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Guest Post: Supplemental Disability Insurance for Active Duty Physicians
(EDITOR’S NOTE: While we have great benefits in the military, one area where our benefits fall short is disability insurance. If we were to be disabled on active duty, our disability pay would not reflect our physician bonuses and higher income. For years I struggled to find supplemental disability insurance. I used the American Medical Association plan because they’d give me up to $2500/month of additional coverage and it was all I could find. That was until I contacted Andy Borgia at DI4MDs.com. He was able to get me the amount of coverage I needed when many, many other people couldn’t. For some reason many disability insurers don’t want to cover active duty. Below is a post from Andy about supplemental disability insurance.)
May is disability insurance awareness month and also the time of the year a number of physicians transition into new positions due to the completion of most training programs July 1st. As a result, it is an excellent time to examine protecting the most valuable asset any physician has, their ability to practice and earn an income. Whether you are a military physician with a number of years left to serve, soon to be exiting the military or currently in a residency/fellowship program, it would be prudent make certain you are adequately protected in the event you become disabled and unable to practice due to a sickness or accident. Statistics, which can be found all over the internet, including our site, indicate approximately 1 in 3 people will be disabled during their working career, which can be the cause of financial ruin. Disability insurance for physicians is universally recommended.
Being active duty military, you may think you are already adequately protected. This is far from accurate since military disability benefits only cover base pay and do not include incentive, special or bonus pay, allowances or private earned income. These extra forms of income usually provide the majority of a military physician’s pay and should and can be protected. If you are about to leave the military, the day after you are discharged, any military disability coverage will cease and you will be completely unprotected. Establishing an individual disability insurance policy can take up to 4 months, since medical records must be obtained so to be adequately protected requires advanced planning.
To make certain you and your family are protected, establish an individual disability insurance
policy. The individual policy contractual provisions should protect you in your chosen medical specialty for the entire benefit period, provide both total and partial disability benefits, allow for an increase in coverage upon completion of duty without additional medical requirements, and be noncancelable and guaranteed renewable (policy cannot be cancelled, premiums changed, coverage altered by the insurance company). Residents and fellows may be eligible for discounted polices if established prior to completion of training and should be taken advantage of.
Contact an experienced insurance agent that represents a number of companies and is familiar with contractual provisions and underwriting procedures, it does make a difference, to explore your
options. Please visit our website www.DI4MDS.com to obtain our Military Physician Disability Insurance Guide. This will provide an educational first step.
For a complementary personal disability insurance consultation please contact me directly (Andy G Borgia CLU, andyb@di4mds.com, 888-934-4637).
FY17 CAPT Board Statistics and Basic Promotion Board Math
The FY17 Staff Corps O6 promotion board basic statistics are here. I don’t have the specialty specific ones yet, but I’m sure they’ll be coming soon.
Let’s go over the basic stats for Medical Corps so that everyone understands them as they can be very confusing.
According to page 2 of the convening order, the promotion opportunity was 70%. The number of people in zone was 91. In order to find the total number of officers they could select for promotion, you take the promotion opportunity x the size of the zone:
(70% promotion opportunity) x (91 officer zone size) = 64 officers could be selected for promotion
As you see in the stats, they selected exactly 64:
- Above Zone – selected 32 of 183 or 17.5%
- In Zone – selected 31 of 91 or 34.1%
- Below Zone – selected 1 of 150 or 0.7%
As you can see, even though the promotion opportunity was 70%, the chance you got selected in zone was only 34.1% because selects came from above and below zone.
CDC-DoD Liaison Position Available
1. Job: DOD Liaison to the Centers for Disease Control 2. Fill date: Summer 2016 3. Rank: CDR and above (although if I was a LCDR I'd apply) 4. Population health background required and must be eligible for orders. The relevant documents that describe everything are here and here. Anyone interested should contact their Detailer.
What are AQDs and How Do You Get Them?
