Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 I mean PA-wise. Haha. As some of you may know here, I'm currently a military PA. My contract will be up in about a year and a half and, at this point, I doubt that I'll be signing up for more. I'm a young guy (I'll be 28 when my contract expires). I have no wife or kids and don't really have ties anywhere in the country. So I could go anywhere and do anything really. And I'll have about 3 years under my belt as a primary care PA. So if you were in my shoes, where would you go and what would you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsman2PA Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 If I were in your shoes...hmmm...I'd probably sign a pre-nup. Jk. I'd head to the coast of NC or CA, work 4 days a week and golf/relax/travel the other 3 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PACdan Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 State Department, since I know your experience now. Wait for a hiring cycle to open up. FSHP application requires two years + of primary care specifically. I've been told State treats their PAs and NPs well, lots of government benefits, relocation allowances, special pays etc. Prior military or federal service is favorable. Only downside (or upside) is you might end up in a place you've never heard of... Sent from the Satellite of Love using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 State Department, since I know your experience now. Wait for a hiring cycle to open up. FSHP application requires two years + of primary care specifically. I've been told State treats their PAs and NPs well, lots of government benefits, relocation allowances, special pays etc. Prior military or federal service is favorable. Only downside (or upside) is you might end up in a place you've never heard of...Sent from the Satellite of Love using Tapatalk Thanks man! Yeah, that sounds really interesting for sure. I never even knew opportunities like that existed. If I were in your shoes...hmmm...I'd probably sign a pre-nup. Jk. I'd head to the coast of NC or CA, work 4 days a week and golf/relax/travel the other 3 days. Hahaha for sure on the pre-nup when the time comes! And yeah, man. No more 5 day work weeks for me. Thanks for the suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2014 VA medical center primary care residency then VA contact with public health service at location of your choice to keep building your govt pension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 VA medical center primary care residency then VA contact with public health service at location of your choice to keep building your govt pension. Hmmm....I guess I'm a bit confused on how the whole pension thing works. What you're saying is that I could use my 3 years in the military towards a government pension? And if I hit 20 years between all of these different agencies, I'll get that pension? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HJK Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Add those three years to 20 years or 30 yrs for you haha.. called buy back.. I think the pension does not start until you are 57 or 58 if I am not mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted March 29, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2014 VA medical center primary care residency then VA contact with public health service at location of your choice to keep building your govt pension. I've looked into it. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbrothers98 Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 i would like to tell you from the perspective of a middle aged guy, married (love her), kids (love them as much), mortgage (dont love that), great job (but getting a lil bored and tired of bs), i am a bit jealous of the possibilities you have ahead of you. if i could do anything: short term travel assignments around the country, take the opportunity to travel in between and see this big country of ours. if i could do it all over again: most likely not change a thing, i have a great life in comparison to what i see on a regular basis. but i would have saved more money when i was younger. never underestimate the power of compounding returns. it separates those who can from those who cant. good luck g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpsmanUP Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 I've looked into it. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Oneal, what doesn't work that way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator LT_Oneal_PAC Posted March 29, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2014 I don't think you can add 3 years of military service to build up to retirement in the VA. "VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tier retirement plan composed of Social Security benefits, FERS basic benefits, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. The Government automatically contributes 1 percent of your salary with additional matching contributions up to a total of 5 percent. If you will be age 50 or older during 2012, you may also contribute up to $5,500 in additional “catch-up” contributions if you expect to reach the $17,000 limit in 2012. For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension. In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel. Flexible Retirement Plan: As a VA employee, you are part of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Under FERS, you are eligible for monthly retirement benefits after just 5 years of Federal service. This retirement system is portable. If you leave Federal employment, the Social Security component carries over to your new employment. