USAF Pilot Physician Program

[FLY6584]

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Hey guys new to the forum, but I'm looking to get some more information about the Pilot Physician Program in the Air Force. I am currently about 2/3rd's the way through pilot training in the Air Force and I am at the point at which I need to start thinking about what I would like to fly. Becoming a doctor has always been one of my life long dreams and aspirations in addition to becoming a pilot so before I decide what route I am going to take as a pilot I would like to know how I can best set myself up for pursuing an opportunity in the Pilot Physician Program.

First off a little about myself:

-2007 Auburn University Graduate
-Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering
-Graduated Cum Laude with a little over a 3.4
-Have already taken Physics 1 and 2 in addition to Chemistry 1 and 2, but have not taken any biology's or organic chems.
-Very involved at school in many student orgranizations and honor societies.
-Then obviously a 2Lt in the United States Air Force and I am about to earn my wings.

My question is what are my chances of getting accepted into the Pilot Physicians Program, getting accepted to a med school, and ultimately how do I go about doing this? I know I would need to take the necessary prereqs and rock the MCAT, but in addition to that what else would I need to do? Are there any military guys out there that can offer me some advice on bringing this up to my commander without ruining my career as a pilot?

I appreciate any advice you all could offer. Thanks!

 

[backrow]

Hey guys new to the forum, but I'm looking to get some more information about the Pilot Physician Program in the Air Force. I am currently about 2/3rd's the way through pilot training in the Air Force and I am at the point at which I need to start thinking about what I would like to fly. Becoming a doctor has always been one of my life long dreams and aspirations in addition to becoming a pilot so before I decide what route I am going to take as a pilot I would like to know how I can best set myself up for pursuing an opportunity in the Pilot Physician Program.

First off a little about myself:

-2007 Auburn University Graduate
-Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering
-Graduated Cum Laude with a little over a 3.4
-Have already taken Physics 1 and 2 in addition to Chemistry 1 and 2, but have not taken any biology's or organic chems.
-Very involved at school in many student orgranizations and honor societies.
-Then obviously a 2Lt in the United States Air Force and I am about to earn my wings.

My question is what are my chances of getting accepted into the Pilot Physicians Program, getting accepted to a med school, and ultimately how do I go about doing this? I know I would need to take the necessary prereqs and rock the MCAT, but in addition to that what else would I need to do? Are there any military guys out there that can offer me some advice on bringing this up to my commander without ruining my career as a pilot?

I appreciate any advice you all could offer. Thanks!

Sorry to bust any bubbles of yours; however, as far as I know you will be required to fulfill your pilot commitment (7 years right?) before being allowed to go on to medical school.

I wouldn't even bother bringing it up at this stage as you have way too far to go before worrying about even medical school.

 

[FLY6584]

Sorry to bust any bubbles of yours; however, as far as I know you will be required to fulfill your pilot commitment (7 years right?) before being allowed to go on to medical school.

I wouldn't even bother bringing it up at this stage as you have way too far to go before worrying about even medical school.

Actually the committment is 10 years, but I am interested in the Air Force Pilot Physician Program. I have been doing a lot of research about it and basically you have to fly operationally for 3 years then apply to the program in addition to Med School and then the Air Force will pay you to go to Med School. After completing med school you obviously will have to continue to serve which I would like to do anyways, but then you will be serving as a pilot and a doctor in the Air Force. Then when my military committment is up I can decide whether I would like to continue my career as a pilot or a doctor. Right now I am leaning more towards being a doctor and keeping flying as a hobby.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Sounds like a fun career. I wouldn't choose my aircraft based on which will allow me to get into med school. I would choose based on what you want to fly.

But if I were to choose an aircraft based on which one would help me get into med school, I'd pick one that rarely deploys, has plenty of free time, and is stationed in the states most of the time. F-22s don't seem to go anywhere very often these days, and they're only at Elmendorf and Langley as far as I know. The pilots seem reasonably busy though.

Good luck.

 

[FLY6584]

Sounds like a fun career. I wouldn't choose my aircraft based on which will allow me to get into med school. I would choose based on what you want to fly.

