Army Deployment

[Fabio001]

Hey Everyone,
I feel like i've been starting alot of threads lately, and I apologize. I am currently seeing an army and an airforce hpsp recruiter. For a long time I have been leaning airforce, but from the things i've heard from the recruiter and this forum, I feel that army is a better deal. Part of the deal maker was information that I received from the army recruiter. He told me that army deployments for physicians have recently dropped from one year to six months. This is contrary to what i've read on this forum. I have done a couple different searches, but nothing recent has turned up to verify this. For me, this is a big issue and could potentially be a deal-breaker for the army. I'd greatly appreciate any comments. Thanks in advance!

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[TheGoose]

Recruiters can say whatever they want but in the end, it comes down to the needs of the Army.

Expect the possibility of a year-long deployment if you go Army. Oh, but by the way,
expect the possibility of a year-long deployment if you go Air Force - they are using Air Force docs to fill Army spots. Sharing is caring.

Take a deeper look at your priorities and think about the whole idea of milmed. If deployments are an issue, then you need to consider the fact that you'll be deploying and PCSing aka moving around your entire career.

ps if you are a premed now, you wont be deployed until at least after intern year (what is that 6-7 years?). If you go Army, likely not until after residency (9-12 years from now?). Noone knows what the optempo will look like then or what the deployment schedule will be

 

[backrow]

The recruiter is likely speaking of physicians who are deploying to a CSH or similar as opposed to those who are deploying with a line unit. If you are deploying with a line unit you're going to be doing the 15mos deal.

I still wouldn't put much credence in the 6mos deployment for others either.

 

[NavyFP]

Year deployments are still a very real possiblity. I get to go off for a year in the very near future, and I'm Navy.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Year deployments are still a very real possiblity. I get to go off for a year in the very near future, and I'm Navy.

Didn't you just get back?

 

[a1qwerty55]

If you are deploying with a line unit you're going to be doing the 15mos deal.

I still wouldn't put much credence in the 6mos deployment for others either.

Not accurate -Army deployments are 12 months with line units (time on the ground in country). There often are months on either side prior to deployment with the unit which is a major source of dissatisfaction.

6 months at the CSH has been the policy for several years now and it is a big deal if you are extended beyond 14 days past the 6 month mark (requires approval at MEDCOM level), this includes nurses and even enlisted PROFIS personnel. Even some of the GMO billets have been successfully split into 6 month rotations, if the Commander of the unit blesses it and your local MTF leadership wants to push for it.

 

[a1qwerty55]

If deployments are an issue, then you need to consider the fact that you'll be deploying and PCSing aka moving around your entire career.

With regards to the frequency of PCS moves, this is service specific - the USAF and USN HATE homesteaders. The Army has less of an issue with this and does not penalize physicians for staying in one location for several tours.

 

[colbgw02]

Another thing to consider is that, at least in the Army, deployment length is determined in part by your specialty or subspecialty. As a general rule, surgeons and medicine subspecialists deploy for 6 months. Of course, that - along with everything else in military medicine - is subject to change, but that has been the policy for some time now.

 

[Fabio001]

The recruiter is likely speaking of physicians who are deploying to a CSH or similar as opposed to those who are deploying with a line unit.

I hope I don't sound ignorant, but what is CSH? I've never heard that acronym.

 

[Fabio001]

Year deployments are still a very real possiblity. I get to go off for a year in the very near future, and I'm Navy.

WHat's your specialy if you don't mind me asking? Are year long deployments alot more likely for GMO's?

 

[jabreal00]

An acquaintance of mine who is an Army ID (infectious diseases) doc just left for a one year tour to Afghanistan. Last time I checked ID is a medicine sub specialty. The only one avoids a 12 month deployment is if they go to a CSH (support hospital) or their home MTF helps to arrange people to split a 12 month tour prior to deployment.

So 12 month deployments are still very common in the Army.

 

[DoctaJMa]

I hope I don't sound ignorant, but what is CSH? I've never heard that acronym.

Combat Support Hospital

 

[Fabio001]

Is CSH deployment the most common type of deployment for subspecialists, or is it entirely random? How do conditions generally vary between CSH deployment and '...normal deployment?'? Which type is more common in general?

 

[NavyFP]

Didn't you just get back?

Yes, and that voluntold story makes be cranky.

 

[NavyFP]

WHat's your specialy if you don't mind me asking? Are year long deployments alot more likely for GMO's?

I'm an FP. (Hence NavyFP) Year longs are not typical for GMOs in the Navy, but you never know where you will get stuck. I do know of a few that have been on year long deployments.

 

[backrow]

Not accurate -Army deployments are 12 months with line units (time on the ground in country). There often are months on either side prior to deployment with the unit which is a major source of dissatisfaction.

