So You Want to Be a MILITARY DOCTOR [Ep. 5] 

Like this video? Check out our full So You Want to Be playlist (ru-vid.com/group/PL2ADAFpTg5aaDaa9GX90-DO0aBsGLY8jQ) and let me know what other specialties you want me to cover next! So far we got neurosurgery and ortho up next in queue.

I'm HPSP. Correction-we do NOT do basic military training, or BMT. We do a modified version of officers training that varies slightly by branch but is farrrrr different from basic. It's also worth nothing that while practicing (after residency) civilian definitely pays better, military residencies actually pays better. (About 70k). They also generally aren't as hellacious because of additional regulations (welcome to the military!) so in general the hours are better. IN GENERAL. You'll also rarely be deployed basically unless you want it. Think about it- they just spent 200k-400k paying for you to go to school, then 3-5 years training you. Do you really think they'd risk you getting shot after all that?

I was in Military Medicine for about 8 years and the best way to prepare for it is to look at each task/challenge as an opportunity to learn new skills and explore different places rather than just not getting your way all the time. You also will have a much larger scope than civilian practice and it really can't be beat for that. If I could go back in I definitely would.

I love how when he said “captain in the army and Air Force” it showed a picture of a Marine.

My advice and recommendation is complete your medical school, internship and residency in civilian hospitals. The clinical training and specialty training programs are more robust in civilian teaching hospitals. After gaining your board certification, you can join the military, preferably in the reserves already qualified as a specialist doctor (with higher rank and pay) and just focus on adapting to military life, non-medical duties. Trying to juggle your specialist training and military obligations is not easy at times, and the endpoint is you want to get board certified.

For those not familiar with the military rank system, a Navy lieutenant is equivalent to an Air Force/Army captain. A Navy captain is equivalent to an Air Force/ Army colonel (06).

3 CRITICAL points missing 1. Your years in residency DO NOT count for your time obligations. Your 4 years for HPSP and 7 years for USUHS wont start until you are board certified. Therefore, expect between 7 to 12 years of your life to be dedicated to military practice. 2. It's worth mentioning that you will not work with billing and insurances. Everyone you see is required by UCMJ (United Code of Military Justice) law to follow your diagnosis, treatment plans and prescriptions, your patients are regularly drug tested and are required to maintain a healthy weight and exercise daily. You wont be up late after seeing patients dinking around with insurance companies and wont have to worry about denying people a specific test because they're not covered. It's a life of pure doctoring your patients. That's a double edged sword though because when you get out you WONT have the medicine as a business experience like your civilian peers. 3. For those thinking "At 12 years plus my 4 at USUHS I might as well go to retirement," bare in mind your years for residency and school will not count for time in service BUT will be added to your pension. That means assuming you have no prior service time you will retire 20 years from the date you graduate residencie and at that time they will also add 7-12 years onto your retirement essentially taking your pension and adding to it. Now I'm grandfathered into the old half pay at 20, three-quarters at 30, full pay at 40 plan so I unfortunately dont know how the new retirement plan works but the years applied is still true if you want to make it to retirement. EDIT: I'm reading some HPSP recipients making claims that you wont be deployed. You WILL go where you are told and when you are told. Always have the mindset that anyday you will be give a call to serve. Be prepared to engage the enemy and fulfill your duties as a physician. NEVER accept the mentality that you are just using the services as a means to enrich your life. You ARE an American Soldier/Airmen/Sailor! If you're not willing to risk your life for your brothers and sister in the box then stay the hell out and be a civilian doctor, you're not wanted. You love the military, you love being a military doctor, you want to serve because you want to be part of the most elite force on the planet. Dont ever take advice from someone who talks about how easy or posh its gonna be. Go in with the mentality that you want every hardship, deployment, struggle and trial that can possible happen because you want to serve for good or bad. If you're like that then I welcome you to my elite family, we need you and we want you.

For Canadians: In canada its a 2 to 1 system. So every 1 month of schooling equates to 2 months of service. You get a salary of $62,000/year during med school. Average pay for doctors is worse than if you were a civilian doctor.

Wow! One of the most useful videos I have ever watched on the topic. Solid content and expertise. Will forward to my son who is deployed as a medical resource in the National Guard and aspires to finish college and become an army doctor. Thanks again for the valuable information and clarity.

Thank you so much for this!!! I have been seriously considering military medicine and appreciate the info!!!

