I have a couple of questions about the army medical program.?

Question

Do army medical doctors have to go to basic training if they start right after college.

When schooling is over are you put on active duty or can you chooose to serve in the reserve.

Finally, what rank do most army medical doctors retire at considering they start out as captains.

Answer 1

They go through a form of Basic. Their view is that if you are healthy enough to practice in Civilian life, you are healthy enough for the Army. Of course, that was before they started putting docs in Humvees and sending them out with the troops. May have changed.

It is their choice- if they need doctors, they can order you to active duty any time.

Depends on how long you stay in.  You enter as a permanent 1st Lt, temporary Captain, then Captain, then Major . Promotion depends on lots of things just as in Civilian life- if you are good, and don;t have an attitude that pisses off some senior officer, you can make Major in a few years.  If you are a sloth, they may pass you over.  Most 20 year docs retire as full Colonels, some out of choice, because promotion to General takes you out of Medicine and puts you in Administration.  We had the Army's most senior Colonel at Walter Reed when I was there- had turned down General because he loved the practice of medicine. To make it to General, you have to be first-rate- Most Generals I knew would be great CEO's for a major corporation. They are SHARP.  ( with a few exceptions in combat)  Army life is difficult in some ways- you never know when they are going to send you someplace unpleasant. BUT they take good care of their docs.  They recognize your value  a lot more than civilians do.

Answer 2

Let me add one thing: if you are still a student, look into the STRAP program. It's an Army program that pays a stipend and helps pay for medical school which of course comes with a service obligation...but it's well worth it.