6 months at the CSH has been the policy for several years now and it is a big deal if you are extended beyond 14 days past the 6 month mark (requires approval at MEDCOM level), this includes nurses and even enlisted PROFIS personnel. Even some of the GMO billets have been successfully split into 6 month rotations, if the Commander of the unit blesses it and your local MTF leadership wants to push for it.

Which part isn't accurrate? I say 15 mos because for most I've talked to they get about 3 mos tacked onto their deployment to do the typical work-ups, etc. Yes, 12mos in country.

As to 6mos policy at the CSH. Well all the ER docs, and most of the others at the CSH located at COB Adder would beg to differ. They were all there for a year. (But I have heard of several docs being deployed to CSH's for 6 mos at a time and hence my first statement)

 

[colbgw02]

An acquaintance of mine who is an Army ID (infectious diseases) doc just left for a one year tour to Afghanistan. Last time I checked ID is a medicine sub specialty.

I'm guessing that he deployed as a general internist and not as an ID doc.

 

[Perrotfish]

I think the take home message here is not to base your decision on average length of deployment, since the policies concerning the average length of deployment are likely to change multiple times in the at least 5 and probably at least 7 years before you have the opportunity to deploy.

 

[NavyFP]

I think the take home message here is not to base your decision on average length of deployment, since the policies concerning the average length of deployment are likely to change multiple times in the at least 5 and probably at least 7 years before you have the opportunity to deploy.

After all......we have ceased combat operations in Iraq and will be exiting Afghanistan next summer.

 

[a1qwerty55]

Which part isn't accurrate? I say 15 mos because for most I've talked to they get about 3 mos tacked onto their deployment to do the typical work-ups, etc. Yes, 12mos in country.

As to 6mos policy at the CSH. Well all the ER docs, and most of the others at the CSH located at COB Adder would beg to differ. They were all there for a year. (But I have heard of several docs being deployed to CSH's for 6 mos at a time and hence my first statement)

There for awhile the Army was doing 15 months in country - I thought you were referring to that. Thankfully 1 year is now the max.

As far as ER docs, they were getting stuck in the CSH's for 1 year because the rationale for the 6 month physician rotation was to prevent "skill atrophy", and the ER docs were doing their speciality and were thus excluded. That has since changed and they now do 6 month deployments.

In response to who goes on CSH deployments versus non-CSH deployments. The only medical subspecialists who are likely to go to a CSH are those with critical care skills, such as Pulmonary CC, Medical CC, Cardiology, and a few neuro CC and nehpro CC types. While it might seem stupid to use an ID doc or Endocrinologist as a GMO that is exactly how they deploy, same for Peds, FP, OB/Gyn (althought most CSH's have an OB).

 

[Arekusu]

We have ceased "combat missions" in Iraq. This doesn't mean that peace keeping missions will stop or the posibility of SOCOM still doing business with people they have to tap. Wording is key in the military. It's just a distraction from what is really happening. We will still be in Iraq and we will still deploy .. just not in a "combat" role.... ya, right. We're not home yet.

Alex

 

[SFGuy2011]

We have ceased "combat missions" in Iraq. This doesn't mean that peace keeping missions will stop or the posibility of SOCOM still doing business with people they have to tap. Wording is key in the military. It's just a distraction from what is really happening. We will still be in Iraq and we will still deploy .. just not in a "combat" role.... ya, right. We're not home yet.

Alex

Did you not see the sarcasm in NavyFP's statement? I think everyone with any common sense knows medical and other personnel aren't going anywhere for awhile.

 

[Arekusu]

I don't think the general public realizes how much longer we are actually going to be there. Ya , caught the sarcasm.

 

[Onigiri]

Hello,

I am in the process of joining the Army branch for hpsp. My main concern is being deployed to countries like in afghanistan or Iraq. I understand I will not be in the combat zone per se, but the fact that I may be in a hostile country unnerves me. I don't know the statistics, but how often, say in the Iraq war, did a military physician ended up dying due to insurgent attacks?

Additionally, with trump in office, I am not certain of how the war in the middle east will escalate.

 

[colbgw02]

Hello,

I am in the process of joining the Army branch for hpsp. My main concern is being deployed to countries like in afghanistan or Iraq. I understand I will not be in the combat zone per se, but the fact that I may be in a hostile country unnerves me. I don't know the statistics, but how often, say in the Iraq war, did a military physician ended up dying due to insurgent attacks?

Additionally, with trump in office, I am not certain of how the war in the middle east will escalate.

"I am in the process of joining the Army, but I don't want to do Army things."

 

[psychbender]

Hello,

I am in the process of joining the Army branch for hpsp. My main concern is being deployed to countries like in afghanistan or Iraq. I understand I will not be in the combat zone per se, but the fact that I may be in a hostile country unnerves me. I don't know the statistics, but how often, say in the Iraq war, did a military physician ended up dying due to insurgent attacks?

