I know that there are a lot of military folks around here, so I was wondering if any of you could provide any information or direct me towards someone who could about the HPSP program for medical students. I am seriously considering it, and I am trying to gather as much info as humanly possible (from everyone but the recruiters) before I make a final decision.


Thanks!
Rashad

 

Rashad,

I don't know anything about the HPSP program, but coming from someone that's served in both the Army and Air Force, I highly recommend the AF over any other service. The Air Force actually cares about its people and their happiness.

If you have any interest in flying you could become an Air Force Flight Surgeon. It's a great job. You get to fly with the units at your base (everything from F-22's to T-37's) and the workload is usually light because you're taking care of a bunch of pilots (pilots don't like doctors).

During this time of war you'll need to be prepared to be deployed to The Sand Box for a year or more at a time, but that's actually pretty rare for MDs. Many of them volunteer just to try something different. Good luck with whatever you chose to do. I'm very grateful there are people like you with the intellect and drive to become MDs.

Rob

 

yea, USAF was my top choice. unfortunately, they are no longer sponsoring medical students for this year because they reached their capacity. the recruiters said that navy and army still have a lot left and are eager to give them away. i might go through my first year as a traditional student and then get sponsored by USAF starting next year. from what i've heard so far from MDs and DDSs who went through the program, it's a win/win situation if you don't mind moving around for 4 years. they say if you go to "the sand box" as you call it (), you are in a very secure location and it is not that bad...on top of that they're giving a $20,000 signing bonus, $1900 monthly stipend, 100% payment of tuition and fees, and there is a 90% chance that you will get in to the residency program of your choice (the military medical training is supposed to be top-notch).

 

i have one specific question that i'm having difficulty finding an answer to:

can i still enter the program and go through the officer training program to become an officer without my B.S. degree? i am in medical school but never got my B.S. degree because i'm in an accelerated program that lets me in after 2 years of undergrad instead of the traditional 4 (or attainment of the B.S. degree).

 

if you go into the accelerated program, you need to be enlisted first to go from green to gold. If you were enlisted, and wanted to go become an officer, you have to have 60 credit hours first, and by the time your an O3... which in the army is a captain, you must complete 120 hours which is a B.S.

you cant just join the military and walk in as an officer. if that was the case.........we'd lose every damn mission with a butter bar leading the way. you have NO experience. If you took ROTC while in college all 4 years, then after you graduate, you make commission. Those accelerated programs are meant for enlisted.

The bonus that you get is NOT full in payment. Sometimes they give half, or they they break it up into 3rds. so if they told you 20k.... you'll get 1/3 or half after you complete your basic training and officer training.... and THEN you get the other half when you complete your term. so if you signed up for 4 years, you'll get the 10grand after you finish. BUT if you dont complete the training, you can say bye bye to the money.

And for the Sand box, it can be bad nomatter what branch you go with. and buddy......if your gonna be a surgeon/medic? your gonna be pretty close to the action because when soldiers get injured they need medical attention. so your still gonna be at constant risk.

if your gonna be in the navy, you'll be on the ships more than anything, if you go army, your on the ground, and same with the marines and airforce. Your not gonna have enough time to go to school while your on Active duty. TRUST ME. the only time your gonna be able to utilize the correct time needed, is completing your tour and then using the money to finish school.

They dont tell you this when you go to the recruiters........how i know? well.. cuz i was a recruiters aid for awhile and trained with them... but its not me so i never became one.

You need to just finish your school, make your big bucks, go from there. I BARELY trust surgeons in the military. Just look at Walter Reed. Most soldiers now are referred to civillian doctors because they do better work.

and again.......IF YOUR JOINING ANY MILITARY FOR COLLEGE MONEY AND BONUS'S.................THATS THE WRONG ANSWER.

