What's up?

[DCJenn]

Is everyone staying put this year? Aren't some of you up for a move? (or PCS in the lingo!) We're here for another year.



Report in all!!



Jenn

No moves for us -- I just feel BARELY settled since our move last summer. I actually would have been okay with my husband asking for a PCS because I do not enjoy it here, but it would have been hard on my school-aged son. So we will most likely be here for three more years and then out. I still really miss San Antonio!



Sally

Well, we're still not going to be anywhere near a base when we move to Mass. It's really going to be another good four years (more if he does a fellowship) before we have the reality of military life! I do have a question, though: On average, how often are military doctors (done with training) moved around?



Jennifer

Sally:

What is a PCS?



All:

We're not quite there yet. We have another two years of residency here but we will start applying for the fellowship deferment next year. Hopefully, we get one. Although, a small part of me wishes we could just hurry up and fulfill the obligation and move on with the rest of our lives.

[DCJenn]

PCS: Permanent Change of Station



Jennifer- Most of the staff here have been here for a while. They have done a pretty good job af getting people to where they want to stay. Most of the senior level officers that are retirement eligible end up staying in until they find the perfect job elsewhere. The insurance and all that are daunting if you've never had to deal with it!



Those in training get moved a bit more- and those newly out of training. Once you hit Major though, I've seen pretty minimal movement, at least in the Peds dept. (this is a wierd program though as it's combined Army/Air Force so they kind of look at who's available in BOTH services.)



There are some Neo-natology staff who are slated to move, but I'm pretty sure that for most, it was at their request.



My husband has already stated that he will never practice peds as a civilian because he doesn't want to have to deal with all of the other non-medical junk they have to deal with on the civilian side. (That and salaries are pretty comparable for pediatricians)

It's pretty funny- at least 3/4 of the pediatricians decided to be licensed in Indiana- it's only $35!! and since it doesn't matter where you're licensed when you're in the military, they all went the cheap route!



We've had people here for 8-10 years.



Jenn

Just to add to Jenn's reply --



We only owe the Air Force 4 years. Usually, active duty military officers can expect to move (at least) every 3 years. However, since my husband only owes 4 years total, we will be here for the entire 4 years and then we will get out. We could ask for a new assignment if we really wanted one after one or two years, but they won't force us to move.



I asked my husband about people who do fellowships, and this is what he said -- there will be fewer places that the military can send you as a sub-specialist (meaning you will probably only be at large bases/posts) but you will probably move about every three years UNLESS you are affiliated with a teaching (residency) program and then you will get to stay put because continuity of staff is more important then.



Also, depending on how much time your husband owes, an overseas assignment may be inevitable. Those assignments are for three years unless your husband decides to go unaccompanied somewhere, in which case he would go for a year (I think). Lots of people want overseas assignments, though, so that isn't necessarily bad news. If our kids were younger and we hadn't been so far from our families during residency, we probably would have pursued something overseas. But we didn't want to follow four years of limited grandparent contact with three years of almost none.

My husband will owe nine years upon completion of his residency - more if he does a civilian fellowship. So, I guess if he doesn't get to do a fellowship the odds are pretty good we will be moved a few times. He and I have actually discussed the possibility of being sent overseas and we are kind of excited about the possibility - we actually sat down once and discussed all of the Air Force bases and at which ones we would like to be stationed. Germany came in high on the list because it would be so cool to spend a few years in Europe (plus I could do some geneology!). It would also be such a great experience for the kids - and I would DEMAND that they learn the local language! I guess we'll just have to see what happens in four+ years!



Jennifer

[DCJenn]

Jennifer-



We're aiming for an overseas move as well. Unfortunately, the Air Force and the Navy have better spots- but I'd love Germany, as well. I spent 3 weeks bumming around Germany when I graduated from college.



I'd love to go to Korea, too. I think it would be such a great experience. Of course, I'd also love to go to the Middle East, but Rick isn't as adventurous as I!



I do want to get hooked up with the EMFP (Extraordinary Family Members Program) so that I can work in the same field overseas. I've been looking but they don't have any opening here. I've been chatting with the developmental docs whenever I can though, so hopefully that will help.



We also want to go to Hawaii and Rick desperately want to go to Alaska as well. He has a really good friend from his enlisted days who's a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in Alaska. They love it. Maybe we'll take a hop up there for a quickie vacation this summer! (Gotta love free travel- too bad the retirees use up all the slots!)



Jenn
Edited by: jloreine at: 3/26/02 11:16:21 am