But if I were to choose an aircraft based on which one would help me get into med school, I'd pick one that rarely deploys, has plenty of free time, and is stationed in the states most of the time. F-22s don't seem to go anywhere very often these days, and they're only at Elmendorf and Langley as far as I know. The pilots seem reasonably busy though.

Good luck.

You see that's the dilema I'm facing. I would really like to FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot), but I'm unsure if that would qualify as a 3 year operational tour although I know I would have the time to work on my prereqs. At the same time I'd like to fly a KC-10 and see the world, but I'm afraid I wouldn't have any time to get my prereqs done.

 

[sethco]

but then you will be serving as a pilot and a doctor in the Air Force.

How does this work? Every other day see clinic patients? I would imagine there are not that many in this program. Residency alone would make it very hard to keep up your flying currency. I guess you could be a RAM/Flight Med and still be a pilot, but why would anyone want to do this? I am being dead serious. I am currently a Flight doc and I could not imagine a more depressing/boring career.

 

[FLY6584]

How does this work? Every other day see clinic patients? I would imagine there are not that many in this program. Residency alone would make it very hard to keep up your flying currency. I guess you could be a RAM/Flight Med and still be a pilot, but why would anyone want to do this? I am being dead serious. I am currently a Flight doc and I could not imagine a more depressing/boring career.

Not sure exactly how it works. I do know you fly and you are the sqaudrons flight doc at the same time. I know for a fact the program exists. AFI 13-405 talks more about the program, but I still have many questions that the reg doesn't answer. Just hoping someone on here was familiar with the program.

 

[Eagledoc]

Yo! I am actually a Pilot-physician in the AF right now. It's a cool program like you've already mentioned and to be honest I can't imagine doing anything else as an AF physician if you like flying. I, however, came to the program a little backwards. I graduated medical school as an HPSP dude and came into the military to complete a Peds residency. I elected to become a flight surgeon after 1 yr in my peds residency and began my AF career at MacDill AFB flying with a KC-135 unit. It was cool but I was only there for one year and then was accepted to a unit stationed at Nellis AFB, NV, "home of the fighter pilot"! What a great place to be a flight doc. I fly in just about every aircraft I could...F-16's, F-15's, UH-60's, C-130's, C-17's, C-141's, etc. I absolutely loved flying in fighters and started seriously looking into the PP program. I contacted the program director at that time (then Col Roger Vanderbeek/Col Tom Travis) and was told to keep in contact. I applied to the "active duty" pilot training board and was accepted to pilot training with about 6-9 months left on my medical commitment. I was told, if accepted into UFT, I would be released from my medical commitment. Long story short - went to pilot training, earned an F-15C and began my pilot career in England. While there I earned my credentials at the hospital and started doing both. Now I'm at another location as a bonified Pilot Physician and I work about 1-2 days a week in the hospital and the other days I'm teaching fighter fundamentals! It is awesome! Look at Air Force Instruction (AFI) 11-405 for how to get into the program and write me a note if you have questions. Good luck and keep working hard! Nothing beats being a fighter pilot and doc!!

 

[FLY6584]

Very cool eagledoc. I just sent you a PM. Thanks!

 

[FLY6584]

An excerpt from the 11-405:

3.1. Applicants.​

3.1.1. All applicants entering the PPP will have:
3.1.1.1. Completed UPT or SUPT and a minimum of three years of operational flying. In
some cases the length of the operational flying requirement may be waived by the PPP PD.
3.1.1.2. Volunteered for the PPP.
3.1.1.3. Earned an M.D. or D.O. degree and completed one year of postgraduate medical
training.
3.1.1.4. Completed the USAF Aerospace Medicine Primary Course.
3.1.1.5. Served as an operational flight surgeon for at least one year (or requests pre-selection
with final selection contingent upon one year of superior performance as an operational flight
surgeon).
3.1.1.6. For applicants who have not yet been assigned as flight surgeons, the PPP PD will
work to assign these applicants to bases where candidates would be likely to serve as first
assignment pilot-physicians.
3.1.2. All applicants must formally apply to the PD by sending an application package containing:
3.1.2.1. Complete flying records, including copies of all certificates from formal courses​

attended, flight evaluation reports, and other information.

