Dotp

[DEJ]

What is DOTP (Dental Officer Training Program) like? I want to hear from Full-time Dental Officers who are currently serving the Canadian Force if it is possible.

 

1. How tough to get into this program?

2. How often are you (officers) asked to be deployed to the foreign countries?

3. How long do you usually stay in those countries once you are deployed?

4. How often are you asked to move to the other place (military base)?

5. What is the typical day like as a dental officer?

 

I have roughly planned my future schedule based on the information which I have got from the Canadian Force website and from a number of other websites.

 

1) Maintain a good GPA

2) Take DAT on November, 2015

3) Apply to dental schools in 2016 (my 3rd yr in university)

4) Apply to DOTP in 2017 if I would get (an) offer(s) from dental school(s)

5) Participate in the officer training program in my first summer break (between 1st yr and 2nd yr of dental school)

6) After graduation, serve the Canadian Force for 4 years

7) Apply to specialist program and if I would get the admission, study for 2~4 years (depending on my specialities)

8) Serve the Canadain Force for 2~4 more years after the completion of the specialist program

9) Keep serveing the Canadian Force or find another job after on ...

 

Thank you for your help and your valuable comments in advance!

 

[cookiemonster99]

What is DOTP (Dental Officer Training Program) like? I want to hear from Full-time Dental Officers who are currently serving the Canadian Force if it is possible.

 

1. How tough to get into this program?

2. How often are you (officers) asked to be deployed to the foreign countries?

3. How long do you usually stay in those countries once you are deployed?

4. How often are you asked to move to the other place (military base)?

5. What is the typical day like as a dental officer?

 

I have roughly planned my future schedule based on the information which I have got from the Canadian Force website and from a number of other websites.

 

1) Maintain a good GPA

2) Take DAT on November, 2015

3) Apply to dental schools in 2016 (my 3rd yr in university)

4) Apply to DOTP in 2017 if I would get (an) offer(s) from dental school(s)

5) Participate in the officer training program in my first summer break (between 1st yr and 2nd yr of dental school)

6) After graduation, serve the Canadian Force for 4 years

7) Apply to specialist program and if I would get the admission, study for 2~4 years (depending on my specialities)

8) Serve the Canadain Force for 2~4 more years after the completion of the specialist program

9) Keep serveing the Canadian Force or find another job after on ...

 

Thank you for your help and your valuable comments in advance!

 

I'm not a dental officer or on the DOTP program but I did look into this option and I was in the military for a number of years

I'll try my best to answer ur questions base of off my knowledge and if there are any DOTP students here i'm sure they'll contribute

 

1. How tough to get into this program?

Not sure exactly how many people they take but I hear it is competitive. You have to match what the forces wants in terms of physical and medical requirements

 

2. How often are you (officers) asked to be deployed to the foreign countries?

I think there's a video on the forces site that explains deployment. 

You WILL get deployed if you go through the DOTP program at least once 

 

3. How long do you usually stay in those countries once you are deployed?

Deployment from my knowledge last anywhere from 6-18 months. So depending on the mission.......

 

4. How often are you asked to move to the other place (military base)?

No idea, depends on your family situation. They'll try to work with you but no guarantees

 

5. What is the typical day like as a dental officer?

forces video would explain this i believe

 

Another thing I want to point out is that it should be 5 years(that's what they told me) that you owe the military not 4 once u graduate( I could be wrong)

 

dental officer video: http://www.forces.ca/en/job/dentalofficer-45

[ottawaliquid]

I'm hoping on getting into the DOTP program if I'm accepted to dental school (1 thing at a time!)

I was in the military before, both the reserves and regular force, so I'm hoping this helps my chances.

 

The only thing I would mention about your "life plan" is that you may not get to specialize in what you choose.

 

The military has zero need of orthodontists and paedo obviously.  I know that they like OMFS, perio and there may even be a prostho.  I haven't heard of a military endodontist either.

 

The military can be a great career, but as you said, you also have the option of leaving once your obligatory service is done.  From what I've heard your first posting is always to a base with one other dentist who is more senior, so your options of initial postings are pretty decent.  I would imagine they could be any of:

 

Victoria

Edmonton

Cold Lake (eww)

Moose Jaw

Winnipeg

Ottawa

Petawawa

Quebec City/Valcartier

Bagotville

Fredricton/Oromocto

Halifax

 

After serving your first posting here (Usually 3-5 years) you could be posted to other bases.

