Career choice: physician assistant or firefighter?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:09:04 -0400

I leave the army in 12 months and Im having trouble deciding on a solid plan. Ive always wanted to be a fireman and where I live (MA) is a great place to be a fireman, many make up to $100k plus, with hard work of course. I want to know if the firefighter life is a great one or use my gi bill to go to a six year college program for a masters in physician assistant studies. I have also had an interest in being one and have heard many people loving it. I really just need some help deciding thank you. Plus: after that college program I would be 29, is that too late to start working as a PA?

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 11 at 2018 8:14 PM

SrA John Monette — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:14:25 -0400

I would go the PA route. less stress. better hours. I would rather see a 29 year old PA than an MD who doesn't look old enough to shave or be out past 8pm

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Oct 11 at 2018 8:22 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:22:12 -0400

It is definitely not too late to start as a PA. It is a lot easier on your body. If you love firefighting, that's fine but know it is tough work and most have 24 on/24 off which is not great for marriages.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2018 8:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:50:10 -0400

Let me give you some real career advice here that is given with candor and honesty.

You do not know what it is you want to do. Physician assistant and firefighter are far different ends of the spectrum who attract completely different types of people. By your question, I can tell that you haven't done nearly enough research on both paths.
With just 12 months left in the Army, you do not have enough time to research, decide, plan, and save enough for a successful and smooth transition. I highly suggest that you reenlist for two years. That will give you one more year to research and plan, and then another year to save and apply to the program of your choice.

Your GI Bill will not cover 6 years of college education. A better choice is 2 earn your Associates before you leave the army, or attend a community college and pay out of pocket. Then utilize your GI Bill to pay for 2 years of University and part of your masters for PA program. Your GI Bill will not cover all of the expenses for the PA program, but depending on the program you choose it will cover a portion of it. Money will be a big issue through the whole process because even though tuition is paid, you will only be getting about 1500 a month or so for the housing allowance. That means you will have to work your way through Community College and pay out of pocket, and work your way through the master's program to cover the tuition Gap from your GI Bill. There are scholarships available as well as tuition assistance from certain National Guard programs that you should look into.
If you are really serious about the PA program, there are some excellent active duty and Reserve programs that will allow you to become a PA.
I don't know anything about being a firefighter, so I can't comment on that.

Don't become a statistic. More than half the veterans who separate from the Army and begin College, never finish their bachelor's.
Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and plan. Don't be in a rush to run out of the army because you don't like the job. Use the army to set yourself up for the future.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Oct 11 at 2018 8:55 PM

SPC James Neidig — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 20:55:03 -0400

A friend of mine is a firefighter in Beverly MA he pulls in $150,000 plus a year but the choice is up to you he does work a lot but he gets great benefits too

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Oct 11 at 2018 10:07 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:07:01 -0400

I used my GI Bill and went back to film school at the age of 55. Currently, I work as a grip in film and tv. It is one of the more physically demanding jobs in the industry. 29 is not too old at all to be a PA. You’ll still be 29, whether or not you go to PA school. I encourage you to go for it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2018 10:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:09:57 -0400

Lookee here -> http://www.usarec.army.mil/armypa/

armypa

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Oct 12 at 2018 12:45 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:45:47 -0400

Fire fighting and EMS is bar none the most enjoyable job I have ever done. I would rather do it than be an Army nurse and field grade officer. That being said, there are plenty of volunteer options for me and full time fire fighter after the army. Nothing says while you are in PA school you cannot volunteer somewhere. Nothing says you cannot become a PA, work as a fire fighter and days off from the FD work in a clinic somewhere making $$$. You also get out, work full time as a FF while you work on your bachelors to get into PA school. No reason you cannot do both, PA the option to make $$$ not only young but you can work as one into your 70s yet do FF for fun. PA is the much better option for long-term income with FF being a youthful job and I say do both!

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Oct 12 at 2018 1:13 AM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:13:14 -0400

Both career tracks are highly stressful; both involve lives in the balance. I am not sure you have done enough research on each. Highly suggest you talk to your battalion PA to ask if you could shadow him or her for a week. The fire company on post or then civilian world can help as well. Even if you have to take leave for this, you can now make a decision best for you. Good luck!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Oct 12 at 2018 1:39 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:39:25 -0400

http://www.usphs.gov

Trust me, look at the USPHS Jr and Sr COSTEP, their analogue to ROTC...God knows, I was 36 when I finally started an allied health doctorate, I'm total perm disabled, I wonder many days why I went to the trouble, however, that age is by no means uncommon in your case, I assure you...it'd depend on what specific clinical area you'd want, if you'd want psych related, USPHS has a major agreement with the other svcs, to let their clinical staff do tours with the other svcs generally 3 yrs, I gather...if you want firefighter, as you'd said, there areare formal undergrad and grad degrees also in fire science up through PhD, that I know for a fact, as well, if that'd interest you at all....

www.usphs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Oct 12 at 2018 1:42 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:42:28 -0400

http://www.usuhs.gov

Look at not just the MD, I realize you might not want it, there are also PhD programs there in basic med sci, you could go as active duty or civilian, I've gathered, for those, the also have a grad nursing school, and sevl other areas, look up also the intersvc PA program run by Army I think at Ft Sam Houston, USCG uses USPHS for all areas other tan PAs, they have their own of those, though you could go PA with USPHS as well, of course, if you wanted to try that route as well....

www.usuhs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Oct 12 at 2018 1:44 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:44:14 -0400

And I gather you have a Bach now? What major? What GPA so far as you'd care to go into, I'd just wondered, it'd give us all a more thorough idea of how to help suggest stuff, I not a Bach, are you assocs level now?

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Oct 12 at 2018 5:18 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 05:18:21 -0400

SFC Boyd gave you some great advice. My nephew is a PA and he loves it, but he had to work his butt off to get through school. I believe he was able to get a couple of scholarships, but I know it was still tough. The Army is great place to save up your money for a couple of years and get many of your college credits knocked out. Good luck!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 12 at 2018 5:15 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 17:15:35 -0400

Two very admirable choices. I must say that the salary you cited is at the highest end of the spectrum for a firefighter. That size salary would only come after many years on the job, unless of course you were in some sort of specialty team, and those are hand picked from the best of the best. As for the PA and the amount of time it takes, unless you have gotten started on college you will not be debt free at the end, however the pay can be more like you eluded to with Fire Fighting. Anyway, you need to apply for and be accepted into both professions, neither is automatic. You need to look deeper into the requirements before jumping into the civilian world. Thank you for your service.