3 answers
Terence
Student
Gallup, New Mexico
1
Question
Asked
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Why this career?
I want to join the army.#army And Want to be a doctor #career
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3 answers
Jacob Schwarber, CPA
Finance Lead
130
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
Hi, Terence,
The link Wade shared is definitely a helpful starting point but I'd like to point out a few other considerations.
For context, I was an Army Infantry Office for four years, so I don't really know what it was like to be a doctor, but would like to share some caveats about Army life in general. For starters, I'd recommend trying to talk to some Army Medical Professionals to get a better understanding of what their experiences/lives are truly like if you think this is a path you really want to pursue. While there are a lot of benefits to serving, keep in mind that you are sacrificing a lot of freedom that most civilians take for granted (assignment of duty station/where you will live, mandatory service commitments, specified periods during which you can take time off, mileage restrictions for how far you can travel from your assigned duty station, etc.).
I'm very proud of my service but was also ignorant of what the experience would actually be like. If you have any other questions about Army life, feel free to add a comment to my response.
Good luck!
The link Wade shared is definitely a helpful starting point but I'd like to point out a few other considerations.
For context, I was an Army Infantry Office for four years, so I don't really know what it was like to be a doctor, but would like to share some caveats about Army life in general. For starters, I'd recommend trying to talk to some Army Medical Professionals to get a better understanding of what their experiences/lives are truly like if you think this is a path you really want to pursue. While there are a lot of benefits to serving, keep in mind that you are sacrificing a lot of freedom that most civilians take for granted (assignment of duty station/where you will live, mandatory service commitments, specified periods during which you can take time off, mileage restrictions for how far you can travel from your assigned duty station, etc.).
I'm very proud of my service but was also ignorant of what the experience would actually be like. If you have any other questions about Army life, feel free to add a comment to my response.
Good luck!
Janelle Ho
Army Combat Medic
2
Answers
Riverside, California
Updated
Janelle’s Answer
There are 3 different paths to becoming a doctor and being in the military if that's your end goal.
1. Enlist in the Army first. Then go to undergrad for your medical school prerequisites and for a bachelors degree(all medical school require bachelors degree so taking just the premed courses won't cut it). Then get accepted to medical school. Once you graduate from medical school you can commission as a Captain in the Army. Now you're a doctor (only with a medical degree, you're not licensed until after residency) and also an officer in the Army.
2. Basically the first option but skipping out the enlistment part before going to school.
3. The military has a medical school in Maryland called USUHS. The military medical school is open to all branches(i think) and is tuition free. You will commission as a O-3 and serve on Active Duty. It is highly competitive since it's open to civilians and not only prior service.
I also want to be a doctor as well so I'll let you know my pathway in the Army.
Following highschool graduation I enlisted and went straight to Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill Ok. I then went to Fort Sam Houston Tx to become a combat medic. At AIT(advanced individual training aka mos training) combat medics also become certified nationally registered EMT's.
Now I was enlisted into the Army National Guard and not Army Active Duty. So after graduating AIT, I went back home and started community college while drilling on the weekends. Army Active Duty are sent to their duty stations and it is very very difficult(basically not worth it) to attend college classes while being active duty. You will need to ask permission from your chain of command to attend college courses if you are active duty.
I then went to Community College (SAVE YOUR MONEY) for a year and a half and transferred to a 4 year university. I am now enrolled into ROTC which is a program offered by most 4 year universities to commission students into Second Lieutenants. My ROTC scholarship covers my tuition and fees and since I also receive financial aid from the school, I also have my rent covered. You basically get paid to go to school in the Army and if that's not enough incentive to do well then I don't know what excuse you'll tell the medical school admissions office. From there I plan to finish the rest of my pre med courses and apply to medical school as a second lieutenant.
Anyways hope you plan out what you want carefully because it takes a lot of time and effort to have a career in the military and in the medical field.
1. Enlist in the Army first. Then go to undergrad for your medical school prerequisites and for a bachelors degree(all medical school require bachelors degree so taking just the premed courses won't cut it). Then get accepted to medical school. Once you graduate from medical school you can commission as a Captain in the Army. Now you're a doctor (only with a medical degree, you're not licensed until after residency) and also an officer in the Army.
2. Basically the first option but skipping out the enlistment part before going to school.
3. The military has a medical school in Maryland called USUHS. The military medical school is open to all branches(i think) and is tuition free. You will commission as a O-3 and serve on Active Duty. It is highly competitive since it's open to civilians and not only prior service.
I also want to be a doctor as well so I'll let you know my pathway in the Army.
Following highschool graduation I enlisted and went straight to Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill Ok. I then went to Fort Sam Houston Tx to become a combat medic. At AIT(advanced individual training aka mos training) combat medics also become certified nationally registered EMT's.
Now I was enlisted into the Army National Guard and not Army Active Duty. So after graduating AIT, I went back home and started community college while drilling on the weekends. Army Active Duty are sent to their duty stations and it is very very difficult(basically not worth it) to attend college classes while being active duty. You will need to ask permission from your chain of command to attend college courses if you are active duty.
I then went to Community College (SAVE YOUR MONEY) for a year and a half and transferred to a 4 year university. I am now enrolled into ROTC which is a program offered by most 4 year universities to commission students into Second Lieutenants. My ROTC scholarship covers my tuition and fees and since I also receive financial aid from the school, I also have my rent covered. You basically get paid to go to school in the Army and if that's not enough incentive to do well then I don't know what excuse you'll tell the medical school admissions office. From there I plan to finish the rest of my pre med courses and apply to medical school as a second lieutenant.
Anyways hope you plan out what you want carefully because it takes a lot of time and effort to have a career in the military and in the medical field.
Wade Gilliard
Sales for Disney Vacation Club
2
Answers
Clermont, Florida
Updated
Wade’s Answer
Hi Terence!
Check this out - https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education.html
The Army will pay for your medical school. It's an amazing opportunity, look into it!
Good luck!
Wade
Check this out - https://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education.html
The Army will pay for your medical school. It's an amazing opportunity, look into it!
Good luck!
Wade