My goal is to do physical therapy in the army. What is my best course of action in finding an active duty position PT in Florida?

Cadet CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 10:05:20 -0400

I am currently finishing my first year of my doctorate of physical therapy program. I am also part of the ROTC program on campus. I have not contracted as of yet but i will in September.
I would also ideally prefer to stay in Florida because my wife is a lawyer in Florida, so she really cant practice outside of Florida but I don't mind looking elsewhere depending.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Jul 9 at 2020 10:15 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 10:15:11 -0400

Consider talking to an AMEDD recruiter. ROTC is typically meant for commissioning undergraduate or graduate students into regular Army branches after completing degrees. Since you are pursuing a doctorate in a medical field, you may qualify for potential direct commission (Again, ask Army medical recruiter to see if you qualify)

https://recruiting.army.mil/MRB_MedicalSpecialists/

Medical Specialists

This page includes resources for professionals how would join the Medical Specialists Corps.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 10:21 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 10:21:34 -0400

If you end up on Active Duty as a PT, you will end up going where they send you. You can request for Florida, but there is no guarantee you will get it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 10:27 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 10:27:34 -0400

You have a few options.
You need to speak with an AMEDD recruiter though to explore them.

You could get the health scholarship program to finish PT and then you’d owe so many years of active duty as a direct commissioned PT in the army. You would go where the army wants to send you though. While in the program you won’t drill and won’t be deployed. So you’d be in Florida unti you graduate and then the army would send you where they want. In this day an age of telework your wife could possibly telework or find a job elsewhere.

You could finish your schooling and then direct commission into the guard or reserves and live in Florida and possibly be attached to a Florida unit if they had one available.

You need to speak with an amedd recruiter though.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jul 9 at 2020 6:02 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:02:18 -0400

Even though I am a ROO with an ROTC program, if you came in my office, I would refer you to an AMEDD recruiter. Since you are already in a DPT program, ROTC really is not for you. If you were an undergrad student looking to go into a DPT program, that would be different. I am pretty sure you cannot commission through ROTC into the Medical Specialty Corps under which Physical Therapy falls. So before you sign an ROTC contract, doublecheck all that and talk with an AMEDD recruiter. Now in terms of staying in Florida, your chances may be somewhat slim there. The Army will assign you based on the needs of the Army. As a DPT, you most likely will go to where the troops are and that is not Florida. I would not make your decision based on an idea that you will stay in Florida. My recommendation is to look at the Army Reserves which can keep you in Florida and possibly open up some active duty tours for you.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 9 at 2020 6:08 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:08:46 -0400

If you are wanting to do physical therapy you’ll most likely be at a Hospital. Unless you end up at a joint service position at another branch hospital it’ll be hard to be only in Florida.

You need to come to terms with the fact the military will put you where there are military facilities.

https://m.goarmy.com/amedd/health-care/facilities.m.html

Army Medical Facilities | GoArmy.com

The Army health care team has built one of the best health care networks in the world. Our facilities are second to none. From our major medical centers to health care facilities, we’ll provide you with exceptional venues to practice your specialty.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2020 5:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 17:46:36 -0400

In the past most Army PTs were stationed in hospitals or MTFs, but over the past 20 years or so we’ve been assigned directly to line units. It started with the Rangers, then SF, then Brigade Combat Teams. I’m currently working as a PT for an Infantry BCT (soon to be a Stryker BCT). A new program called Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) is starting to roll out next FY which will create a ton of new PT positions across the force. Pretty much every BDE, not just BCTs, will have at least one PT on staff. Right now the major feeder for Army PTs is the Army-Baylor DPT program, but they only produce 18-20 PTs per year. Any shortfalls were met with direct commissions from the civilian side. Some years they would only take a couple PTs so it was pretty competitive. They generally took PTs with a few years of experience and a board speciality certification under their belts. With the rapid expansion of Army PT they will most likely take more new PTs. With that being said, it will still be a somewhat selective process. PT school is expensive and when you tell folks they can get things like student loan repayment for serving a few years, you better believe there will be a lot of applicants. I’m not trying to discourage but I’m trying to show that you have to be realistic and are really in no position to make demands for duty stations and what not. Off the top of my head the only Army PT position in Florida is with 7th SF Group. I can guarantee that you won’t get that position right out of school. Those positions generally require at least 2-5 years of experience, including some time spent as a brigade PT. I have a friend who was an 18D (SF Medic) before becoming a PT and he still need some MTF and BDE time before heading to Group. If being stationed outside of Florida is a deal breaker you might be disappointed. If you have any more questions feel free to send me a PM.