I guess the major question I have is that being that I have not been to medical school yet how do I complete that requirement to apply for this program before my UPT commitment is up? Do I have to wait 10 years for my UPT commitment to be up, then go to med school, then apply for this program or will I be able to fly operationally for 3 years then apply to the program, attend medical school, then return as a Pilot-Physician?

Thanks!

 

[FLY6584]

ttt

 

[bonvoyage]

Hey is there a maximum age where a doctor could apply to this pilot physician program (say he's a flight surgeon without any pilot training)? What if he has eye problems? and does the Navy have anything similar?

 

[Eagledoc]

I think the Navy does have a pilot-physician program but quite honestly I don't know the regulation that defines it or the program director if there is one. The maximum age for the AF was 30 when I applied to pilot training but again, I don't know what it is now. The Navy, historically, has been more "lax" when it comes to regulations and requirements that the AF so I would start by asking the personnel folks. Then, depending on the answer they give you, I would go to your commander and let him/her know of your interest. If you happen to work for the flying unit it could be easier. Eye problems are regulated by the "medical standards" regulation. In the AF it's AFI 48-123. Typically, as an active duty person applying to pilot training, you can have refractive error correctable to 20/20. In fact, these days you can actually get accepted with h/o PRK or LASIK in some circumstances.

 

[backrow]

Hey is there a maximum age where a doctor could apply to this pilot physician program (say he's a flight surgeon without any pilot training)? What if he has eye problems? and does the Navy have anything similar?

The Navy has had a similar program in the past. I believe there is even an article in PubMed about it. The other option is to google it and there are some articles from Navy Aviation magazines about it. The thing is that as of right now the program is dormant as far as I know. At one time the Navy allowed those with no prior flying experience to become flight surgeons and after a tour apply for flight school to become a winged aviator.

I am not sure if there is a plan to resurrect the program or not, but the people at NAMI would likely be a good place to start.

 

[bonvoyage]

The Navy has had a similar program in the past. I believe there is even an article in PubMed about it. The other option is to google it and there are some articles from Navy Aviation magazines about it. The thing is that as of right now the program is dormant as far as I know. At one time the Navy allowed those with no prior flying experience to become flight surgeons and after a tour apply for flight school to become a winged aviator.

I am not sure if there is a plan to resurrect the program or not, but the people at NAMI would likely be a good place to start.

Thank you for the info!

 

[Informer]

Yo! I am actually a Pilot-physician in the AF right now. It's a cool program like you've already mentioned and to be honest I can't imagine doing anything else as an AF physician if you like flying. I, however, came to the program a little backwards. I graduated medical school as an HPSP dude and came into the military to complete a Peds residency. I elected to become a flight surgeon after 1 yr in my peds residency and began my AF career at MacDill AFB flying with a KC-135 unit. It was cool but I was only there for one year and then was accepted to a unit stationed at Nellis AFB, NV, "home of the fighter pilot"! What a great place to be a flight doc. I fly in just about every aircraft I could...F-16's, F-15's, UH-60's, C-130's, C-17's, C-141's, etc. I absolutely loved flying in fighters and started seriously looking into the PP program. I contacted the program director at that time (then Col Roger Vanderbeek/Col Tom Travis) and was told to keep in contact. I applied to the "active duty" pilot training board and was accepted to pilot training with about 6-9 months left on my medical commitment. I was told, if accepted into UFT, I would be released from my medical commitment. Long story short - went to pilot training, earned an F-15C and began my pilot career in England. While there I earned my credentials at the hospital and started doing both. Now I'm at another location as a bonified Pilot Physician and I work about 1-2 days a week in the hospital and the other days I'm teaching fighter fundamentals! It is awesome! Look at Air Force Instruction (AFI) 11-405 for how to get into the program and write me a note if you have questions. Good luck and keep working hard! Nothing beats being a fighter pilot and doc!!

Sir, I actually read your article in the most recent flightlines. Being a Pilot-physician can be a very exciting job and it looks like it has a lot of potential for both the flying community as well as the medical community.

