Medics In the Armed Forces

[andrewbaillie]

I was at a graduate recruitment fair yesterday (wednesday) and I spoke to a guy from the Royal Navy. I told him I wanted to go on and do medicine and he went through all the benefits you can get as a student and doctor. What he told me was mainly for the Navy but it applies to most of the armed forces (spoke to a guy from the army as well).
What happens is that you can go to them half way through your second year at med school (go to any armed forces recruiting centre- apparently theyre desperate for docs). I think they make you sit a test and stuff at that point and you can get offered a cadetship if you pass.
After the third year you undertake more training and if you are successful they will pay your fees for the remaining years at uni.
At some point you have to take officers training (admiralty interview days), which I think comes after you finish at uni. If you pass you go on and do you JHO year in a Royal Navy hospital.
From then on you are committed to them for 6 years, in which time you can undertake surgical training which they pay for. Any other training you do is also paid for.

The benefits are there for anyone with the motivation.

[Damien]

Yeah, that all sounds very good but the major downfall is that you are tied to the army and there is no way out - I have heard people who have "bought" their way out of the army.

If you have an interest in joining the military, however, and also an interest in medicine then that would seem like a good choice. But even then, I'm sure you can join the Navy anytime in your medical career.

I have heard a lot of stories about the army from people I know who are joining the RAF after uni (having their fees paid). They have days when they have to make their bed so neatly, and have their uniform folded perfectly at the bottom of their bed, that they are forced to sleep on the floor until morning. Lots of fun!

Damien :evil

[Damien]

Yeah, that all sounds very good but the major downfall is that you are tied to the army and there is no way out - I have heard people who have "bought" their way out of the army.

If you have an interest in joining the military, however, and also an interest in medicine then that would seem like a good choice. But even then, I'm sure you can join the Navy anytime in your medical career.

I have heard a lot of stories about the army from people I know who are joining the RAF after uni (having their fees paid). They have days when they have to make their bed so neatly, and have their uniform folded perfectly at the bottom of their bed, that they are forced to sleep on the floor until morning. Lots of fun!

Damien :evil

[andrewbaillie]

Those are all good points. I just thought that the benefits were there for anyone who would want to do it.
I dont doubt that you have to go through a lot of the same stuff that other soldiers do (like the stuff mentioned above!)

[elliottsimpson]

Could this be why Derek was at Barry / Buddon this weekend?

Where? It's an army training base on a chunk of wind-swept sand dunes on the north side of the Tay Estuary. Great place for kids. When I was a boy, we cycled there from Broughty Ferry (where I stayed) and there were some old WW II tanks rusting into the sand which had been used on the mortar practice range. Last time I was there we found two armoured cars used for grenade practice. One abiding memory is walking down a valley between two lines of dunes and seeing notice boards at the top of both ridges with the notices pointing outwards - and, when we got up to one of them, reading "Beware Mine Field"

:evil

[Devlinator]

You know there are lots of drawbacks to acareer in the armed forces, but they are well outweighed by the benefits-but only if you are prepared for a career in the armed forces. I've applied for RAF sponsorship, and it is well worth it, there is a lot of money to be had as well as excellent oppurtunities for your electives at UNI. Im ging to RAF Cranwell next Sunday for four days to see the conditions, but it doesnt matter what armed force you join as it is a tri service medical corp. and you have to remember that if you do accept sponsorship then the six years you are tied to the service (this is the normal short service commision that you must agree to in order to gain sponsorship) does include your time as a JHO and SHO and they offer some of the best training and expansion oppurtunities around, and during the six years you will have to sit exams and everything at that time anyway. and besides they offer better working conditions, time and pay than the NHS ( although i am aware that this is not a difficult thing to do)

[DScollon]

Well, I've just arrived back from Barry Buddon where I and about 20 other doctors were treated to a MIMMS (Major Incident Medical Management and Support) course courtesy of the Territorial Army's 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) Unit. There were realy two objectives... to do the course, and to tell us what the TA was all about. Those of us who went from Monklands hadn't been told the ulterior motive but although I had no interest in joining, it may be of interest to some of you.

The TA differ in that you're not making such a firm commitment. In fact, there is no minimum commitment in terms of time. You go when you can and they're happy with this because they need your skills. You get paid for the time you're there and if you cross a certain threshold during the year, you get a bonus called a bounty (which is about £1200 tax free). The 205 is voluntary. At any time you can simply resign. Your full time job is working for the NHS like everyone else and your link to the TA doesn't alter this.

As a doctor you would normally be a commissioned officer, although I'm not sure what your rank would be as a medical student.

