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PHS -> RE: Army Baylor DPT program advice (March 13, 2008 1:16:44 PM)
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Bryan,
I have to agree that being away from my family is what prompted me not to go back to the Army, in addition is the service that places less emphasis on quality of life and family.
I spent 8 + yrs in the service enlisted, got out went to P.T school, and after attending my last clinical rotation at BAMC Fort Sam Houston, I realized what a poor job my program had done in preparing me.
To make a long story short..I was hooked w the military medicine model, and inquired about going back "in" however Army said NO (only Baylor grads) Air Force had no more entries and I refused to even consider being out at sea for 2/3 time in the Navy. My instructor suggested I try an unknown service (at least to me.) The U.S Public Health Service one of the 7 uniformed services. As such, youre eligible to attend Baylor and receive the top-notch training as well as the O-1 pay your looking for. This will offset any financial debt, since the school is free.
The only catch is you WONT be working w military servicemembers, you will be working w federal prisoners and, or native americans in rural America. You wear your uniform M-F, SAME benefits and rank structure, you MAY be able to work in direct access (most assignments dont offer this).
I must say that this did not sound well w me at first, but Ive been doing it for 3 yrs now, and the experiences and training have been a blessing to my family and I. You get great training as a PHS PT as Im entitled to receive the same post-graduate CME's available to only military PT's, and certainly NO deployments.
If your desire is to receive a top-notch education and are worrying about being away from family, the USPHS may be an option for you.
But if youre like me that my heart still longs to serve in the military, Id consider doing it through the Air Force.
In my 15 + yrs of federal and military experience, I can honestly say this service is the ONLY one that places big emphasis on family and quality of life.
Deployments are approx 4-6 mos, BIG contrast from that of the Army, and also Top -notch therapists come out of those ranks:Childs, Whitman, Wainner to name a few.
Ultimately, you must weigh in all factors, but at the end of the day, theres a scale sitting with one side being your family and on the other the adventure/career side. If you tip that scale towards the career side, your family better be ready to be tested and hope youre marriage has something solid to stand on, b/c what I saw when I was in the Army was not PRETTY, tons of broken marriages...believe me, not worth it!
Look into the Air Force, or USPHS
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