Specializing Facts (True and False Answers Please)

[hellopeople]

OK, let me make sure that I have this down:

1) The Army allows you to specialize via both civilian and military residencies
2) Civilian residencies must be entered immediately upon leaving dental school, and must be approved by the Army.
3) Military residencies do not incur a net increase in payback years if you enter the residency immediately upon leaving dental school. (In other words they are neutral years which do not subtract from the initial four year active duty commitment, but do not add years either).
4) You are not paid a full Army salary when in a residency that you enter immediately after dental school.
4) Military residencies incur a net1:1 payback if taken after active duty has begun. (In other words, they are not neutral years).
5) You receive a military salary and benefits if you enter a military residency after you have already begun your active duty commitment.
6) Should you incur a 1:1 payback, additional years of payback are initially added in such a way as to replace IRR time that would normally follow your four years active duty.
7) Competitive military residencies are hard (though not impossible) to get without having previous active duty service.
8) Endodontic and Orthodontic residencies may or may not be impossible to enter immediately after dental school.(Not officially, but in practice).
9) Two-year AEGDs will qualify you as a specialist in the Army, despite not being a recognized specialty by the ADA.
10) Specializing will qualify you for a multi-year retention bonus if you decide to remain in the military.
11) Completing the Captain career components, specializing, and becoming board certified will qualify you for a multi-year retention and qualify you for the rank of Colonel.
12) One-Year AEGDs do not qualify you as a specialist, nor allow for the opportunity for board certification. You will still be a "63A", rather than a "63B".

Talking to my (newish) recruiter and looking over this forum's threads led me to these conclusions. It would be very helpful, to me and others, if someone corrects any mistakes in my understanding.

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[krmower]

OK, let me make sure that I have this down:

1) The Army allows you to specialize via both civilian and military residencies
2) Civilian residencies must be entered immediately upon leaving dental school, and must be approved by the Army.
3) Military residencies do not incur a net increase in payback years if you enter the residency immediately upon leaving dental school. (In other words they are neutral years which do not subtract from the initial four year active duty commitment, but do not add years either).
4) You are not paid a full Army salary when in a residency that you enter immediately after dental school.
4) Military residencies incur a net1:1 payback if taken after active duty has begun. (In other words, they are not neutral years).
5) You receive a military salary and benefits if you enter a military residency after you have already begun your active duty commitment.
6) Should you incur a 1:1 payback, additional years of payback are initially added in such a way as to replace IRR time that would normally follow your four years active duty.
7) Competitive military residencies are hard (though not impossible) to get without having previous active duty service.
8) Endodontic and Orthodontic residencies may or may not be impossible to enter immediately after dental school.(Not officially, but in practice).
9) Two-year AEGDs will qualify you as a specialist in the Army, despite not being a recognized specialty by the ADA.
10) Specializing will qualify you for a multi-year retention bonus if you decide to remain in the military.
11) Completing the Captain career components, specializing, and becoming board certified will qualify you for a multi-year retention and qualify you for the rank of Colonel.
12) One-Year AEGDs do not qualify you as a specialist, nor allow for the opportunity for board certification. You will still be a "63A", rather than a "63B".

Talking to my (newish) recruiter and looking over this forum's threads led me to these conclusions. It would be very helpful, to me and others, if someone corrects any mistakes in my understanding.