Thank you so much Kevin for making this channel. It's made a huge difference to my approach in life in general. My productivity is incredible. I would have never thought this would be possible! I've got some video requests for you: - new suggestions for books (I've read all the ones you've mentioned so far!) - how to keep up to date with the world's news when we have endless options to filter through. I would like to have a well rounded view of the world but it's not easy to filter through the junk/false news. - how to keep up to date with the advancing of medicine. What magazines, websites etc. do you read?

Being a military physician has been my goal since I graduated high school. I’ve volunteered at a VA clinic and shadowed with an Air Force dermatologist. It’s definitely a different world from civilian, but it’s amazing in different ways. Another interesting aspect is the fact that serving as a gmo increases your chances of getting into a specialty. The dermatologist I shadowed with was in the bottom 15% of his medical school class, and served as a flight surgeon for 8 years and was then accepted into one of the highest ranked dermatology residencies in the country because of his extended service as a gmo. Also, if you stay in past your service requirement, you receive retention bonuses to entice you to remain serving. In addition to the $150-200000 you make as a physician, you also receive up to $400,000 every four years after your service obligation is up. You may not live as well off as some civilian practitioners, but it’s safe to say you will still be living quite comfortably. USUHS is my number 1 school of choice and I’m looking forward to applying in just over a year!

Can you make a video for international students getting into medical school? And I just want to remind you “You are an inspiration!!!”

You missed one. The FAP (Financial Assistance Program). I attended a civilian medical school and completed civilian residencies and fellowships. During my 2nd year of residency, I learned about the FAP and decided to go for it. Basically, I got commissioned as a Captain (USAF) and started receiving the Captain's base pay. This continued throughout my fellowship. When I completed fellowship, attended COT (Commissioned Officer Trainig) and subsequently went on active duty. I worked in the USA and in Europe. The "payback" was each year of "sponsorship" plus one. (4.5 years total in my case) It was a great experience. No regrets.

I never knew about this path, I think I found something to strive for while in college. Thank you!

Always look forward to these videos and this one is close to home.

Great video. Looking forward to you doing one of these for psychiatry

i am still waiting for “so you want to be a pediatrician”

very impressed you did an episode on this. This is what I am hoping to do.

I'm glad I watched this video. I'm considering going into one of the military med school programs, and this was informative.

Wow. Thank you so much for the video. I'm actually interested. I'm currently getting my nursing degree, but medicine has always interested me. 😊

Thanks for doing this video. I will definitely consider this when the time comes.

This is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you. I’m planning on being in the Navy as a physician.

Thank you so much, I had been researching this career for awhile and this video gave me the summary I needed

I’ve been researching about this for a while now thank you so much

This is just what I needed! Thank you so much!

(As a current Active Duty medic) After I get out active duty I plan to transfer reserves, finish my BA and apply to HPSP in my home state, graduate with a specialty in Family Medicine and perform my residency as needs of The Army. Now then, alright! - come on MS1-4's, start throwing rocks at my dreams!

Love this series! I would also love to see a video about how to get either into medical school or into medical recidency in the USA as an internation student/international medical graduate. I could imagine moving to the USA to enter medical school but I also kind of want to take advantage of the mostly "free" college education here in Germany. Is it better to move to the USA to join medical school or can you take advantage of the inexpensive education in your homecountry and move to the USA to start a medical recidency afterwards. Thanks for all the videos you put up, they are truly helpful and interesting as someone who is considering studying medicine after I graduate from high school!

Hot damn, thank you man. Again another excelent video.

Military compensation may be "lower", but large portions of it, such as BAH (basic allowance for Housing) and BAS (basic allowance for subsistence, i.e. food) are not taxed, leaving a larger take-home pay. Then there are a lot of free benefits such as healthcare, dental, gyms recreation and entertainment. Later, there are lots and lots of VA benefits: GI Bill, disability, VA home loans etc. Military service is the gift that keeps on giving.

I’ve been going through a lot these past couples years but I’ve always wanted to help people and I see as being a Marine medic as a way for me to do that. Thank you a lot this video introduced me to things I didn’t really know and it helped motivate me to keep going.

Dr. Jubbal, great video. Thank you for helping to spread the word. There is one other lesser known pathway to attend medical school. Those who have been selected to attend the United States Military Academy (West Point). Cadets can apply to medical school after completing their four years of undergraduate education. While by no means guaranteed, those who achieve good grades, successfully engage in research, and show the requisite level of discipline and planning have gone on to become medical doctors.. Some have even made it to top-tier medical schools (Harvard, Stanford, Yale).

