assignments

[mommax3]

Sally! I want your advice! We have made some depressing strides in our preference worksheet. Most of the locations have been eliminated for us! We were told that one person is already going to Langley so unless he changes his mind (doubtful), Langley is a no. Andrews is a cold day in hell chance - the assignment officer said that they already have too many general surgeons there. Keesler is overstaffed - so that is doubtful, too, right? Wright-Patterson is overstaffed. Lackland - one of the officers said that the best way for them to check him out would be to give a grand rounds there. . .so I'm thinking that unless he gives a grand rounds, that is a no? We haven't heard about Travis yet. They said that there is one spot opening up at the Academy. And then I think the only other options are Nellis, Scott, Luke, and the one in Alaska. . .and Korea.

This is so not what I had expected. First, I didn't really expect them to basically tell us where we were NOT going to end up. And then they mention deployment a lot - something like 30% of all of the general surgeons are deployed at any one time.

Arrrgh. . .anyway, any thoughts on this?

[mommax3]

I posted the message above for Claudia (who wrote it) at her request.....she is having trouble getting onto this board.

I also typed a reply, but it isn't here......it wouldn't surprise me if I forgot to hit "submit", though, since I am running around here like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get ready to go.

Anyway, to recap.....

I am sorry that the places you were interested in aren't panning out, Claudia. The ones that you listed aren't too bad, though, as assignments go. I think that all of them are close to or in large metropolitan areas, which covers a multitude of sins (at least that is how I feel).

We looked really hard at Scott and wouldn't have minded being sent there at all. It is just across the Mississippi from downtown St. Louis, and I think you can be there in 15 to 20 minutes, tops, depending on where you live, but the Illinois side of the metro area (where Scott is) is more rural and relaxed and very pretty.

I think I have made my feelings about San Antonio clear, so if your DH can't get down there to do the Grand Rounds thing, rank it high anyway and cross your fingers.....it is a fun place to live and probably the cheapest big city in the nation as far as housing goes.

Deployments are unfortunately a fact of life these days, and Family Practice, any kind of surgeon, and ER are the first docs to go, with radiologists a close second. The bright side (if there is one) is that the medical teams that deploy have been going for only 3 months most of the time, and no longer than six....that is based on what has gone on here. So at least it wouldn't be for a year or something. All the more reason to be close to a large metropolitan area.....lots of opportunites for you to find support and stuff to do.

I don't know a lot about the other bases you mentioned, other than they are near metropolitan areas. Take it from me, even if you don't think of yourself as a city person, when you get stationed 2 1/2 hours (or more) from a city of any size at all, you start missing all of the hustle and bustle pretty quickly. (Remember the theme from "Green Acres"? That is how I felt when we got here.)

Try to stay positive, Claudia. Look at this as a chance to experience life in another part of the country. After the four years are up, you will be able to go back to life as you originally planned it. I went to San Antonio kicking and screaming, but ended up loving it, and DH and I haven't completely ruled out moving back once we are civilians.....so you may be pleasantly surprised.

Take care and keep us posted! How is the baby?

Sally