Duty station: mayo clinic or san diego?

[mmleik]

I am almost done with my HSCP app and I have to pick a duty station for orientation after I graduate PA school?

 

For those of you who have been in either mayo clinic or san diego, which one you like more? whats the bro and cons for both? I am single and I have no relatives near either places. 

[Maverick87]

I've never been to the Mayo Clinic.

 

But just had to say: Damn! Those are some good options. Maybe I should have joined the Navy instead. :P

[jmj11]

Which Mayo Clinic?  I worked in Rochester, MN.

[mmleik]

Mayo clinic in jacksonville fl 

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

I'm confused. You haven't been selected for HSCP but you're picking a duty station? Do you mean ODS? Or are you getting close to graduation and picking a duty station? If the former, I don't recall getting a pick. If the latter, then the detailer has some explaining to do because my choices sucked.

[mmleik]

I have to pick my top 3 duty preferences

 

Medical Station San Diego

Medical Clinic Portsmouth

Medical Clinic Mayo Florida

National Naval Medical Center Bethesda

 

My top 2 are mayo clinic and san diego

 

I am almost done with my HSCP app. I just need this and one more interview and thats it. My app is complete and is ready to be send and signed. I am by the way a pre-PA and I will begin my masters this fall.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

That's odd. I never picked my duty stations before hand. Heck, I graduate in 9 months and they won't guarantee I get the duty station I picked 3 weeks ago!

[mmleik]

yeah that's odd. But you know it is a duty preference, no guarantee!!!

Just curious, which did u pick and why?

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

There were 4 open billets. Groton CT, Yokosuka Japan, Guam, and China Lake CA. None are big places that have access to anything I wanted career wise. Figured I'd stay in the states for my first tour, just to make the transition easier on my family. China lake looked terrible. Like breaking bad but more trailer parks. Love boston and it's weather, so I figured Groton would be the best place for me.

[mmleik]

not to make you feel bad but this really sucks. I have a friend in Yokosuka and she loves it. But thats out of the states. Btw, good luck man and be safe out there!

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

Now that I think about it maybe I did list some preferences. Anyway, the pa community is 104% manned at last napa meeting, so I figured I wouldn't get great choices. The people who are graduating now aren't getting a choice at all. Just told where to go because of so few choices. At least that's what one graduate told me. Thanks and you too!

[CorpsmanUP]

Mmleik, are you sure they did not say medical clinic Mayport? We do not currently have any affiliation for active duty assignments at the Mayo clinic in any of the three states. O'Neal, I would agree on staying away from China Lake. Unfortunately everyone I have worked with that has ever served at Groton counted the days until getting out of there, hopefully it may be different for you but the command climate has been less that stellar for several years now. As for Guam, if you are okay with scuba, golf, and fishing being your primary down time entertainment options it can be a great learning experience as they do not have many MD specialty billets there so IM docs and PAs cover the majority of everything; also the Air Force hospital sends all off their acute cases to the Navy hospital so there is a broad range of cases. Japan would be my top choice of the four. You are over seas on the Navy's dime, the COLA is nice, similar learning options as Guam, and you have have the opportunity to travel around southeast Asia on MAC flights including Australia for your vacation.

[jmj11]

Mayo clinic in jacksonville fl 

Oh, of course . . . the only one near water.  Visited there but never worked there.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

Mmleik, are you sure they did not say medical clinic Mayport? We do not currently have any affiliation for active duty assignments at the Mayo clinic in any of the three states. O'Neal, I would agree on staying away from China Lake. Unfortunately everyone I have worked with that has ever served at Groton counted the days until getting out of there, hopefully it may be different for you but the command climate has been less that stellar for several years now. As for Guam, if you are okay with scuba, golf, and fishing being your primary down time entertainment options it can be a great learning experience as they do not have many MD specialty billets there so IM docs and PAs cover the majority of everything; also the Air Force hospital sends all off their acute cases to the Navy hospital so there is a broad range of cases. Japan would be my top choice of the four. You are over seas on the Navy's dime, the COLA is nice, similar learning options as Guam, and you have have the opportunity to travel around southeast Asia on MAC flights including Australia for your vacation.

Do you know why they were counting the days? I've heard plenty of people call it rotten Groton, but people haven't really given any reasons.

[txcorpsman]

More than likely you will be stationed at San Diego, or Portsmouth!

[CAdamsPAC]

Do you know why they were counting the days? I've heard plenty of people call it rotten Groton, but people haven't really given any reasons.

New London CT area is a very economically depressed town. The best thing is it is only hours away from very good recreational activities in all four seasons. I use the facilities there occasionally and find the base it's self depressing. Over the years the hospital there has been scaled back.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

New London CT area is a very economically depressed town. The best thing is it is only hours away from very good recreational activities in all four seasons. I use the facilities there occasionally and find the base it's self depressing. Over the years the hospital there has been scaled back.

Thanks for the heads up!

[CorpsmanUP]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, as for why people were counting the days.

 

1. As THE sub base for the Navy it is very focused on that community career wise with every other rating/officer community getting short shift for opportunities that are career advancing.

 

2. With a lot of the base considered TS/SCIF many people can not discuss work and can began to feel isolated.

 

3. The economics of the area are often mentioned, with nothing to do without traveling a couple of hours away.

 

4. The Navy is known for needless meetings and beuracracy, and yet somehow Groton consistently introduces command policies that make it even worse.

 

5. The command climate is often described as poisonous, and makes the politicking at Bethesda seem amateurish by comparison.

( which is saying something)

 

These are some of the most common examples I have been given through the years.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

This is why I asked my detailer and HSCP coordinator to speak with a pa there. Of course they said the job is the same anywhere. Knew that wasn't the case. Well if it's what I get I'll make the best of it. I see lots of trips to boston In my future. Thanks.

