Working for the Marines

[Kokugeka Shiro]

I was hoping to gather some information about the potential of serving on a Marines billet as a Navy HPSP doc. Specifically, if anyone can provide differences in deployment scenarios (ship vs. shore command), lifestyle differences as a dentist in each branch, and ability to request or be assigned to a Marine billet, that would be a big help. I avoided asking the recruiter in hopes of getting a first hand/realistic answer.

It might be a bad assumption, but I have been tempted to speculate that Marines might have more family-friendly deployment scenarios vs. navy ship duty (?).

Thanks!!

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[Lifetime2Drill]

Army Here. I'm afraid it is a bad assumption. The marines get their medical care from navy. Let's get input from a navy doc though.

 

[dheav005]

you can certainly go Marines after you do your credentialing tour (or even before, but i digress...). having never been on the green side myself, i will tell you that it appears that my friends down in Lejune and in San Diego do not enjoy the robust pre-operational schedule that i have, being on a ship. Marines and their Navy docs & dentists can end up on a ship (amphibious assault), but usually not for a whole 5-7 month deployment.

available billets tend to alternate between years that are heavily Marine and heavily Navy. last year was Navy, this year is Marine (FY09). regarding deployments, that is an unknown right now. with a new CiC coming, optempo might be changing before that sort of thing matters to you. i am scheduled for 2 deployments through the middle of 2010, but i'm not holding my breath. i know there are some former Marines around here, so they might be able to tell you more about USMC deployment scenarios that i can.

 

[Kokugeka Shiro]

you can certainly go Marines after you do your credentialing tour (or even before, but i digress...). having never been on the green side myself, i will tell you that it appears that my friends down in Lejune and in San Diego do not enjoy the robust pre-opertational schedule that i have, being on a ship. Marines and their Navy docs & dentists can end up on a ship (amphibious assault), but usually not for a whole 5-7 month deployment.

available billets tend to alternate between years that are heavily Marine and heavily Navy. last year was Navy, this year is Marine (FY09). regarding deployments, that is an unknown right now. with a new CiC coming, optempo might be changing before that sort of thing matters to you. i am scheduled for 2 deployments through the middle of 2010, but i'm not holding my breath. i now there are some former Marines around here, so they might be able to tell you more about USMC deployment scenarios that i can.

Thanks for the info! Any former Marines out there??

 

[Kokugeka Shiro]

Bueller??

 

[BearFace712]

i am also interested in more information about this as i am working on an application for the Navy right now

any additional information would be great! thanks

 

[JSQUARED]

I was hoping to gather some information about the potential of serving on a Marines billet as a Navy HPSP doc. Specifically, if anyone can provide differences in deployment scenarios (ship vs. shore command), lifestyle differences as a dentist in each branch, and ability to request or be assigned to a Marine billet, that would be a big help. I avoided asking the recruiter in hopes of getting a first hand/realistic answer.

It might be a bad assumption, but I have been tempted to speculate that Marines might have more family-friendly deployment scenarios vs. navy ship duty (?).

Thanks!!

If you want to go green side then it is probably easier to get to Camp Lejuene than to Camp Pendleton. Deployment is not that bad. Yeah 7 months away from family if not fun, but it goes by fast. I have been back for only a few months now and it feels like forever.

My friends on the ships always seem to be underway more in addition to their 6 month deployment. I get to work in a nice clinic with a lot of other docs. I have specialists to refer consult with. It just seems more convenient than being on a ship.

There is a doc right out of school in my clinic. He was prior service so he probably knew how to work the assignment to get what he wanted.

If you want to go with the Marines, then talk to the detailer when he/she is making the assignments. Ask early to be "penciled" in.

Good luck.