Whenever the unit is called to perform a duty, they will assess who they need and invite you to join them for a trip. You can say no and don't have to give a reason. There are arrangements in place with NHS Trusts for leave. Trips could be anywhere in the world, doing a variety of medical tasks from vaccination programs to humanitarian aid to battlefield medicine. The scale could be anything from a small group of medical and nursing staff right through to the setup of a field hospital which is a simplified version of an NHS hospital and could have up to 200 beds and 400 staff.

It seems you can't lose. Time spent with the TA could be doing sports, basic army training, medical courses, etc. The obvious disadvantage is that you could be drafted into the regular army. If you suddenly decide you don't want to go to the Middle East, either you or your employing Trust can appeal but you need a reason to do this and you might not win the appeal anyway.

I think the basic message is that you have to balance the pros and cons. The regular forces and the TA do offer benefits and there is a lot you can get out of a link to them. They are prepared to pay you, train you and spend time with you because at the end of the day they need your medical skills and before signing on the dotted line, you should think hard about where this might take you, whether you want to go or not.

For anyone interested, I'm sure the 205 would be happy to show you around and give you more information. They have divisions in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen and I assume they'll be in the phone book under Army.

[Fraz]

Hi there, I haven't posted a reply to any threads so far but I feel I may be able to contribute here. I applied to the RAF mid third year. I had been talking about joining since school and now I had finally got my finger out. I had spoken to RAF Careers, been to seminars and attended the visit to RAF Cranwell (where I got a free flying lesson, woo hoo!), and it was all very impressive - time to go for it!

The selection course was by far the most nerve racking experience of my life but at the same time it was fun. You got to put yourself to the test and find out what your strengths and weaknesses were. There are two stages, the first is easy. It comprises of a couple of interviews and the RAF aptitude test (5 hours of reflexes and maths and grammar testing on a computer). The second part tests leadership and group participation qualities and culminates in a specialist interview. The pressure is unbelievable but it is done in a way that is interactive and fun. There is of course a bleep test and very basic medical.

Thats all I think I should say, if anyone wants to know more please email me and I can be more specific.

Fraser Denny

P.S. I didn't get in, but don't let that put you off! :o

[relliott]

the big drawback I can think of is the current climate. Does anyone really want to be joining the army in any way at the moment? You might find yourself in action a little earlier than you expected.

[Devlinator]

Yes but i suppose that it dpends on your mindset wether that is a bad thing or not and to a certain degree wether you agree with the role of the military generally

[elliottsimpson]

The two military generals I keep coming across (usually on the request forms for thyroid function tests) are general malaise and general debility.

:lol :lol

[Damien]

Well, you have to join the military knowing that you will be participating in some war. Not my cup of tea. I'd rather start one :evil

Damien :evil

PS - I didn't intend to post that post twice - it is these dodgy Aberdeen computers that sometimes go slow.

[jojo]

NOw now Damien i wouldnt go slagging off Aberdeen when they have this website address!!You never know someone could be reading it right now!!!!!!:lol

Cya

Jo

[Adam Gilmour]

Does the Navy also offer the same sort of "deal" for medics???










Adam

[Damien]

"In the navy!..."

Yes - you get a free Village People Album.

Damien :evil

[jojo]

lyrics to songs as well Damien?? You def hav to get out more!!!

ONLY KIDDING!!!!:lol

Do agree though that the computer is handcuffed to Nicola!Actually i think shes trying to take over Elliotts second place position.Watch out Derek its you after that!!!

Cya Jo:)

[Damien]

If she takes over Derek she will "become more powerful than you can possibly imagine"

Damien :evil

[jojo]

Dont tell me that ill ahve nightmares now!!!!:lol

[Damien]

Nextgen Blther ----> ????

Nextgen Addict???

Nextgen Anorak???

Damien :evil

[Adam Gilmour]

Nah they can keep the album Damien I just thought I might look sexy in the uniform!!! :lol :lol :lol









Adam

[DScollon]

You will discover that we are well versed in the concept of TC (and I know Mike is with me on this one). TC is Total Control. Anyone who starts closing on the #1 spot will suddenly find that every post reduces their count by one instead of increasing it. :D

[relliott]

I know some people at uni joined the Royal Naval Reserve and they might get some sort of financial help in the last years of the course, and with it being the reserve you don't have to serve time after you graduate. Check the details on that for yourself though. I only heard this second hand

[Devlinator]

Hey there everyone just got back from RAF CRanwell. it was very informative and i think well worth joining if you think that you can handle it. Too much info to put up here, so if anyone has any questions just get in contact with me and ill try and answer thm if i can, if i cant ill put you in contact with someone who can.

[Damien]

I met a 3rd year medic who is doing some sort of a program with the Navy. I can get his e-mail address and I'm sure he wouldn't mind answering any questions.

Damien :evil