 

Also do you speak French?  That's a big plus for your application.

[DEJ]

Thank you for your comment ottawaliquid. My major interest is in OMFS! And I don't care about moving around within Canada. What I'm worrying about is being deployed to other countries. In fact I love travelling and volunteering/working for people in need, but I don't want to be away from my family for a long time (for like 6 months ~ > 1yr). For instance, if it happens once or twice during 10 years of serving, I think it would be acceptable. But it happens more than that, then I have to reconsider my plan ...

[Ostracized]

I have some former classmates that did it. They seem happy with their choice. They ended up in Halifax and Ottawa. Sometimes I'm jealous - they make a great income and they made a great salary while in school and had their tuition covered. The financial benefits are huge.

 

 

Their day to day as I understand is pretty much normal dentistry with some time for physical training.

[DEJ]

Thank you for your reply Ostracized.

[my1111]

Ottawaliquid: so what you're saying is the years of mandatory service are at regular dental clinics in Canada only? Or is there still a chance of being deployed?

[Harden]

I have gone through the entire process for DOTP. selection, testing, interviews. if you are accepted into the program. You WILL be deployed at some time in your mandatory service. 

[my1111]

I thought the likelihood of deployment outside Canada is small. Do you think that the DOTP program was worth it? When did u start the office training (bootcamp)? I don't have time during my summers.

[Harden]

General training is in the summer in Quebec. They likely will not take you if your summers are already taken because that's the only time you can really do the training. And after training each summer is actually used to get some clinical experience at an army base in Canada. So you will not have any summer if you join the DOTP.

[my1111]

That's not what my recruiter said... I can start the summer training in third year if I wanted. Since UofA summer break only lasts 6 weeks. The summer training is supposed to be 15 right?

[Ostracized]

As I recall from my class mates - first summer was basic training, second summer was officer training and third summer was working on base in a clinic.

[marwii]

I applied to DOTP as well, and had the same concern if I were to choose U of A. As you mentioned, the U of A summers are not long enough for the basic officer training program, so what you do is wait until you are done your program before doing it. Of course, that just means it'll take a little longer before you start practising, which is one reason why I turned down my U of A offer in favor of U of T. 

 

For dental schools that have longer summers (> 15 weeks), then yes, you do your basic officer training between 1st and 2nd year, clinical work in the other two years. Once you graduate, you will be posted somewhere with senior dentists first. After a year or two, the second posting could be anywhere (generally not the same as the first), and you could be sent on a number of missions.

 

I am not too sure exactly how many years of service it is, but my interviewer said it's 2 months of service for every month of school... which means 4-5 years is probably not going to cut it (yes I know it used to be, but this policy recently changed). As for another reality check, OMFS is effing competitive as it is, and although the military needs them, they may not be willing to pay for it immediately after your DDS degree/obligatory training. So, do have a back up plan. 

[ottawaliquid]

For me the advantages of DOTP are huge:

 

1.  Tuition paid.

2.  Salary while going to dental school

3.  Salary of 135,000 immediately after graduating dental school with a generous 5,000-10,000 pay raise every year. (Edit: also a 10,000 annual cash bonus, paid in this manner so as not to count towards pensionable income)

4.  Benefits such as pension, medical dental, overseas opportunities etc.

 

After dental school most dentists will want a number of years of experience before settling down and possibly opening up their own clinic.  The military would give you this experience without the hassle of being screwed over by shrewd dentists into bad associateships etc.  Also they pay for any additional training that you may want to take (has to be approved of course) and they pay for licences, professional memebership ships etc.

 

For me it makes a lot of sense.  Others I know are put off by being "told" where to move.  But what a great way to see the country and have it all paid for.  Also graduating with as little debt as possible is a huge benefit.  If you have rich parents, then maybe its not worth the obligatory service.  However I still see the 4 years of service as a plus rather than a minus in terms of experience and finances.

 

Also, huge caveat.  Take everything that recruiters tell you with a grain of salt.  They don't know what the actual career requirements etc are for each trade, especially a small trade like dental officer. 

 

I have heard that they many schools you will get your summers off if the summer break is too short.  They also have to allow you to take your annual leave (20 days) so even with the longer summer breaks getting onto courses is not always possible until after graduation.  Even if do, don't forget you are getting paid close to $50,000 a year while having all your tuition and schooling expenses paid in full.  To give up 8-10 weeks to go work is peanuts in comparison.

