What advice do you have for a prior-service Infantryman who wants to pursue an education and become an Officer in the medical field?

Better hurry before you miss the age cut off! You only live once persue your passion!

SGT Tim Fletcher - Direct commission through AMEDD is a great opportunity. Seeing that you tagged pharmacy I'm going to assume you're planning on pursuing that route?

Speak to an AMEDD Recruiter as soon as possible to get a working knowledge of all of the programs. They are specialized in all of the options available for the Army Medical Department and are a different type of recruiter. Off the top of my head, you'd want to look into the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) or even the Uniformed Services University for Health Sciences (USUHS). Below are links to medical recruiters and info on those programs.

https://recruiting.army.mil/mrb/
https://m.goarmy.com/amedd/education/hpsp.m.html
https://www.usuhs.edu/

Now if you're wanting to look at 70B- Healthcare administration, that's a great option in AMEDD that allows you to be an officer in any number of functional areas. It's not something you'd pursue if you have plans of becoming a provider, but I'm particularly fond of the AOC myself.

I went the direct route (joined in the reserves and made SGT and then Green to Gold). My biggest advice is rely on your NCO knowledge but dont step into the NCO lane unless absolutely required. It sounds easy but as a PL I would find myself taking over NCO tasks because I was familiar.

SGT Tim Fletcher if you are starting from square one of your education or have at least 2 years left I strongly recommend you pursue ROTC. OCS will get you there but you'll be on your own financially and you may be constrained on branch selection depending on what is available at the time. You are not guaranteed a branch regardless of route. You need to sit down with an ROTC Recruiter or ROTC Ops officer at the nearest school and find out what your age is waivable to. Age limits OCS and ROTC commissioning. Get the details under no obligation right from the source.

Some go Direct Commissioning for 70B for the USAR. CPT (Join to see)

ROTC branch process: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

You also have to consider which component you are commissioning to. With your years of service, I'd go AD, knock out a minimum 10 years AFCS and you are retirement eligible. Everything after is gravy. Because you were in before BRS, you can get the legacy retirement system.

http://www.usphs.gov

Look up.Jr and Sr COSTEP, the USPHS analogues to.ROTC...give.me.more.soecifics...associates, bachelors, grad.level, grades, GPAs, which specific clinicwl.fields you want...nursing?.PA? NP? PT? OT?.Dental?.Full med?.Other allied health?.Doctoral level? Hobbies? Interests? Reading tastes?.sports, incl.martial arts? The more detail you give, the more I can suggest, I'm doctoral allied health, total perm.disabled, I wanted exactly what you want, I can help.suggest stuff, but you need to.give me.soecifics, honest, no rush, whenever you've got time, ok? The more.you give, the more I can suggest, as I'd said, ok?

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Look.at this, you'll find it of interest...I've got lots more, I don't want to overwhelm, do a really detailed thorough biosketch, and ill.suggest all I can, ok?

Use your education benefits to knock out undergraduate.

Then apply to schools, and finish your secondary education, and certification.

Then go back to a recruiter about direct commission as an Officer in your field of practice.

Age waivers for medical are easy, and there are options for loan forgiveness, but those come and go, so be vigilant and in touch with the recruiters in your area.

The biggest question is which medical field are you trying to commission into? There are so many AMEDD commissioning routes that you absolutely have to narrow down specifically where you are with your education now and what your end goal is.

Go for it. I did it. I branched Armor first and later transferred to JAG. It’s easier if you stay connected to the military through the NG or Reserves.

Beware ETS....you're now drawing lost time... 11B's come with a lot of bagage... Joints...PTSD...hearing....environmental exposure....Psych....what the modern Army does not want is a non-deployable potential expensive service member....who is 8 years from retirement. Is it worth their investment? Also beware of filling VA disability as you have entered into the Veteran zone....I would get into a medical unit in the Reserves...any branch ASAP...you may be bored and not like it...once you kill the clock for lost time. And back in...then work on your dream....