rank my base choices. In February I was pulled off the alternate list and offered a position in the 2-year, so I did not go through the assignment process. However, many of my classmates did. To be honest, you serve as the mission dictates, so don't go in assuming you'll go where you want. Many of my classmates ended up in places at the bottom or not even on their list. However, they found ways to enjoy where they ended up. Either way you get the opportunity to work with one of the best populations, so where you're working doesn't matter as much as with whom you are working.

As far as doing the AEGD right off the bat, you absolutely can. There were 3 of us that applied from USC and 3 of us that got accepted, there are also plenty of people that serve for a bit before doing the 2-year.

Hope that helps.

 

[Kallistos]

Thanks a lot for the info! I'm trying to figure out if it would be possible to know where you'll be assigned BEFORE med students have to make their residency rank order list. (trying to be in same location as SO) The deadline for med students to rank is in late February, and if assignments are received in late March, it sounds like that wouldn't work out.