One question I had (and I apologize for it being on an open forum like this), the issue came up when I was at the AMP course was this - how does one balance the roles of being a physician with being a warfighter?

As a military doc, we support the warfighter. However, as the actual warfighter, it seems that the 2 goals are contradictory. One is to heal while the other is not. I had the same question for a physician turned WSO while I was at the AMP course but wasn't able to get a clear answer.

I'm just being curious 🙂

 

[Heeed!]

There's no contradiction in either assignment. You're doing your job as an aviator and a doc. One job is to put people in the hospital, the other is to get them out of the hospital.

What you have to come to terms with before you ever sit down inside the cockpit is this: when you do your job for real, people are going to die. If you (not YOU specifically, but in general)...If you can't come to terms with the reality of doing your aviation job, then it's not the right place to work. There can't be any ambivalence, or hesitation...when the money is on the line, you need to be able to hammer down and fire the missile, or drop the bomb, without reservation...or YOU could be the one ending up dead.

I loved flying in the Strike Eagle and would lase in any bomb we dropped knowing someone was probably going to die. At least for me, there was a separation of the joy I received from doing what I was trained to do and the consequences of me doing my job. I enjoyed my job but didn't necessarily enjoy killing people. And there's no conflict in being a doctor now. I'm just doing my job. I'm here to serve my country in any way I can. Today, I'm putting people to sleep and keeping them comfortable so the surgeons can assault them in the OR. Tomorrow (or hopefully in 2.5 years when I get into the PPP) I'll be be the one putting 'em in the hospital in the first place when I get to fly again.

Today: Anesthesiologist. Tomorrow: Strike Eagle WSO. Different day, different hat. It's no big deal. Just doing my job. 👍

 

[The White Coat Investor]

As a military doc, we support the warfighter. However, as the actual warfighter, it seems that the 2 goals are contradictory. One is to heal while the other is not. I had the same question for a physician turned WSO while I was at the AMP course but wasn't able to get a clear answer.

I'm just being curious 🙂

You think doctors don't kill people? Doctors kill way more people than pilots ever have. 🙂 At least if you believe the hospital safety literature.

 

[Eagledoc]

Sir, I actually read your article in the most recent flightlines. Being a Pilot-physician can be a very exciting job and it looks like it has a lot of potential for both the flying community as well as the medical community.

One question I had (and I apologize for it being on an open forum like this), the issue came up when I was at the AMP course was this - how does one balance the roles of being a physician with being a warfighter?

As a military doc, we support the warfighter. However, as the actual warfighter, it seems that the 2 goals are contradictory. One is to heal while the other is not. I had the same question for a physician turned WSO while I was at the AMP course but wasn't able to get a clear answer.

I'm just being curious 🙂

Good question. I think the short answer is similar to what Heeed! said in that it depends what "hat" you're wearing at the time. As docs we took the oath to "above all, do no harm". I take this commitment seriously when functioning as a doc. As a fighter pilot, on the other hand, it may be my mission to protect my country by providing air superiority. In that, I might be required to "shoot down" hostile aircraft. That is my mission as I function as a fighter pilot. Tying the two opposing communities together is a balancing act but again, it depends on your immediate function. If you're deployed as a pilot, you execute accordingly and have to be prepared for the possibilities of being treated as a "combatant" under the Geneva convention. This, however, doesn't remove your unique skill as a physician for your unit. Good discussion topic but in my opinion they are not mutually exclusive.

 

[deuist]

I don't see a contradiction between the Hippocratic Oath and being a pilot. How many enemy combatants are your patients?

 

[jjax107]

deleted

 

[i want out]

Sir, I actually read your article in the most recent flightlines. Being a Pilot-physician can be a very exciting job and it looks like it has a lot of potential for both the flying community as well as the medical community.

One question I had (and I apologize for it being on an open forum like this), the issue came up when I was at the AMP course was this - how does one balance the roles of being a physician with being a warfighter?

As a military doc, we support the warfighter. However, as the actual warfighter, it seems that the 2 goals are contradictory. One is to heal while the other is not. I had the same question for a physician turned WSO while I was at the AMP course but wasn't able to get a clear answer.

