Aviator to Doctor

[Phantom Hawk]

Hello all, I have a question regarding medical programs in the Navy. Does anyone know if the HPSP scholarship is available to aviators after their flight commitment is up? If not, how have people switched from aviators to navy doctors in the past? I am curious as to the possibilities of being a naval aviator first and then attending medical school, if there are any. I found some good info searching through the forums already but would appreciate more feedback. Thanks a lot!

 

[Harrier Dude]

I know at least 2 of them. One was a P-3 NFO and the other was a navy MH-53 guy (and total douchebag). It is possible.

 

[Cordespc]

There's a Doc at NOMI who is a prior E-2C NFO. Definitely feasable, but may stall your career for a while. Said Doc went from LCDR (over 12) to ENS in order to get in the program. He was reverted to LT upon completion, but that ain't much of a silver lining in my book.

Paul

 

[Harrier Dude]

The way it was explained to me is that you become an ensign again, and then go back where you were in rank when you graduate.

 

[Phantom Hawk]

Oh wow...Do either of you know what the name of the program they went through is called by chance?

 

[Cordespc]

Possibly....the Doc is a CDR now, so I am assuming he went through 10 or more years ago. Maybe things were different then, but this guy definitely didn't get LCDR back automatically.

He told me a funny story about walking around NASP (as an Ensign with wings and a dozen years' worth of fruit salad) and giving the 'what's up guys?' treatment to a couple of shoe LTs, forgetting his new rank. When they pulled him alongside he apologized, and tried to explain the mistake, but confused them worse. He said he just ended up laughing at the situation and walking away.

A very interesting career no doubt, but most of his peers from AOCS are a paygrade ahead of him now

 

[Brett327]

Possibly....the Doc is a CDR now, so I am assuming he went through 10 or more years ago. Maybe things were different then, but this guy definitely didn't get LCDR back automatically.

He told me a funny story about walking around NASP (as an Ensign with wings and a dozen years' worth of fruit salad) and giving the 'what's up guys?' treatment to a couple of shoe LTs, forgetting his new rank. When they pulled him alongside he apologized, and tried to explain the mistake, but confused them worse. He said he just ended up laughing at the situation and walking away.

A very interesting career no doubt, but most of his peers from AOCS are a paygrade ahead of him now

Random LTs demanding respect from other JOs need to be b!tch slapped, then punched repeatedly in the larynx.

Brett

 

[Goober]

Yeah, I got that as a JG passing some shoe LT in Norfolk at the exchange one day years back. Gave the customary head nod/"How's it going" and kept walking (I'm in bag). Pleasant...nothing derogatory at all. About 3-4 secs later I hear from behind "You know, that's not very respectful..." Turned around to see who was getting beat up on, and surprisingly it was said shoe directing comments at me. My ENS buddy who was with me gave him the old half-ass-pop-one-off to him. I on the other hand gave him the customary mustang "GTFO" look and went on my way. JOs work WITH each other, not FOR each other - anyone who thinks otherwise needs their priorities re-examined. My take was that he doesn't see me down on the pier jacking up his O-1s when they walk down the brow, therefore the exchange parking lot coming back from lunch is all the same. I'd do it again and not think twice.

 

[Cordespc]

Random LTs demanding respect from other JOs need to be b!tch slapped, then punched repeatedly in the larynx.

Brett

Concur, however, I will still fire off a salute to random LTs even though they may think it unnecessary and/or gay. I figure since I'm expected to break some off for Marine O-3s, I might as well be consistent. Besides, with the number of junior Es running around this place that see no need to salute lowly 2ndLts and ENSs, it's safer to keep it proper IMO, at least at the TRACOM.

 

[Gatordev]

Concur, however, I will still fire off a salute to random LTs even though they may think it unnecessary and/or gay. I figure since I'm expected to break some off for Marine O-3s, I might as well be consistent. Besides, with the number of junior Es running around this place that see no need to salute lowly 2ndLts and ENSs, it's safer to keep it proper IMO, at least at the TRACOM.

Marines and the Tracom are a different animal. Right or wrong, that's the way it is.

 

[BigIron]

I know at least 2 of them. One was a P-3 NFO and the other was a navy MH-53 guy (and total douchebag). It is possible.

Who? PM me.....

 

[Rugger]

Aviator to Doc

There's a flight doc at one of the VT's that was a tomcat rio - he's a great dude. One of the Fallon flight docs was a A6 driver and LSO before he went to med school. Rumor has it that that guy is doing something at Pax - don't know if he's a TPS doc, or a random Navy doc. (Really after being an A6 LSO and a Fallon dude, can one really be just a random Navy anything?) Those dudes went thru the military medical school in Bethesda. There's also the HPSP program. My brother was an O4 select before he started med school (not a flyer). Now he's an ensign. When he graduates, he gets half of his time back for rank and pay purposes he'll be a LT over 3 (I think). Maybe being bumped back to being an Ensign or a LT would suck, but I think that being a physician should more than make up for it.

I think I know that 53 driver turned doctor type. I'm not super fond of him, but some think he's a rock star, some don't. I've heard he's a good doctor, FWIW.

Rugger

 

[Harrier Dude]

Maybe being bumped back to being an Ensign or a LT would suck, but I think that being a physician should more than make up for it.

Getting paid to go to medical school (vice paying out the a$$ yourself) is well worth the "demotion". It's a pretty sweet deal if that's what you want to do.

I think I know that 53 driver turned doctor type. I'm not super fond of him, but some think he's a rock star, some don't. I've heard he's a good doctor, FWIW.

There must be two of them. No rational person not in dire need of a urinalysis would think that the guy I'm talking about is either a rock star or a good doctor.

 

[Phantom Hawk]

Thanks a lot for the info everyone. It helps a lot!

 

[Stearmann4]

I am curious as to the possibilities of being a naval aviator first and then attending medical school

What, that's alll you're limiting yourself to? You've got a little time left in that schedule, maybe you can get BUD/s knocked out enroute to Pensacola?