Overview

Join a unique environment that provides a variety of career, financial and lifestyle benefits, without the concerns of practicing in the private sector. During humanitarian missions, contingency operations and peacetime, Army Medical Corps officers conserve the U.S. Army’s fighting strength by providing the highest quality health care to Soldiers, family members, retirees and other eligible beneficiaries.

Job Duties

• Examine, diagnose and treat or recommend courses of management for childhood diseases
  
• Conduct and supervise direct patient care, and plan and execute disease prevention and health promotion programs
  
• Exercise command of medical units as provided by law and regulation
  
• Perform special staff functions in health support for commanders at all levels
• Conduct medical research on diseases of military importance, and conduct, supervise and participate in graduate medical education and training of other medical personnel needed to sustain a robust and readily available medical system
  

Unique duty positions include: chief, Adolescent Medicine Service; chief, Department of Pediatrics; pediatric consultant; medical school faculty appointment

Requirements

ACTIVE:

• Doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree from an accredited U.S. school of medicine or osteopathy; foreign graduates may apply with permanent certificate from the Educational Council of Foreign Medical Graduates
  
• Current license to practice medicine in the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico
  
• Eligibility for board certification
  
• Completion of at least one year of an approved graduate medical education internship
  
• Completion of a training program in a pediatric medicine specialty
  
• Between 21 and 42 years of age (may request a waiver)
  
• U.S. citizenship
  
  

RESERVE:

• In addition to the above qualifications, permanent U.S. residency is required for  Reserve officers.
  

Training

In the U.S. Army, the case diversity physicians experience in caring for Soldiers and their families far exceeds the medical care environment of the private sector. As an Army Medical Corps officer, you’ll have access to the most sophisticated technology, the opportunity to consult with experts in both the military and private sector, plus exceptional professional growth opportunities, including continuing education courses, seminars and conferences. Physicians may even serve as faculty at one of our prestigious graduate medical education programs.

For physicians just starting out, the Army Medical Corps offers first-year graduate medical education, residency and fellowship programs. Qualifying medical school students can also benefit through unique training opportunities exclusive to Army Medical Corps officers. Medical Corps officers will also attend certain military short courses designed to develop and enhance the tactical, technical and operational skills unique to the military environment.

Helpful Skills

The normal environment of an Army Medical Corps officer’s work requires time-sensitive problem analysis with an accurate, sound and immediate decision. Ability to operate under stress, apply critical thinking skills, make decisions and translate these skills to battlefield conditions is critical to medical and mission success.

Effective patient care requires the proper balance between technical skills and the ability to apply the appropriate treatment or procedure at the right moment. Army Medical Corps officers possess expert knowledge in their area of concentration, patient management, and general support and coordination principles. Physicians gain this knowledge through continuing medical education and experience sustained by mentoring, additional institutional training, continuous self-development and progressive levels of assignments within their specialty.

Learn more about the ASVAB and see what jobs you could qualify for.

Compensation

ACTIVE BENEFITS:
In addition to the many privileges that come with being an officer on the U.S. Army health care team, you’ll be rewarded with:

• 30 days of paid vacation earned annually
  
• Noncontributory retirement benefits with 20 years of qualifying service
  
• No-cost or low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family
   
  

RESERVE BENEFITS:

• Health Professional Special Pay
  
• Health Professionals Loan Repayment Noncontributory retirement benefits at age 60 with 20 years of qualifying service
  
• Low-cost life and dental insurance
  
• Travel opportunities, including humanitarian missions
  
  

Both active and  Reserve officers enjoy commissary and post exchange shopping privileges; a flexible, portable retirement savings and investment plan similar to a 401(k); paid continuing education; and specialized training to become a leader in their field.

Education Benefits

ACTIVE:
Not only are physicians paid as commissioned officers but they also are eligible to receive special pay incentives and take advantage of unique education benefits. Through the Health Professionals Scholarship Program, the Army Medical Corps will pay 100 percent of a student’s tuition, as well as expenses for required books, equipment and most academic fees. Medical students may also be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus. Active duty physicians with the U.S. Army health care team can earn up to $120,000 in student loan repayment through our Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program.

RESERVE:
One of the many advantages of becoming a member of the U.S. Army Reserve health care team is that you’ll be able to focus on patient care instead of medical school loans. By continuing to practice in your own community and serving when needed, you may qualify for HPLR to repay your medical school loans.

Future Civilian Careers

As you advance through your medical career, you will be looking for experiences that blend teaching, research and clinical excellence to best prepare you for unique and challenging opportunities in medicine. Our physicians excel in the clinical, research, operational, academic and health administration arenas. Many have worked in more than one career track throughout their time in the U.S. Army and have held leadership positions ahead of their private sector counterparts.

U.S. Army physicians are highly desired candidates for competitive private sector jobs upon leaving the Army. In fact, many former U.S. Army physicians serve as faculty in elite medical schools and residency programs, and our fellows are accepted by many renowned training institutions.