Author: Joel Schofer, MD, MBA, CPE
New Operation BUSHMASTER Dates
USU has released the updated dates for Operation Bushmaster. We will have two iterations, back-to-back. Travel will be on the day prior to starting. I will host a faculty training day on 27 April and 2 May.
Iteration 1: 27 April 2021 – 1 May 2021
Iteration 2: 2 May 2021 – 6 May 2021
I will send out another call for volunteers in October 2020 and then release the faculty list in January 2021. Hopefully, you have enough advanced notice to block your calendar and join us in the Spring.
I look forward to seeing you all in April/May.
Leslie Vojta, MD, FACEP
Lt Col, USAF, MC
Emergency Medicine Clerkship Director
Operation Bushmaster (MFP202) Academic Director
Department of Military and Emergency Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Financial Blogs I Recommend
For those looking to get financial education online, here are the blogs and other online resources I’d recommend:
A Wealth of Common Sense – This is a blog written by one of the Animal Spirits podcasters I recommended you listen to. He provides excellent contemporary analysis of the financial markets.
Humble Dollar – Jonathan Clements was a personal finance writer at The Wall Street Journal for 20 years and is a well-respected source for financial advice. He has a number of books and a blog called Humble Dollar that includes a free comprehensive money guide that is a continuously updated guide to all aspects of personal finance.
Mr. Money Mustache – There is an entire early retirement culture on line, of which many physicians are unaware. If you have an interest in early retirement, you’ll love this website and the story of Pete (Mr. Money Mustache), a software engineer who retired in his thirties. It is filled with investing information, as well as practical advice on how to save money in everyday life. The site has an anti-consumerism, pro-Earth bent and Mr. Money Mustache is a strong proponent of using a bicycle instead of driving a car, even in the dead of winter. He will show you that retiring early and controlling your spending doesn’t have to lead to unhappiness. In fact, he’ll probably convince you that the less you own the happier you’ll be.
Oblivious Investor – This is a tax-focused investing blog by an accountant who also writes a series of very short, informative books on all finance topics.
Vanguard Blog – Regular readers know I’m a huge fan of Vanguard and do all of my non-military retirement investing there. You should too! Many know that Vanguard was founded by John Bogle, and those who follow his investing principles are self-named “Bogleheads.” They have a Bogleheads Wiki that you can read in addition to the Vanguard blog.
White Coat Investor Empire – Fellow Emergency Physician James Dahle, MD has created a digital and print media empire. You can’t go wrong if you make this your solitary source of financial information. There is a blog, internet forum, Facebook group, sub-Reddit, podcast, and book, so no matter how you prefer to ingest information you can find what you are looking for on this site. In addition, he has partnered with three other physician financial blogs, Physician on FIRE (which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early), Passive Income M.D., and The Physician Philosopher. All three of these are excellent sources as well.
OB/GYN Chair at USU – O5/O6
Here is a copy of USU’s memo calling for nominations for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Chair Position at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The current Chair will be departing USU in the spring of 2021.
If you are interested, please submit a CV and military bio to me at joel.m.schofer.mil < at > mail.mil by 14 AUG 2020.
Ideally, the successful candidate will be able to report to USU NLT 1 June 2021.
Message from the SG – Brilliant on the Basics
Esteemed Navy Medicine Shipmates,
Michael Jordan once said, “Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.” The fundamentals are the basics. They are not always the most exciting thing to learn or do, but they are usually the most important. People, teams, and organizations who achieve greatness, do so by mastering the fundamentals – and then sticking to them. You have probably heard me say – we all need to be brilliant on the basics.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent us from contracting this disease; however, when it comes to our collective battle against COVID-19, we need to continue to practice and encourage others to follow the fundamentals of force health protection to prevent illness and avoid exposure to this virus. Continue to cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others, wash your hands often and avoid touching your face, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, monitor your health for symptoms, and enforce restriction of moment.
As medical professionals, we must continue to educate and advise our Sailors, Marines, and family members to stay the course. To help turn fundamentals into habits requires repetitive action. I’m reminded of a basic teaching formula: you hear, you forget; you see, you remember; you do, you understand. And when you truly understand, that is when the basics become part of our DNA. Think muscle memory!
