What if I drop out

[Perrotfish]

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My Mother asked me this today, I didn't have an answer. Anyone know what happens to HPSP if I just flat out drop out of medical school? I know I pay it back if I fail, and I've heard they generally (though not necessarily) just excuse the debt if I get seriously hurt or something, but what if I just voluntarily drop out of medical school while passing? Can I even do this, or would it be like going AWOL?

I have no plans to drop out, but I'd like to be able to answer the question.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

I have been told you serve your time as an MSC, but I have no idea if that's actually true.

All of the individuals that I have known in this scenario have fulfilled their obligation in the MSC - most as Radiation Health Officers.

 

[Perrotfish]

So you don't pay anything back? You're just a line officer? Heck, they should put that in the brochures. That would be my second choice career anyway.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

So you don't pay anything back? You're just a line officer? Heck, they should put that in the brochures. That would be my second choice career anyway.

You typically do not serve as a line officer - you serve as a member of the Medical Service Corps (MSC). Here is a link that provides information about the various opportunities within the MSC:

http://navy.com/healthcareopportunities/medicalservicecorps/

If you were set on serving as a line officer, I would think this would require what is referred to as a "lateral transfer." As a medical student in the HPSP, you belong to the Medical Corps, which falls under the umbrella of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). Since they own you, BUMED would have to approve a transfer into one of the line officer communities (such as Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare (hell yeah!), Special Warfare, Aviation, etc.).

 

[Perrotfish]

Sorry, I didn't mean line officer, I meant staff officer. Mainly I was just going for officer.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Sorry, I didn't mean line officer, I meant staff officer. Milinoob mistake.

No sweat. I think there are individuals with years of experience within the Navy that still do not understand the distinction (I've seen medical corps individuals wearing the line officer rank insignia).

 

[RGR MED]

When you signed your contract and became an officer, you should have read all the fine print.

Anyone who signs a contract with the military automatically incurs an 8 year committment. This may sound daunting, but it is not. It is primarily served in IRR, the likelihood of being called up at this point is pretty low (two years ago, it was pretty high).

Also, your contract probably said you will serve two years active duty if you leave at any point during your first two years of medical school. If you leave during the thrid or fourth years, an additional day of service is added for everyday of school paid for.

The people I know who have left medical school with an HPSP scholarship have gone on to serve in an officer role in medical service corps... which has MANY MANY jobs from hospital based to line unit. Others have put in paperwork to have a different branch of service... infantry, armor, artillery, etc.

 

[sethco]

No sweat. I think there are individuals with years of experience within the Navy that still do not understand the distinction (I've seen medical corps individuals wearing the line officer rank insignia).

Huh? 😕

 

[Perrotfish]

When you signed your contract and became an officer, you should have read all the fine print

Haven't signed it yet (I sign a week from Friday at 12:00), which is why I'm asking. Thanks for the info.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Huh? 😕

I'm not joking! I have seen attending physicians wearing the line officer shoulder boards on their summer white uniform.

 

[sethco]

I'm not joking! I have seen attending physicians wearing the line officer shoulder boards on their summer white uniform.

My AF brain can't comprehend this...

Let me get this straight. The Navy actually has different rank insignia for line and medical officers?

In the AF, the way we usually tell the difference is their aero badge (or equivalent) insignia, but an O-3 on the line wears the same looking rank as a FP doc.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

My AF brain can't comprehend this...

Let me get this straight. The Navy actually has different rank insignia for line and medical officers?

In the AF, the way we usually tell the difference is their aero badge (or equivalent) insignia, but an O-3 on the line wears the same looking rank as a FP doc.

Take a look at this wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_officer_rank_insignia

Specifically, if you look at the section entitled "Officer Corps," you will see the insignia for Medical Corps that gets substituted for the line officer star insignia above the stripes on the rank insignia.

Yes, not only does the Navy have a ridiculous number of uniforms, it also has a ridiculous number of different rank insignia for the different specialties.

 

[Kingfisher]

It gets way worse in the enlisted ranks. Every job specialty (rating) has a different title. So while both a Quartermaster 2nd Class and Hospitalman 2nd Class are technically Petty Officers 2nd class, they would commonly be referred to as QM2 and HM2 rather than PO2.

Speaking of ridiculus Navy uniforms. If you are looking for a good laugh, check out these actual uniforms from the uniform regulations manual.


Ever wonder how often you will need to dress up in your Tropical Dinner Dress Blues?
http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/unireg/chapter3/Officers/om_6_DD_TropicalBlue.htm

I can't wait to try my tropical Khaki's or Tropical whites!
http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/unireg/chapter3/Officers/om_18_Wk_TropicalKhaki.htm

http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil...chapter3/Officers/om_14_Srv_TropicalWhite.htm

And my all time favorite. If you get stationed on the USS Constitution.
http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/508/unireg/chapter6/chapter_6.htm#figure6_2_1

I am going to try my best to see if they will let a doc be stationed on the Constitution, just so I can wear the hat.

 

[Kingfisher]

Bah, at least we respect our traditions. The other services abandon their uniforms with every change in senior command. We just add new ones, while still authorizing the old.

True, true. 😀

 

[pgg]

(I've seen medical corps individuals wearing the line officer rank insignia).

A Marine PFC once told me (very politely) that I was incorrect to wear "Captain's bars on one side and a Major's oak leaf on the other" ... 🙂

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

A Marine PFC once told me (very politely) that I was incorrect to wear "Captain's bars on one side and a Major's oak leaf on the other" ... 🙂

Now that is funny! You've got to respect the Marine for having the cajones to at least correct what he THOUGHT was wrong!

 

[Gastrapathy]

I'd rather hear it from a polite PFC than an angry COL.

Angry COL's are fun. If you get a real yeller, just find a shot he needs one day after each blow up. Try to avoid immunizing him otherwise so you aren't committing malpractice and can keep a couple of bullets in the chamber. He'll be trainable. Then confess this at your farewell.