Serious Predicament

[overcome.101]

Well, as some of you might know, ive had my SWCC contract for a few months and have been going all out getting into shape to ship out, ship date is in October. However, i recently graduated college in the spring and as a long shot sent a few applications out to PA schools, right before I enlisted. (Physicians Assistant for those unfamiliar.) Never thought id get in but i had a good GPA and a good amount of time as an EMT. Anyways i was put on the wait list at one and just found out i got a spot! So im absolutely torn between dropping out of DEP and going to PA school, as that has always been my desired job. It would undoubtedly make me feel like a deserter and i cant stand the feeling of dropping such a honorable commitment, i feel like id let so many fellow soldiers down. One option is to go become a PA and then join back in as a commissioned officer, but I want to be SWCC more than anything else in the military. At this point im seriously considering going to school because i dont want that hanging over me in SWCC school, baggage is not a good thing to have. I know this is totally my decision but what do you guys think? Anything to make me feel better about the situation is nice.
Thanks a lot, you guys are awesome, this forum has been of great privilege.
Nick

[MrParker]

Me personally, I would do the PA school, get your education first. Then worry about the rest. Nothing in the military or life for that matter is guaranteed and even more so in the military. Say you join up, make SWCC then get out, how much school will you have to re-do? Will it be harder to get in? You will spend a lot of time away from the school life and that subject matter making it hard to get back into it. My opinion, like every one else's is just an opinion but having done the military and then doing all my college afterwards, knowing what I know now, school first and then it can never be taken away.

[leahy_j]

Do what you want. I'm sure they would rather have you drop while in DEP than drop while in SWCC.

[firsttimeeverytime]

it is a big decision, if that has been your dream though then you should go for it...do not feel bad about getting out of DEP...you arent letting anyone down...if this is going to bother you in SWCC school then you are right that you dont need any distractions...you need to do what you will be more passionate about and what you believe you are called do, whatever that is..

[jumpingbum]

Effectively, 18D school IS PA school, compressed into 18 months. So, it depends whether you want to drink from a firehose and have the military pay for it, or learn at a less arduous pace and pay for it yourself.

Just a thought...

[overcome.101]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys...I looked into the 18D thing, it is similar to PA school, but Id still be just a Medic or Doc in the Navy. And by no means would it be less arduous to go to PA school in the civilian world vs. 18D in the Navy, and PA school is generally 24 months, like a compressed Med school. I have a good friend who recently graduated and said it was 8-5 everyday for a didactic (classroom) year and 60+ hr work weeks in the 2nd year for clinical rotations. He is still trying to adjust back to "normal" life. I hate to say im more concerned about my future career and not my military career, but i am quite partial to it. Im on par with MrParker and would like to get school out of the way now while im in that mindset, there are issues that may arise if i try to get in a few years from now. Id still only be mid-late 20's when i graduate so id still be able to go SWCC then to. Man id really hate to have to break this to my recruiter, hes put a lot of effort in my enlistment so far, hes definitely one of the good ones. But he will understand.

[oldswabbie]

Overcome, this is one of those things in life that you have to sit back and think about everything thats involved. I would honestly say that you need to do what is right for you. If you believe that PA School is what you need to do ~ then do this. There is no shame in that at all. When you complete your school and if you still desire SWCC ~ then by all means do it!

Dont worry about what WE think. That really doesnt matter, its not our life...nor our decision...nor do we have to live with the ramifications of that decision.

I will support your decision in whatever you decide to do.

OldSwabbie

[t t]

Anything to make me feel better about the situation is nice.
Thanks a lot, you guys are awesome, this forum has been of great privilege.
Nick

Don't be a stranger - what you can learn here can continue while you are in school - in other words - it sounds like you are saying good-bye -- you'll still have the internet wont you?

So - whatever you choose - stick around.

t t

[dive doc]

Overcome check your PM.

[jumpingbum]

Well, I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again, but I'm pretty sure that from 18 D school to being a PA is a hop skip and a jump. And one isn't just qualified to be much much more than a medic (you're an SOC medic) in the Navy, you're also qualified to be such in the Army. I don't think there is anything in any service that comes close to 18D school. (please correct me if I'm wrong here guys...) I know for a fact (my husband went through the school) that it is not an 8 to 5 day in the classroom for the 18D guys... That is why I called it "drinking from a firehose." It was a quote from another medic who went through it...

