Should I have to give up on my dream to be a PA?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 07:10:06 -0500

Good Morning.
I need serious mentors please.
This is SPC Won who is preparing a packet to be PA. I am trying to get into the program called IPAP. Meanwhile, my NCO said i can not go nowhere during the weekdays due to the work is busy (any appointment or PA shadowing is allowed). I acknowledge that 92G has lots of work but individuals have a right to go for their dreams. What should I do?

Response by SFC Rich Combs made Feb 7 at 2017 8:22 AM

SFC Rich Combs — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 08:22:09 -0500

Just has to be said you are a Soldier first and such, the mission always comes first. Keep in mind you will need letters of reference and a good service record to be competitive in getting an IPAP slot = tread lightly.

Also, I'd bury that comment about rights to go for your dreams....you literally have an NSN assigned to you.

Ask for a meeting with your NCOIC and have a list of questions and requests (not demands) and see how that goes first. If unsuccessful, use the commander's open door policy to make your request. I'd be prepared to repay any kindness they may offer. Plenty of us who made the transition got here by attending classes at night and online. You can get your PA following time at your local MEDDAC, but you would be smart to initiate this at the TMC supporting your unit. If you do find success, excuse yourself anytime a member of your "assigned" unit is being treated and don't violate HIPPA.

Good luck, stay positive and don't try and push too hard, it will more than likely come back and bite you.

Advice from an AK PA sitting in his truck at 04:19 in 0 degrees following a 10 hour ER shift and an hour on the road to home.

Not always as glamorous as it appears :-)

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 7 at 2017 8:26 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 08:26:32 -0500

Your Not going to like what you hear mostly likely.
You signed up to be a food service specialist.
It sounds like your assigned those duties and in a unit where you have lots of work.

Should others have to do your share of the work left undone in your absence?
Do you not feel a commitment to accomplish the tasks you signed a contract to fulfill?
As a leader, what do you think they are thinking when they see you wanting to shirk your responsibilities now to do something wanted, vice needed??

Perhaps they think..well, if he will blow off his duty today to go do something else, will he do the same as a PA, a job where lives are at stake?

Refer to the phrase Selfless Service and ask yourself what that means...

You are in the same position every other SM is that is wanting to get some non MOS related schooling be it a business degree, masters in firefighting science or learning to be a PA.

You have to find the time and way to do both YOUR JOB and what you want.. It will not be fast, not easy and not without hardships..There will be sleepless days, long nights, missed parties and years that you use your leave to finish a class commitment rather than go home for the holidays.

If you want to fast track your path to being a PA, finish your Army service contract as a 92G, get out, and then work full time on getting that PA dream fulfilled. ...Otherwise Do the job you asked for, signed up for and others need you doing.. Work with your leaders to find time, get a pass and do the OTHER thing.. take leave and do the OTHER thing, offer to work the night shift so you can do the OTHER thing in the day for a few hours.
If you want it, you will get it, if you want to whine about not being let out of your assigned duties so you can go do something else, your in for a long frustrating time and likely fail at both.

Response by PO2 Robert M. made Feb 7 at 2017 10:03 AM

PO2 Robert M. — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 10:03:44 -0500

A Physician's Assistant? - O M G - If you have your Bachelor's degree, go for it!!!
If you are not breaking any rules/laws, follow your dream!!

Response by MGySgt James Forward made Feb 7 at 2017 11:13 AM

MGySgt James Forward — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 11:13:00 -0500

So your dream is to be a PA...and you enlisted for a different occ field? You need to EXCEL in your assigned field first, over a prolonged period of time, then apply for a assignment to the medical field. Make sure you don't burn any bridges with your superiors as you will need those letters of recommendation. On your off days, it might be beneficial to volunteer at the local base hospital to build up a record of interest in the medical field. Good luck, and keep working on your dreams. It might take you a while but what the mind can see, the body can achieve. Semper Fi.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 7 at 2017 12:31 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:31:42 -0500

Are you being denied training you enlisted for? When do you think you will be educationally qualified to pursue training as a PA. Your post reveals educational areas where improvement is needed if you are serious about becoming a PA.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 4:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 16:10:00 -0500

I joined the Army when I was 18 knowing what I wanted. Being young and naïve I was persuaded into accepting what turned out to be the "needs of the army". It took time, patience, and perseverance but now I'm where I wanted to be, even if I am a little older than I wanted to be when I got here.

The best advice I can give you is do your best at what you're doing now and while you're grinding through this time find out what avenues there are for you to get to where you want to be. There are plenty of them.