 

Hope it too rough to turn me off. I was looking to do a whole 20. And want to serve, but I've seen some really bitter guys coming out of bad commands

[medic25]

I can't speak for the military aspects, but I would disagree that the area is quite as bad as is sounds.  I live 30 minutes from Groton, and there are a lot of positives to life on the Connecticut shoreline, especially if you have a family.  Towns like Mystic, Westerly and Old Saybrook are classic New England beach towns that are big tourist draws in the summer; Mystic especially is a great town for kids with an aquarium and the Seaport museum.  

 

The two nearby casinos at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods draw a lot of big name music and comedy acts (everything from Jay Z to Kenny Chesney to Imagine Dragons), and have a nice variety of restaurants, bars, etc.  If you're into the outdoors there are great beaches nearby and a variety of different state parks for hiking.

[CorpsmanUP]

Oneal,

 

Don't get me wrong, I have greatly appreciated my time in the Navy. It has payed for two degrees, and my GI Bill will pay for the third getting me through PA school with no debt. I have gained invaluable experience (which I think but me over the top while applying to schools compared to other applicants) and have been to twenty+ different countries (though I could have done without about half of them). More importantly I have worked with some amazing people and have had the chance to do something meaningful both in humanitarian operations and combat operations.

 

The trade offs are I have been gone A LOT. A lot of people forget/ignore that unlike the other services the Navy still deploys during peacetime; and with budget cuts the CNO has recently extended the minimum deployment times several months in lengths to provide for the coverage gap. This trend will likely increase in the future. With the draw dawn in combat operations the pivot to become more efficient and streamlined in processes and to focus on essentials has slowly eroded back to the mind numbing beauracrcy the military is known for. Yet with that said, things are in a state of flux right now, especially for PAs.

 

The military is recognizing that for many positions a PA is better equipped to handle a billet vs a MD that only has their intern year before beings sent to the fleet a a GMO. Positions are being opened up for Flight Surgeon and Dive Medical Officer billets, and with the Marines a PA can now fill the role of Battalion surgeon. The residency programs are being further developed and you will likely see a clinical Doctorate with the Navy soon. It was simply that for my family and I, the cons were beginning to outweigh the pros and it was time to reprocess why I was in, and so I will take a brake from service for the next two years and can reconsider things after graduation with the added benefit of having the reserves and the Public Health Service Corps as additional options.

 

As in all things it is what you make of it.

 

Semper Gumby!

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

Oneal,

 

Don't get me wrong, I have greatly appreciated my time in the Navy. It has payed for two degrees, and my GI Bill will pay for the third getting me through PA school with no debt. I have gained invaluable experience (which I think but me over the top while applying to schools compared to other applicants) and have been to twenty+ different countries (though I could have done without about half of them). More importantly I have worked with some amazing people and have had the chance to do something meaningful both in humanitarian operations and combat operations.

 

The trade offs are I have been gone A LOT. A lot of people forget/ignore that unlike the other services the Navy still deploys during peacetime; and with budget cuts the CNO has recently extended the minimum deployment times several months in lengths to provide for the coverage gap. This trend will likely increase in the future. With the draw dawn in combat operations the pivot to become more efficient and streamlined in processes and to focus on essentials has slowly eroded back to the mind numbing beauracrcy the military is known for. Yet with that said, things are in a state of flux right now, especially for PAs.

 

The military is recognizing that for many positions a PA is better equipped to handle a billet vs a MD that only has their intern year before beings sent to the fleet a a GMO. Positions are being opened up for Flight Surgeon and Dive Medical Officer billets, and with the Marines a PA can now fill the role of Battalion surgeon. The residency programs are being further developed and you will likely see a clinical Doctorate with the Navy soon. It was simply that for my family and I, the cons were beginning to outweigh the pros and it was time to reprocess why I was in, and so I will take a brake from service for the next two years and can reconsider things after graduation with the added benefit of having the reserves and the Public Health Service Corps as additional options.

 

As in all things it is what you make of it.

 

Semper Gumby!

Oh I'm not worried about deployments (in fact I'm excited to challenge myself and serve our troops in this capacity), or even living in a low income area. I'm more worried about malignant commands that, in my limited experience, have driven the majority of negative internet posters to posit as the reason for hating military life. Though I expected it. I've also heard many times that most hate their first tour and command, and love their second.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

I can't speak for the military aspects, but I would disagree that the area is quite as bad as is sounds. I live 30 minutes from Groton, and there are a lot of positives to life on the Connecticut shoreline, especially if you have a family. Towns like Mystic, Westerly and Old Saybrook are classic New England beach towns that are big tourist draws in the summer; Mystic especially is a great town for kids with an aquarium and the Seaport museum.

 

The two nearby casinos at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods draw a lot of big name music and comedy acts (everything from Jay Z to Kenny Chesney to Imagine Dragons), and have a nice variety of restaurants, bars, etc. If you're into the outdoors there are great beaches nearby and a variety of different state parks for hiking.

Thanks for the positive point of view. I had researched rock climbing a areas and knew there were some state parks. I'll keep those towns in mind when looking into housing.

[medic25]

Thanks for the positive point of view. I had researched rock climbing a areas and knew there were some state parks. I'll keep those towns in mind when looking into housing.

 

No problem; feel free to PM me if you've got any specific questions about the area.

[CAdamsPAC]

The only good assignment is the one you left or the one you are going to...........Get some Dolphins on your chest if you want to be "on the team" in "Rotten Groton" . The shoreline and the picturesque New England towns abound and Beantown is 2 hours away , Cape Cod too , but you gotta come home.