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boodog

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It's really strange that the recruiter told you that you'd have to do 4 tours in Afghanistan. For one thing, if you start this coming year, you won't be a military doctor for 6-7 years, at which point Canada might not even be sending troops to Afghanistan. I was told that the deal is a 4-year commitment after residency, with generally one six-month deployment. I'm really surprised that someone would tell you at least 4 deployments. How could one person possibly be able to complete more than 4 deployments in 4 years, especially if they're six-month deployments?

 

If you're interested in military medicine (which I'm not, but I definitely can see the appeal), I strongly suggest talking to another recruiter and seeing what they have to say. I can't help but be skeptical of the recruiter who gave you that information.

 

Good luck!

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Hello.

 

About the lenght of service after residency, it will be 6 years of service soon.

 

There is no number of oversea rotos attached with the contract, but believe me, you will away from home a lot if its what you want.

 

Specialists, even if they are practicing in a civilian hc facility, will need to do a lot of things for the military. The two military ortopedists here in PQ have calculate that in one year, they have spend only 15 week in civilian HC doing clinics or surgery. There is always a course somewere, some teachings to do, some meetings to attend and some military clinics time to do (2 days per months mostly). Also, they are deploing usually two months per 2 years (in case of the ortopedists, its been 2 months per year...It depend mostly about the need... And with Afganistan... Orthopedists and general surgeons are in need).

 

For FP, it will depend of your own interest. I know an MD who is always doing things outside is garrison: he spend time in Mississipi, Texas, in a Cree village in the north of the province, spent time in Winnipeg doing the flight surgeon course and now, he will deploy in Afganistan. I know some MD who need a kick in the butt to do those things.... And mostly will support training in they own area (until they deploy... Actually, at least 1 mission per two years. With the pre deployment training, you will be away at least 9 months per two years even if ou are the kind who need a kick in the butt).

 

From someone who is working in the military health services.

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thanks quebec runner. your post answered pretty much exactly what i wanted to know. do you also have an idea of the hours during non-deployed periods? i guess 15 hours in civilian hospital, 20 army work, 10 meetings plus or minus...

 

anyone have any idea?

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Usually, an FP and a specialist in garrison will work 8 - 9 hours per day. You can do moonlightning nights and week-end when you're not in training but as an FP, any long term commitment with a civvy HC facility is not recommended. I know many military md that do week ends and are on call some day per week.

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Hello.

 

About the lenght of service after residency, it will be 6 years of service soon.

 

There is no number of oversea rotos attached with the contract, but believe me, you will away from home a lot if its what you want.

 

Specialists, even if they are practicing in a civilian hc facility, will need to do a lot of things for the military. The two military ortopedists here in PQ have calculate that in one year, they have spend only 15 week in civilian HC doing clinics or surgery. There is always a course somewere, some teachings to do, some meetings to attend and some military clinics time to do (2 days per months mostly). Also, they are deploing usually two months per 2 years (in case of the ortopedists, its been 2 months per year...It depend mostly about the need... And with Afganistan... Orthopedists and general surgeons are in need).

 

For FP, it will depend of your own interest. I know an MD who is always doing things outside is garrison: he spend time in Mississipi, Texas, in a Cree village in the north of the province, spent time in Winnipeg doing the flight surgeon course and now, he will deploy in Afganistan. I know some MD who need a kick in the butt to do those things.... And mostly will support training in they own area (until they deploy... Actually, at least 1 mission per two years. With the pre deployment training, you will be away at least 9 months per two years even if ou are the kind who need a kick in the butt).

 

From someone who is working in the military health services.

 

As someone who is seriously considering this option, could you please elaborate on how you know that Medical officers can be deployed for 9 months every two years. On the information document about the MOTP, it states that Medical officers are likely deployed for a 6 month tour during their 4 year commitment. 18 months of deployment is significantly greater, so much so that it would make me reconsider this option. In addition, when is the 6 years of service contract coming into effect?

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OK!

 

You are a new MD at 5 Field Ambsince Jan 2008. You will go in Afganistan with Roto 1-09, starting in february 2009.

This is what your schedule will look like!

 

Jan 08 - sept 08: individual training (shooting, ACLS, others courses). During that time, you may deployed 2 weeks to 2 months in order to support reserve training in missisipi and in Wainwhright in order to do the "Training controller" and the "no duff" stuff (or if you prefer real medical support for thoses who are in training) during roto 3-08 training. Total time away: approx 2 months.

 

Sept 08 to february 09: 3 months of build-up training in Texas and in Wainwright. Total time away: 3 months.

 

Feb 09 - july 09: Afghanistan

July 09 - august 09: vacation

august 09 - January 10: individual training. You are not deployable during that time.

 

Total time: 2 years.

Time away from home: 9 to 12 months .

 

So, military life is really a fast pace environment. You keep moving, and there is a lot of stimulating training and jobs. This is really rewarding. BUT, there is sacrifice to do. OH and yes, in theater, there is a lot of trauma you will not see in a civvy HCC.

 

From my point of view, the Fifth estate documentary on role 3 sucks!!! The Maj Cournoyer interview can only be seen in the internet. He's a great orthopedist! They didnt show his interview cause he's got an accent!!!!! Furthermore, the two MO's that were mostly interviewed were not the best ones believe me. And we didnt see role 1 MD's.

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OK!

 

You are a new MD at 5 Field Ambsince Jan 2008. You will go in Afganistan with Roto 1-09, starting in february 2009.

This is what your schedule will look like!

 

Jan 08 - sept 08: individual training (shooting, ACLS, others courses). During that time, you may deployed 2 weeks to 2 months in order to support reserve training in missisipi and in Wainwhright in order to do the "Training controller" and the "no duff" stuff (or if you prefer real medical support for thoses who are in training) during roto 3-08 training. Total time away: approx 2 months.