There may be days where you feel like you're wasting time because your patience are wearing thin, but you can't let that discourage you and you certainly can't let the emotions involved effect your attitude toward your current job. Judging from your picture you look pretty young. You've got plenty of time to sort things out and get on the path that you truly want to be on.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 5:18 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:18:16 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member You have made a commitment to the Army as a Food Service Specialist. Your NCO is right. Why should you do some other work during working hours when the workload is heavy for your assigned MOS? Should your co-workers pick up the slack so that you can do what you want? Fulfill that commitment to the best of your ability. Do you have a degree and the other requirements to be a PA? Who said you can not follow your dream? You have a right to follow your dream on your own free time.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 6:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 18:53:14 -0500

You should do the job you signed up for and the duties assigned. I'm not saying don't go for being a PA any longer, but what I am saying is that you committed to your MOS. You have a few options....

1) You can see if you can shadow a PA during your off days. In fact, next time you have a day off (and if it happens to be a Saturday), go to your base clinic and see if a PA is working, and then ask if you can shadow them then or arrange another day you have off to shadow.

2) Disregard trying to shadow if workload and mission dictate you can't do this. Complete your PA packet as needed but continue to drive on with your duties and mission as a 92G.

I agree with your NCO. Your duties, first and foremost, are to be where you are assigned. If I were in his shoes, I would not release you to do this during the duty hours you are assigned to work in the kitchen, either. Now, with that being said, if you can come up with a viable plan that can accommodate both your MOS duties AND shadowing, and the plan can work, take that planc to your NCO, then perhaps there can be some give and take.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 5:33 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 05:33:05 -0500

The day you signed the dotter line, you gave up your rights to any dreams you may have had. You signed up to be a cook, and that is your place of duty. Sorry to tell you private, but whatever pipe dream you had about doing whatever you want in the army isn't going to fly. SGM Erik Marquez said it all best in his response.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 8 at 2017 1:06 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:06:27 -0500

Seems to me like you're the only one that can answer that.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 11:33 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 23:33:56 -0500

Here is my advice to you:

1) You signed a contract and you will be held to it. PERIOD

2) Remember that the you didn't just make a contract with the Army, the Army also made a contract with you. If your dream is to become a PA then start working on the basic courses needed for that degree plan as soon as possible. Even if it is just one course at a time online, get it done. The Army expects you to pursue civilian education (there is a reason promotion points are offered for it.). It will require late nights and early mornings in addition to your work requirements but if you are serious you will make the time.

3) As others have suggested you could try shadowing a PA in your off time. If you start from now by the time you are ready you should have enough shadow time to submit your packet.

4) No matter what anybody tells you DO NOT give up on your dream. If you do you will end up regretting it later in life. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people on this board say I wish I would have done X or Y. You must find a way to work towards your dream while still fulfilling your end of your contract. I would also strongly suggest that you hold the Army to their end. This means taking advantage of all benefits offered to you.

You could knock out a lot of your basic courses, ETS and go to school full time. After that you could come back into the military or work in the civilian world. This would require long range planning and the ability to stick to your plan. But it's possible. Soldiers do it all the time.

Good luck to you.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 9 at 2017 11:04 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 23:04:35 -0500

NO... Never give up.

Response by MAJ Charles Dean made Feb 28 at 2017 12:09 PM

MAJ Charles Dean — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:09:21 -0500

Here is the deal, first be Resourceful. Your job you enlisted for does come first, but Use your time off in order to get your shadowing hours. It is a hard school which requires hard work. Being a PA requires dedication and this is why they require 80 hours of shadowing time, utilize your time off wisely. Their is a reason why very few make the cut.

Response by CPT Alan Goddard made May 29 at 2017 6:03 PM

CPT Alan Goddard — Mon, 29 May 2017 18:03:35 -0400

It took me almost 14 years to get the night school courses I needed to become a PA. At the same time I NEVER let my pursuit of higher education interfere with my duties. In fact, this is likely what helped me make it to E-8 while attending PA school. I served as a medic, squad leader, platoon sergeant, and battle staff NCO for almost 12 years in the 82nd. Duty first, and if it's meant to be, you can do anything.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2017 12:32 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 00:32:41 -0500

Go to pa school you need a job

Response by SGT Victoria Belbusti made Jul 24 at 2018 5:49 AM

SGT Victoria Belbusti — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 05:49:20 -0400

Reclass to a 68 series as soon as you can. If you have not done so, enroll in college and go for a degree in biology. I assume that you are not ready to go to IPAP and only thing missing from you is he 80 hour shadow. It’s great that you have dreams but you need to keep working on the big picture which is your current MOS.