MAJ Jason Davis  on 08-May-2009
Sir- Great discussion on a great program. Perhaps one of the participants can tell me how LTHET programs can be created/amended? I have found an excellent program (outlined in MILPER MSG 09-099) that combines a Georgetown University Masters in Public Policy (MPP) with two internships (one at OSD or JCS, followed by one at DA). The Georgetown Public Policy program enables students to choose a specialty/track during their study and "health care policy" is one of the choices.

I know LTHET already has certain internships at the JCS and COCOM level, but I would think that having an AMEDD Officer compete for and participate in this prestigious program would benefit the AMEDD and military medical care. For example, an officer could complete the MPP and work in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense-Health Affairs, followed by their second internship year on the DA staff or at OTSG.

The program is currently restricted to basic branch Officers...perhaps one LTHET seat could be converted into an AMEDD seat in this program?

Thank you all again for a great discussion on graduate program opportunities for AMEDD Officers!

MAJ John Zoll  on 30-Apr-2009
Good evening, Sir. I just wanted to follow-up and clarify my earlier post regarding LTHET.

My personal experience regarding LTHET is as a recent applicant/selectee and as a CCC/CLC3 instructor who fielded many interesting questions from students. Personally, the assignment timing did not work out until recently, but I studied the MILPER message to make sure I understood the intent of LTHET and the procedures. I researched the Homeland Security/Emergency Management LTHET opportunity and the programs under the FEMA College List (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/collegelist/DHSMaster/). I was fortunate enough to be selected for this specific LTHET program, but I was still uncertain if LTHET was primarily for providing masters degree opportunities for MSC officers for career progression or if the priority was more towards training captains and majors for the utilizations assignments that can potentially follow?

Second, I was a CCC/CLC3 instructor for the last two years. One of the most frequently discussed topics was greater clarification on how LTHET fit into career development and a career timeline. The captains were definitely looking for more information especially after the Critical Skills Retention Bonus (CRSB) was introduced. There were many questions about "double-dipping"; could captains elect to go to get their masters degree under the CRSB and then apply in the future for LTHET and another masters/doctorate degree?

I answered what I could for thoroughly reading through the MILPER message and I requested my bosses' input and experience for more advanced questions. LTHET is a great benefit for MSC officers and the program seems to add opportunities each year. CSRB is just one example of new programs that could spur questions regarding LTHET. My recommendation would be to provide an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in the HRC Leader Development section based upon common feedback from captains. I can definitely say we have excellent captains out there asking very pertinent and relevant questions. It would be great to be able to provide reliable answers to these questions.

Thanks again, Sir, for this blog and allowing me to post my comments and questions.

MAJ John Zoll  on 21-Apr-2009
Good afternoon, Sir. I am currently in ILE. One of the Command & General Staff School's requirements is for students to blog. I thought this would be a good topic to add my thoughts, comments, and questions. Thanks for the opportunity through your blog.

I read your initial post about LTHET and all the follow-up replies. It is obviously very interesting dialogue on LTHET. The portion of the discussion that I wanted to inquire about was the intent of LTHET.

Is the main purpose of LTHET to provide our MSC officers a graduate level education for the necessary career and educational progression? Or are we trying to train qualified applicants for the utilization assignments that lie ahead after schooling? Or is it a combination of both? I have looked through the MILPER message and did not see a clear answer.

We are extremely lucky as MSC officers to have the opportunities afforded through LTHET. As I sit in small group full of officers from different branches, they are somewhat envious of the degree programs and utilization assignment possibilities.

Sir, thank you for providing this means of communication to all of us. And thanks to the posters for adding your insight.

CPT Chad Fletcher  on 06-Mar-2009
Good Evening Sir,

I can speak from both sides of the house on the Graduate Degrees. I earned my first Master's Degree from Northwestern Louisiana State University in 1999. I was serving as an Assistant Brigade S-3 and going to school at night...not an easy thing to do.

