*Official 2015 JSGMESB Thread*

[ActiveDutyNavy]

I know of a staff member that received funded TAD orders to travel to FTOS Fellowship interviews. (with an S, as in plural) It is possible.

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[backrow]

I know of a staff member that received funded TAD orders to travel to FTOS Fellowship interviews. (with an S, as in plural) It is possible.

In my opinion that should be the standard. When some pilot is applying for NASA or some other special program that requires interviews I guarantee their travel is funded.

 

[Slevin]

For Army EM 28 applicants for 6 spots this year. That's a 21% match rate. Prior years stats like that would have been helpful 6 months ago

 

[Doctor Bob]

For Army EM 28 applicants for 6 spots this year. That's a 21% match rate. Prior years stats like that would have been helpful 6 months ago

With that knowledge, what would you have done differently?

 

[Slevin]

With that knowledge, what would you have done differently?

I would have applied to a different speciality. I thought the selection rate was higher than it actually is

 

[notdeadyet]

I would have applied to a different speciality. I thought the selection rate was higher than it actually is

Better to wait 2-4 years than to not specialize in your chosen field for the next 35 years...

 

[pgg]

Ask for funded travel. They will say no but the fall back position will be no cost TAD (and if they say yes, then you get to party like you're in the Secret Service).

I know of a staff member that received funded TAD orders to travel to FTOS Fellowship interviews. (with an S, as in plural) It is possible.

Thanks, I'll ask for funded travel.

Just received the 76-page Policy and Procedure Manual pdf and it confirms what you guys have told me. No-cost TAD is typical but commands can choose to give funded TAD orders for this purpose.

 

[sonofva]

For Army EM 28 applicants for 6 spots this year. That's a 21% match rate. Prior years stats like that would have been helpful 6 months ago

these numbers are fairly consistent from what i understand. last year it was 32 applicants for 8 slots.

 

[DrMetal]

Thanks, I'll ask for funded travel.

Just received the 76-page Policy and Procedure Manual pdf and it confirms what you guys have told me. No-cost TAD is typical but commands can choose to give funded TAD orders for this purpose.

Side bar question: why might a command reject a no cost TAD request? (for something like an interview, or CME). I've heard of this happening, but I can't fathom why. If it truly is no cost to the command, why might they have a beef? (of course, assuming that the request is reasonable and not extravagant

 

[Slevin]

these numbers are fairly consistent from what i understand. last year it was 32 applicants for 8 slots.

Like I said I wish this info was more readily available. It would have been helpful in making decisions

 

[Gastrapathy]

Side bar question: why might a command reject a no cost TAD request? (for something like an interview, or CME). I've heard of this happening, but I can't fathom why. If it truly is no cost to the command, why might they have a beef? (of course, assuming that the request is reasonable and not extravagant

The day I knew I was getting out, I had no-cost TAD rejected for an invited lecture at a regional conference. My XO's words: "there is no such thing as no-cost TAD." What he meant was that my absence meant that I wasn't being productive and therefore this cost the Navy the work I would have done. He, and I heard his successor, repeated that trope in public on many occasions. I put in leave for the meeting, gave the talk in civilian attire, tore up the MSP request that was sitting on my desk and started looking for a job. The TAD debacle really was the last straw for me. In many respects, I'm grateful to that prick because I might well have stayed another 8+ years.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Like I said I wish this info was more readily available. It would have been helpful in making decisions

Those odds are terrible. But would you really have selected a different specialty rather than GMO -> civilian EM?

 

[Slevin]

Those odds are terrible. But would you really have selected a different specialty rather than GMO -> civilian EM?

It's something that I'd have to consider. Im currently in my mid 30's and because of prior service when this contract is up in a year I'll be halfway to retirement. I currently have no savings and about 60k in debt after I used it to help my father with his cancer treatment (he passed away in sept while I was on interviews, I got home and was able to spend 3 hours with him.) My board scores are a little below average and talking to PD's after the match I wasn't competitive at all.

Residency is a wash with regards to time and so the question is could I maintain my standard of living, pay down all my debit and generate enough savings that would put me on track with the military retirement package? Plus there is always the possibility of going back and doing a second residency should I choose to do so. Plus the whole work life balance post residency is important to me... So I'm at a crossroads what to do.

A friend of mine who is also serving as a GMO and is a sub specialist recommended just applying to both the mil and civilian matches in 2016 and see what turns out. My contract is up July 2017 so I don't have much to lose (except the cost of airfare)

 

[Clap MD]

If anyone needs any help setting up a plan for civilian residency while completing a GMO tour...let me know. I'm talking to you...just about everyone trying to avoid primary care.

