Posted on Apr 12, 2016
What are your best recommendations to begin a career in Military Health Care on the Reserve side of any service branch?
41K
36
35
7
7
0
Navy Reserve
Coast Guard Reserve
Healthcare
Air Force Reserve
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 12
5
5
0
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
I agree. Their program seems to be the most open to new applicants in my area, but the process is extensive just to get them to look at the possibility of joining in an HCA specialty.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
First question is, what are you wanting to do? Military Health Care is a diverse field with many disciplines represented.
(2)
(0)
LTC Paul Labrador
Part of the issue is that for the Army, most of our Health Care Administrators are MSC officers (70A), but HCA is typically a mid-career specialization (senior CPTs/junior MAJs) for them, so there really isn't a clean initial entry HCA pathway. Most will go into that role after doing both mTOE time and TDA time (possibly even command), and then go to the Baylor HCA masters program as a mid grade officer. If you were wanting to become a clinician (ie Nurse, MD, PA, etc) there are set initial entry pathways.
For you to do this within the Army, you'd need to gain qualifications for that position. That would almost certainly entail getting a Master of Healthcare Admin degree. You'd also need to switch to the Med Service Corps. This would almost certainly entail loss of a grade.
My recommendation, if you are only wanting to do the Reserves, would be to pursue a career in HCA on the civilian side first (get your degree, seek out HCA employment) THEN try to change over on the Army side. May peruse a branch transfer to MSC in the Army as well so you can start down the 70A career track.
For you to do this within the Army, you'd need to gain qualifications for that position. That would almost certainly entail getting a Master of Healthcare Admin degree. You'd also need to switch to the Med Service Corps. This would almost certainly entail loss of a grade.
My recommendation, if you are only wanting to do the Reserves, would be to pursue a career in HCA on the civilian side first (get your degree, seek out HCA employment) THEN try to change over on the Army side. May peruse a branch transfer to MSC in the Army as well so you can start down the 70A career track.
(2)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
LTC Paul Labrador - Thank you again for your guidance, Sir. I'm a civilian currently, and have been out for 4 years, so I will have to start afresh. The last person I discussed this with was our local AMEDD Recruiter. She was very helpful in explaining, and said almost everything you've mentioned verbatim. My intention in posting this was to gain insight into options from those who are in the role of Medical Admin, or who have first hand experience with the other branches of service. I'm thinking the ability to stay Army on the Reserve side in the 70A or 70B roles are not going to be an option for me given my masters degree focus, lack of medical admin experience, and unwillingness to go Active Duty again. I appreciate your expertise though and will keep going until I find an avenue that works; it just may not be on the Army side.
(0)
(0)
PO1 (Join to see)
Also along with finding what you want to do, depending on what service you go with you are the needs of them. You may get lucky with choosing something that is right for you but still.....things change within the military world (as you may already know). Talk with a recruiter or get a hold of your Career Counselor; those two will have all the updated information for you.
(1)
(0)
PO1 (Join to see)
Also...this was coming from an enlisted side so apologies if there was any confusion. The officer side maybe different. I was just going by what I know, sir; no disrespect.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA ,
This may be able to provide some insight, or at least get you pointed in the right direction. Best of luck moving forward.
http://www.goarmy.com/reserve/jobs/browse/medical-and-emergency/medical-corps-officer.html
This may be able to provide some insight, or at least get you pointed in the right direction. Best of luck moving forward.
http://www.goarmy.com/reserve/jobs/browse/medical-and-emergency/medical-corps-officer.html
As a leading Army physician, a Medical Corps Officer commands medical units in all situations and ensures that Soldiers are in good health. Learn more at goarmy.com.
(2)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
Thanks, SSG Lewis. I'll do some more reading into this MOS. I appreciate the link.