It’s funny I finished my contract as active duty enlisted. The docs on my ship were always the most laid back and cool. Makes me consider going into medicine

Thought about that as an career option but pleding myself 21 years is a very long time! Nice video!

"So You Want to be ..." is a fascinating series of videos.

I really liked the video because I have been waiting for it all along✌️

Awesome video! Could you cover pediatrics, emergency medicine or anesthesia in the next “so you want to be” video? Thanks for the content! 😁

Just found this! You answered all my questions, thanks :)

You are a doctor and you can create such beautiful animations, teach me master.

I want to add something here: first, I had a miserable time until I did some soul-searching. I got out after 7 years and wish I had not. Here is the thing: people who complain about military service don't realize that ANY organization will suck in the beginning. The key is in remembering that if you work hard, get the right connections and behave yourself, you will advance and thrive. Expect shitty commands in the beginning. You ain't gonna be on staff in Bethesda or San Diego. More like Diego Garcia. But, hang in there. Pay: it used to be that doctors do their time, get out and make more money than civilian counterparts. Uh, no longer. Here is what you don't have to deal with as a military doctor: malpractice insurance, managed care, healthcare insurance for you and dependents, no pre-authorization bullshit and so-forth. Stick it out 20 years, you can retire, receive a pension and continue in civilian practice. Or stay in until retirement. If you hate patients (like I do), you can go an admin. pathway. The possibilities are endless. Want to be a flight surgeon? You can be part of aviation. Like SEALS? Then, you can do undersea medicine. I wish I had known this 20 years ago. I'm not gonna blow smoke up your ass: much of it completely sucks. But ask yourself this: how is that different from civilian medicine these days? Doctors don't get respect anymore. But military doctors who make an actual difference as support staff? Different story! I miss the uniform. However miserable I was, it filled me with pride. And now: I just spend my off-time drinking alone in the basement while staring at a brick wall. I rest my case.

Your site is so dope, great idea 👏

I wanted to do this. I think there's an age limit. I REALLY admire the folks who did this.😊❤👨🏾‍⚕️

Omg, thank uuuuuu for this video

Great video!

Omg i didn’t know that thank you so much

Wow, you’ve actually managed to get me hooked to consider this as a career. I just don’t know if I’m up to the challenge if that’s what you’ll call it. If I can handle premed alright, do I have a shot? I’m an Eagle Scout as well which is what kinda motivates me to consider this more than to just “get a good MCAT score and good to a good medical school, residency, etc.” It’s so different but yet I still get my license and do what I want in practicing medicine.

Excellent video

Can you please do "So you want to be a pediatrician?" Thank you 😊

The timing of this video was perfect! Thanks to my AED org on my campus I was able to meet and speak to a aerospace doctor who went through the military route for med school. This definitely help better understand the process. Though I’m surprised you didn’t mention the Navy’s medical ships?

I would say a big thing is that as a Medical officer you need to have a love for teaching. I've been an enlisted military medic for 10 years now and the best physicians I have worked with were even better teachers. I've been able to do small surgical procedures such as toenail removals, cyst removals, and even vasectomies because of some stellar medical officers. Please do not become a medical officer in the armed forces unless you would like to teach a medic how to do something cool and mildly invasive while you sit back and offer help where needed. we love that shit.

This is the best series please add more l

Hey, I really enjoy the 'so you want to be'-video series. Could you do neurosurgery next?

Great vid, 2 small critiques, the image of the Army captain at 4:45 is actually a Marine non-commissioned officer uniform, and also in Navy HPSP you come in at the equivalent rank of second lieutenant for the Navy, Ensign (O-1). You do not mention the civilian deferment for residency for the Navy, and that's a good thing because it raises more questions than answers- ENS Dunne, USNR MC, HPSP

Dr. Jubbal, can a person with hyperhidrosis be a doctor? Your channel is amazing!

this is exciting

My dad retired from the Army so I grew up going to military hospital all my life. I just started going to civilian hospitals 3yrs ago. I’ve shadowed both military and civilian docs. I could see myself being a military doc or being a civilian doc on a military base

I'm from the philippines, and looking to be a military physician myself! Loved this video! Do you think you could do one on emergency medicine?

Informative and very easy to digest. Excellent! Perhaps you could do neurosurgery next?

not in the US, hate exercise, short and scared of war....yeah lets watch this video!