I earned my second and third Master's Degrees from the Army Baylor Program in 2008. I would have to say that this was by far the best way for me.

Northwestern Louisiana is an accredited and respected university and I wouldn't trade my time there. However, when I speak to people about the two programs I went through, Baylor carries more respect every time. In addition, this was a program that I did not have to pay for (with money that is :) ) and the Army afforded me the TIME to complete the program. This was my job for two years. I also had the opportunity to interact with health care professionals from across DoD and from the VA. That alone was worth the time and effort.

Now most of us that have been around a while know what the Army-Baylor program does and offers. However, as some of our junior officers begin to contemplate what their educational future holds, PLEASE look at the opportunities that the Medical Service Corps offers.

COL Kevin M. McNabb  on 02-Mar-2009
I agree with many of the comments about LTHET. There are many opportunities out there and if you are interested in more education then this is your chance. Also, keep on applying since some years have fewer applicants for a variety of reason.

My own experience was to find out about LTHET from a more senior officer (way back when)during a PT run. He told me the plan to get from where I was to where I wanted to be. It began with the Clinical Lab Officer course and ended with a Ph.D. so his advice and guidance were right on. I was fortunate but I planned each step with anticipated attended dates (both military schools and civilian). I still have the sheet and it was pretty darn close.

My advice is to do your job well FIRST. Then have a good undergraduate GPA along with a strong GRE. Your chances of selection go way up with strong marks. If your undergraduate GPA is not strong then take some classes and show them that you can do the work. If your GRE is not strong then retake it until it gets better. If you are not selected right away keep on trying. Also, keep on doing a great job and look for some job diversity if you can.

If you don't get selected then plan to work on a degree on your own (accredited only). There are many available on installations and there are funds out there to help out. I recommend to all of my officers to look at a MBA especially if their field has them working in fixed facilities. I am a science guy so an MBA helped me with personnel and budgeting problems and I have never once thought it was a waste of time. Do it.

Finally, look for a senior mentor and ask him how to proceed. Tell your mentor what you want to do and he can guide you or point you in the right direction. I found out how to do it by accident and my mentor helped me search out the messages to apply. Now, it is a much easier process but some senior guidance always helps.

I spend a great deal of my time with students these days and they always ask me about getting more education which I love to hear from them. It is a benefit for them and the US Army. If you are interested in learning and willing to work then the Army will help you do both. Good luck.

COL Judith Robinson  on 02-Mar-2009
Getting our young officers to take advantage of these great educational opportunities is imperative for all the reasons already articulated.

However, I would also like to see us, as a corporate body, take more advantage of these fine minds as they are going through these programs --- by presenting them with topics, challenges, issues facing us that they could consider when chosing topics for their thesis/issue papers/etc -- then submitting them back to the Corps for use/dissemination. I am not advocating we do not allow people to follow their passions -- but by relating their work to our issues or problem areas also helps connect them forward to how they will use their degree in the Army afterwards --- and could help to educate the rest of us as well!! JR

CPT Fred Weigel  on 27-Feb-2009
MG Rubenstein,

I echo all the comments supporting the LTHET program and I am amazed that any seat goes unfilled. As a current participant of this great program, I'll share the following tips, slightly tongue-in-cheek:

1. A long time ago, a crusty old CW4 gave me a bit of advice about applying to Army programs. He said, "Make them do the paperwork to say, "No." If you have any doubt you will be accepted, JUST SUBMIT YOUR PACKET!

2. If you do get a "No," SUBMIT YOUR PACKET AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND MAKE THEM DO MORE WORK!! The first time around was just a warm-up and by submitting again, you're showing the board that you are going to keep making them do work until they accept you.

3. Along the lines of 1 and 2 above, if you don't apply, the answer is certainly, "No."

4. This is directed toward those not accepted, but first-time submitters can gain from this, too. Take the time between submissions to shore up your packet - take a course or two and do well in them, get a better DA photo, continue to do well in your job, (re-)interview with your consultant to improve your support from him or her, etc.