 

.... and I dont kno what the guy was talking about the Air Force being the best b/c it cares for its ppl. im in the Navy and my wife is in the Coast Guard and the Navy has canceled at least two sets of orders for me to move me to a location where she is. I recently got in a crash and the Navy lawyers took my case for free and handled everything for me. Im not saying that the Navy is better than the Air Forcebut you gott see all sides of the spectrum before you listen to once-sided opinions. As far as flying we have more pilots, jets, helo's, and any other flying objects than the air force. Kinda sad, i kno. Also the Navy has the biggest Medical field in the entire military. The navy supplies Corpsman for every battle group rather it be Army or Marine over sea's or here at home. If you've ever been to a military hospital you'll notice that 85-90% of the ppl there are military and of that about 85% are Naval Corpsman. Being in the navy now doesnt mean you'll go on a ship. In fact you almost have to beg to get put on one as a corpsman. My bestfriend through boot camp went as a corpsman and has since then went FMF corpsman (means he trained with the marines to go as a field Dr. and gets attached to a marine squad) They are stocking Naval Corpsman in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine bases all over the world. Being in the Medical Field and in the Navy you have a choice to go just about anywhere depending on the field you go in. Your best bet is to do your own research and dont listen to people who are currently in the military because you are almost always going to get a "my service is the best" answer. There is alot of info on About.com/military. Check that out and hopefully it helps.

 

Guys,

Rashad is in medical school to become an MD. All the services have a short program to commission MDs and nurses. The Air Force used to run theirs at Shepphard AFB in Texas. The MDs and nurses would go there for their 4 week medical "Officer Training School" to learn the ranks and how to salute. At graduation the doc's would pin on Captain and the nurses would pin on 2 Lieutenant bars and commit for four years of active duty.

This is what Rashad is in for, not an enlistment.

As for your question Rashad, all that's required for officers is a 4 year degree and I would assume that an MD degree would exceed that requirement. There are no enlisted MDs that I know of in the military so if they take you they would commission you, but it is something you should verify before you sign any paper. If they offer you an enlisted rank then you will not be acting as an MD, you would be used as a PA or other lower than MD status job.

Major Rob Robinette
USAF Retired

 

So your telling me.... that all he has to do .... is go for 4 weeks, have a 4 year college degree........and become a captain? what O level is that? dont tell me thats an O-3 Because if all someone has to do is go to college for 4 years, go for 4 weeks of OTS to learn ranks and salute, and all of a sudden become a captain... we SERIOUSLY need to rethink the ways to become an officer.

And what i was referring to about being the enlisted.. is the green to gold program. being enlisted to become an officer... which requires the 4 week fast track course.. called OCS...or OTS as you so call it. finish the the 4 year degree PLUS whatever it takes to become an MD and be pinned.. But you get commissioned as an O-1...unless you have a serious waiver.

From what i understand, he wants to go to school and have the military pay for it. which means he didnt complete his 4 year college degree. Which in turn means he cannot be commissioned UNLESS he was enlisted first, has 60 credit hours MIN, and be able to get his Bachelors by the time he is an O-3.

 

Verified information from Dr. Ted Kim, M.D., an uncle of my friend, I spoke with him this past Saturday. He did the HPSP program through the army and had no previous military experience.

1) There is no active duty until you are completely finished with your medical training (attainment of the M.D. and completion of your residency program of choice)

2) You can do the 4 week officer training course any time after you sign on, and upon completion of that you will become a 2nd Lieutenant.

3) You will become a Captain upon the attainment of your M.D.


My previous question was whether I could go to the OTS/OCS and become an officer without my B.S. degree, since I am a student doctor/ M.D. candidate anyway. I have not yet attained a B.S. degree because the accelerated B.S./M.D. program in which I am enrolled allows me to enter medical school without attainment of the B.S. degree. If i sign on, the military will be paying for the attainment of my M.D., not the B.S.

Allan, I think you're misunderstanding what I'm trying to sign on for

 

thanks for your help so far robrob! and yes i have always had an interest in flying...