Special Forces and Medical School

[Stephens]

I'll venture to post as My best friend served as a physician in the 11th SFG (USAR)
He did this after med school and residency. He was prior service 11B. however.
I think he would advise med school, residency and then attempt SF. Based on our many conversations.
Actually, he advises no one to go into medicine with the current state of affairs.

Best of luck, OP.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Stephens

I'll venture to post as My best friend served as a physician in the 11th SFG (USAR)
He did this after med school and residency. He was prior service 11B. however.
I think he would advise med school, residency and then attempt SF. Based on our many conversations.
Actually, he advises no one to go into medicine with the current state of affairs.

Best of luck, OP.

The only folks that post in this forum are the folks that ask the questions and the Special Forces soldiers that answer those questions.

This will be your only warning.

[RichL025]

I'll second what Joe (Eagle5US) said...

Pretty difficult to go to SF after med school. In addition to EM, FP is probably another good choice, but options like that are few & far between. Additionally, should you be one of the very few to get a Q course slot as a MD, you won't really be _serving_ as an SF guy. Oh, you'll get to wear the beret and all that, but you won't be on a team. You'll be at the Bn med shed....

On the other hand, plenty of us old farts manage to go to medical school after SF. Most of them don't wait as long as I did (started undergrad after 12 years on AD) or Dan Godbee (went to med school after finishing 20. Or was it 30?). But after 5-8 years you're still a young man!

Difficult to give you advise in this. The right thing is different for everyone. SF is not for everybody. Neither is med school.

You only live once. Try & make it count whatever you choose to do.

Rich

[RichL025]

Addendum: The "pretty difficult to go SF after med school" thing doesnt count for the NG. They do some weird shit, and I've heard about MDs going through the Q course as 18Ds and serving on NG teams. Don't know how common that is though...

[18C/GS 0602]

Originally Posted by RichL025

Dan Godbee (went to med school after finishing 20. Or was it 30?).

Dan is a great guy and a friend. He has a pretty amazing life story. He turned down SGM to go to Medical School. I am one of those odd NG guys that went to the SFQC after medical school and residency. It was not the path most traveled but it worked out well in the end and I got to spend a few years on an ODA which is priceless. Dan was one of the few people that did not try and talk me out of enlisting to go to SFAS after residency.

[RichL025]

Good deal! Although I see your handle says 18CHARLIE instead of DELTA!!! You must have been one of the most highly cross-trained Charlies ever!

You're story actually rings a bell in the dusty corners of my brain. Have we run into each other before?

[18C/GS 0602]

Originally Posted by RichL025

Have we run into each other before?

I don't think so but I would be willing to bet we have lot of friends and acquaintances in common. The tabbed M.D. world is pretty small. I am pretty sure we will run into each other at some point. First round is on me.