Am so happy for the drills yea it’s going to be the best people making me do 100 push ups ya

Hey ! Please do a Video about being a doctor working for the Doctors Without Borders

wow that is amazing

PLEASE do a “So you want to be an anesthesiologist “ !!!

I am a military medical student in Turkey. It is a very difficult job but very proud.

Please, I’m about start MD school, do one for orthopedic surgeons especially in light of the step1 change. Thanks 🙏

Yes thanks

Pls do a "so you want to be" for Orthopedic Surgery. The series is enlightening.

A few corrections. Army doctors/PAs assigned to a battalion are deployed constantly because if the unit goes, they go. Also, the military pays massive bonuses to medical officers.

Please do so you want to be an OB-GYN! That is my goal and I really need help on how to get there. I love your videos can't wait until I become a dr.!

I would like to see "so you want to be an oncologist". Btw, your whole channel is GREAT

I really hope we have that here in the Philippines.

Medical school insider...if you reading this comment.plz do “So you want to be a pediatrician”

"Captain in the army and airforce", shows enlisted Marine lmao🤦‍♂️

Thanks love your vidoes and all you guys do. Please can you cover Trauma and Critical Surgery (Surgeon

Please do " So you want to be a orthopaedic surgeon" 😊😊

thank you very much You have really helped me though I am ugandan and most things are different here

Man, I wish they would do this for the field of psychology or pedagogy. 😅 Would help a lot!

I plan on going to the military but I also wanted to help other in need so I think being a medic is a fine job for me.

Could you do a So you want to be a Pediatrician. Please! By the way your videos are really helpful

Please do neurosurgery and radiology next!!

Cool vid

He forgot to mention the National Guard route for medical school.

Dr. J, I would be really interested if you were do cover the concept of tactical medicine.

A couple of questions. How does military training translate to civilian life once you have completed your required service? Does someone with a significant research background prior to medical school have the option to pursue a research residency? What does a residency for military medicine look like? Even though the compensation is lower, does that not matter because the military usually pays for your housing and food based on where you’re stationed (essentially, you’re just pocketing a bunch of money)? Would love to have some feedback! Great video!

1:55 You get paid less but you don't have student loans and are given an allowance while in school to cover your other expenses. This definitely looks like the better option to me. Edit: After finishing the video, I'm still interested in this. It would be a unique and interesting experience to have.

I totally embraced it

Wow I think this is what I want to do

Can you do peadatrician please Love your videos btw

Can you do a "so you wanna be a medical lab technologist"? I think it's an underrated profession yet alot of people choose that course :(

Hello! Do you think the school where you took your prerequisites matter when applying for medical school? I’m starting my undergrad next fall but I don’t think I can afford going to a University, only community college. Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!

Coming out debt free is a definite plus. My Family Practice doc once told me that had he not coming through the military he wouldn't be able to afford to be in family practice. Debt would be too high.

As a Navy Corpsman I worked with almost only Navy Doctors. Yes I worked with some Air Force ones too. The Navy if matches to Family or Internal Medicine you have greater chances of not being a GMO. I worked in a Navy Emergency treatment facility like a 13 bed ED however the attendings where either FP or GMOs no one trained in EM. I also worked FP, IM, Peds, and Flight medicine. One of the GMOs who did a surgery internship said the patient load was lower at the military hospital than her final surgery rotations as a 4th year. Two last things the FP and IM doctors got more trauma training and IM got exposure to GYN. Last patients didn't have billing which is dramatically different experience.

Specialties of interest are ophthalmology, otolaryngology, psychiatry, dermatology, pulmonology, radiation oncology, (nuclear & interventional) radiology, immunology, & toxicology.

Hi. I think that a lot of International students are very interested in getting into med school both from their countries' Bachelor's Degree programs and US's undergraduate programs. Some say, you can even get into med school by having an English major. I would appreciate it if you explain everything in detail by focusing more on requisite classes, too!

I've been thinking about joining the military for sometime now. I'm a BSN student.

Just Commenting for the algorithm 🧡

DO ONE ABOUT THE EMERGENCY ROOM!!!

So you want to be an ophthalmologist. Are they really considered “surgeons”. Would love a dedicated video on them!!

Can you plz do dermatology! Thx

Video for those going into the medical field after the military. More specifically the fact that we are starting much later than everyone else. As well as the fact the we didn't do medical specific jobs