Guest tmarkie Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Having been there myself, I took the advice of hundreds of people who pulled the Paul Mason and got out before their time. Never, EVER, met anyone who got out with over 10 and said it was the best move they ever made. With the hindsight calculator, they did the math and they all came up short. They were all right, 4 years goes by quick! Almost the twinkling of an eye. So, I would stay another 4, make the big bucks for retirement, get your base sticker and free meds, and use your "universal healthcare" as a bargaining chip for salary or wage negotiations. 4 years goes by quick OOH-RAH! Sorry to disagree MSgt, I got out at 14 - I would be eligible for retirement this year. I still believe it was the right move! I am so much farther along in my career today than if I had stayed in. I not only doubled my salary the minute I left the army, I have not missed another minute of my daughters life! (I missed half of her first 9 yrs). It was the best move I ever made! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOP Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 T, I am glad that it worked out for you. It doesn't work out that way for many. I guess I will modify my statement, "Every one that I know that got out after 10 (except for one!).... blah blah blah. But seriously, you had training that immediately translated well into cash, and with the right investments, you could outpace retirement in little time. You had your health etc, and these are generally the reasons that most say they wished that they had stayed in. If I were are fully trained PA-C at 14, I probably would have got out as well banking on good health. I could have worked it like you. Just trying to give the best advice with my experience. Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest webbx5 Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Drew 11M 18D 18Z A few years in the Aussie army A few more years in the US army 40 years young and soon to graduate PA school Just a green soon to be PA I finally made it GED---Masters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaynes Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Eh Mr Webb, you rock. You should be graduating soon eh ? Best to you, man. Keep your head low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest webbx5 Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Amy, I heard you retired. You're a little young for that????? Thanks for all the great direction when you were at the school house. Stu mentioned that you may turn up for his graduation. If not, then drop in at Ft. Sam and we'll go out on the town. Graduation is 19 May. Good luck in your future out there in the real world. Drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ryanahr Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I was a combat medic with 10th MTN in somalia and haiti.(Operations Restore Hope and Uphold Democracy.) I then was a navycorpsman with 4th MARDIV for several years before becoming a PA. I now work as a PA-C in Neurosurgery and went to school at the U. University of Washington. I would have gone back in as a PA if not for the fact that it was hard enough being away from kids during PA school let alone in the middle east. I miss wearing the uniform though. 10th MTN -climb to glory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croooz Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 1990-2000 91-92 NH Orlando 92-93 3rd FSSG, 3rd Med BN, Charlie Comp. (Camp Schwab) 93-96 2nd MARDIV, 2nd AAV's & 2nd Tanks 96-00 NMRC, Bethesda, MD....where I'm still doing time...this time as a civilized member of society. :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOP Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 Ooh-rah. Are you a PA now and/or were you in the Navy? I am technically not civilized yet but I have a headstart on my hair growing. My last day is 30 Apr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croooz Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Ooorah...ahem. Not a PA yet but I play one on TV. I've gone back & forth with PA or MD or PA or DO or PA or NP or PA or MD or PA or DO or PA or enlist and go BUD/S or PA or enlist and go SpecFor or PA or CRO or PA or STO or PA. Everytime I thought I made a decision I had someone make a convincing argument. PA's thought I should be a doc. Doc's thought I should be a PA. PA's thought I should be a NP and the list goes one and on. Ultimately it's the best decision I can make. There are more pros than cons and I can begin to practise in 3 years instead of 7. It's been a painful time but I've finally decided that PA is the route for me. Hopefully I can get on a tactical team, work in the ER, and life will be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadmedic Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Crooz, would caution you to keep a very open mind while going through rotations-lest an area of medicine that you would really enjoy pass you by... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 Crooz... You could... Finish PA school... Enlist with a 18x contract... (guranteed SFAS and if selected the Q-course)... Then you are good to go. DocNusum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchdoctor Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 1990-1995 91B C Co, 725th Main Support Battalion HHC, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment A Co, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment 1995-2005 18D 1995 Special Forces Assesment and Selection Course 1996-1997 Special Forces Qualification Course (18D) 1997-2005 A Co, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croooz Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Mad, I hear ya. I swear that ER is where I'm supposed to be but that's all I know so I am open. I mean I did sickcall but that isn't exactly FM...or is it? Doc, When you say "enlist" are you talking about enlisted or officer? If enlisted what happens with the PA? Not very up on the Army way of bitness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPAP1 Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hello, I am a CPT with 17 years of service! I love being an Army PA. James Jones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 Mad,I hear ya. I swear that ER is where I'm supposed to be but that's all I know so I am open. I mean I did sickcall but that isn't exactly FM...or is it? Doc, When you say "enlist" are you talking about enlisted or officer? If enlisted what happens with the PA? Not very up on the Army way of bitness. Hey Croooz... Last I knew... 2 Officers... 