Consider an Army PA career

[deployedarmypa]

The most rewarding time of my adultlife has been the opportunity to be an Army Physician Assistant. I wouldrecommend Physician Assistant Students or experienced Physician Assistances to considerthe opportunity to take care of America’s most valuable asset— its sons anddaughters. Not only does the Army offer opportunitiesto cover educational expenses, i.e. Army Reserve Health Professional LoanRepayment (HPLR), Active Duty Health Professional Loan Repayment (ADHPLR) andother repayment programs and bonuses, the Army offers a lifetime of rewarding lifetimeopportunities. There is nothing more rewarding than being the primary careprovider for an operational unit consisting of 500-800 Soldiers willing todeploy and defend America’s national interest. You will be responsible fordeveloping junior medics, preparing your unit to deploy to various regions ofthe world and maintaining your unit’s combat power during suchdeployments. There is nothing rewardingthan being an Army Physician Assistant in a deployable battalion in the USArmy, these experiences have affected my life forever.

MAJOR John Geise, MACH, IPAP Phase2 Coordinator

[sartort]

MAJ Geise! I was reading this and thinking how awesome the army PAs were that I worked with on the hill, and how much I learned from all of them. Then I saw your name, and realized you were one of them. -SPC Sartor

[deployedarmypa]

Sartor, thanks for the compliment! Hope you decide to come back to the Army, you would be a great provider!

I guess when posted my blog, when I cut it from word & pasted it here the formatting went crazy, LOL. But don't know how to fix it

[sartort]

I don't think you can edit these posts, but the message comes across just fine.

 

I am considering a return to the Army as an option. I've also considered working with the VA as well. I'm not ready to commit to anything yet, but I am setting up a meeting with a recruiter and seeing what's out there. I appreciate your support. It means a lot.

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

Was going army, but no HPSP. Sorry, navy got me :)

[lindabose2000]

I really wanted to join the army and was starting the process. That's when the recruiter guy told me, we need a masters degree now. :sweat:. Well I am starting my master in 2 weeks. So I guess I have to wait till that is done.

[MokahFitChick]

This is exactly what I want. I am prior service (Army) and I would love to come back in as an Army PA.

[3GeronimoPA]

If you are looking to do 3-6 years as the go-to-man when it comes to medical support for a battalion, gain some loan repayment, and gain some deployed experience the Army is a golden opportunity. If you want to do medicine for a career, I'd urge caution. If you do this for 20 years, you will be asked to spend 2-3 years consecutive not doing medicine for the purposes of doing a "leadership position". That loss of clinical time may be too much to sacrifice not to mention that your next assignment may put you in a position to be the only medical provider in a remote location. Also, even if you drink the kool-aid and play the game, you may still not make Major which will result in you being involuntarily separated from service at approximately 8 years. I think this year's selection rate was in the mid 30 percent of eligibles... Most of these eligibles have deployed more than once to war and have good performance evaluations. If you get passed over once for promotion your chances of getting picked up the second year are lower and if you get passed over twice, you go to the house. I'm not trying to discourage anyone. Being an Army PA has been the best professional experience and has been rewarding on many levels. However, don't think that you can come in for 20 years, entirely do medicine, promote based on excellent clinical performance and dedication to your unit, and walk away with a retirement. It may not be that simple. Our Physical Therapist peers in the same Corps (Specialist) are meeting even more resistance with promotion. The Army needs a large # of PAs from the civilian world willing to do a tour for loan repayment as Captains and then to get out. There simply aren't enough Major slots for PAs and the leadership of the corps are looking to retain PAs who are willing to sacrifice clinical time for positions of leadership. Again, don't go tell your Army PA buddies I was talking smack about being an Army PA. It's a great gig for 6-8 years but as a straight shooter I owe you the heads up on what it looks like over the long term.

[CAdamsPAC]

If you are looking to do 3-6 years as the go-to-man when it comes to medical support for a battalion, gain some loan repayment, and gain some deployed experience the Army is a golden opportunity. If you want to do medicine for a career, I'd urge caution. If you do this for 20 years, you will be asked to spend 2-3 years consecutive not doing medicine for the purposes of doing a "leadership position". That loss of clinical time may be too much to sacrifice not to mention that your next assignment may put you in a position to be the only medical provider in a remote location. Also, even if you drink the kool-aid and play the game, you may still not make Major which will result in you being involuntarily separated from service at approximately 8 years. I think this year's selection rate was in the mid 30 percent of eligibles... Most of these eligibles have deployed more than once to war and have good performance evaluations. If you get passed over once for promotion your chances of getting picked up the second year are lower and if you get passed over twice, you go to the house. I'm not trying to discourage anyone. Being an Army PA has been the best professional experience and has been rewarding on many levels. However, don't think that you can come in for 20 years, entirely do medicine, promote based on excellent clinical performance and dedication to your unit, and walk away with a retirement. It may not be that simple. Our Physical Therapist peers in the same Corps (Specialist) are meeting even more resistance with promotion. The Army needs a large # of PAs from the civilian world willing to do a tour for loan repayment as Captains and then to get out. There simply aren't enough Major slots for PAs and the leadership of the corps are looking to retain PAs who are willing to sacrifice clinical time for positions of leadership. Again, don't go tell your Army PA buddies I was talking smack about being an Army PA. It's a great gig for 6-8 years but as a straight shooter I owe you the heads up on what it looks like over the long term.

 

Yep Nate you are speaking with knowledge and a thirst for truth that isn't quenched by drinking the Army's "Green Kool-Aid". Yes, a lot of folks are waking up to the Army wanting "officers" who can practice medicine as part of their officership. I now see that my concerns on PA becoming RLOs (Real Live Officers) are coming true once the Warrants were phased out. The battalion staff may listen to an LT or CPT but when a CW3/5 speaks they actually defer to them as the subject matter expert.Should you have the desire to serve doing 3-4 years as an Army PA would be a positive experience for you, but as Nate says don't think that you can do 20 years of medicine exclusively , you will be judged by your "Soldiering" and the number of skill & qualification badges you acquire while serving.