As I said, PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong...

[Courtenay]

Bum, you are not far off. My son has been through 18D, although the short school and the long school are a bit different. I believe you are probably thinking about the longer school. Both are intensive medical training, no doubt. I am not sure for the guys who are 18D qualified how it translates to the civilian world though.

Personally, if you have the way to pay for it, I think you should go to PA school, overcome. I don't believe it is a decision you will ever regret.

[dive doc]

The unfortunate part is that more and more the guys are not being sent to the 18D long course in Bragg. Not even close to it. Big Army is taking more and more of the slots and it is proving more and more difficult for the Teams to get the guys into Bragg for the long course. So in substitute guys end up doing the SOCM or short course which is nowhere as comprehensive as the year long+ 18D course, which as already been mentioned is in a class of its own for the instruction and medical training that it provides.

[MrParker]

To add to what Courtney said, if you do the PA school and then you do SWCC, get the GI bill. When ever you get out you can use the GI bill to futher your education while still having the means to live a good life with your PA degree for work. Trust me, the GI bill is nice but not all it's cracked up to be and you will still have to work to make ends meet, most of the time. Now if you have the education to have a good job, make good money, AND get the GI bill as a little extra cash flow, you'll be sitting pretty. EDUCATION FIRST! (Just my thing now days...)

[oldswabbie]

To add to what Courtney said, if you do the PA school and then you do SWCC, get the GI bill. When ever you get out you can use the GI bill to futher your education while still having the means to live a good life with your PA degree for work. Trust me, the GI bill is nice but not all it's cracked up to be and you will still have to work to make ends meet, most of the time. Now if you have the education to have a good job, make good money, AND get the GI bill as a little extra cash flow, you'll be sitting pretty. EDUCATION FIRST! (Just my thing now days...)

When I was younger I was a fool. I lost opportunities for fully paid College education. I didnt know it but Colonel Ruhsam pulled strings and The Marine Corps was giving me a 4 year Scholarship and then onto OCS.... I enlisted in the Navy... Goodbye Scholarship and one very pissed off Marine Colonel.

My parents offered to pay for my college... but.. again.. Enlisted in the Navy.

Upon Discharge I was entitled to the Vietnam Era Vets GI Bill ~ I let it expire and didnt use a blasted penny of it.

I ended up having to pay for my college out of my own pocket. Get whatever education you can WHEN YOU CAN. Without it you are fighting a tough battle... a loosing battle. My Stepson barely got his GED and is happy when he makes $12.00 hr.

I'm with Mr. Parker

OldSwabbie

[overcome.101]

Well, I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again, but I'm pretty sure that from 18 D school to being a PA is a hop skip and a jump. And one isn't just qualified to be much much more than a medic (you're an SOC medic) in the Navy, you're also qualified to be such in the Army. I don't think there is anything in any service that comes close to 18D school. (please correct me if I'm wrong here guys...) I know for a fact (my husband went through the school) that it is not an 8 to 5 day in the classroom for the 18D guys... That is why I called it "drinking from a firehose." It was a quote from another medic who went through it...

As I said, PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong...



Well i would say its apples to oranges, and ive looked into the curriculum for 18D and it is similar to PA but the respective applications are quite different. 18D is primarily focused on emergency, trauma, battlefield medical treatment of sorts, as well as more generalized care. But PA school encompasses the entire scope of practice for the medical model. Anywhere from psychiatry, surgery, dermatology, emerg. medicine, internal med., radiology, plastic surgery, pediatrics, ob/gyn, urology, neurology etc. you name it. This is what med school students study in 4 years of med school, and then go on to specialize another 4 years or so in residency in any single specialty. A PA can choose any specialty to practice, and if you dont like one, you can switch to another, a big advantage over MD's. Either way you have to learn, and do clinical rotations in nearly each and every specialty.
I say 8 to 5 which is just classroom/lab, my buddy had to study an additional 6-10 hrs after class each day as well to keep up and he was average.
Like i said, im sure 18D is not a cake walk either, but i think is hard to say one is "easier than the other." Bottom line is 18D would only make me a Doc in the military, and would not transfer back out into the civilian world. A PA-C out here would mean i could practice in the military or out here as a doctor. And joining after graduating would mean payback for my student loans anyway.
Either way, there both like drinking from a fire hose, but you can still drink cant you...lesser men/women must have made it through.

