Expert: Rod Powers - 7/17/2006

Question
Hey Rod,
I am currently a lance corporal in the marine reserves.  I am almost done with my undergrad, I am planning on attending med school.  If so, I want to be comissioned after the school. since med school requires un divided attention, i don't want to attend drills any more, is there any way of waiving it until i graduate, does this happen when i apply? if so, who should i contact abt this situation? finally who should i contact abt getting comissioned as an officer after med school and also is there any incentives for financial aid during med school?

Answer
Hi Santhose,

First of all, you cannot be a medical officer in the Marine Corps (the Marine Corps doesn't have doctors).

For qualified medical students, the services (except the Marine Corps) has two basic options -- either you attend medical school (with a scholarship), then serve a certain number of years (to re-pay the scholarship) in the service, or you can attend the military's medical school (same deal -- you attend for free, but you then owe the service a certain number of years of service as a medical doctor, in exchange).  For details, see:  http://www.usuhs.mil/

If you plan to apply and attend without having a reserve commitment, you would likely have to submit a "conditional release" form.  This is basically a form, which would have to be approved by Marine Corps Reserve HQ, that says, "If you're accepted for a commissioning program, the Marine Corps Reserves agrees to release you from the remainder of your Resrve commitment."  Any health services recruiter, for any of the services can help you submit this form, in conjunction with your military medical school application.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com