septicshock
Unverified
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2018
- Messages
- 4
BLUF: Would serving in NGSF Support as either a 68W or 35-series (possibly SOT-A if a 35P) be incompatible with simultaneously being in any kind of STEM graduate school? If any of you have attempted it, do you regret anything, have any suggestions, and/or know of any pitfalls to avoid?
Howdy gentlemen,
I am currently a pre-med junior with the goal of attending an MD/PhD program (7-8yr combined program for research-oriented students). However, I have a strong desire to serve in the military and have been seriously considering enlisting after college and pursuing the non-medical portions of graduate study while in NG Group Support. Is this feasible? I am currently a volunteer EMT in my free-time and am planning on getting my NRP before I graduate. I understand that I am almost guaranteed to be delayed by several years in graduating due to deployments. However, serving in NG Group Support seems like a way that I could both serve my country while I am young, healthy, and don’t have any dependents, and also move forward in my long-term career, even if it is not at the fastest pace possible. Is that the case?
Below are answers to questions that I believe that y’all would likely have for me. All of my answers are based off of information that I have read or seen/discussed, and if any of it is wrong or misinformed, please let me know.
Why not active duty?
No guarantee of slots in a particular unit or deployments. Peace-time army, much higher chance of spending 3-4 years with no real use of my MOS skills.
Why special operations?
Special operations seems to attract high quality soldiers who are focused on the mission, deploy regularly, and hold themselves to a high standard of performance, both in their skills and physically. Those are the kind of guys I want to work with.
Why not go SOST or other similar units if you have a medical interest, once you get your MD and PhD?
Two reasons-
OPTEMPO vs. Research
Thanks for taking the time to read my post,
septicshock
Howdy gentlemen,
I am currently a pre-med junior with the goal of attending an MD/PhD program (7-8yr combined program for research-oriented students). However, I have a strong desire to serve in the military and have been seriously considering enlisting after college and pursuing the non-medical portions of graduate study while in NG Group Support. Is this feasible? I am currently a volunteer EMT in my free-time and am planning on getting my NRP before I graduate. I understand that I am almost guaranteed to be delayed by several years in graduating due to deployments. However, serving in NG Group Support seems like a way that I could both serve my country while I am young, healthy, and don’t have any dependents, and also move forward in my long-term career, even if it is not at the fastest pace possible. Is that the case?
Below are answers to questions that I believe that y’all would likely have for me. All of my answers are based off of information that I have read or seen/discussed, and if any of it is wrong or misinformed, please let me know.
Why not active duty?
No guarantee of slots in a particular unit or deployments. Peace-time army, much higher chance of spending 3-4 years with no real use of my MOS skills.
Why special operations?
Special operations seems to attract high quality soldiers who are focused on the mission, deploy regularly, and hold themselves to a high standard of performance, both in their skills and physically. Those are the kind of guys I want to work with.
Why not go SOST or other similar units if you have a medical interest, once you get your MD and PhD?
Two reasons-
OPTEMPO vs. Research
- SOSTs, SORTs, etc. are high-demand, low-density asset, and I would probably not be able to run a functioning research lab and be in those units, even in the Guard/Reserves.
- Will hopefully/likely have a family by 32 years old, and the stresses of a high deployment rate would likely not be conducive to the healthiest marriage or family life (divorce rate in SOF community is as high as 90%, I have read).
- Limited officer opportunities in SOF support from my reading.
- Interested in doing a particular job rather than being the manager of the guys doing the job
- No disrespect meant to officers, I know they are a very valuable part of the military system, just doesn’t appeal to me at this time, especially for the fields that I am interested in.
- Lots of hard-chargers in NGSF community, want to work with guys like that
- No effective guarantee of deploying/using MOS in normal Guard units.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post,
septicshock