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How to Become a Military Medical Professional: A
Step-by-Step Guide
Some people dream of becoming a doctor; others
dream of entering the military — and some people dream of both. There are many
career options available for those who wish to become a medical professional in
any one of the five main branches of the United States military: Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Here, we lay out a step-by-step guide for
what it takes to become a military medical professional.
Contact
a military recruiter.
There are multiple medical positions,
scholarship opportunities and branches in the military. A recruiter will be
able to go over all your options and help you figure out the best choices for
your situation and interests.
Pursue
a bachelor’s degree.
Becoming a medical professional in the
military follows a very similar path to that of a civilian doctor — and it
starts with college. If you’re currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, try to
pick a science or medical field, such as biology or chemistry, that will make
it easier to get into med school. Keep your grades up since medical schools
look for students with a high GPA. When you can, seek out medical volunteer
opportunities and shadow current practitioners to bolster your application.
Study
for and pass the entrance exam.
No matter what specialty you select, you’ll
probably have to study for and take an entrance exam to get into your medical
graduate school of choice and achieve a high enough score to be admitted to the
program. The most well-known exam is the Medical College Admissions Test
(MCAT), which is required for med school.
Determine
when to enter the military.
You can start your career in the military at
various points in your medical career. You can apply as an undergraduate though
you must already be accepted to a graduate program at that point. You can also
apply during med school or your residency — or even after you’ve gone into practice.
The earlier you enter the military, the more years of scholarship money you’ll
get and the more years of active duty you’ll have to commit to the military.
Meet
the military’s entrance criteria.
Different branches of the military have
different admissions requirements, but all applicants need to meet health,
character and age requirements in order to be accepted into the military, even
if they’re planning a medical career. A security clearance might also be
required.
Undergo
officer training.
Military physicians don’t undergo the same
Basic Training as enlisted service members, but they do have to participate in officer training, which takes anywhere from
two to 10 weeks. Officer training helps new recruits learn what’s expected of
them and varies from branch to branch of the military.
Figure
out your finances.
One of the many reasons people are attracted
to careers in the military is the tuition benefits, and the military extends
this opportunity to medical professionals as well. For example, the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
offers full tuition for up to four years of school, funding for books and medical equipment,
a $2,200-plus monthly stipend and a $20,000 signing bonus. Other scholarship
programs are available as well.
Go to
graduate school.
Just like civilian medical professionals,
you’ll need to attend medical school, nursing school or another certified
graduate program. You can apply to a “regular” civilian university or look into
the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), a health science
university that specifically prepares medical professionals to enter various
branches of the military.
Match
with your residency.
Prior to residency application, aspiring
doctors will do at least one rotation at a military medical facility to see if
it could be a good fit for their residency. Military medical students must
apply to both the military and the civilian residency selection boards. The
military match occurs first, and if students aren’t matched to a military
residency or post-graduate program, they will be authorized to go through the
civilian process. If you don’t match, you can switch to a military residency in
another field or take a one-year internship.
Complete
your residency.
If medical students match with a military
residency, they will be paid as a captain in the Army and the Air Force or as a
lieutenant in the Navy. Time spent in a military residency does not count toward the active duty service
commitment but does count toward eventual promotion, pay longevity and
retirement. Students who match with a civilian residency will be paid by the
civilian facility, but they will remain an officer in the Individual Ready
Reserve, and their residency time counts towards promotion and pay longevity.
Choose
full time or part time.
Students, residents and licensed physicians
can choose between these options. Some doctors are drawn by the perks of a
military position — longer vacations, shorter hours, freedom from building a
practice or worrying about the business side — and enter one of the branches as
a full-time medical profession. Others prefer to work part time, maintaining
their own clinical practice while serving as a reserve officer.
Consider
a career change.
If you’re currently on active duty, you can
still apply to become a military medical student, although you may have to fill
out extra applications. For example, currently enlisted active duty members of
the Army are eligible to enroll in colleges or master’s programs to become a
nurse, physician’s assistant or allied health professional.
Keep your eye on the prize.
Becoming a doctor, nurse or other medical
professional is a long, arduous process, and entering the military adds even
more steps on top of that. But many find the choice is ultimately very
rewarding because being a military medical professional allows you to serve
patients and your country at the same time — and the tuition benefits certainly
help, too. Follow these steps to start your journey to becoming a military
medical professional today.
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