1. False - they have a few programs with civilian schools (Pedo, Ortho, and Public Health). They decide who goes to the civilian or military programs that are offered - you don't get to apply for civlian programs.
2. False - not an option in the Army
3. True. The only exception would be OMFS. Since you would "snow bird for a year as a general dentist (thus paying back one of your HPSP years) following your 4 yrs of OMFS training you will owe 4 yrs for OMFS - but only have 3 yrs of HPSP remaining since you had paid one back. Thus your total obligation would be 9 yrs.
4. False. Once on active duty you recieve full salary (again the option to go to a civilian residency and defer is not an option)
4. ??. All residencies incur a payback. If done early in your career the payback can be simultaneous with your HPSP payback. All residencies have a 1:1 ratio except for Ortho and Endo which are 1.5:1
5. True. Only option you have for specialty training
6. True
7. True. Depending on the specialty those on active duty may have a better shot at getting than an HPSP graduate. Particularly as more things (Board Scores, Dental School grades, etc...) go to P/F. The school you go to will not hold much sway.
8. True. The ability to apply for them will vary year by year based upon the Dental General's guidance.
9. True. Same pay and bonuses as any other specialty (except OMFS - they get more than anyone)
10. True - currently an extra 50K/yr (100k for OMFS)
11. False - finishing the military schools only influences promotions - it has nothing to do with bonuses. Promotions are decided based upon comparing you with your peers. If the other guys in the same year group as you have done vary little (military schooling, specialty training, etc...) that is what you are being compared against. If they are all super stars - then even doing those things does not guarantee you will be promoted. The Army sets a certain number for people to be promoted and compared with the other guys being looked at - the best are selected.
12. True. If you spend an extra 9-18 months passing off additional requirements in the ACP program you may qualify for an additional $35k bonus after the 1 yr AEGD.

 

[hellopeople]

1. False - they have a few programs with civilian schools (Pedo, Ortho, and Public Health). They decide who goes to the civilian or military programs that are offered - you don't get to apply for civlian programs.
2. False - not an option in the Army
3. True. The only exception would be OMFS. Since you would "snow bird for a year as a general dentist (thus paying back one of your HPSP years) following your 4 yrs of OMFS training you will owe 4 yrs for OMFS - but only have 3 yrs of HPSP remaining since you had paid one back. Thus your total obligation would be 9 yrs.
4. False. Once on active duty you recieve full salary (again the option to go to a civilian residency and defer is not an option)
4. ??. All residencies incur a payback. If done early in your career the payback can be simultaneous with your HPSP payback. All residencies have a 1:1 ratio except for Ortho and Endo which are 1.5:1
5. True. Only option you have for specialty training
6. True
7. True. Depending on the specialty those on active duty may have a better shot at getting than an HPSP graduate. Particularly as more things (Board Scores, Dental School grades, etc...) go to P/F. The school you go to will not hold much sway.
8. True. The ability to apply for them will vary year by year based upon the Dental General's guidance.
9. True. Same pay and bonuses as any other specialty (except OMFS - they get more than anyone)
10. True - currently an extra 50K/yr (100k for OMFS)
11. False - finishing the military schools only influences promotions - it has nothing to do with bonuses. Promotions are decided based upon comparing you with your peers. If the other guys in the same year group as you have done vary little (military schooling, specialty training, etc...) that is what you are being compared against. If they are all super stars - then even doing those things does not guarantee you will be promoted. The Army sets a certain number for people to be promoted and compared with the other guys being looked at - the best are selected.
12. True. If you spend an extra 9-18 months passing off additional requirements in the ACP program you may qualify for an additional $35k bonus after the 1 yr AEGD.

Thank you. It looks like the thing I was most confused about was the lack of ability to do civilian specialty programs in the Army.

I was kind of surprised that my recruiter would be wrong about such a major thing. Do you know what branches allow you to go into civilian residencies?
More importantly, how does the competitiveness of Army residencies compare to civilian residencies?

 

[krmower]

If you look through the posts you will find the Army specialty acceptance rates (or numbers accepted vs applied) for the past 3-4 yrs. You can then compare them with the civilian rates.

 

[DavesNotHere]

Are there any options available to those who have completed a Dental Anesthesiology Residency?

 

[krmower]

Are there any options available to those who have completed a Dental Anesthesiology Residency?

Not at this time. It can help possibly when determining what rank you can come in at - but it will not affect pay or bonuses otherwise.

 

[DavesNotHere]

Not at this time. It can help possibly when determining what rank you can come in at - but it will not affect pay or bonuses otherwise.

I guess what i was asking, are there positions for dental anesthesiologists to act only as anesthesia provider and not the surgeon.

 

[krmower]

No.