10 NCOs = a team (SOFD-A) This breaks down into: 2- 6 man teams (officer leading each team) 3- 4 man teams 4- 3 man teams 6- 2 man teams Officers were only allowed on a SFOD-A as detachment (team) commanders (a O-3) and detachment XOs (0-2)... 2 officers per SOFD-A IIRC... The O couldn't even sign up until they were senior O-2s, after serving in normal RA slots (Squad Leader and Company XO)... then they went off to SFAS. The reason it would be near impossible as a PA is because... It would be "tactically unsound" to have a the team's command and control... LEADERSHIP... occupied during "contact." Instead of directing immeadiate action to contact... and counter attack with an extreme "violence of action"... you would be face down tryin clamp off that vessel and secure three sides of that occlusive drsg... NOT GOOD! Simply put... Officers lead the A-teams... Medic officers don't! Why have an officer there to do what 2 of the NCOs (18D) are trained to do...???? So why would they waste the training $$$ on a Medical Officer for a SOFD-A...??? Why add another officer to confuse the command structure... who won't be effective after the first person gets shot...???? This would be a huge waste in resources! Sort of like having a PA on every ambulance. Many Civilian PAs are "Enlisted" (E-7/8) Reserve SF/Seal medics. Many have declined/resigned their commission to stay operational on the teams. Because the average team time for an officer is ~ 3-4 years before it's off to "admin" land. Witchdoctor or Dallas could explain it better... since they are from the SF comunity and were on SOFD-As... Me... I just supported them... and interacted with them regularly. If you want to be Hooooooyah... Enlisted is the way to go... DocNusum Btw... Most if not all SF qualified PAs in the Army were enlisted SF soldiers BEFORE going to PA school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadmedic Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 18x is an enlisted contract. There are ways to become involved with SOF as a commissioned PA, and keep in mind that SF is not the only SOF avenue. My experience has been the same fashion as N's...outside looking in... Crooz-sick call is what kind of lead to my position in ortho-was seeing more ortho than anything else while at FTCKY... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croooz Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 18x is an enlisted contract. There are ways to become involved with SOF as a commissioned PA, and keep in mind that SF is not the only SOF avenue. My experience has been the same fashion as N's...outside looking in... Crooz-sick call is what kind of lead to my position in ortho-was seeing more ortho than anything else while at FTCKY... Thanks Doc. I figured as much.....learned long ago not to assume I know everything about the military....or about anything else. Mad, What other avenues are there for PA's? Not sure I understand your last sentence...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Barry Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 91W, one deployment to Iraq with 10th MTN, another one on the way a little too soon. Currently working as a senior line medic for an infantry company. My goal is to attend P.A school, either the Army's or a civilian program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doc B Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Cpt Brandon Barker E2-E4-03 93-94-Present 92B,91K,15A(Apache Pilot) Currently IPAP Class 3-06 Start Date Sept 06 Been all over the northern hemisphere to include Fort Leonardwood (Basic Combat Training A/4-10 1993), Fort Sam Houston 92B Course Apr 93-July 93, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Aug 93-Aug 95, ROTC Green to Gold Sept 95-May 99 Virginia State University BS Biology, Fort Rucker Alabama (Army Flight School Aug 99-Mar 01) Germany 2/6 Cav Illesheim, Poland (Operation Victory Strike II Oct 2001) Norway (Norwegian winter survival course Nov 2001), Kuwait and Iraq 2002-2003. Fort Rucker CCC Nov 93-Jun 94, Korea Jun 94-Jul 95. Presently at Fort Rucker awaiting PCS to Fort Sam Houston. I'm just terribly glad that I found this site and look forward to reading future posts to gleen as much valuable information that I can about what it means to be a practicing PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted March 2, 2006 Author Share Posted March 2, 2006 welcome... DocNusum Hoooooooooooyah...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest whatmepa Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 Hi everyone, I just wanted to thank you all for your service. I did my 3 years in the army and got out. Never had to deploy. Thank god. I had a nice army PA that put me on a permanent profile so I could go to college during the day. It was a good deal. I want to be a PA but don't want to go to school for too long. I was looking at California. I saw that DOCNUSUM went to Stanford and attended the Primary Care Associate Program before he became a PA. How difficult is the associate program? I heard that the military PA Master's program is too difficult. They have 65% failure rate. Does anyone know of other 2-year associate programs to become a PA? Do you think my GI bill will cover all my school for the associate program? Do they help you pass the exams by giving a good review? Please help. My parents want me to get a job or go to school. I think being a PA would be a great profession. The cut off is October 1, 2006 to apply to Stanford. I salute all of you for defending our freedom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted March 4, 2006 Author Share Posted March 4, 2006 What was your MOS...???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadmedic Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 This goof can't be for real... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 Poser?????:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pac4hire Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Poser?????:rolleyes: Either that Doc or he was a DIRTY, NASTY, LEGG!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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