What happens to my rank in medical school?

2020-04-04T22:17:18-04:00

I am currently an infantry officer in the National Guard as a Captain. I will be attending medical school this coming fall semester. Will I be able to keep my rank during medical school if I get coded as a medical student? Am I able to accumulate TIG during medical school to be promotable to O-4 after medical school?

I will be attending a civilian medical school

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Apr 4 at 2020 10:33 PM

2020-04-04T22:33:59-04:00

Which medical school are you attending?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2020 10:39 PM

2020-04-04T22:39:18-04:00

If it helps as a guide without citing specific regulation, a dear friend and colleague went to med school as a MAJP and is now a LTC. You will not be demoted for achieving more education. All the best.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Apr 4 at 2020 10:40 PM

2020-04-04T22:40:30-04:00

Great question for medical recruiter.

Back in my day I met an 0-4 Navy naval aviator that decided to have the AF pay for medical school at AF COT. He was an 0-1 attending COT, and said he had a written contract that upon graduating from med school he would be promoted to 0-4. He was on AD while in med school, that was my understanding.

I had a friend who was AD AF 0-3 who wanted to attend MSN at USU but decided not to as she would revert to 0-1. Not sure what her rank would have been upon graduation.

You like many others have a great question and I’m sure the correct answer is out there and if start with the college military program director.

Good luck with your new endeavor.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Apr 4 at 2020 10:48 PM

2020-04-04T22:48:14-04:00

Not knowing what medical school you plan to attend, typically you lose half your time when you switch branches (IN to MC), such if you are JR CPT you would go back to rank at 18ths. Dont quote me on this as I never had a desire to switch and have not studied it in detail. Best answer will be if you tell us which medical school you are attending.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 5 at 2020 1:50 AM

2020-04-05T01:50:34-04:00

Worst is the air force PAs

Response by LTC John Griscom made Apr 5 at 2020 7:45 AM

2020-04-05T07:45:13-04:00

What will your status be while in medical school? Will you continue with the National Guard?
Should not lose TIG status.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2020 8:18 AM

2020-04-05T08:18:33-04:00

Are you attending as part of one of the scholarship programs? HPSP, MDSSP? Or are you completing a Guard program? I ask, because then there is the potential to have your commissioned service cut in half. But I would check with your AMEDD recruiter, they will need to submit your Prior Service record and then they will determine your grade.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2020 9:46 AM

2020-04-05T09:46:58-04:00

I had a CPT PL who did the AMEDD recruiting thing. He had to resign his commission as a CPT, and was resworn in as a LT the next day. Think upon leaving med school he should be a CPT again.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2020 12:48 PM

2020-04-05T12:48:01-04:00

From what I see about the MDSSP, it looks to be based on the same principle as SMP for people pursuing their undergraduate. Meaning that you are not receiving a scholarship so you are not falling under Cadet Command in a not-for-credit pay status. It appears you would just continue serving in your current commission and performing drills while you go to school. That also means that your school time would count towards retirement as well, where ROTC or Cadet time, or USUHS would not.

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made Apr 5 at 2020 2:38 PM

2020-04-05T14:38:12-04:00

is your attendance as an active duty officer? Or are you transferring to the reserves while in civilian med school? That determines your continuing eligibility for promotion.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2020 11:21 AM

2020-04-06T11:21:43-04:00

If you desire to contract for the medical and dental student stipend program (MDSSP) and/or be considered non-deployable so your schooling isn’t interrupted, you should elect to undergo selection by USAREC as a 00E67 (medical/dental student officer). If you decide to do so you will receive constructive service credit due to your appointment in the AMEDD being considered an initial appointment. Thus, you will likely be reduced in rank. You will be reappointed into the medical corps (MC) on the date of your graduation and you may then be eligible for promotion to MAJ shortly thereafter. I have an officer in one of my units who was a prior service CPT, went to medical school, graduated and was subsequently promoted to MAJ by virtue of prior commissioned service.

Response by SSG William Zopff III made Apr 7 at 2020 8:32 AM

2020-04-07T08:32:42-04:00

Sounds like a HRC question!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2020 3:40 AM

2020-07-12T03:40:16-04:00

If you change branches to AMEDD as a med student, you will lose rank. I am a PA in the NG and know people with a similar situation and they lost rank. I switched branches within AMEDD ( Medical Service/70B officer to 00E65 while I went through IPAP), also had my rank cut in half. From your new date of rank, you will start to accrue TIG from that date.