Additional Qualification Designation Codes or AQDs are 3 letter codes that:
- Identify special skills required by a billet.
- Identify a qualification awarded to an officer for serving in a specially coded billet.
In other words, they are tools used by Navy Personnel Command (PERS) to assign officers to billets.
They also serve another purpose, though, because they feed the “Special Qualifications” section in the lower left of your Officer Summary Record (OSR), which is seen by promotion boards. (This section is noted the the lower left circle on this fabricated OSR.) This is why officers try to get as many AQDs as they can. The more things are in your Special Qualifications section, the better it looks to a promotion board. (That said, I have to tell you that some officers can get a little carried away with AQDs. Get as many as you can that make sense for your specialty and career, but don’t chase AQDs because you think they’ll get you promoted. AQDs, in general, don’t get you promoted. Competitive EP fitreps do.)
The full list of AQDs can be found here, and the list of medical AQDs can be found here, but I think a very useful list to have would be a list of all the AQDs that any physician can get irrespective of their specialty. That list is below, and if you qualify for any of them you’ll have to send your Detailer the proof that you qualify in order to get them added to your record.
What’s the bottom line? To make sure you have all the AQDs you can get, you have to do 4 things:
- Review the chart below and see which general AQDs you qualify for.
- Review the AQDs for your specialty in this document.
- If you had a prior career before you became a Medical Corps officer of any kind, you’re stuck reviewing the complete list of AQDs and seeing if there are any you qualify for that weren’t covered by #1 or #2 above.
- For any AQDs you qualify for, you send your Detailer the 3 letter code, the year you qualified, and the proof that you qualify (usually scanned copies of fitreps, certificates, etc.).
| CODE | TITLE | CRITERIA TO GET IT |
| BT1 | Parachutist, Static-line Qualified | Qualified IAW MILPERSMAN 1220-030. |
| BT2 | Parachutist, Freefall Qualified | Qualified IAW MILPERSMAN 1220-030. |
| BX2 | Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer | Qualified IAW current fleet instructions and SECNAVINST 1412.10. |
| BX3 | Expeditionary Warfare | Successfully completed at least 18 months in an operational expeditionary warfare billet within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Force. |
| JS7 | Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I | Successfully completed JPME Phase I from schools defined by the Joint Staff:
(a) Naval War College for classes commencing March 1989 and beyond (to include the Distance Learning, Non- Resident curriculum), OR (b) Other service colleges for classes commending August 1989 and beyond (to include the Distance Learning, Non- Resident curriculum), OR (c) Selected Foreign War Colleges, OR (d) Selected Fellowship programs. |
| JS8 | JPME Phase II | Successfully completed JPME Phase II from schools defined by the Joint Staff:
(a) Joint Forces Staff College, Joint & Combined Warfighting School, OR (b) Senior Level Service War Colleges. |
| J1M | Joint Staff Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| J2M | Multinational HQ Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| J3M | Combatant Commander Level Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| J4M | Fleet/Division Staff Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| J5M | Joint Task Force Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| J6M | Other Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Interservice Interagency Coalition) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| LA7 | Qualified Medical Department | Officer who has qualified as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer IAW OPNAVINST 1412.8. |
| U1M | Joint Staff Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| U2M | Multinational HQ Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| U3M | Combatant Commander Level Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| U4M | Fleet/Division Staff Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| U5M | Joint Task Force Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| U6M | Other Medical | Successfully completed assignment to an Individual Augmentation (Intra Service) for a minimum period of 6 months. |