(0)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
SSG Lewis, I just read the duty description. Looks like this is a specialty for physician qualified personnel who completed their Medical Degree as well a residency and are board certified by the AMA or AOA . I'm looking for a role on the admin side managing doctors, nurses, and other critical positions within a clinic, hospital, or other medical facility. Thanks for posting though.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
From the Coast Guard Reserve side of things, there are a couple different options. The first option and most common one would be to enlist in the reserves and go the corpsman route. That being said, that would most certainly underutilize your health care admin degree until a much later point (E-7 and above). Unless there were rare stipulations or circumstances, there would also be a low chance of you being offered any sort of "package deal" to come in at a higher pay grade than what would be offered to anyone else, but you'd still have the choice between officer or enlisted.
To be a health care administrator or do something in that sort of field, you have to be senior enlisted and assigned to an administrative billet, a warrant officer after having to go the enlisted route first (E-6 testing in the top 50% for E-7 and at least 8 years in service, or E-7 and above), or be a commissioned officer in which they may or may not take your degree into account. There are also a limited amount of healthcare administrator locations as a reservist because the service is so small; you would basically be drilling out of Norfolk, VA or Oakland/Alameda, CA, and while your job would be related to healthcare admin, more of it would be focused on policy and medical readiness instead of you actually getting to run a clinic. There's definitely some admin positions at CGHQ in Washington D.C., but they may only be active duty positions.
Another option would be the medical officer route (PA or MD/DO) in which you may be able to fill a health care administrator role, but it doesn't sound like that's the path you're taking. In any case, the medical officers commissioned through the Coast Guard are physician assistants, and most of the MD/DO officers are commissioned and attached to us through the U.S. Public Health Service. Some of them do get assigned to administrative roles.
Regarding the USPHS, I know that they have healthcare administrator positions which would require the MBA you're pursuing, but I don't know if they have a reserve branch, and they are nowhere near in as much demand as the individual medical specialties. There is the "Ready Reserve Corps" which I think is through them, but I can't remember if that was ever put into effect. I have absolutely no idea what they do for drills, and I think they get activated during "major times of crisis" like Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, Sandy, etc.
I'll try to look into this a bit more for you to see if I can find some more answers or more specific information from sources, but your best option would be to either go through a recruiter, or if you can get in contact with them, a reserve assignment officer.
To be a health care administrator or do something in that sort of field, you have to be senior enlisted and assigned to an administrative billet, a warrant officer after having to go the enlisted route first (E-6 testing in the top 50% for E-7 and at least 8 years in service, or E-7 and above), or be a commissioned officer in which they may or may not take your degree into account. There are also a limited amount of healthcare administrator locations as a reservist because the service is so small; you would basically be drilling out of Norfolk, VA or Oakland/Alameda, CA, and while your job would be related to healthcare admin, more of it would be focused on policy and medical readiness instead of you actually getting to run a clinic. There's definitely some admin positions at CGHQ in Washington D.C., but they may only be active duty positions.
Another option would be the medical officer route (PA or MD/DO) in which you may be able to fill a health care administrator role, but it doesn't sound like that's the path you're taking. In any case, the medical officers commissioned through the Coast Guard are physician assistants, and most of the MD/DO officers are commissioned and attached to us through the U.S. Public Health Service. Some of them do get assigned to administrative roles.
Regarding the USPHS, I know that they have healthcare administrator positions which would require the MBA you're pursuing, but I don't know if they have a reserve branch, and they are nowhere near in as much demand as the individual medical specialties. There is the "Ready Reserve Corps" which I think is through them, but I can't remember if that was ever put into effect. I have absolutely no idea what they do for drills, and I think they get activated during "major times of crisis" like Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, Sandy, etc.
I'll try to look into this a bit more for you to see if I can find some more answers or more specific information from sources, but your best option would be to either go through a recruiter, or if you can get in contact with them, a reserve assignment officer.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
If it were me, I would start working on my degree as soon as possible and once I had my pre reqs done and was at a point to where I could finish my degree to become an Officer under the mecep program, I would go Officer.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Jason, I would highly recommend reaching out to a Navy Officer recruiter that SPECIALIZES in health care. I capitalized specialized because that recruiter will know exactly what your best option would be. I might be able to point you in right direction.
