Good evening Ladies and Gentleman,
This is my first post on Air Warriors. I have read many forms on different topics and I have been very grateful for the knowledge I have taken from all the different walks of life everyone has been on. This will be a long post but will contain all the relevant information needed to help me with the question listed above.
I graduated this past December with my Bachelors in Finance. While in college, I was in AROTC for a semester and then transferred to NROTC where I stayed until I was administratively separated from the program. I was awarded a scholarship in August of 2021. In December 2021 I was suspended from the school I was attending, resulting in a PRB and the decision to separate. It was not until April 2022 that this decision made its way through the Navy and I received the paperwork signing off on my dismissal from the program. In between the PRB decision and the sign-off from the Navy, I was suspended from participating in the program. I found a way to continue with my education which only pushed my graduation back by a year rather than 3 (2 year suspension plus 1 year to finish the program).
While I was in NROTC, I was an average MIDN. I had my moments of tardiness at unit events but I always came dressed and ready to perform the best I could. I had always wanted to fly but with 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, the delay of my graduation, and the desire to go into medicine, I feel that going aviation will not work both due to time and the investment both on my side and the Navy's.
Recently I have decided to go forward with the first steps to OCS/ODS. I have started the medical paperwork because I know that this takes the longest to get straightened out regardless of what direction I move forward with. I have been upset with myself for how I was dismissed from the program and not being able to finish what I started which was to commission URL. I am also aware of my desire to go into medicine and I am aware of the HPSP and have spoken to a recruiter for this program as well.
My question to you all is should I move forward and go SWO for 4 years and then transition to medical school or should I go through the HPSP program and while serving my active duty tours on a carrier earn my SWO pin? From the research I have done and conversations had, both routes will take 11-12 years in total. I do see the appeal of going SWO first and then medical school because I have the opportunity to work civilian and the pay would be much more than military medicine. The downside to this is medical school in my 30s.
I talked with one of my old company officers and he explained how if I went the HPSP route and then to SWO it would be similar to aviation where the Navy might not be keen on losing on the investment made on top of losing rank.
Any advice given would be greatly appreciated as I am extremely torn by the decision.
Very respectfully,
CrazyAl1
This is my first post on Air Warriors. I have read many forms on different topics and I have been very grateful for the knowledge I have taken from all the different walks of life everyone has been on. This will be a long post but will contain all the relevant information needed to help me with the question listed above.
I graduated this past December with my Bachelors in Finance. While in college, I was in AROTC for a semester and then transferred to NROTC where I stayed until I was administratively separated from the program. I was awarded a scholarship in August of 2021. In December 2021 I was suspended from the school I was attending, resulting in a PRB and the decision to separate. It was not until April 2022 that this decision made its way through the Navy and I received the paperwork signing off on my dismissal from the program. In between the PRB decision and the sign-off from the Navy, I was suspended from participating in the program. I found a way to continue with my education which only pushed my graduation back by a year rather than 3 (2 year suspension plus 1 year to finish the program).
While I was in NROTC, I was an average MIDN. I had my moments of tardiness at unit events but I always came dressed and ready to perform the best I could. I had always wanted to fly but with 2 knee surgeries on the same knee, the delay of my graduation, and the desire to go into medicine, I feel that going aviation will not work both due to time and the investment both on my side and the Navy's.
Recently I have decided to go forward with the first steps to OCS/ODS. I have started the medical paperwork because I know that this takes the longest to get straightened out regardless of what direction I move forward with. I have been upset with myself for how I was dismissed from the program and not being able to finish what I started which was to commission URL. I am also aware of my desire to go into medicine and I am aware of the HPSP and have spoken to a recruiter for this program as well.
My question to you all is should I move forward and go SWO for 4 years and then transition to medical school or should I go through the HPSP program and while serving my active duty tours on a carrier earn my SWO pin? From the research I have done and conversations had, both routes will take 11-12 years in total. I do see the appeal of going SWO first and then medical school because I have the opportunity to work civilian and the pay would be much more than military medicine. The downside to this is medical school in my 30s.
I talked with one of my old company officers and he explained how if I went the HPSP route and then to SWO it would be similar to aviation where the Navy might not be keen on losing on the investment made on top of losing rank.
Any advice given would be greatly appreciated as I am extremely torn by the decision.
Very respectfully,
CrazyAl1
