My plan: 68W > finish degree > grad school for Physician Assistant. Does this work?

[rcj1974]

Hello.

I am looking at the guard's education benefits and am trying to figure out if this course of action is possible.

I currently have a degree in communications, but would like to go back to school to be a Physician Assistant. Before I can apply for PA school (a masters program), I need to take at least a years worth of prerequisite courses to be eligible.

Here is what I would like to do:


Enlist as a 68W (Health Care Specialist) for a 6x2 term.
After completing AIT, start using my GI bill and state education benefits to go back to school to get all the prereq's done.
I am hoping the experience and training involved with being a 68W would help in this process.
Apply for and get accepted into a PA program
Ideally, once I am accepted into the the graduate program, I'd love to apply for the ASR program that pays for PA school.
http://www.1800goguard.com/explore/medical/asrinfo.php


My ultimate goal is to be a PA serving in the Oregon National Guard.

My question is... is this possible?
If I am enlisted on a 6-year term, am I able to switch to a different career track in the National Guard?
Does the ASR/PA program require you to be an officer? If so, am I able to switch from enlisted to officer status during my initial enlistment term?

If this is too odd or complicated, could anybody point me to someone who could answer this convoluted series of questions?

Thank you!

[eglover]

We currently have a kid an my high school, that is doing just that except he is having med school paid for. If I were you I would do your plan, and atleast in my case TA wasn't enough for grad school, so if I want grad school I would have to contract ROTC for the last two years of school, my masters and then be comissioned and have my entire grad degree paid for.

[QuantumRN]

IMO, I think ASR is a better plan. You would be commissioned as an officer while you are in school AND get paid to be there. You can also go straight to school and instead of using tuition assistance/GI bill etc... you could use SLRP. Instead of setting yourself back a year completing BCT and AIT, you could be working on your core to get into PA school by doing the 2 steps above.

Contact the AMEDD recruiter in your state, ASR is a great opportunity.

[rcj1974]

Contact the AMEDD recruiter in your state, ASR is a great opportunity.

If anybody can help me with contact information for the Oregon National Guard's AMEDD, it would be much appreciated.

I have been calling the regular recruiters and leaving messages non stop, but have yet to have a single National Guard recruiter return my calls.

[QuantumRN]

I have a phone number for you. Check your inbox.

[rcj1974]

IMO, I think ASR is a better plan. You would be commissioned as an officer while you are in school AND get paid to be there. You can also go straight to school and instead of using tuition assistance/GI bill etc... you could use SLRP. Instead of setting yourself back a year completing BCT and AIT, you could be working on your core to get into PA school by doing the 2 steps above.

Contact the AMEDD recruiter in your state, ASR is a great opportunity.


But say I do enlist and then try for the ASR program...

Are you an officer in the ASR program? And if so, are you able to be commissioned as an officer in the middle of your enlistment term?

[QuantumRN]

But say I do enlist and then try for the ASR program...

Are you an officer in the ASR program? And if so, are you able to be commissioned as an officer in the middle of your enlistment term?

Yes, you are an officer in ASR.

Actually, of all the ASR I know of in my state, none were enlisted at the time. If you enlist, I believe your MSO may conflict with transferring over to ASR, I'm not sure. I'll ask the AMEDD recruiter at my office on Monday. Actually, now that I think about it..... I don't think it's a problem, it may affect any bonuses you may receive, but I think that's it.

[Polo08816]

IMO, I think ASR is a better plan. You would be commissioned as an officer while you are in school AND get paid to be there. You can also go straight to school and instead of using tuition assistance/GI bill etc... you could use SLRP. Instead of setting yourself back a year completing BCT and AIT, you could be working on your core to get into PA school by doing the 2 steps above.

Contact the AMEDD recruiter in your state, ASR is a great opportunity.

ASR is a ridiculous plan if you are in a state that has 100% tuition waiver and you attend a public medical school.

1. Pay nearly nothing for school.
2. Get paid to be in school.

[koojo]

I pretty much did the same thing you plan on doing, but I applied to medical school, got in and going to use the ASR as well as other programs to pay for med school.