 

Sept 08 to february 09: 3 months of build-up training in Texas and in Wainwright. Total time away: 3 months.

 

Feb 09 - july 09: Afghanistan

July 09 - august 09: vacation

august 09 - January 10: individual training. You are not deployable during that time.

 

Total time: 2 years.

Time away from home: 9 to 12 months .

 

So, military life is really a fast pace environment. You keep moving, and there is a lot of stimulating training and jobs. This is really rewarding. BUT, there is sacrifice to do. OH and yes, in theater, there is a lot of trauma you will not see in a civvy HCC.

 

From my point of view, the Fifth estate documentary on role 3 sucks!!! The Maj Cournoyer interview can only be seen in the internet. He's a great orthopedist! They didnt show his interview cause he's got an accent!!!!! Furthermore, the two MO's that were mostly interviewed were not the best ones believe me. And we didnt see role 1 MD's.

 

Thank you quebecrunner for taking the time to answer my question. If you have the time, could you also breify describe what the next two years (of the 4 year commitment) might look like?

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I hate to sound like the suspiscous one here, but where do you get your information from Quebec Runner?

 

Talking with a family friend who serves. He was able to talk to a doc on his base for me and the amount of months overseas that you state are much more than what I was told this particular doc was taking. I am just curious if you are telling us the schedule of yourself or someone you know who is in the military or is the minumum amount of time overseas is actually 18months.

 

I hope I don't sound accusatory, I would just like to get a better picture as I am seriously considering this route once I am accepted into medical school.

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Wolvenstar... You've got info from someone who know someone.... Read my mind ans you will know what i'm thinking! Well, i didn't expect to justify myself, i thought that since the info are precise and specifics exacly in the only manners an insider can give. Hahhhh i undertand now.. It is my french accent!!!! (i'm kidding... :) )But since my goal is to clarify the life as an military MD, and to encourage people go that way (even if some of them will compete with me next year...) i'll do it.

 

I'm a current serving member, an officer more precisely. Furthermore, i'm an officer within the Health care services group. My boss is one of the senior MD (Lcol) in Canada. Since i'm trying to do the MMTP program myself, i'm asking a lot of info to many MD's. You can understand now that my sources are the MO's i'm working with.

 

I'd like to clarify something else. It is an average. Missions, for family pratician is 6 months and 2 months for specialists. What you have to understand, is that training to deploy and the deployment itself will put you away from home for a long time.

 

To go MMTP or MOTP is choosing a path that can be really rewarding professionnaly, but will also put pressure on you and your familly. As an MD, you have a lot of responsibilities. More than in civvy worlds. You have to train and supervise the tech meds, PA's and sometime nurses, do clinics, maintain your skills and develop them, career revision boards, preventive medicine etc. And if you are a lucky one that get is flight surgeon wings, or the diving dolfins, you will do and support environmental medicine.

 

If you dont believe me, ask a doc at your clinic. That is not for nothing that we hired civvy docs now (Calians...)!!! MO's are elsewhere, where civvies practicionners cannot go (or dont whant to go, since some civvy specialists are serving in Afghanistan..)....

 

SV85, well every clinics are short staff with MO's. But within the 4 HSG GP, about 98% of MO pposition are filled. TFA and other deployments are putting a lot of pressure on the system, and we all suffer because when the Army decide to increase the numbers, well Health care personnel didn't increase as well. Also, i do think that we should give more responsibilities to the tech meds in theyre specific scope of practice (i do think tha twe should increase it... but i'm no MD).

 

So, i hope that you find the reason you where suspecting me are irrelevant. but i also agree that some peoples may want to know....

 

JF

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yes, i agree the stats quebecrunner posts are quite accurate. 9months for the first 2 years. in the final two most of that time will be spent at the base you were assigned to. however most do 3months somewhere non-combat zone, like the hospital in germany. i have also heard of MO's doing training missions in Norway, Texas, etc. So I think 12-14months out of the 4yr commitment is time deployed.

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Boodog... Yes, 12- 14 months on 4 years is not uncommon. But it can go far much higher!!!! i know some MD that over a 3 years period, were 2 time in TFA. That mean at least 3 monts at Wainwhright, 2 months in Texas.... 2 months at CFTTC(W).... 19 to 22 months abroad is also not uncommon...

 

Michelle, ho yes, there's emergency dos in the military.

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I have been reading all the interesting posts regarding the military medicine but i was wondering if someone could help me with my question? How does this military medicine work, i mean like is there a special medical school that one has to go to or you go to regular medical school, do the clinicals and residency through military?*confused* any help would be great.

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You do your MD in one of the med school accross Canada. there is 3 possibility:

1. DEO. That means you graduate and do your residency, then you enter the military

 

2. MOTP: You enter as med student and get your study paid by the crown, but you will need to serve your country for more than 4 years after.

 

3. MMTP: This program is for current serving members only.

 

You can find a lot on info about military medicine by going on the DND web site.

 

Hope that help!

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I never meant any disrespect quebecrunner, I am just being thorough, I am rather convinced that the MOTP would best suite myself. I have no problems with serving my country, but the amount of time deployed away from home(extended periods of 8months or greater), is my main concern. Especially if I end up getting into a serious relationship and having children sometime during med school or residency. I would rather not join the majority of North Americans getting divorced these days (lol).

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Yes... divorce, this subject is not usually talk a lot within the military. This is pandemic!!!! There is so many divorce couples...

 

You can still serve in the reserves after you complete your MD... you will have a lot of training and deployment opportunities and the big advantage, you can choose what you want to go!!!! so less stress on the family!!!

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