| 233 | White House Fellowship | Participant in White House Fellowship Program. |
| 2C1 | Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Green Belt Certified | Certified as a Green Belt per local command policy and recommended by the Commanding Officer via the local command’s Certified Black Belt/Master Black Belt. The command’s Certified Black Belt/Master Black Belt (NMSC CPI/LSS PMO for Navy Medicine Corps) will validate completion of the following requirements:
(a) Formal training (A-557-0003 or A-557-3100); AND (b) The DON approved JQR standards have been met: – Lead two LSS full DMAIC projects; OR – Lead two KAIZENs/RIEs; OR – Lead one full DMAIC project and one KAIZEN/RIE. |
| 2C2 | CPI Black Belt Certified | Certified as a Black Belt per local command policy and recommended by the Commanding Officer via the local command’s Certified Black Belt/Master Black Belt. The command’s Certified Black Belt/Master Black Belt (NMSC CPI/LSS PMO for Navy Medicine Corps) will validate completion of the following requirements:
(a) Formal training (A-557-0009 or A-557-3005); AND (b) The DON approved JQR standards have been met: – Lead two LSS full DMAIC projects and one KAIZEN/RIE; AND – Mentor two Green Belts through one full DMAIC project each or two KAIZENs/RIEs. |
| 234 | Legislative Fellowship | Successfully completed at least 9 months in a Legislative Fellow assignment. |
| 24F | SECDEF Corporate Fellow | Successfully participated in the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows program. |
| 6AA | Aviation Medical Examiner | Medical Corps Officer from the Primary Care medical subspecialty codes who has successfully completed Aviation Medical Examiner training at the Naval Aerospace and Operational Medical Institute. |
| 6AB | General Flight Officer | Medical Corps Officer who has successfully completed a formal flight surgeon training program and is a designated Naval Flight Surgeon. |
| 6AC | Naval Aviator (Naval Flight Officer (NFO))/ Aeromedical Officer | Medical Corps Officer who is a designated Naval Flight Surgeon and NFO. |
| 6AE | Naval Aviator (Pilot)/ Aeromedical Officer | Medical Corps Officer who is a designated Naval Flight Surgeon and Naval Aviator (Pilot). |
| 6AG | Aerospace Medicine (Preventive Medicine) | Medical Corps Officer who has successfully completed:
a. formal Flight Surgeon Training program at NAMI; b. a tour as a flight surgeon; c. an approved Master’s degree program in public health; and d. an approved Aerospace Medicine residency program; or e. is eligible for the Aerospace Medicine specialty examination offered by the Board of Preventive Medicine. |
| 6FA | Marine Corps Medical Department Officer | Successfully completed a deployment of 90 or more consecutive days with the Marine Corps. |
| 6FC | Fleet Marine Force Medical Logistics | (a) Successfully completed the USMC Ground Supply Officer School, AND
(b) Holds AQD 6FA. |
| 6FD | Surface Experienced Medical Officer | (a) Successfully completed an internship with sufficient primary care training to operate within the needs and operations of the fleet, AND
(b) Has successfully completed a tour of duty with the Surface Fleet. |
| 6FE | Senior Marine Corps Staff Officer | Successfully completed a senior Marine Corps staff position.
NOTE: Brigade, Group, Wing, Division and Force Surgeons, Force Preventive Medicine Officers, and the Headquarters Director for medical programs qualify. |
| 6OB | Shipboard Assignment | Successfully completed an assignment of 90 or more consecutive days aboard a ship (other than a hospital ship). |
| 6OC | Hospital Ship Assignment | Successfully completed an assignment of 90 or more consecutive days aboard a hospital ship. |
| 6OH | Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Response | (1) Served a minimum 90 days in one or more foreign or domestic HA/DR missions and demonstrated operational competence relevant to assigned position in the following HA/DR mission elements: mission leadership and planning (operations, manpower and logistics), international diplomacy, cultural awareness, host nation centered HA/DR health care, IT, communications and administration. AND