5. Go big. If you have the desire and the program is available, submit for a Ph.D. program. The benefits you receive and the value you bring back to the Army are terrific.

6a. There is a waiver for just about everything in the Army. If you think you are not eligible for LTHET for some reason, look around. There may be a waiver.

6b. If there isn't a waiver, there might be one in the works. For my first attempt at LTHET, I had too much time in service and there was no waiver policy available (see number 1 above). Due to a lot of work from the folks at Leader Development Branch (https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/protect/active/opmsc/EduAndTng.htm), the second time around, there was a waiver available for time in service.

7. You can have just about anything you want in the Army as long as you are willing to work hard in return for it.

I hope this helps and I wish all those considering LTHET much success, CPT Weigel

MG Rubenstein  on 25-Feb-2009
Thanks, MAJ McClung. You certainly got my attention with the term 70Z.

I'll have our team (Deputy and Assistant Corps Chiefs, Branch, Army Personnel Proponency Division, etc) look at your proposal and lay out their views for us.

Again, thank you for thinking about our Corps, our fellow Soldiers, and the way ahead in support of our patients and our healthcare staffs.

Army Medicine, Army Strong! MG Rubenstein

MAJ Eric McClung  on 20-Feb-2009
MG Rubenstein, This is a short follow-up to your visit to the Fort Gordon Silver Caduceus Society earlier this month where you requested that I expand via your blog on my suggestion for a Healthcare Administration Short Course.

I would like to suggest that the AMEDD establish a Healthcare Administration Course (similar to the Air Force program) for company grade officers to learn the technical skills for serving as an administrator in an MTF. The ideal utilization from this course would be as a clinic administrator; however the course could also serve as a base education for other AOC’s (70C, 70D, 70K) as their AOC unique functions depend heavily on being able to integrate into the business functions of an MTF. This course would also serve as the AOC producing course for the 70Z which combines the 70A, 70H, and 70E AOCs and would borrow much of its content from the 70E course (since there is no company grade course for a 70A and the 70H didactic education comes from OBC and OAC). Without going into more detail on the 70Z proposal, this course would produces (in conjunction with OBC & OAC) company grade 70Z’s qualified to serve as clinic administrators, movement regulation officers, operations officers, patient administration officers, etc, providing assignment flexibility for TOE and TDA requirements from a large pool of trained officers. At maturity, the Healthcare Administration Course will become the didactic foundation for all Medical Service Corp officers in MTF operations, just as OBC & OAC serve as the didactic foundation for TOE operations. A two year LTHET program should not be the first time a Medical Service officer receives a didactic education on healthcare administration (assuming their AOC allows for them to attend an HCA oriented LTHET program). The instructors for this course would be a combination of the Army-Baylor faculty and the 70E course faculty. I would SWAG that the course would be around eight weeks long.

Go Bears, MAJ Eric McClung 70D, CIO EAMC

MG Rubenstein  on 19-Feb-2009
Hooah...great comments.

The LTHET board looks at many factors. While every board is different, the normal rule of thumb is that the best candidate for selection to LTHET is a Soldier with stellar military assignment and civilian education credentials.

The next best candidate is a Soldier with stellar military assignment and acceptable civilian education credentials. Next in line for selection is a candiate with stellar civilian education credentials and acceptable military credentials.

Generally speaking, what an undergrad did in college is not as important as what a Soldier has done in the Army.

Army Medicine, Army Strong! dar

Donald Hall  on 19-Feb-2009
I'd also like to state that, although we've talked a lot about Baylor on this discussion thread, there are a lot of other good programs out there. I went to both the USUHS History Program (wish we could get some more program starts for that one--nudge, nudge) and the National Defense Intelligence College Strategic Intelligence program, and thought both were great programs for 70Hs. I highly recommend both of them—and they’re properly accredited.