I'm just being curious 🙂

Since you asked on an open forum, I will offer my opinion as well.

As physicians we are fighting disease. We frequently must do some harm to maintain our patients. Radiation, Chemo, surgery are just a few examples of killing a few good cells while eradicating bad.

Dropping Bombs, or bullets is little different. You try to be as prudent as possible in directing the therapy to maximal benefit with minimal collateral damage.

As for how we do much controlled harm in the name of producing good, the list is virtually endless. Almost everything we do in medicine has a risk to benefit ratio. Nothing is without risk of harm to the patient.

i want out(of IRR)

 

[jjax107]

deleted

 

[dwb8p]

im currently pre med student about to start AFROTC program. any advice on being an air force flight surgeon from this point on. and what are all my options? thanks any advice appreciated

Best advice would be to not start ROTC. This coming from a ROTC graduate. ROTC gives you no competitive advantage, very little real exposure to the military, costs you time during undergrad that could better be spent doing useful things, and costs you financially years down the road when you're actually a physician because you have a longer service obligation and thus are not eligible for some of the high retention bonuses until years after your non-ROTC peers.

 

[AF M4]

Best advice would be to not start ROTC. This coming from a ROTC graduate. ROTC gives you no competitive advantage, very little real exposure to the military, costs you time during undergrad that could better be spent doing useful things, and costs you financially years down the road when you're actually a physician because you have a longer service obligation and thus are not eligible for some of the high retention bonuses until years after your non-ROTC peers.

Ya...not the best of times for the ROTC program either. Google around the AF Times...with the AF doing its "force-shaping" thing (i.e. kicking people out), there are several hundred ROTC members who have had their commissions delayed because well, the AF just got rid of a bunch of lieutenants and it doesn't want anymore, dagnambit.

Actually, some of those LTs may realize that they may be getting a free education out of all this, particularly if they suddenly developed a raging case of asthma or mentioned a little too loudly that they are moving "Glee" to the top of their DVR priority list. On second thought, ROTC may be the way to go!

And ya, the above is correct about ROTC. Although I never actually joined ROTC, I do have fond memories of the one hour "Intro to Military Education" class I did take, the best of which involved me pegging the very gung-ho leader of the class twice in a row during our paintball exercise. The second time was center forehead on his helmet, and was widely acclaimed as the best shot of the semester.

In summation, the military was very impressed with my natural killing abilities, and so I had no problem being accepted into the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

 

[UGAFlyer04]

I am a C-17 pilot and I'm about to finish my 1st operational (4 year) tour as one. I am about to PCS to another C-17 unit for 3 years. I have an undergrad degree in Microbiology and I'm working on my Micro Masters. My plan has been to finish my commitment and then get out and go to Med School. Someone just told me about the PPP and I was wondering if anyone had any contact information for someone in the Pilot Physician Program. I skimmed over the 11-405 and it talks about someone who is already a physician becoming a pilot. I was wondering if it happens in reverse and how to go about doing that. Would I have to complete my 10 year commitment first before I could get released to go to Med School? Thanks for the help!

 

[J-Rad]

I am a C-17 pilot and I'm about to finish my 1st operational (4 year) tour as one. I am about to PCS to another C-17 unit for 3 years. I have an undergrad degree in Microbiology and I'm working on my Micro Masters. My plan has been to finish my commitment and then get out and go to Med School. Someone just told me about the PPP and I was wondering if anyone had any contact information for someone in the Pilot Physician Program. I skimmed over the 11-405 and it talks about someone who is already a physician becoming a pilot. I was wondering if it happens in reverse and how to go about doing that. Would I have to complete my 10 year commitment first before I could get released to go to Med School? Thanks for the help!

Not current on contacts. FWIW my dated info (from 2002) was that it was actually far, far more common to go from pilot-->physician to become dual qualified (age restrictions on pilot training being a common limiting factor). I've never heard of the AF being loose with its pilot ADSOs, so I'd be doubtful, however, I have no expertise in this area. BTW my wife's brother is a C17 pilot. And those are nice airplanes.