(2) Completed two of the following: (a) Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC), (b) Combined Humanitarian Assistance Response Training (CHART), (c) Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC), (d) Joint Operations Medical Managers Course (JOMMC), (e) UM-CMCoord IMPACT Course, (f) NATO CIMIC Basic Course (NCBC), (g) Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P .), (h) Joint Planning Orientation Course (JPOC), (i) Joint Medical Planners Course (JMPC) , (j) Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Planner’s Course (JIMPC), (k) JTF Senior Medical Leader Seminar, (l) Asia-Pacific Orientation Course (APOC), (m) SWMI Humanitarian Assistance Course, (n) CATF Surgeons Course, (o) DMRTI Medical Stability Operations (MSO) Course, (p) Alternate course(s) deemed to have sufficient didactic content comparable with other qualifying courses by the Mission Commander, T-AH Commander, MTF Commanding Officer, CATF Surgeon, Navy Medical Mission Commander, or USMC Task Force/Group Surgeon or USMC Medical Element Commander. NOTE: Verification that member has met the above prerequisites must be provided via endorsement by the Mission Commander, T-AH Commander, MTF Commanding Officer, CATF Surgeon, Navy Medical Mission Commander, USMC Task Force/Group Surgeon, or USMC Medical Element Commander. |
| 6OR | CATF Surgeon | Any Medical Department Officer who has:
(a) Successfully completed CATF Surgeon course; OR (b) Successfully completed a tour as CATF surgeon; OR (c) Successfully completed: 1. Surface Warfare Medical Officer Indoctrination course or holds AQD 6OB or 6FA; AND 2. Medical Regulating course; AND 3. Landing Force Medical Staff Planning course; AND 4. Amphibious Indoctrination course.
|
| 6OU | Fleet Hospital Assignment | Successfully completed an assignment of 90 or more consecutive days at a deployed fleet hospital/EMF. |
| 6OW | Trauma Team Trained Officer | Completed formal Navy Trauma training at NHSH-SD (NTCC USC-LAC Hospital) or equivalent Army or Air Force course. |
| 6UD | Diver | Qualified in Saturation Diving IAW MILPERSMAN 1210-140. |
| 6UM | Submarine | Qualified in Undersea Medicine IAW MILPERSMAN 1210-130. |
| 6ZA | Instructor | Medical Department Officer awarded the academic faculty position of instructor by an accredited U.S. University consistent with the officer’s field of training. |
| 6ZB | Assistant Professor | Medical Department Officer awarded the academic faculty position of instructor by an accredited U.S. University consistent with the officer’s field of training. |
| 6ZC | Associate Professor | Medical Department Officer awarded the academic faculty position of instructor by an accredited U.S. University consistent with the officer’s field of training. |
| 6ZD | Professor | Medical Department Officer awarded the academic faculty position of instructor by an accredited U.S. University consistent with the officer’s field of training. |
| 6ZE | Medical Ethicist | Medical Department Officer who has successfully completed an officially approved program of training in Medical Ethics. |
| 6ZF | Researcher | (a) Completed an IRB approved research project fully consistent with the guidelines as promulgated by HSETC; AND (b) Met the rigorous guidelines of their medical community for publication in a Peer-reviewed journal. |
| 6ZG | Residency Program Director | Medical Department Officer who has met all the established criteria of the certifying agencies (i.e., Residency Review Committees for conducting an accredited training program for officers in training). |
| 62D | Faculty Development | (a) Completed an ACGME approved residency, AND (b) Completed an accredited advanced residency in Faculty Development. |
| 62L | Clinical Epidemiology | Established competence in biostatistics, epidemiology, and informatics. Preferably, a Masters in Public Health degree or comparable training/experience. |
| 67A | Executive Medicine | Met all the competencies of the Joint Medical Executive Skills Program (JMESDP). |
| 67B | Expeditionary Medicine | Completed the Expeditionary Medicine core operational training courses. |
| 67H | Ambulatory Care Administration (ACA) Officer | A master’s degree and has successfully completed: (a) 18 months in an ACA officer related position; OR (b) 12 months in an ACA officer related position provided master’s degree obtained in concentration in ACA. |
| 68H | Health Promotion Coordinator | Completed the Navy Environmental Health Center Health Promotion Director Course and one year experience as a coordinator. |
