What happens if I don't do boot camp before graduating?

[exmissionary]

I am a first year medical student with the army. I am currently on HPSP and have not yet done my basic training. I have six weeks this summer that don't coincide with the normal HPSP boot camp but... I think there are many of us in my class who are army and need the same camp done so we might be able to figure stuff out with admin.

I understand that if boot camp is not done before residency then it can be squeezed into a two week spot between graduation and residency? I have some things I would like to do this summer and am wondering... what disadvantages will I have during clerkships and application for residencies if I don't do my bootcamp now?

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[DocArmy]

I am a first year medical student with the army. I am currently on HPSP and have not yet done my basic training. I have six weeks this summer that don't coincide with the normal HPSP boot camp but... I think there are many of us in my class who are army and need the same camp done so we might be able to figure stuff out with admin.

I understand that if boot camp is not done before residency then it can be squeezed into a two week spot between graduation and residency? I have some things I would like to do this summer and am wondering... what disadvantages will I have during clerkships and application for residencies if I don't do my bootcamp now?

>Bolded Mine
I have not heard of the Army doing that. AMEDD BOLC is currently 6 weeks long and that is the abbreviated course for doctors/dentists/vets. The normal course is like 9 weeks or something. There has been talk of limiting the boots on the ground portion to just 3 weeks, but I don't know any specifics on that.

Can't you do BOLC between 2nd and 3rd year? If it doesn't fit now, will it fit then? Could you work with your admin to get a "military elective" rotation so that you'll have 6 weeks free after Step 1?

If you don't do it before 3rd/4th year, then I think they'll make you use your 3rd year ADT to do it. So the debate isn't now or after medical school. It's more like now, or 3rd year and lose an audition rotation. If you do it third year, you'll lose one of your 2 "audition ADT's." You'll still have your 4th year ADT to audition, but your third will get burned up at BOLC. You can still do audition rotations before fiscal year of your 4th year, but you'll have to pay for it yourself and won't be on active duty during it.

As for just not doing it during medical school, you'll have to get a waiver approved each summer in order to get out of it. Unless you have some very unique circumstances I don't see how you can escape it.

 

[DoctaJMa]

I am a first year medical student with the army. I am currently on HPSP and have not yet done my basic training. I have six weeks this summer that don't coincide with the normal HPSP boot camp but... I think there are many of us in my class who are army and need the same camp done so we might be able to figure stuff out with admin.

I understand that if boot camp is not done before residency then it can be squeezed into a two week spot between graduation and residency? I have some things I would like to do this summer and am wondering... what disadvantages will I have during clerkships and application for residencies if I don't do my bootcamp now?

If you read the handbook on MODS (which I would recommend). You are supposed to find a way to do BOLC before you graduate. If you dont do it before hand you have to do the full 12 week BOLC after graduation which would substantially put you off cycle for residency. It also states in the handbook if going to BOLC conflicts with academics that you need to contact the HPSP office. Im sure you can try and work it out with you school. The section in the handbook is 4-23...take a look when you have time.

 

[chemist157]

If you read the handbook on MODS (which I would recommend). You are supposed to find a way to do BOLC before you graduate. If you dont do it before hand you have to do the full 12 week BOLC after graduation which would substantially put you off cycle for residency. It also states in the handbook if going to BOLC conflicts with academics that you need to contact the HPSP office. Im sure you can try and work it out with you school. The section in the handbook is 4-23...take a look when you have time.

There are a couple of residents in my program who have yet to complete Army OBLC. THey have no idea when they'll have to do it, but it doesn't seem like a big deal.

 

[Slevin]

Don't forget that they are doing away with the BOLC as we know it now.

In about two years they'll have BOLC set up so you do online training and then go to San Antonio with boots on the ground for no longer than 28 days according to the Director of GME.

Don't know how it'll be if you have to take it after school is over with though

 

[DocArmy]

Don't forget that they are doing away with the BOLC as we know it now.

In about two years they'll have BOLC set up so you do online training and then go to San Antonio with boots on the ground for no longer than 28 days according to the Director of GME.

Don't know how it'll be if you have to take it after school is over with though

Exactly, but 28 days is still 4 weeks. The op is looking for a two week course. This doesn't exist.

As for trying to slip through the cracks? I don't know. Which is more valuable? 6-9 weeks of residency training that they could force you to miss because you'll have to go to BOLC before you can go AD or (4-)6 weeks of summer in medical school that you would have spent playing Xbox and drinking beer?

 

[notdeadyet]

There are a couple of residents in my program who have yet to complete Army OBLC. THey have no idea when they'll have to do it, but it doesn't seem like a big deal.

I wonder if they joined as they graduated med school, a la FAP or the like.

You're required in the Army to complete BOLC within 2 years of commissioning. You can get an extension to a total of three years, but after that, you're gone. Folks were getting strong-armed about this in med school who joined as MS 1's.

 

[Slevin]

If you don't complete BOLC before internship you will not have the option of doing a civ deferment (if they are available) because you never completed BOLC