Doctor recruitment

Hi there

Apologies in advance if I seem like a complete thicko, but I'm 16, know little about the workings of the Army (apart from a small bit I have learnt from the website about recruiting) and I'm on a laptop that has the worst keyboard ever created.

I'm just starting my A levels and am wanting to go onto Medical School when, and of course if, I get the necessary grades. I would LOVE to join the Army as a Doctor as I have always loved the outdoors but also enjoy medicine. The Army has always been a place I aspired to be a part of: serving my country AND helping the people who I think deserve the best medical care are two aspirations that go together like chicken and chips.

I was wondering if anyone else is/has been/knows about the position I'm in now and I have a few questions...:

1. Bursaries - I know about these to sponsor me through med school but when is the best time to apply for one?

2. Training - A doctor would surely be classed as a PQO (excuse me if not!) so what is the training like for them? I am fit and love sport, but am wondering about the figures for running, press-ups etc. Also, where is the training and how long does it last?

3. Life. What's life as a doctor in the Army like? What does it involve and how different is it from NHS doctoring?


Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dr English

 

I think the best advice is to ask at your nearest career office, they will tell you everything you need to know.

 

A Military Doctor is just a civilain failed vet!!

Trust me I know. When the MO said he was going to take my temperature, I didn't know he was gonna stick it up my ARRSE!!

WOOOO, STOPPPPPPPP!!

 

Go to your local ACIO/AFCO and speak to the Senior recruiter and ask him to pass you onto the ACA(O) Army Career Advisor Officer, or if your at a Grammar school your Careers teacher may have his number. He will be able to advise more on up to date info on bursaries and other routes.

 

Also, it may be a good idea to post this in the 'professionally qualified' section of this board.

 

You don't seem like a thicko You seem like me before I became a sadact.

All the best in what you wish to do, and look into everything before you make up your mind; it's a long road to becoming a doctor Do you want to become a Combat Medical Technician for example? First aider effectively?

I'm a civvie BTW

 

RE, he's looking at becoming a fully fledged Doctor in the army rather than a CMT - for example, he could become a specialist in Aviation medicine and take a post in Middle Wallop dealing with all the AAC chaps. Which is quite different from a CMT role.

Best of luck for the future - a Doctor would indeed do the PQO course, which is a much shortened version of Officer training but does take place at Sandhurst.

 

Or Egg and Roll as in "Egg Banjo"

Nice One fella, my other half is a Doctor specialising as an Anaesthetist (Ihave to be careful around her!), full respect to anyone wanting to be a Doctor especially Military Doctors... Good Luck in your chosen career path, you certainly sound at a very young age that you have your head screwed on and your path chosen...

 

Thanks everyone. Next time I'm in York, I'll pop into the Recruiting Office, if that's what it's called.

Thanks, Mr Goon .

What IS the difference between a CMT and an Army Doctor? Do you have to be a specialised Doctor or can you be a GP?

And what is included in the course at Sandhurst?

Thanks again, and Soozi, I'll post it in PQO section now.


Dr English!!!!

 

Hiya,

If you want to know about being a doctor in the army, go straight to the RAMC, it is quite different to the average career path and AFCOs tend to know very little about it.
[google the RAMC, there is a page for medical careers, I'll add the link when it decides to start working again for me!]

A CMT works in more of a paramedic role, although converting to civillian qualifications is hard (I don't know much about this, I think it's possible but there aren't many places on courses). No offence to any CMTs, but if you're bright enough to be a doctor, you're probably best going to med school.

If you want to be a regimental medical officer, you have to train as a GP. There are many fewer opportunities to work as an assistant RMO in your general duties years, due to clinical governance. Otherwise, you join a medical regiment for a bit, and then follow a similar career pathway to your civillian collegues, working in NHS hospitals (which include MoD Hospital Units, where there will be larger military contingents). Many specialities are available in the army, but things like paediatrics, geriatrics, obs&gynae are not. There will be the opportunity for sandy holidays and getting attatched to units, basically if you're the type to get off your arrse and look for decent things to do, you're more likely to do more than just be an NHS doctor in a uniform.

If you are accepted as an MO, you do your 2 foundation years and then do the PQO course.
Your training as a PQO involves a few weeks at Keogh (I think), then 4 weeks at Sandhurst, then some flitting around between Birmingham/Keogh/Winterbourne Gunner/wherever else to bring you up to scratch in military and medical skills.

I don't know much about bursaries, but you can get a cadetship for the last 3 years of medical school, which pays quite a nice wage, and your tuition fees, and there are opportunities to do your elective with the army or in the USA. People usually apply for these in 2nd year if they are wanting to have the full 3 years of it, but the office will let you know when it's time to apply.

It's really good you're thinking about this now, it gives you loads of time to add to your CV and learn about the forces. I messed up at my board, but because I had a really strong CV, I think this helped me through. Joining the TA (or OTC when you get to uni) could be an option as this will give you really good experience and show you know what you're letting yourself in for (they are seeing more people trying to join to dodge MTAS and the lack of s1 jobs, so it is getting more important to show your commitment to the army).

I hope that answers some questions, feel free to PM me if you want to ask any more, but your best source of information is direct from RAMC recruiting because things do change from year to year, and they will have the most up to date advice.

Wyv.

(if you're looking at 6th form bursaries, you're probably best going to the AFCO to ask about them, but get the RAMC info from the RAMC)

 

And before I go to bed, the link:

http://www.army.mod.uk/medical/royal_army_medical_corps/ramc_index.htm

All should become clear.

 

Hi Wyv, cheers for that. Some of the abbreviations have thrown me :S . What is OTC and MTAS; and s1?


Thanks. And thanks for the link Goon !


Dr English

 

Sorry! OTC is the officer training corps, a lot of students join up when they go to uni. I personally preferred the TA route, but it depends what's right for you.

MTAS = medical training application service. It's the most ridiculous excuse for job selection ever, and tbh the way things are going, I'd be very surprised if it was still used when you get to graduation. No doubt there will be some equally idiotic, untrialled series of hoops to jump through in place then though.

I'm sure you'l be aware that pre-reg house officers / senior house officers (SHOs) etc are no more - instead you do 2 'foundation years' and then start specialist training rotations. There has been a massive shortage of jobs for SHOs, again caused by something the government just decided to put into place, against the will of the medical profession (when the royal colleges protested they were told if they disagreed with the government they would have no say at all in the changes which would be pushed through anyway)

One thing it is quite important to do now is make sure you're up to speed with current affairs - especially in medicine and the military. If you can get a part time job as a health care assistant in your local hospital it will stand you in good stead - nurses always comment on the difference it makes to the doctors, you will learn a lot about healthcare, and when Drs find out you're a potential med student they're often keen to teach you and offer advice. You can't have too much work experience, and get into the habit of reading a decent newspaper, as UCAS and interviews will come round far faster than you expect!

 

Tell me about it!!!

We have the latest batch of PQ's clogging up the dining hall in victory island. Despite that, some of the women are quite hot. Shame they drink in the sam bar. Would have liked to have seen the padres get the beers in!

 

Good advice, although it has been a long time since I was selected for med school / house jobs / SHO (or whatever they're called now) jobs.

FF.