I find myself in this boat now. I applied, and after getting the civ def spot I emailed a few of my top picks to let them know my situation, but I'm pretty nervous about my chances in March--to the point that part of me wishes I'd been bumped down to my second choice residency. If you have any pointers they'd be appreciated!

 

[backrow]

and talking to PD's after the match I wasn't competitive at all.

Man, that sucks because someone really let you down by not giving you an honest opinion during the application cycle. Unfortunately you probably had a mentor/advisor/friend/etc that told you what you wanted to hear and not what you needed to hear. That sucks because we all hope that those who we go to for advice will give us the truth whether we will like it or not.

 

[Gastrapathy]

It's something that I'd have to consider....
A friend of mine who is also serving as a GMO and is a sub specialist recommended just applying to both the mil and civilian matches in 2016 and see what turns out. My contract is up July 2017 so I don't have much to lose (except the cost of airfare)

That is all pretty tough and I'm sorry for your loss. Its frustrating that they didn't tell you where you stood up front. I don't understand that approach. The financial part is going to be ok because you have the potential to earn well for many years (it may mean you work a little longer than you hoped but that's all).

If you are already are halfway to retirement before residency, the better financial choice is to stay in.

 

[Slevin]

That is all pretty tough and I'm sorry for your loss. Its frustrating that they didn't tell you where you stood up front. I don't understand that approach. The financial part is going to be ok because you have the potential to earn well for many years (it may mean you work a little longer than you hoped but that's all).

If you are already are halfway to retirement before residency, the better financial choice is to stay in.

It's really quite stressful. I got multiple calls from both my mom and sister while in the middle of the interview and during a break I called them up and found out what was going on. With that knowledge I politely told the site I could not continue interviewing that day and booked the next flight back home.

With being 1/2 towards retirement I figure 3 years in one residency and 3 years payback and then I'll decide if I want to reapply towards EM and see if I can match and complete that residency. If not I figure I'll finish off the last 4 years and get out once I hit 20. Financially I think that makes the most sense since I'll be applying towards a primary care field this upcoming cycle

 

[Gastrapathy]

It's really quite stressful. I got multiple calls from both my mom and sister while in the middle of the interview and during a break I called them up and found out what was going on. With that knowledge I politely told the site I could not continue interviewing that day and booked the next flight back home.

With being 1/2 towards retirement I figure 3 years in one residency and 3 years payback and then I'll decide if I want to reapply towards EM and see if I can match and complete that residency. If not I figure I'll finish off the last 4 years and get out once I hit 20. Financially I think that makes the most sense since I'll be applying towards a primary care field this upcoming cycle

I think it comes down to whether you would be happy outside of EM. I think you are likely to be competitive for EM in the civilian world (a slightly below average app with the military experience I have to think will match somewhere). You would mitigate the cost by completing your time in the reserves.

FP works better with Urgent Care but I'd recommend medicine. You could be a hospitalist or, even better, come over to the dark side and do a fellowship. Particularly with your timing to 20, if you were able to slide straight into fellowship, that would be perfect (Critical Care, for example, might fit your interests well and you'd have the schadenfreude of teaching rotating ER residents).

 

[DrMetal]

FP works better with Urgent Care but I'd recommend medicine.

Well, did you see how long the alternate list was for medicine? It doesn't look like it's that easy to get into anymore.....and they can certainly reject people who really aren't that interested in it (primary care is no more the vally of the rejected-EMs/RADS etc).

Man, that sucks because someone really let you down by not giving you an honest opinion during the application cycle. Unfortunately you probably had a mentor/advisor/friend/etc that told you what you wanted to hear and not what you needed to hear.

More to this point, it seems that even the PD's opinion doesn't always hold true: I've known several who were told straight from the horse's mouth that they were getting or not getting the spot, only to have the opposite happen. There really is no transparency in this process.

 

[notdeadyet]

I think it comes down to whether you would be happy outside of EM. I think you are likely to be competitive for EM in the civilian world (a slightly below average app with the military experience I have to think will match somewhere). You would mitigate the cost by completing your time in the reserves.

There is always the possibility of heading in to the reserve, doing a civilian residency, then switching back to Active afterwards.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Well, did you see how long the alternate list was for medicine? It doesn't look like it's that easy to get into anymore.....and they can certainly reject people who really aren't that interested in it (primary care is no more the vally of the rejected-EMs/RADS etc).

QUOTE]

I assume you are talking Navy and if that's the case, the length of the list is a little misleading. Straight-thru interns apply and are almost all waitlisted. Many of them are subsequently selected as the list moves. IM is not that competitive (middle third applicant should have no difficulty getting selected)