Military Aerospace docs - Pilots ?
01-12-2014, 11:38 AM
#1
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Military Aerospace docs - Pilots ?
Hello
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
01-12-2014, 12:09 PM
#2
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Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Hello
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
Retired AF doctor, Navy flight surgeon and Marine pilot awarded Bronze Star for declassified mission | Army Times | armytimes.com
Defense.gov News Article: Face of Defense: Pilot-Physician Takes Safety to New Heights
01-12-2014, 12:18 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,638
Hello
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
As the father of a son who likes airplanes but wants to be a doctor, what opportunities exist in the military, to be a "flying doctor" or similar. If I can get (for example) USAF to pay for med school AND send him to flight school, that would be a home-run, as the training and experience he would be exposed to would be second to none.
Do the military version of AME's get flight time, etc ?
Thank You
I had one flight doc in the Navy that was also allowed to be a primary Instructor Pilot. Sadly, he wasn't very good at either.
The premise behind the program is to have an aviation specialist, but you want them to be a good doctor, not a good pilot.
01-12-2014, 01:23 PM
#4
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My guard unit had 3 "doctors by day" and full up mission ready guard pilots on the side. Totally separate from the flight surgeon program. Although they went to that school too because none of them had any motivation in life. They were not allowed to do both. For them, it was one or the other. They all did it a bit differently but all were flying fighters at some point during their med school and residency. It's tough to deal with the bottom of the gene pool!
The flight surgeon flight program in the AF is basically a familiarization and then all flying in the squadron is done as a voyeur.
The flight surgeon flight program in the AF is basically a familiarization and then all flying in the squadron is done as a voyeur.
01-12-2014, 01:30 PM
#5
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Frederick E. Tilton, MD, MPH
The current FAA Air Surgeon was a USAF Pilot before going to medical school. Did a tour with him flying RB57Fs.
The current FAA Air Surgeon was a USAF Pilot before going to medical school. Did a tour with him flying RB57Fs.
01-12-2014, 02:06 PM
#7
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I know one, USAFA grad, went to UPT, got out and went to med school and flew in the ANG. Called back to AD as a MC squadron pilot and flight surgeon. Finished as a hospital commander, flew Vipers, mostly.
Very rare, maybe 5 at any one time.
Gf
Very rare, maybe 5 at any one time.
Gf
01-12-2014, 02:33 PM
#8
Prime Minister/Moderator
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The navy flight surgeons get some fam training and get to go for rides when they want. But there is also a very limited opportunity for a few to complete full navy flight training and fly as regular squadron members.
as
as
01-12-2014, 03:28 PM
#9
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I would recommend the reverse route, where you go become a pilot in the armed forces, and at the end of your commitment, go to med school. I have had 2 friends who have successfully left active duty direct to medical school paid for by the government, and then owed a nominal amount of time as a military doctor.
Otherwise, I would find it hard to go the other way around. Imagine 4 years of medical school, 4 years of residency, and somewhere in there find a way to get a slot in the ANG or reserves?
Otherwise, I would find it hard to go the other way around. Imagine 4 years of medical school, 4 years of residency, and somewhere in there find a way to get a slot in the ANG or reserves?
01-12-2014, 03:29 PM
#10
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I know a few of these guys. Usually I think it's pilot first then med school. Some continue to do both, some drop the flying. I was pretty interested in this myself, but with Obamacare, I don't think med school is worth the effort anymore. Have you discussed that with your son?
There is also a possibility of a pilot going to law school, though to apply to that program one has to be beyond their pilot training active duty service commitment (ADSC).
There is also a possibility of a pilot going to law school, though to apply to that program one has to be beyond their pilot training active duty service commitment (ADSC).
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