[oldswabbie]

Well, as you can tell Overcome, every single one of us want the best for you...we ALL want to see you suceed in life. We also want to see you happy in what you are doing. How can you loose?

:)

OldSwabbie

[overcome.101]

Well, as you can tell Overcome, every single one of us want the best for you...we ALL want to see you suceed in life. We also want to see you happy in what you are doing. How can you loose?

:)

OldSwabbie

Doesn't sound like i can lose. Selfishly i just wanted to hear that i wouldn't be frowned on for dropping out of DEP, and you guys as usual, take no time to offer wonderful advice, even though its strictly a personal matter. I got some great viewpoints i wouldn't have thought of on my own. I fully plan on doing time with you all in the future, and be even more of an asset with advanced medical practice. But the acceptance seems to be a hint to go forward with PA school. Ill have to take my recruiter out to dinner.

[williada]

Overcome.101, I don't know anyone here, but after reading through the thread, I had to speak up. Having not served in the Navy, I'm not qualified to encourage you one way or the other, and it sounds like you've made your decision. I do want to wish you luck and tell you just how fortunate you are.

You've got two tremendous opportunities available to you. Not only that, you can choose whichever you want and still do the other later! What an enviable position!! But, it sounds like you know that.

I would encourage you, though, to do everything you want to do or everything you think you want to do while you're young. As you get older, time goes by faster and it's easy to put things off until it's difficult to fit them into your life. Do everything you can do!

[oldswabbie]

Doesn't sound like i can lose. Selfishly i just wanted to hear that i wouldn't be frowned on for dropping out of DEP, and you guys as usual, take no time to offer wonderful advice, even though its strictly a personal matter. I got some great viewpoints i wouldn't have thought of on my own. I fully plan on doing time with you all in the future, and be even more of an asset with advanced medical practice. But the acceptance seems to be a hint to go forward with PA school. Ill have to take my recruiter out to dinner.

Yea, I think you're doing the right thing as well as others on here. You are young, you have the time. In the post above this Williada said pretty much the same thing. When you get to your 50's life isnt so open and shut anymore in the options you have. Take these opportunities, seize them and go with them. Your TRUE friends will always want the best for you.

oldswabbie

[jumpingbum]

Either way, there both like drinking from a fire hose, but you can still drink cant you...lesser men/women must have made it through.

I guess I should have said GOT through it. I did say he was a SF medic. And I'm REALLY sorry to hear that the Army is not sharing its slots in the 'long course.'

I would be interested in knowing how long there have been two 18D courses because as far as I knew, there was an 18D course and then there's the 'regular' medic course, both of which are held at Fort Sam Houston...

[overcome.101]

Overcome.101, I don't know anyone here, but after reading through the thread, I had to speak up. Having not served in the Navy, I'm not qualified to encourage you one way or the other, and it sounds like you've made your decision. I do want to wish you luck and tell you just how fortunate you are.

You've got two tremendous opportunities available to you. Not only that, you can choose whichever you want and still do the other later! What an enviable position!! But, it sounds like you know that.

I would encourage you, though, to do everything you want to do or everything you think you want to do while you're young. As you get older, time goes by faster and it's easy to put things off until it's difficult to fit them into your life. Do everything you can do!

Thanks for your kind words...i really appreciate it. That goes for everyone. I participate in several forums but this one has always been special. I realize ive got a wonderful opportunity either route i go, so its hard choosing the best. Insight from those in a community such as this is worth its weight in gold. Among it are soldiers i have the utmost respect for, the young and aspiring, and the older and wise. Ive got a small taste of the military world after being in DEP and learning about the NSW community, and i will be back to serve.
I sent my deposit to reserve my seat for PA school. I will be around as best i can to keep up on the rest of the community.
For those of you serving or soon to be, go long and go strong!
Thank you all!

[oldswabbie]

Good For you Overcome! We are proud of you! Education is always a good thing, especially higher education like this. I think you will make a GREAT PA!

Keep training and when you are done with school and if you still feel led... then go for your dreams and serve.

OldSwabbie