Hey, Guys, could you ping some DC area vets for a response to my query?
Seems to me, trying to work the system is a Liberal pursuit!
Have her check into AF nursing program.
First, I think she would have problems with her age but a recruiter would be a better source to tell you what the age limits are currently.
Second, I am of the opinion that a better choice of MOS would be a radiologic technologist as it would be a complementary skill.
Third, check out this page and see if these guys could provide some advice. http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=mc_militarydos_today
The military can always use more doctors. Go Navy!
the Army clearly has the most slots available, so that part is a no-brainer IMO.
That said, look here:
I’m retired Army Guard.
Why join a band when she wants experience treating folks? Why not join a NG or reserve unit that is a medical unit? If there are none local (check with your NG or reserve recruiter), perhaps there are some units with medic slots open. Also, many major headquarters will have staff slots for professionals, lawyers, doctors, etc. Once again, check with your local recruiter.
One more thing. You don’t have to live in the state where your unit of assignment is located particularly if you’re in a high demand field. She should check around in the states adjacent to Maryland as well.
BTW, we had a reserve hospital unit in North Alabama.
I believe it is very wrong to join the Military for something other than a combat related field, for in this day and age, there will surely be combat.
Back when I was assigned to Army Medical units (late 60’s to mid 70’s) a chiropractor’s degree was worthless.Things certainly could have changes since then,however.
RR,
Don’t have any specific military ping lists. Anyone on the DC Chapter ping list who can provide some advice?
Seems strange to me to try and get a medical career started via The Band.
I would say forego the military route unless she plans on deployment. I believe military bands do require auditions after enlistments (could be wrong).
If she wants good exposure in a variety of clinical and hospital situations with decent pay, respectable benefits that include tuition reimbursement I would suggest that she apply for a job with one of many V.A. hospitals.
My wife is in the USAF Reserve as a flight medic (Aeromedial Evac). Her Montgomery GI bill picks up the tab for her to go to nursing school.
She was in her early 30s when she joined.
Might want to consider the USPHS. You would be an officer in a uniformed service that provides medical service to all of the armed services...kk
If she wants to stay in chiropractic, she should find an associate position in a busy partnership that needs more hands.
After all the expense of chiropractic college, it doesn’t make sense to delay utilizing the training and building her experience/client base in her chosen field.
As a side note, we have one of the world’s largest chiropractic colleges in our area. They are required a substantial amount of clinic time in order to graduate. It seems strange to me that she feels she needs more “experience” before gong into practice. I don’t advocate that she immediately hang her own shingle, but she should go to work in her chosen field.
Ping
Completing a chiropractic course of study, and passing the Boards is THE TICKET... in that field.
I would recommend finding an established practice willing to take on an associate DC...
Get the hands on experience --- also learn the day-2-day business side...
And when the time is right.... go for it with her own practice!!
DTogo (Army, officer)
When I was active & when working in USAF hospitals, crack-o-practors were viewed pretty much as quacks, at best.
Things are different now.
Chiropractic care became available to the Air Force in 1995, after the US Congress directed the Department of Defense to test the feasibility of providing that service at its facilities. The findings were so positive that they directly resulted in Congress making chiropractic a permanent benefit for active duty military members.
Director of the Air Force chiropractic program, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Robert Manaker, said, "A similar thing is happening across the Army and the Navy. This is a tri-service program." Manaker said. "Chiropractic helps by essentially realigning joints to their normal alignment", He continued, "A misalignment in your spine can cause the muscles around it to begin to have pain, to spasm or to cramp up. What chiropractors find is that if you realign those vertebrae, that can help decrease your pain."
Currently, the eight Air Force medical treatment facilities that offer chiropractic services to active duty members include facilities at Lackland AFB, Texas; Offutt AFB, Neb.; Travis AFB, Calif.; Scott AFB, Ill., Keesler AFB, Miss.; Andrews AFB, Md.; Langley AFB, Va.; and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. The Air Force is working to increase the number of facilities offering the service, Manaker said. "We wanted to get this benefit out to the most active-duty members that we could," he said. "We are looking at places where there are multiple bases or where there are the greatest number of active-duty members, and putting chiropractors there first."
Bottom line: For award of AFSC 43B1A, a degree from a chiropractic college approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education and approved by the Secretary of the Air Force. So, call the recruter already!
I’d advise regular Army, if not as a chiropractor than as a PA. The Physician’s Assistant has work to do, and she is guaranteed to keep her medical knowledge fresh. There is continuing education. If she goes to a band she will be out of the field for years - and a private’s pay won’t do much for paying student loans.
http://www.usarec.army.mil/armypa/
I don’t really get the band idea. If she’s gone to all the trouble to train as a chiropractor, she should be a chiropractor. I googled and the military’s medical school is graduating chiropractors these days, so they have a need. Best thing for her to do is talk to recruiters from all the services and then see what she thinks. For the Navy, if she’s accepted as a medical officer she would first go to a short training school to learn basic military stuff (how to wear a uniform, salute, etc.) and then either to further training depending on her individual circumstances or directly to the fleet. Odds are that as a specialist she would serve in a large medical facility. There might be some way she could get some or all of her loans from chiropractor school paid off. I know the military will do that for doctors in some specialties who agree to serve for a certain period of time. At any rate, choosing to go in as an enlisted band member instead of a medical officer is nonsensical if money is an issue.