 

[eagledriver]

I am a C-17 pilot and I'm about to finish my 1st operational (4 year) tour as one. I am about to PCS to another C-17 unit for 3 years. I have an undergrad degree in Microbiology and I'm working on my Micro Masters. My plan has been to finish my commitment and then get out and go to Med School. Someone just told me about the PPP and I was wondering if anyone had any contact information for someone in the Pilot Physician Program. I skimmed over the 11-405 and it talks about someone who is already a physician becoming a pilot. I was wondering if it happens in reverse and how to go about doing that. Would I have to complete my 10 year commitment first before I could get released to go to Med School? Thanks for the help!

It's possible to separate early (11-405 recommends going to med school after 3-5yrs of flight time), but you have to convince your wing commander and your functional to let you go. Then that goes all the way up the chain to SECAF, and he pretty much signs off on whatever AFPC recommends. You still owe your remaining ADSC consecutively with your HPSP commitment. It's crucial to emphasize this last point with the folks that aren't familiar so that they don't think you're getting out of time owed.

 

[tscottturner]

Is anyone up on the current requirements of this program - specifically age? I'm prior service (non-pilot) but a pgy-2 in an emergency medicine program and extremely interested. I've read through afi 11-405 but it didn't seem to really answer anything I was looking for. Are there any other references?

 

[Eagledoc]

I know that there have been many threads re: Pilot-Physician program in the military and I wanted to let everyone know that the USAF has just released a revised Air Force Instruction (AFI) 11-405, The Pilot-Physician Program. It contains loads of updated information (last one was in Oct 2000) including - PHYSICIAN APPLICATIONS FOR JOINT SPECIALIZED UNDERGRADUATE FLYING TRAINING in attachment 2. For those that aren't familiar with what this means, there is now a way for qualified docs to apply for pilot training and then serve as dual rated dudes! It's very exciting news...

Please review the attached document at your convenience and then let me know if you have any questions. Again, this is a brand new revision to the AFI and contains outstanding information for those interested. On a side note, I was a doc first and then became a pilot and let me tell you, the process was a lot more painful then but it's been definitely worth it! I'm now the only USAF pilot-physician in the F-22A Raptor and things are good!!

Good luck and let me know your questions!

Respectfully,

Bones

DSN - 523-7192, 742-4340
Commercial 850-283-7534, 850-282-4340

 

[Caliman1]

Do you have to do a flight med residency to become a pilot physician and how much flying do you get to do?

Thanks!

 

[wrh9292]

Hello-
I am currently a cadet AFROTC at the University of North Dakota and I am a Biology/Pre-Med student. I have been wanting to be a Pilot Physician for quite some time! I was a cadet in CAP and found out about the program a few years ago and I was hoping for a little direction to get there!
I have read up on everything I can find about the program; I understand it is a small program and very competitive. Between the two routes (UPT then Med School or the other way around), which way is a better plan?
I have also been trying to set myself apart to be competitive for both UPT and Med School. I currently have a 4.0 and am on the President's Honor Roll. I have my Private Pilots License with about 100 hours, I am a working EMT here in North Dakota, and I volunteer with AFROTC and in the community. Is there anything else that would be good to pursue?

I really appreciate your help in advanced and look forward to one day serving with you in the Air Force!

Thank you

 

[JToth1983]

Looking for info. I'm currently a KC-135 pilot in the Air National Guard, and I'm interested in becoming a physician. My background is all aviation and no biology. There's a lot of talk in AF form 11-405 about sending a physician to UPT, I was wondering if anyone knew if the air force had a program to send a currently rated pilot to Med-School. Or would I have to undertake Pre-med and med-school payment on my own?

 

[J-Rad]

Looking for info. I'm currently a KC-135 pilot in the Air National Guard, and I'm interested in becoming a physician. My background is all aviation and no biology. There's a lot of talk in AF form 11-405 about sending a physician to UPT, I was wondering if anyone knew if the air force had a program to send a currently rated pilot to Med-School. Or would I have to undertake Pre-med and med-school payment on my own?

