What career advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in military healthcare? Should I go Army or AF? Officer or enlisted?

SSG Marcus Payton — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 17:05:37 -0400

I’ve got a bachelors in Kinesiology and am a current strength coach, but am feeling stuck in the civilian world. Im 32, have a wife and my first kid on the way. I’m prior Marine Corps infantry and have had my fun and excitement being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, so not looking for anything crazy and dangerous. Im looking to go on active duty for the long run (career and retirement in mind), preferably in a health field.

I’ve done my due diligence, and to keep it short, here the options. All opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

1. Continue with a masters degree in health promotion (or switch to health admin) and Army ROTC as an MSIII. Hopefully branch into medical services. I just started a masters program and met with ROTC deptartment and this is my current plan. Commissioning and graduation is still two years away.

2. Re-enlist into either the Army as a Physical Therapy Specialist or Air Force in Physical Medicine (they are both open to prior service). I worked under a Physical Therapist for nearly 2 years and really liked doing this work. I know both of these receive credits towards physical therapy assistant certifications and have bridge programs to get full certification.

3. Re-enlist into the Air Force as an Aerospace and Operational Physiology Technician. Using my degree in kinesiology and experience in exercise science to help with the human factors of being a pilot would definitely be awesome. This would be my number 2 option. I’ve asked about being an officer for this field, but was told my GPA is too low to be competitive.

4. Go to Air Force OTS and become an Air Liason Officer. It’s the most infantry thing in the Air Force.

Sorry for any misspellings… I’m typing this on my iPhone

Response by MAJ Samuel Weber made Sep 1 at 2018 6:59 PM

MAJ Samuel Weber — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 18:59:41 -0400

With an undergrad in Kinesiology have you considered becoming a Physical Therapist? The Army has a board each year for the Afmys PT Baylor Program. If selected, you would enter the Army as a 2LT and be a graduate student for the next three years. You would then graduate with a DPT and be a Captain a few months later. I’ve known quite a few PTs and love thier job in Army Medicine.

Response by CH (COL) Geoff Bailey made Sep 1 at 2018 9:06 PM

CH (COL) Geoff Bailey — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 21:06:23 -0400

I’d recommend contacting an Army physical therapist and look into the Army physical therapist program. You seem well prepared for that track and would likely enjoy that more following right on the heels of ROTC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2018 10:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 22:20:50 -0400

I suggest that you apply to the PT Baylor program, as a physical therapist.
The problem with your first plan is that if you Commission in the army there is no guarantee that you will Branch into Medical, everything is subject to the needs of the army.
As for the Air Force physiology Tech, I had a company Commander in the army who initially enlisted into the air force as a physiology Tech. He loved the job, but it was difficult to get promoted. He left and commissioned into the army as a logistician and likes it more.
As for physical therapy assistant, I know that for the active duty the MOS is closed to anyone above a non-promotable E4. The MEPS has its own working rules, but I don't see them allowing an E5 into the MOS.

Response by Susan Foster made Sep 2 at 2018 9:49 AM

Susan Foster — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 09:49:32 -0400

You've done a lot of good thinking on this. I think you should seriously consider Physical Therapy, and glad you are doing so. With your background and having been deployed, you will make wonderful improvements to the lives of injured soldiers. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you have this one precious life to do something that really makes you glad to get up and go to work. It never serves the world to play small--don't settle for something because you think it will be "good enough" and you can do it easily. Stretch yourself and believe you can do whatever you really want!

Response by SSG Marcus Payton made Sep 3 at 2018 6:22 PM

SSG Marcus Payton — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:22:23 -0400

Thanks everyone for the comments. Time to go pick a physical therapist’s brain for info!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2018 7:18 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 19:18:00 -0400

https://www.baylor.edu/graduate/pt/
Applying to the Army-Baylor DPT program sounds like the way to go. I was prior enlisted and I went this route a few years ago after a short break in service. I'm now in the final year (internship year) of the program and while it has been very, very difficult I'm definitely glad I made the jump. My biggest regret is that I didn't do so sooner. I think my prior enlisted service has definitely been an advantage. It's really given me a unique insight that my fellow classmates don't have. We need more motivated former EM in the program so I encourage you to give it a look. If you have any questions please let me know. Good luck!

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