Originally posted by JKDMed
Certainly sounds like Air Force to me
Depends what you're after. If you just want to work in a hospital as a board certified___________, then the AF is the one. For those looking to get things paid for, do their time and move on, the AF is perfect.
My own opinion, as I've stated before, is that all HPSP recipients should do things in the military that they cannot do in the civilian world. That's why I'm actually in favor of the GMO tour, and would do Navy over all of the others. As a DMO, I spent 6 months getting in the best shape of my life, I'm a fully qualified Navy Deep Sea Diver (Hard hat, mixed gas/heliox, etc.) I dove the USS Monitor recovery as a working diver, filmed by the Discovery Channel. I dove for NOAA at their habitat in Key Largo. I've been across the world on various Submarines, I've fast-roped, rappelled and jumped from Helos. I was headed to Airborne school, but the funding got yanked. I've shot machine guns and grenade launchers, and been around a lot of big explosions. I've worked with some incredibly fine people. That's what I'll remember about my Navy time, not the days I read films in the hospital. A DOD hospital looks just like a civilian except for the uniforms (and everyone speaks English). I have my whole life to read film, but the 3 years as a DMO can't be purchased in the civilian world.
The vanilla GMOs can have great times as well. Yes you are separated from your family and there's a lot of boredom. These are not insignificant factors. The Navy is a great place for single people without significant attachments at home, but if you actually want to be a "military Doc", then your GMO tour is the closest you'll get.
The AF does treat their people better, but I think the Navy is close enough that the other factors win out. From what I can tell, the Army is a distant third. Remember, too, that the Navy supplies the USMC with their Docs, so if you want to be with the Ground pounders, all you have to do is ask. From talking with my friends deployed to Iraq, the USMC is by far the better force to be with. Morale is higher, the Marines are hard charging and squared away, and they're better armed and organized. Again, no first hand experience to back this up, but my DMO/GMO friends were very happy they weren't with Army units.
idg1i - I'd do it again, and so would 75% of my DMO colleagues. Most of the specialists that have been in awhile say they would not. Who knows, maybe I'll agree with them in a few years. For now, though, it's been quite a ride.
Dive Doc