I joined the NG and became a 68W. Went to college, and got a BA in biology, all using NG tuition assistance, the GI bill and other funds. After I graduated, I applied to med school and got in. I then put together my direct commission packet and was accepted last week. Currently working on my ASR packet, so once that's done, I'm in good shape to start school.

Your plan is definitely the way to go. I highly recommend it. Use everything that the NG has to offer to pay for school.

[HopefulArmyRPH]

This post seems like something similar to what I want to do.

I am wanting to go to Pharmacy school.

I have 2 years of pre-reqs to go at my local community college, then I have 1 year of pre-reqs at the university level. Then I can start the 4 year Pharm
D program. The school I want to attend has a ROTC program (Washington State University)

I want to pay for as much school as possible...which includes putting the money I make from drills/Basic/AIT/Sign on bonus toward it, even if it is using the money to pay bills and such. The actual 4 years of WSU is going to cost over $100,000. It will cost roughly $12,000 for the 3 years of pre-reqs at the CC and the 1 year at WSU pre PharmD program.

My goal was to opt for college first (I have another question pending right now on another post about college first voiding my sign on bonus, so I am unsure about it) then go the community college with my TA? and GI bill? To be honest my recruiter hasn't answered my questions as well as I would like and seems more involved about getting me in...then making sure I get what I want and the right path.

I want to pay for as much school as possible as I said. What, in your opinions, would be the best thing to do? Will my GI bill/TA be able to pay for over $100,000 worth of schooling? I know there are programs for ROTC, scholorships and such..but do they apply to hopeful Pharmacists? The ROTC stuff wasn't explained as well as I hoped. I am not a fan of "Maybes, or Probable" I prefer 100%s but I know that might be a tad too optimistic.

I am wracking my brain about this and any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[eglover]

Contact Major Ritchie. He is very knowledgeable on all things army/rotc/ng related. From my understanding I will have a two year degree paid for. I need to enlist go through basic and ait, use sta, fta and gi bill and kicker for first two years of schooling and then when I'm in my masters program kick in the ROTC scholarship for fuition which does every penny I need. I haven't heard back on potential implications for college first option though. I suspect its a longer contract, 8x0, only ng, special mos only, and things of that nature.If I hear back I will let you know.

[CPT Burritt]

And I'm standing right here...

Anyway, really, it depends on what you want your end goal to be. Depending on the level of degree you want to achieve in Pharmacology, the Guard can be very helpful. We can pay up to 4500 per year of TA for schooling, up to and including your Masters.

We do not do doctorates...

You will also get the GI Bill. I do not believe the ASR program mentioned includes Pharmacologists, but I might be wrong. Might be worth talking to your state AMEDD recruiter.

I do not know what the state programs are in your area, but you might be able to have additional tuition costs waived or paid by your State. You'll need to talk to your State Education Officer to get that info. The number can be found under the "Education" tab on www.virtualarmory.com. Check it out.

Hope you get your questions answered, and that this is putting you on the right path to getting the info you need.

[dorque]

IMO, I think ASR is a better plan. You would be commissioned as an officer while you are in school AND get paid to be there. You can also go straight to school and instead of using tuition assistance/GI bill etc... you could use SLRP. Instead of setting yourself back a year completing BCT and AIT, you could be working on your core to get into PA school by doing the 2 steps above.

Contact the AMEDD recruiter in your state, ASR is a great opportunity.

Wait, this is what I wanted to do... now I'm confused. I went the 68W route. What's this other stuff? I'm guessing regular recruiters don't talk about it?

[49thadband]

so can a person go from Street to Officer on ASR? I would guess that would be a pretty big gamble on the military's part, huh? If student washes out I guess they pay back the dough? So, a student is accepted to med school or PA school, interviews and boom direct commission, gets paid to do one of these schools?


If so, it actually sounds just like some of the Navy programs I have read about recently. They have several direct commission style programs where they are paying for students to go to college. A student has to be a soph or above, certain GPA or above, have certain course prereqs. and boom at graduation Commission, owe the Navy X number of years as an officer.

[49thadband]

so can a person go from Street to Officer on ASR? I would guess that would be a pretty big gamble on the military's part, huh? If student washes out I guess they pay back the dough? So, a student is accepted to med school or PA school, interviews and boom direct commission, gets paid to do one of these schools?


