Posted on Aug 25, 2015
How do low density MOS personnel keep up their skills in the Reserves?
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I transferred from Active Duty to the Reserves almost a year ago. I'm the only person with my MOS (68N Cardiovascular Specialist) in my unit. I absolutely love my job but honestly, I'm starting to lose my motivation for the Reserves. I've struggled to find my place in the unit and they don't know what to do with me either. I'm left on my own a lot. There isn't much for me to do at drill so I just study for my registries.
I need some advice on how to keep up my skill set and motivation while serving in the Reserves. I'm able to work with part of my skill set in my civilian job but it's literally impossible to find a job using both major specialties in my MOS.
I need some advice on how to keep up my skill set and motivation while serving in the Reserves. I'm able to work with part of my skill set in my civilian job but it's literally impossible to find a job using both major specialties in my MOS.
Army Reserve
Training
Proficiency
68N: Cardiovascular Specialist
Medical
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 26
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My question is do they have a 68N slot and what kind of unit is it? If it is a medical unit and you are close to a medical facility the unit could get a clinical agreement with the facility to allow you to do your drill time at the facility. Another option would be for you to RST some weekends or during the week at a facility, or your civilian facility to work in your MOS.
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SGT Carissa Lara, RCS
Ma'am they do have a 68N slots. We are a hospital unit but they have no agreements with any nearby facilities. Those hospitals won't agree to take us because of liability issues. I've asked my leadership about if I could RST at a unit closer to home since I drive from out of state but they didn't seem to know how to get that started and they failed to follow up on finding out. I've asked others but I'm met with the usual shrugs and "I'm not sure but I'll try to find out." My next step is to talk to the career counselor about my options.
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COL Roxanne Arndt
SGT Lara, All you have to do is contact the unit that you want to drill with, explain the situation and get their permission to do so. You fill out an RST request form (from your unit) with the name of the unit you are drilling with, what your duties are going to be and the dates you are drilling. Your first line supervisor needs to approve as well as the Co Commander or who ever is over your first line supervisor. As long as your command and the other unit agree you can do this you attend drill with them. After you drill you fill out a 1380 which you need for pay. Have the unit you drilled with sign the form and then you turn that form in to your unit to process your pay. Be sure to keep a copy of the form!!! What type of hospital unit is your unit?
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SGT Carissa Lara, RCS
Thank you for the info! That's officially more than I've gotten all year. We are a regular hospital unit just without a building, or equipment.
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COL Roxanne Arndt
Hope you can get this figured out. You can also attend conferences etc in lieu of attending drill. This can also be used for RST if you unit allows it. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time. I can appreciate how frustrating it is for you.......
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SGT Carissa Lara, RCS Kudos to you!!!! I really mean that. I want to ask though what are you doing on the civilian side and have you thought about Interventional Radiology? There is as I'm sure you know a great demand for your specialty in the private sector. As I'm sure you are aware there is a lot of competition between the specialties. Keep in mind less invasive techniques are a way of the future and I'm wondering if you've thought about that. On that note if you're not getting what you need for keeping your skills up in your unit perhaps you should be looking toward the private sector (I"m sure you are) to increase and maintain your skills.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT Carissa Lara, RCS -It sounds like a great position. Don't stop looking for perhaps another place of employment that has greater volume. Don't rule out finding a great Interventional Department though. There are some that are overwhelmed by volume (look at who the head of the department is) and how much volume he or she has. You sound like you are a go to person and I'm sure you would be a valuable asset. I know you would be greatly appreciated by a department such as that. Usually there is complaining because of volume not because there is a lack of it. They are out there, you may have to be willing to move for it though. I hope you are actively looking.
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SGT Carissa Lara, RCS
Thank you Ma'am! I do actively look but moving is out of the question. My husband is active duty so my options are limited. I've tried looking for per diem work in cath labs but the only ones around are over an hour away and have a 30 minutes call back time. Maybe I do need to reconsider IR.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT Carissa Lara, RCS Maybe in the future if your situation changes regarding being able to move I can point a direction out to you. No guarantees...networking definitely never hurts.
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Being by Bragg see if your unit can link you up with an AC unit that has your MOS to train up with them.
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SGT Carissa Lara, RCS
That's actually what I'm doing now. I work at Womack so I convince my unit to let me do my AT here because they didn't schedule one for the unit. I don't know if I'll be able to do that every year though. Also, our cath lab here is so low volume that they have trouble keeping the personnel assigned there proficient.
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