I do think, from some of the things I've heard from junior officers (not all MSCs) is that we're going to have to work to convince them why they should go to school through an Army funded program when the new VA benefits are so good and don't incur an additional ADSO. I think that is going to be a tough nut for us to crack in making the program appealing to folks who want to maximize their options and not commit to an additional ADSO.

MAJ Chris Gellasch  on 19-Feb-2009
I see a lot of comments about 70As and the Baylor program but all of the above applies to those of us in the scientific specialties as well. As someone selected by last year's LTHET board for a fully funded PhD in environmental science, I cannot stress how great LTHET is as a route to obtain a graduate degree. While talking with potential advisors at different universities, all commented how desirable it is to work with Army officers that are mature, organized, and hard working. Your experiences as an MSC officer prepare you for graduate study in ways that are not always reflected in undergraduate transcripts.

I am looking forward to starting classes at the Univ. of Wisconsin in September and continuing to develop myself on both personal and professional levels.

COL Chip Pierce  on 18-Feb-2009
Fellow MSCs,

I encourage every MSC to get with their career manager, and mentors, to help map out professional and educational milestones. For the most part, the LTHET program is best utilized at a point after the Captain's Career Course (for the administrative series MSCs).

That said, I know that there are some officers who may feel discouraged from applying for LTHET. This discouragement may come from their undergrad struggles or a less than stellar GPA. My advice is to go ahead and apply for LTHET anyway for these reasons: First, historically, there are plenty of seats that go unfilled. In some cases, a qualified MSC gets selected merely because they are the only ones who apply. Therefore, go ahead and apply to the program that interests you. Second, regardless of a person's undergrad struggles or the feeling of a less than competitive GPA, that former student is a much different person from the professional considering a Master's degree today. The work ethic is refined and the thought process is matured. As a result, success in LTHET is guaranteed to those who not only apply, but to those who display the self-discipline to obtain a graduate degree.

Donald Hall  on 18-Feb-2009
I went through this same issue with an officer who worked for me in Iraq. He had a Masters in Health Care Administration, but although the school was regionally accredited, the program wasn't accredited by ACHE (or their affiliated accrediting body). We were able to submit a request to have him changed to a 70A, but it was a long and involved process involving his transcripts, the courses he took, an offer to take courses which were in accredited programs and not his, and a lot of begging on his part. :-)

The moral of the story, to me, was to ensure that not only does the SCHOOL need to be accredited by a regional accrediting body, but the PROGRAM needs to be accredited by the appropriate discipline specific body, if you're majoring in a field that has an accrediting organization.

This requires particular attention when dealing with distance learning schools. American Military University, for example, is regionally accredited, but others aren't--the Distance Learning Accrediting Council (or whatever they call it) doesn't count.

When in doubt, we learned, check DA PAM 600-4 before enrolling.

COL Jeff Stolrow   on 18-Feb-2009
MSC Team,

I concur with the comments from COL Pierce and Donald Long. The bottom line for me is to mentor your subordinate officers to thoroughly review prospective graduate programs. Not all graduate programs are created equal. As was stated so well by my fellow colleagues, the programs must meet all essential accreditation requirements. If they do not, the officer is at risk of spending significant time and effort for a degree that may have intrinsic value but limited practical value for the purposes of the Army or civilian sector.

I counsel subordinate officers to not apply to non-accredited programs, to include those programs that are in the process of obtaining accreditation at the time of application. The risk is unacceptable given the alternative of applying at other fine accredited institutions.

LTC Lee W. Bewley, Ph.D., FACHE  on 18-Feb-2009
Ladies & Gentlemen:

The Army - Baylor University MHA\MBA Program has 60 available slots every year and as many as 25 of those slots are dedicated to Army Medical Service Corps officers. Often I wonder if the Program is one of the best kept secrets in the AMEDD as we often have as many as 20-25 of the slots unfilled annually. The Army-Baylor Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB); this standing of dual accreditation is exceptionally rare among graduate programs in health and business administration. Graduates of the Program earn a degree from a Top 20 MHA Program (tied with Yale University and Duke University) and a Top 10% MBA Program. Graduates receive degrees from Baylor University, one of the finest national universities in the country; currently ranked #75 among more than 4,400 institutions of higher learning. This is a graduate program that our warriors have earned a right to attend in order to enhance their ability to serve our country. I strongly encourage officers to apply for Army-Baylor now and the years to come and for mentors to encourage their proteges to aspire to seek high-quality graduate education rather than simply a degree.