If so, it actually sounds just like some of the Navy programs I have read about recently. They have several direct commission style programs where they are paying for students to go to college. A student has to be a soph or above, certain GPA or above, have certain course prereqs. and boom at graduation Commission, owe the Navy X number of years as an officer.


Quantum, this was a question for you.

[QuantumRN]

Quantum, this was a question for you.

Sorry, wasn't paying attention....

Yeah, soldiers on the ASR program essentially go from street to officer via direct commission. They go to school full time, and supposedly "recruit" others from school to join the Guard. They also drill just like any other Guardsman. Upon graduation, you owe the Guard XX many years. As for details on what happens if you wash out of school..... I have no idea. It's a pretty sweet deal. I wish they had it back when I was in nursing school. ;)

[notyetdead]

so can a person go from Street to Officer on ASR?
Yes, you go from street to officer on ASR. I did.

I would guess that would be a pretty big gamble on the military's part, huh? If student washes out I guess they pay back the dough?
You can't take ASR until you are admitted to medical school. Once a student makes it to medical school, they almost always graduate. Graduation rate is 96% for medical students. The biggest cut is getting in.

So, a student is accepted to med school or PA school, interviews and boom direct commission, gets paid to do one of these schools?
You are commissioned at given an ADSW assignment. You are paid a fulltime O-1 wages to attend medical school and spread the word about the ASR program. You can do this for up to three years of medical school.

If so, it actually sounds just like some of the Navy programs I have read about recently. They have several direct commission style programs where they are paying for students to go to college.
The active side program is called HPSP which pays your tuition as well as a stipend, but you owe full-time duty, unlike ASR in which you commit to a standard Guard contract.

[notyetdead]

They also drill just like any other Guardsman.
Actually, in ASR, you are allowed to do "flexi-training" in which you can drill as little as one weekend every three months, if your CO approves it. This is because they realize in medical school, sometimes completely free weekends are rare things.

Upon graduation, you owe the Guard XX many years.
The nice thing about ASR is that you sign the typical 8 year MSO, but it starts ticking the day you join. So some folks fulfill their commitment before even finishing residency.

As for details on what happens if you wash out of school..... I have no idea. It's a pretty sweet deal.
If you did wash out (very rare), you'd still owe your time. I've heard rumors that you'd stay in MSC.

I wish they had it back when I was in nursing school. ;)
ASR is only available to docs and physician assistants. Can't use it for nursing school or pharm. It'd be great if they rolled out something similar for those folks. ASR has been a huge success on the doc side...

[QuantumRN]

When the program rolled out in 2008, it did include nurses. They have since discontinued the nurses in the ASR program since nurses were close to being overstrength.

One of the PA's in my unit will be finishing up school soon. He took a bonus last year and said that his obligation is longer now. I have no idea how it works, all I know is my PQR has my service obligation date as the last day of the month in the year I turn 60 years old and specifically states no 8 year contract was executed. Guess I'm in for life. LOL

[notyetdead]

One of the PA's in my unit will be finishing up school soon. He took a bonus last year and said that his obligation is longer now.
Makes sense. In MC, with very few exceptions, any time-incurring benefits need to be paid off consecutively, not concurrently.

[Polo08816]

And I'm standing right here...

Anyway, really, it depends on what you want your end goal to be. Depending on the level of degree you want to achieve in Pharmacology, the Guard can be very helpful. We can pay up to 4500 per year of TA for schooling, up to and including your Masters.

We do not do doctorates...

You will also get the GI Bill. I do not believe the ASR program mentioned includes Pharmacologists, but I might be wrong. Might be worth talking to your state AMEDD recruiter.

I do not know what the state programs are in your area, but you might be able to have additional tuition costs waived or paid by your State. You'll need to talk to your State Education Officer to get that info. The number can be found under the "Education" tab on www.virtualarmory.com. Check it out.

Hope you get your questions answered, and that this is putting you on the right path to getting the info you need.

Just a clarification...

Pharmacologists are not actually PharmDs. Pharmacologists refer to those who have a PhD in Pharmacology. It's mainly a theoretical and laboratory specialization.

PharmDs are pharmacists that actually practice pharmacy.

As I understand it, Pharmacology does not fall under any part of AMEDD while Pharmacists (PharmD) would.