(1)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
PO1 Colin, I'll reach back out to the Navy Medical recruiter I talked to last year. He seemed to think I had a good chance of making the cut with my past military experience and current degree goal. The Navy Reserve Medical Recruiter has been the most helpful so far in that he explained the process, discussed my background and motivation, and helped paint the path to being accepted. He also mentioned I would come in as an O-2 (Ensign) which is fine considering I will be beginning a new career. It appears from the conversation that my Army commission would transfer over rather easily too.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
My ambition is to begin a career as a reservist with a specialty in Healthcare Administration, but I've run into a few roadblocks when attempting to join on the Navy and Army side. It seems that experience is the deciding factor due to this being a competitive career avenue in both branches. I am currently working to finish and earn my MBA degree, but need to know if I should also attempt to certify or earn a degree in a healthcare admin specialty program too.
I'm also interested in the Coast Guard Reserve and Air Force Reserve medical specialties, but know very little so far about their qualifications and openings. My intent is to do my homework and then re-engage with the recruiters and network with current military Healthcare personnel in the know who have experience with this specialty. Thank you in advance for your assistance and input.
I'm also interested in the Coast Guard Reserve and Air Force Reserve medical specialties, but know very little so far about their qualifications and openings. My intent is to do my homework and then re-engage with the recruiters and network with current military Healthcare personnel in the know who have experience with this specialty. Thank you in advance for your assistance and input.
(1)
(0)
SPC Paul Jennings, J.D.
My wife did healthcare management and logistics for six years in the Army. It's a good field, but chances are you will NOT be working in a hospital or clinic. These positions are highly competitive and usually go to post command Captains and Majors. The more common assignment is within a medical support company that is attached to a higher headquarters, such as 1st cav.
As for getting a job, the biggest qualification is probably experience combined with education. An MBA is good, medical Corp has an agreement with Baylor where they send their officers to receive an MBA, so it's not that uncommon and won't make you stand out. However, I'm guessing fewer reservists get sent to the course, so this might not hold true in your case.
As for getting a job, the biggest qualification is probably experience combined with education. An MBA is good, medical Corp has an agreement with Baylor where they send their officers to receive an MBA, so it's not that uncommon and won't make you stand out. However, I'm guessing fewer reservists get sent to the course, so this might not hold true in your case.
(1)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
SPC Paul Jennings, J.D. - Thanks for the input. I was afraid this would be the case with the Army/Army Reserve, but not certain for the other branches. That's why I'm leaning more strongly toward a non-Army branch since they seem to manage health care a bit differently. Thanks again for commenting.
(0)
(0)
SPC Paul Jennings, J.D.
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA - No problem. My wife also worked with the Navy and Air Force. The Air Force probably has the most traditionally health care focused emphasis of the forces. The Navy is hit or miss, it really depends on where you're stationed. It's really hard to say with the reserves though, each unit is different, but you should be able to get a good idea of what will be entailed by inquiring about what local units are involved in doing.
(1)
(0)
CPT Mark Gonzalez
On the active duty side, I would tell you it is practically impossible unless you were incredibly well connected to branch transfer and be a 70A. Edit your thread and see if you can get feedback from guys currently on the reserve and guard side who perform this job. Good luck.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
Officer side preferred, but enlisted is also an option as long as I would come in at E-6 or above.
(1)
(0)
1stSgt (Join to see)
I would say talk to the Marines OSO, but we are so badass that we do not have medical. Semper Fidelis, Sir.
(1)
(0)
CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA
Haha....very true, 1stSgt! You give the medical work to the Navy from what I understand. Gotta love those Corpsmen.
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Consider the PHS. Not RESERVE but an outstanding health care uniform service.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Anyone from the Air Force side or Coast Guard side care to chime in? I'd really appreciate hearing from all services to help paint a better picture of your experiences and the branch requirements. Thanks!
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google