In regards to officer reticence in applying for LTHET and\or the Army-Baylor Program, please understand that the process is oriented to evaluating the whole individual (Duty Performance, Prior Academic Performance, & Standardized Aptitude Testing). If officers have good\great records and can demonstrate the potential to succeed in graduate school, they will have a fair opportunity to attend.

Carpe Diem!

MAJ Jeff Blackwell  on 18-Feb-2009
Having completed Baylor several years ago I took away several key points. First, is that if a Soldier wishes a degree in healthcare administration Baylor provides a very respected curriculum and a year in residency that is unparalelled by others out there. Secondly, through the LTHET process the education is free, minus the additional service commitment, which would businesses especially in today's economy would have trouble offering. Finally, Baylor provides a great opportunity for networking with other professionals in all services that allows for multiple sources of advice and best practices when you re-enter the military workforce. I'm not sure I could count how many times since the course that either I contacted a classmate or they contacted me for some type of information. This is an invaluable resource for you to carry with you as a healthcare administrator. The LTHET and Baylor are truly great programs for our Medical Service Corps family to utilize and benefit from.

David Gilbertson  on 18-Feb-2009
This is a great program and we need to encourage our officers to apply. Odds are we will have them for 20+ once we get them into LTHET (I have no data on this, but would be interested in seeing the stats)

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CPT Jamie Cook  on 07-Mar-2009
Sir, CPT Jamie Cook, AGR Manager for the Virgin Islands.

Let me start by saying I have enjoyed my time here in San Antonio and attending the Captains Career Course. I commissioned in 2004 as AC T-10 Officer, a couple of tours to Iraq and various assignment positions After attending the 70F course I decided what I wanted to be. Long story short I came off T-10 and took personnel position T32. I think this position has given me an extreme appreciation for the value of the Reserve and NG Medical assets, and as a 70F the opportunity to be involved in alot more aspects of the personnel arena. I was just wondering if in the future will the same opportunities be affored to T32/T10 AGR Officers for example: LTHET, Baylor Program etc.

Or do you know if the same opportunities are available on the Reserve or National Guard side.

CPT Lionel Lowery  on 03-Mar-2009
Dear 1LT Villarroel:

Thank you for posting a message to the Chief's blog. Strategic Communication is very important to the Chief as he wants to reach out to all members of the Corps.

Non-AMEDD Officers’ transferring into the Medical Service Corps is of interest to many. The abolishment of the half-credit rule for other branches transferring into the Medical Service Corps was one of the corps early wins. This significant win ties into our MSC Strategic Theme of “Recruit and Retain the Best Talent”.

For more information on the abolishment of the half-credit for branch transfer please go to this link: http://medicalservicecorps.amedd.army.mil/career_mgmt.html

The MSC Strategic Themes are an integral part of our Strategy Map and can be found at the following link: http://medicalservicecorps.amedd.army.mil/strategic.html

Thank you for your support to the Medical Service Corps!