[my1111]

I do agree with you that the financial benefits are obviously huge. 

 

But what about the intense degree of work and the difficulties that come with being in the military? That includes the 15 weeks of literal boot camp that you're obligated to do during your summer, or after I graduate. I hear it can be very hard training for the military, and it requires high physical capacity. Also the social politics can be very confusing to someone who is not familiar with the military rules, and you can get picked on. 

 

Also what about deployment? You may think that dental services are far removed from any possible danger zones but that doesn't prevent ransacking or bombing of campsites where you stay. Danger is a legitimate concern working for the military. Why else would they need you to go through boot camp?

 

Like @malkynn said, it is a huge commitment, and signing on this early before Dental school even starts might be a bad idea. Who knows what you want a couple years down the road? Maybe something life changing happens. Perhaps you meet someone you want to marry, who happens to have a lot of student debt themselves and you would still have to worry about debt.  Maybe even a better alternative to financing your education appears. I don't think anyone should do DOTP unless they actually want to be a part of the military because however large the financial incentives, it may not be worth it. 

[marwii]

I do agree with you that the financial benefits are obviously huge. 

 

But what about the intense degree of work and the difficulties that come with being in the military? That includes the 15 weeks of literal boot camp that you're obligated to do during your summer, or after I graduate. I hear it can be very hard training for the military, and it requires high physical capacity. Also the social politics can be very confusing to someone who is not familiar with the military rules, and you can get picked on. 

 

Also what about deployment? You may think that dental services are far removed from any possible danger zones but that doesn't prevent ransacking or bombing of campsites where you stay. Danger is a legitimate concern working for the military. Why else would they need you to go through boot camp?

 

Like @malkynn said, it is a huge commitment, and signing on this early before Dental school even starts might be a bad idea. Who knows what you want a couple years down the road? Maybe something life changing happens. Perhaps you meet someone you want to marry, who happens to have a lot of student debt themselves and you would still have to worry about debt.  Maybe even a better alternative to financing your education appears. I don't think anyone should do DOTP unless they actually want to be a part of the military because however large the financial incentives, it may not be worth it. 

I completely agree - everyone knows that money can't buy happiness, hence one shouldn't throw away their happiness for money. It is definitely not a conventional career choice, and despite the benefits, there are drawbacks as previously mentioned. Considering I did apply to DOTP and genuinely want to get in, of course I think it is the best choice for me personally. I will share a few reasons if you are interested in knowing:

 

1. I went through the air cadets program for 7 years. Yes I know it's not going to be the same, but I have had a little taste in terms of having a rank structure, the discipline and respect that is demanded. More importantly, I met a lot of people who were a part of the military and heard their stories which actually was what got me thinking about joining myself. Plus, I would love the opportunity to meet even more people

 

2. I am totally a city-girl, so... Afghanistan or Haiti are not really my ideal vacay spot... however, I want to challenge myself and see a part of the world that is not so comfortable like what we have here. I understand that it is not going to be glamorous, which is precisely why I want to experience it, maybe as a way to teach myself to appreciate what I do have more... maybe to do something out of my comfort zone when I still have the youth and energy for it haha, therefore, I don't mind the idea of deployment

 

3. I don't want to open my own practice immediately after graduation, and I would like to take this as a learning opportunity to ensure that I fully am prepared for the industry and I will be okay with it for the rest of my life. Yes, there is obligatory service, but if you really hated life in the military, you can always end your contract earlier by paying for the penalty... then just think of it as a loan that you are paying back (although this process can take up to a year...). Plus, mat leave is definitely something I need to consider in this time frame, and I'd rather not have to worry about a business whatnots 

 

4. I don't have ballin' parents lol, and I have been paying for my own tuition/personal expenses since i was 17. They've worked really hard to earn their money, and I want them to spend it on themselves... plus, this is my career choice and I should own up to it financially as well, rather than making someone pay, not to mention the self satisfaction that I got the degree by myself. So, the financial help is definitely enticing and something that does weigh into my decision

 

5. I like the idea of "boot camp" lol, I have a hard time motivating myself to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but this is a reason to do so! I've attended cadet summer camps away from home for 2-7weeks at a time, and maybe it's just me... but I found it quite fun actually. 

 

To anyone else out there who is looking at this option, please do it for more than just the money. It is true that you will make way more in private practice so don't just focus on the present! If you think what I said have merit, then do consider the military option, for if you are up for it, then I think it will prove to be a rewarding career.