RAF/Army/Navy Doctor, anyone?

[Riffraf]

Madimi, for some branches (eg pilot) there are quite strict age limits.... For medical officers they are quite relaxed, although I don't have the figures to hand.

Jhesam, try not to be put off but someone's experiences of any one Service/doctor. Like anywhere there will be some better than others and I am sure - again, like anywhere - there are people who've had a bad experience.

[kotoreru]

Doctors can join up to 55 years of age. Pilots, 23.

[gi_jane]

Just to clarify...
There are no £4000 scholarships for the first two years of university within the Army. The only scholarships on offer for the first few years of university are the Army Undergraduate Bursaries (worth £1000 per year and £3000 lump sum on commission)

The standard of training is the same as what you would receive in the NHS. However the options in specialist training are much more limited (for obvious reasons), for this reason the Army strongly advise that if you have your heart set on becoming, for example, a cardiothoracic surgeon (basically anything other than a GP) then it may not be the right decision to join as there are no guarantees that a training post may be available for that particular specialty in your year. You need to be flexible.

Also, I must stress that although there are many benefits of joining the Army, applying for a Medical Cadetship would require a total of 10 years service so you have to be totally sure a career in the Army is for you before applying.

[aspirant doc]

Having been in the army for ten years before going to medical school, I'm now seriously considering returning to do medicine in the army.

From what I know of it, some of the advantages are:

Sponsorship through last 3 years including fees
Guaranteed work in FY1 and FY2 with less hassle finding that job
Additional medical training that goes beyond your NHS peers
Significant investment in you and your professional development
Access to all sort of outher training courses in the army (e.g. sailing, skiing, diving etc)
Chance to contribute to things around the world (if you understand what I mean by this, you'll see that this might be considered by some to be a disadvantage...)
Examination fees all paid for you by MOD
Earn more than NHS counterparts, at least for the first 5-6 years

Disadvantages:

Long commitment
You will have to go to places like the Raq and the Stan
Not all specialities are available

That's how I see it at the mo. For me, it's one hell of a deal.

Nick

[AimsRJ]

Can I ask...I apolgise if this is obviously stated on the websites

If you are a Dr in the forces are you just a doctor when in warzones or are you sometimes like any other officer leading into battles etc and other times a doctor?

[aspirant doc]

A forces doctor is a doctor full stop - he's not an infantry officer. However an army doctor will not necessarily just be in a hospital somewhere. Army doctors do find themselves trying to treat casualties in the thick of a battle, but not getting stuck in with the fighting and flying hot lead.

[469er]

Originally Posted by aspirant doc

A forces doctor is a doctor full stop - he's not an infantry officer. However an army doctor will not necessarily just be in a hospital somewhere. Army doctors do find themselves trying to treat casualties in the thick of a battle, but not getting stuck in with the fighting and flying hot lead.

And one of the forces websites makes it explicitly clear that a forces doctor is an officer first and a doctor second. Which kinda put me off, TBH. (Aside from the fact that I'm 102 and not very physically fit.) I feel I would want my judgement as a doctor to take precedence over everything else, and can see that that would just not be possible in all circumstances.

[aspirant doc]

My experience of this (based on army docs I know and based on working alonmgside them in places like the Raq) is that there aren't clashes between being and officer and a doctor. I think all the website is alluding to is that being a doctor in the army doesn't mean you are a doctor who happens t obe in the army; you are a doctor who is an officer as well, who had additional responsibilities than his NHS counterpart because he is in the army too.

Army doctors are categorically officially (international law etc) non-combatants.

[aspirant doc]

But in warzones they may carry for self-defence.

[AimsRJ]

hmmm. This definately make it more appealing!