CPT Lionel Lowery, Special Assistant, Office of the Chief, Medical Service Corps

1LT Villarroel  on 26-Feb-2009
Sir,

Has the Corps looked at changing the way we award constructive credit to prior service/branch transfer officers? It's a shame that officers who could bring valuable experience to the corps would have to be demoted in order to transfer. MSC is the only branch that awards 1/2 credit for prior commissioned service. We have a high speed AG officer serving as our assistant S-1. She would make an excellent 70F, but we are carrying her NDMOSQ due to the fact she does not want to lose rank. This impacts the USAR Soldier greater who must wait six years for CPT as opposed to three for an AC officer. I've been told the argument is that an officer who branch transfers does not posses the AMEDD experiences necessary to retain their rank. However I am constantly in-processing new nurse corps accessions with 3+ years constructive credit based on their civilian RN experience. It's disheartening to see rank used as a recruiting tool for other AMEDD branches, and MSC officers getting demoted.

v/r

1LT Villarroel 399th CSH

MG Rubenstein  on 18-Feb-2009
Dear COL Stolrow:

Thank you for responding to the survey. As of yesterday we had 1,323 responses. I trust many other of our Soldiers will resond with their sense of how we're doing and how we can do even better to support their careers.

Army Medicine, Army Strong! MG David Rubenstein

COL Jeffrey Stolrow  on 17-Feb-2009
To All,

Thanks for the opportunity to complete the survey. I enjoyed completing it, as it gave me the chance to once again reflect on why I chose the profession of arms and continue to get great satisfaction from being a Medical Service Corps officer.

Surveys like this one matter. I hope that we get at least a 60% return rate across the MSC force, as that will ensure adequate officer representation and survey reliability. I am also very interested in the results, especially in regard to how we rate on the intrinsic intangibles of job satisfaction, which generally are better predictors of staying in a profession visa versa salary or benefits.

If we could do this survey again, I would recommend adding some additional questions about deployments, which provide one of many ways to measure OPTEMPO. Question 10 covers total months deployed since 9/11. It would also be helpful to know how many combat tours an officer has had since 9/11 identified by AF/IZ campaigns + a question on the level of perceived personal and family stress during those campaigns. These additional questions might help us better understand how OPTEMPO in an evolving counterinsurgency is positively or negatively impacting MSC officer and family well being.

For example, I have had four 9/11 combat tours covering a total of 12 months from 2001-2004. Those 12 months, while not relatively long in duration, caused significant personal and family stress due to the nature of the campaigns, which included participating in the invasions of both AF and IZ.

MAJ Duncan  on 12-Feb-2009
MG Rubenstein,

I am an AGR Officer. Several years ago AC MSC Captains were offered the CSRB. As an AGR Captain at the time, I was told that I could not get the bonus because I was in the Army Reserve.

Last year the Army Reserved offered the CSRB to Captains before I was promoted. I was told that since I was on Active Duty as an AGR Officer, I was not eligible for the bonus.

In the future, I would like to see AGR Captains have the opportunity to receive the CSRB.

Regards,

MAJ Tom Duncan 332nd Med Bde

LTC Eva Calero  on 12-Feb-2009
Greetings Sir,

I just saw the Corps Chief's Update video. Very informative. I sincerely appreciate all the focus you are putting on keeping our Corps relevant and alive.

v/r

LTC Charles Eyster  on 12-Feb-2009
I am in a medical training support battalion under MRTC (AR-MEDCOM). I have an issue with the concept of the AREF cycle that involves many reserve medical units. It is a great concept in theory, but in practice, aside from issues concerned with manpower shortages, it is an inaccurate refelection of the truth.

In theory, units return and go through recontitution and retraining of new personnel in Year 1. They are then slated for ECT (summer camps) where they appear to be participating in Warrior Training Exercises. Many times, in fact, these units "punch the ticket" at a Warrior training exercise, however, they are tasked to perform "realworld" medical support. I am especially concerned with the Ground Ambulance Companies that often perform split ECT training, at multiple sites. They "appear" to be attending a Warrior Ex, where in fact, they are performing an ambulance shuttle from the field to contonment area facilities. The same can be said for the Minimal Care Dettachments, who are often tasked to provide sickcall functions in contonment areas of a post. There is some training value in this type of tasking and use of the units. However, they are not actually being given the opportunity to training in warrior tasks, which is usually an expected and more beneficial use of this time period. Thank you.

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