I've always been impressed/intrigued that my primary care physician (Dr. Phan) is both a doctor and colonel. He's also an Army surgeon. In his private life, he is greeted as doctor; and in the military, he is saluted as colonel. I've always found it very cool. The only thing better would be a doctor-general combination.

My father, too, was an Army colonel; however, I'm neither of those. Anyway, given a choice, would you rather be a colonel (or general) or a doctor? If you're ever familiar with the military, a high-rank officer is very feared and respected in there; their salaries and benefits are not bad either. After retirement, they will never go hungry because of benefits.

 

theoretically if you were a doctor and went into the army couldn't you get you promotions and eventually become a colonel? i guess my answer would be doctor...

 

Colonel.

No offense Raj, but I don't think being a doctor's all it's cracked up to be

 

Well, duh! That's what Dr. Phan did. He has been an Army surgeon for many years and promoted to the rank of colonel. My theoretical question had to do with choosing to be only one. Being that I don't like to be around sick people all day, every day, I'd like to be a general. My dad was just one promotion away from being a brigadier, but too bad...

 

just call me colonel sanders

 

Vascular Surgeon.

 

wouldn't a doctor start as a major (o-4)? i'd think getting colonel (o-6) is feasible, especially when you've got twenty years to get there before retirement...

 

that's what i thought...major (for land based armed forces) and Lt. CMDR for the navy - i think the naval designations are so much cooler. i'd rather be a commander than a Lt. Colonel, or a Captain vs. full bird colonel. Of course the coolest thing is a commodore (vs. brigadier)...

 

I would say Doctor, in the military you always have a boss. As a doctor, you can work hard and take fridays off for golf. I've dated a Dentist and a Physician, both had Benzes and big houses, both had freedom, niether could get relocated to Alaska or Iraq.

 

Because of the people serving in the armed forces...