This week marked the 122nd anniversary of the Hospital Corps. As we continue to adapt and confront the challenges posed by this pandemic, the men and women of our Hospital Corps remain a powerful presence on all fronts in the fight against COVID-19. Whether serving as IDCs on surface ships, subs, or diving units; as preventive medicine and laboratory technicians, as general duty Corpsmen at MTFs, or the 8404s embedded with Marine units, our ability to project Medical Power continues to rest on the shoulders of these brave and dedicated Corpsmen.
The recent exploits of Corpsmen during the pandemic have only added luster to the distinguished history of the Corps:
- The quick thinking of the USS KIDD’s IDC and his two fellow “docs” in medevac’ing a suspected case of COVID and implementing newly developed mitigation procedures helped reduce the impact of the disease aboard the warship.
- Five HMs attached to the Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Rapid Response Team helped ensure the success of an unprecedented mission, conducting testing of the USS KIDD’s crew while helping to provide vital medical support 24/7 in a COVID exposure environment.
- Corpsmen serving with forward deployed preventive medicine teams have remained an early, active, and ever-present force in novel coronavirus surveillance efforts at sea.
And whether contact tracing, onsite testing, administering to patients, or helping to enforce DoD and CDC COVID-19 guidance, our Corpsmen remain at the vanguard of ensuring warfighter readiness across the Department of the Navy.
This month also offers a palpable reminder that Summer is in full-swing and many may be eager to travel or enjoy recreational activities since restrictions have loosened up across the country. Before executing any plans, please take a moment to review NAVADMIN 168/20 regarding our current leave, liberty, and TDY restrictions; as well as the Naval Safety Center, 101 Critical Days of Summer found here.
Please continue to use good judgement, follow existing guidelines, remain vigilant, and most importantly stay safe.
It is important that we all take time to step away from our jobs to decompress, and all of us are eagerly anticipating returning to a sense of normalcy. However, as we try to rediscover what has been lost, let us not forget everything that we have learned along the way. If I had one wish, it would be that you could see the organization from my perspective, as the brilliance you have all demonstrated on the basics have been the building blocks of all that Navy Medicine has accomplished. I am truly humbled to be part of this amazing team.
With my continued respect and admiration,
SG
Bruce L. Gillingham, MD, CPE, FAOA
RADM, MC, USN
Surgeon General, U.S. Navy
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Travel Restrictions: Green Locations, June 19, 2020
Here’s a link to see the updated list that is driving all of our travel and PCS moves:
Debt, College, and Discretionary Spending
Here are the slides I used to record this episode of the podcast:
Debt, College, and Discretionary Spending
Here’s the screencast:
Military Times – As Military Moves Restart, It’s Still a PCS Season Like None Other – Here’s What Families Need to Know
Here’s a pretty good article for those PCSing:
2021 BRS Continuation Pay, TSP Info on New 5-Year L Funds, and Finance Friday Articles
Here is an article about FY21 Continuation Pay for those in the Blended Retirement System (and here’s a guest post about applying for it):
Blended Retirement System CY 2021 Continuation Pay Announced
Here is the TSP PDF about the new Lifecycle Funds in 5-year increments that start 1 JUL 2020:
Additional Lifecycle (L) Funds
Here are my favorites this week:
6 steps to selecting a target-date fund
When Should You Sell Your Stocks?
Here are the rest of this week’s articles:
3 Reasons Why You Can Take More Risk with a 529
Coming Up Short When Trying to Buy a House
How State and Local Taxes Affect Your Retirement Plan
How Will Private Equity Work in 401ks?
Is This The Most Volatile Year Ever?
Not All Income Is Created Equal
Questions I’m Asked About Term Life Insurance
Sitting on One Million Dollars in Cash
Some Things About the Markets That Will Never Change
May-June Global Health Engagement Professional Development Update
Here is the update, which includes a link to the site where you can apply for the Global Health Engagement Additional Qualification Designators (AQDs):
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 