Posted on 11/02/2007 4:34:53 PM PDT by rabidralph
I would like to get some advice from FReepers who have served in the military, including guard and reserve. My female cousin, who is 38, has graduated with a degree as a chiropractor. She is in the middle of her board exams but wants more practical experience treating people. One of her high school buddies is in the Army (band) and suggested joining. She told my cousin to join as a National Guard band member for a couple years, get her student loans paid off and then switch to the medical field, either as a chiropractor or go as a physician's assistant. My cousin is a talented musician but she wants to get started in her medical career, even though enlisting and joining the band would help her with her student loans from chiropractor school.
I would like to hear some military FReeper opinions about which branch of service, whether the NG would be a good idea. I'd especially like to hear from military FReepers in the medical field about the career paths for chiropractors and PAs, if anyone has any information. I have given her my opinion, as a Navy vet, but I am biased. I also was enlisted and I have no real insight into officer training/culture.
My cousin lives in Maryland and teaches at an elementary school while she studies for her boards.
Tell her to go to each of the services, including the Coast Guard. She should lay out her credentials and desires, and see what programs they have to offer. They are all short medically trained personnel and might very well have something that fits...including a program to pay for some of her student loans.
see post 54
I did see it. You’re not making any sense. You originally said that it’s very wrong to join the military these days in something other than a combat related field. Check out army.com and you’ll see that the areas I listed are not combat related. Are you saying that it’s very wrong for someone to become a quartermaster (non-combat related) these days? In the end, I don’t really care what you think. Just trying to correct ignorance, or determine if you are trully a moron. Your call.
1. If qualified, go medical as an officer - not band as enlisted.
2. As to which branch and specialty, have her talk to the experts - the OFFICER (not enlisted) recruiters for Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Um, since I actually did serve in the Military, where is the ignorance?
Second, The woman plainly stated she only wants to go in the Military to get money to finish school. She is in her thirties.
That is not a new kid to life, someone just starting out, this is an adult who openly planned on joining the Military for selfish reason, not to serve and get a bennie.
If you are too thick headed to know the difference between that, it’s on you.
Your droning about legal services and cooks and supply persons is meaningless.
By the way, when were YOU in?
Thanks, to all of you who’ve posted and FReepmailed me relevant information. I am passing all this info to my cousin and sending her a link to this thread (oh, boy!). I think she has enough info to call the right people and straight answers.
So, what I got out of this tirade is that when you said that it is “very wrong” for someone to consider non-combat related branches during time of war, you were really referring to this particular person’s ambitions. I agree with you. My “droning” about non-combat fields was a direct result of your idiotic comment.
Wow, you really are a moron who needs people to explain things, eh?
As a draftee, I have no advice. However, your cousin has to realize that she has to go to basic training and AIT which is as I recall 16 weeks at E-1/E-2 pay. I think a 38 year old has expenses that would put her further behind. Also Peace Corps and VISTA I believe are other alternatives.
Thanks, JVB. I hope you’re doing well. I think she’ll go in as an officer and get herself on track with her medical career.
As for joining as part of the band, if you do it active duty you better be REAL good.
My advice would be, to a 38 year old thinking about this, just go to private practice. 38 years of age is a tad long in the tooth to be beginning your military life.
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