At some point, one of our infrequent pilot-physician posters may weigh in with more expert information, so I am only going to give a speculative guess: I don't know of any specific program addressing pilot-->physician. But you would be eligible for the standard routes. What you need to decide is if you want to be an active duty doc, a reserve/guard doc, or a civilian doc. If AD, you'll probably foot post-bac or SMP premed courses on your own, but you can look at HPSP and USUHS for medical school. All caveats to this route that litter this part of the forum apply. Unfortunately, there are no active Reserve/Guard docs on here to discuss issues specific to medicine in those components. I wish there were, because I'd love to have their input for my own long range planning. Best bet is to find your nearest guard reserve Base with medical units (if you're in the Northeast [Pease, Bangor], Westover ARB will probably be your best AFRES bet). Then you can consider all-civilian training/funding +/- doing a hitch with the .mil either AD or AFRES/ANG.

 

[notdeadyet]

Unfortunately, there are no active Reserve/Guard docs on here to discuss issues specific to medicine in those components. I wish there were, because I'd love to have their input for my own long range planning.

There are several of us. No insights specifically to the pilot-->physician path though...

 

[J-Rad]

Sorry, more specifically, no AFRES/ANG docs. Are there any other-service reserve/guard docs here that are post training and actively drilling? Just curious.

 

[notdeadyet]

Yeah, I've yet to run across an AFRES/ANG doc on SDN. Army side, I only know med students and residents, most drilling, some not.

 

[J-Rad]

Thanks. Like I said, I wish there was an AFRES/ANG doc here. At the end of my ADSO I'll be about one year away from a reserve retirement (and my AD time would bring my age to pull retirement pay down to 50yo based on newer retirement rules) and, if I don't stay active, I'd love to know if this would be a worthwhile option, or even if possible given the issues related to sanctuary. Oh, well, I still have a good few years left.

 

[Eagledoc]

Hey folks, sorry it's been a while since my last post. The pilot-physician program, generally speaking, accepts applicants who were previously pilots and then become physicians. So I'm the atypical candidate going from doc to pilot. For those pilots out there wishing to become PPs, you need to get released from your functional assignment team at AFPC to attend medical school. Following that four years, you need to accomplish one year (minimum) of post-grad training and a minimum of one year as a flight surgeon before applying to the PPP. As everything there are always exceptions to the rules and waivers, etc. Bottomline, if it's something you're interested in, pursue it!

I can tell you that we've recently garnered the first PP in the ANG! Very good for the F-16 unit at Montgomery, AL. Like I said, there are ways to get things done if one persists. I think this opportunity will likely open up the future for more PPs in the guard which would be a very good thing. From my point of view, the traditional AF (active duty) makes it difficult for a guy to stay in one place for very long or to specialize in a particular weapons system for any length of time before moving on - this is especially true in the PPP. Keep that in the back of your mind as you consider options.

The good news, we have approval from HQ to get at least one flight doc candidate into pilot training this year in accordance with AFI 11-405 FS to UPT (see earlier post). We are making progress! Further, the Air Force Surgeon General, Lt Gen Tom Travis who recently took command is a PP and greatly supports the program. In fact, he recently sent out a message to the entire medical corps encouraging qualified flight doc applicants to consider pilot training. Anyway, feel free to contact me at any time with your questions...

I'm still in the FL panhandle, flying Raptors when I can and loving the beach!

V/R,

Bones

 

[StevenRF]

Any idea if there will be change to the age cutoff for the doc to pilot route? From my understanding the AF form states max age of 27 to get accepted into flight training, which traditionally is about intern year of residency. By the time you complete residency, complete a utilization tour, and then get released to flight medicine you're early to mid 30's, and that's not including RAM. Still hopeful though.

 

[Ost3oclast]

Any idea if there will be change to the age cutoff for the doc to pilot route? From my understanding the AF form states max age of 27 to get accepted into flight training, which traditionally is about intern year of residency. By the time you complete residency, complete a utilization tour, and then get released to flight medicine you're early to mid 30's, and that's not including RAM. Still hopeful though.

This is a question I have too. I've been looking into the PPP but would be doing the UPSP to go through med school. I would be 28 after intern year.