Appendix B: Examples of Health Professions

Uniformed Services: Medical Corps

Those who enter the military must agree to serve for a specified number of years, an obligation that is legally binding. Today, enlisted members of the military typically serve 8 years of combined active duty and reserve work. They must pass a physical examination and the written Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. Enlisted recruits undergo a 6 to 12-weeks "basic" training period preparing them for the rigors of a life in the military. Then they proceed into occupational training, which can last from 10 weeks to a year and is offered in numerous health disciplines. Individuals who receive free medical training at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences agree to serve up to 7 years in the military health service. Students become active duty officers when they begin school. Following a four-year program of medical studies they will serve seven more years of active duty.

*Military salaries are based on rank and number of years in the service. In 2002, military personnel starting salaries for officers ranged from $23,972 to $31,656, while officers averaged starting salary was $27,815. Often, the base salary is less than that earned by civilian workers of the same specialty. However, the military provides free room and board, free medical and dental care, an allowance for military clothing, privileges in discounted military shipping centers, travel opportunities, and 30 days of paid vacation a year. For those interested in a health profession, enlistment allows them to avoid the steep debts of graduate school and still receive excellent training. Members of the armed forces seeking additional education are eligible for financial reimbursement under the New Montgomery GI Bill.

Due to military downsizing, many branches of the armed forces have significantly reduced the numbers of enlisted personnel. Today, however, numbers are expected to remain stable. Increasingly, the military will recruit individuals with some years of study beyond high school or advanced skills. For many health care professionals, a career in the armed forces will continue to be a stable and advantageous option. Military health care professionals will also be exposed to the most advanced medical procedures and scientific equipment of our time.

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2000-01 Edition.

Copyrighted by: The National Health Council, October 1998; reproduced with permission by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Further reproduction prohibited without permission of copyright holder, www.nationalhealthcouncil.org.