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpsmanUP Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Ah, I see where you misunderstood. I have taught financial counseling on this so here is how the systems works for combining military and federal service. If you have a full , 20 year, military retirement then you can do the needed time to gain an additional federal pension and the two retirements will be separate. If you have less than 20 or want to decline your military pension, a rarity but at times advisable, you may "buy in" your military time by paying a percentage of your base pay into the FERS system so that your military time is counted as federal. The third option is to do up to fifteen years of uniformed service transition to the reserves for the last five years while taking a federal job. In this scenario you can buy in the 15 active years into the FERS system and take a twenty year retirement from FERS at retirement and a twenty year reserve pension at 60. The advisability of different options depends on your military rank, expected GS level, age, and years of service. One added note, when you buy your military time into the federal system system it applies to seniority and vacation. As the federal contract is LIFO for employee cuts that can be very beneficial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebecker Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hospitalist/Critical Care anywhere in the country. Perhaps even several places - consider a Locums position once you have some experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Ah, I see where you misunderstood. I have taught financial counseling on this so here is how the systems works for combining military and federal service. If you have a full , 20 year, military retirement then you can do the needed time to gain an additional federal pension and the two retirements will be separate. If you have less than 20 or want to decline your military pension, a rarity but at times advisable, you may "buy in" your military time by paying a percentage of your base pay into the FERS system so that your military time is counted as federal. The third option is to do up to fifteen years of uniformed service transition to the reserves for the last five years while taking a federal job. In this scenario you can buy in the 15 active years into the FERS system and take a twenty year retirement from FERS at retirement and a twenty year reserve pension at 60. The advisability of different options depends on your military rank, expected GS level, age, and years of service. One added note, when you buy your military time into the federal system system it applies to seniority and vacation. As the federal contract is LIFO for employee cuts that can be very beneficial. Okay, this is like another language to me. I might have to consult with a financial advisor. Though, I'm currently not contributing to the military pension plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hospitalist/Critical Care anywhere in the country. Perhaps even several places - consider a Locums position once you have some experience. What's a Locums position? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 29, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 29, 2014 I've looked into it. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. I've got a couple friends doing similar things: 1. marine with 20 years now in PHS. at ten years will get 30 yr pension at highest rank. 2. ex-army with 22 years. working for state dept. at 8 years will get 30 yr pension. dig a little deeper. it is doable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 What's a Locums position? Locums is working for an agency that places you in a practice for a temporary or prn shifts. EM is an area of locums. I signed up with an agency and worked EM locums for about 5 years (4-7 shifts a month) and worked a full time employed UC position (10 days a month) at the same time. Got benefits at the full-time job and the locums helped us pay for college tuition for 3 kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Locums is working for an agency that places you in a practice for a temporary or prn shifts. EM is an area of locums. I signed up with an agency and worked EM locums for about 5 years (4-7 shifts a month) and worked a full time employed UC position (10 days a month) at the same time. Got benefits at the full-time job and the locums helped us pay for college tuition for 3 kids. Wow, that sounds really cool! There's so much about our profession that I don't know about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpsmanUP Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Here is a link that will explain it for you... http://www.plan-your-federal-retirement.com/military-buyback.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick87 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Here is a link that will explain it for you... http://www.plan-your-federal-retirement.com/military-buyback.html Thanks man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooklynPA-C Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Call me crazy, but if I had the freedom to do anything professionally I would like to work at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 30, 2014 Moderator Share Posted March 30, 2014 Call me crazy, but if I had the freedom to do anything professionally I would like to work at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica. they hire PAs every year. do a little digging and you will find the job announcement. they hire 2/yr(each for 6 months). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmdpac Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I'd love to go to Antarctica, too. One of these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeOuttaThisMess Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 You guys are some sick folks. Bet even the women leave with beards in the spring. I'd be afraid I'd even end up more like some of the DirecTV commercial characters. "The Shining, Down Under". ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PACdan Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 What, no one wants to go to the super isolated Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station? :) They've had some crazy medical situations there. I've also read that they screen The Shining and The Thing once the last flight out leaves for the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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