Additionally, with trump in office, I am not certain of how the war in the middle east will escalate.

Seriously? If being deployed is a major concern of yours, then DO NOT SIGN UP. You're job in Med Corps is to provide medical care wherever it is asked of you. Maybe you'd spend your entire payback stateside, maybe you'll deploy twice. No one can tell you, because the op tempo keeps changing.

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[notdeadyet]

Don't join. The purpose of the military is to deploy, including its doctors.

If you are not comfortable with this concept, there are many other types of service that you can pursue. Just not military.

 

[Homunculus]

Hello,

I am in the process of joining the Army branch for hpsp. My main concern is being deployed to countries like in afghanistan or Iraq. I understand I will not be in the combat zone per se, but the fact that I may be in a hostile country unnerves me. I don't know the statistics, but how often, say in the Iraq war, did a military physician ended up dying due to insurgent attacks?

Additionally, with trump in office, I am not certain of how the war in the middle east will escalate.

the way we fight wars now everywhere is the combat zone. when I was in Iraq we were rocketed and mortared routinely. I looked at it like being struck by lightning, but the danger is real. you get used to it eventually. doctors aren't as active in day to day operations off our bases but are at the same risk as anyone else. we don't get mortar or rocket proof housing, we ride in the same MRAPs and vehicles as anyone else.

a reservist trauma surgeon was killed by a mortar in Mosul around Christmas when I was deployed. I don't know of any other doctors off the top of my head but I have heard many close call stories. remember you're looking at a very small "n" compared to the number of enlisted combat arms and support people out there.

troop surges are going to be announced for Afghanistan soon. trump has given troop strength decisions over to the military. I've never seen a general not want more money, troops, or equipment. Iraq is incapable of comprehensively defending itself, and afghansistan is a constant push/pull over the same territory we've been fighting over for the past 15+ years. count on being deployed at some point.

if this is absolutely unacceptable, do not join. we have enough non-deployable duty shirking s-bags around we don't need any more. those of us who are deployable just have to go that many more times to pick up the load for the shammers.

--your friendly neighborhood how do I get fibromyalgia diagnosed caveman

 

[pgg]

Hello,

I am in the process of joining the Army branch for hpsp. My main concern is being deployed to countries like in afghanistan or Iraq. I understand I will not be in the combat zone per se, but the fact that I may be in a hostile country unnerves me. I don't know the statistics, but how often, say in the Iraq war, did a military physician ended up dying due to insurgent attacks?

Additionally, with trump in office, I am not certain of how the war in the middle east will escalate.

These are reasonable concerns.

Risk of harm to deployed physicians is low but not zero. To be honest, as a physician you're probably safer on any given base in a war zone than you are here in the USA, for the simple reason that you won't be driving a car on a freeway in that war zone. You may even have lots of free time to work out and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. On the flip side, it's pretty sunny in the desert so your risk of skin cancer may go up a bit.

 

[sonofva]

the way we fight wars now everywhere is the combat zone. when I was in Iraq we were rocketed and mortared routinely. I looked at it like being struck by lightning, but the danger is real. you get used to it eventually. doctors aren't as active in day to day operations off our bases but are at the same risk as anyone else. we don't get mortar or rocket proof housing, we ride in the same MRAPs and vehicles as anyone else.

a reservist trauma surgeon was killed by a mortar in Mosul around Christmas when I was deployed. I don't know of any other doctors off the top of my head but I have heard many close call stories. remember you're looking at a very small "n" compared to the number of enlisted combat arms and support people out there.

troop surges are going to be announced for Afghanistan soon. trump has given troop strength decisions over to the military. I've never seen a general not want more money, troops, or equipment. Iraq is incapable of comprehensively defending itself, and afghansistan is a constant push/pull over the same territory we've been fighting over for the past 15+ years. count on being deployed at some point.

if this is absolutely unacceptable, do not join. we have enough non-deployable duty shirking s-bags around we don't need any more. those of us who are deployable just have to go that many more times to pick up the load for the shammers.

--your friendly neighborhood how do I get fibromyalgia diagnosed caveman

"I'm having a fibro flare."

Sent from my SM-G930V using SDN mobile

 

[notdeadyet]

a reservist trauma surgeon was killed by a mortar in Mosul around Christmas when I was deployed. I don't know of any other doctors off the top of my head but I have heard many close call stories. remember you're looking at a very small "n" compared to the number of enlisted combat arms and support people out there.

The Camp Liberty shootings came to mind. 1 of them was a physician (psychiatrist).

 

[d2305]

At least on a ship one doesn't have to worry about mortars, but an exocet or DF 21d can ruin your day. United States v. Hasan K. Akbar - Wikipedia