| 68I | Health Care Management | Completed a Masters of Science in Health Care Management. |
| 68J | Public Health Emergency Officer (PHEO) | (a) Completed an MPH degree or 4 years of public health experience as outlined by BUMEDINST 6200.17A;
AND(b) Successfully completed the following distance learning courses:- FEMA IS-100.A, Introduction to Incident Command System
– FEMA IS-200.A, Incident Command System for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents – FEMA IS-700.A, National Incident Management System, An Introduction – FEMA IS-800.B, National Response Framework, An Introduction; OR (c) Completed the Defense Medical Training Institute tri-service PHEO training course. AND (d) Successfully performed as a PHEO for 12 months. NOTE: Per BUMEDINST 6200.17A, PHEOs must be clinicians, as defined as officers who can diagnose, treat, and prescribe treatment for illness and injury. |
| 68K | Alternate Public Health Emergency Officer (APHEO) | (a) Completed an MPH degree or 4 years of public health experience as outlined by BUMEDINST 6200.17A;
AND(b) Successfully complete the following distance learning courses:- FEMA IS-100.A, Introduction to Incident Command System
– FEMA IS-200.A, Incident Command System for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents – FEMA IS-700.A, National Incident Management System, An Introduction – FEMA IS-800.B, National Response Framework, An Introduction; OR (c) Completed the Defense Medical Training Institute tri-service PHEO training course. AND (d) Successfully performed as an APHEO for 12 months. |
| 68L | Clinical Informatics | (1) Completed the corps appropriate certification exam or fellowship, OR
(2) Completed a certificate program or graduate degree in Informatics, or the AMIA 10X10, OR (3) Worked >50% of their time in informatics for at least 12 months. |
FY17 O5 Promotion Opportunity Decreased to 65% for Medical Corps
The FY17 O5 Staff Corps Promotion Board just concluded. Here is the convening order and here is the board membership.
Of note, all CDR hopefuls should read the convening order because that is the document that explains what the board was looking for when selecting people for CDR. The language is very similar to the O6 convening order that I already broke down in detail in this post, so I won’t do that again. The major takeaway is that the promotion opportunity was down to 65%. Here is the historical trend taken from Joel Schofer’s Promo Prep:
| FY08 | FY09 | FY10 | FY11 | FY12 | FY13 | FY14 | FY15 | FY16 | FY17 | |
| LCDR | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| CDR | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 70% | 65% |
| CAPT | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 50% | 70% |
Promotion opportunity. This percentage is multiplied by the zone size to give the number of officers to be selected for promotion. For example, if the promotion opportunity is 60% and there are 100 officers in-zone, then 60 will be selected for promotion. This 60, however, may come from officers who are below-zone, in-zone, or above-zone. For example, maybe 50 of the 60 are in-zone, and 10 are above-zone. That is why the percentage of people in-zone who are selected for promotion is always lower than the promotion opportunity. See below…
| FY08 | FY09 | FY10 | FY11 | FY12 | FY13 | FY14 | FY15 | FY16 | FY17 | |
| LCDR | Average of 94% (best data I could find) | 97% | 89% | 90% | 93% | |||||
| CDR | Average of 62% (best data I could find) | 58% | 66% | 49% | 53% | |||||
| CAPT | Average of 60% (best data I could find) | 55% | 43% | 47% | 39% | |||||
Actual percentage of in-zone candidates selected for promotion.
Updated Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) Rules
Here is an article that discusses the new physical fitness assessment (PFA) rules and policy that was release in a NAVADMIN this week. The changes, effective immediately, include:
- There is a new body composition assessment (BCA) procedure, which consists of a three-step process.
- The first measurement uses the current height/weight tables.
- If an individual fails to meet those standards, a single-site abdominal circumference measurement will be conducted.
- The final opportunity for Sailors to pass the BCA will be a test using the previous system of neck and waist measurements to calculate body fat percentages.
- Sailors will pass the BCA by meeting the Depart of Defense maximum allowable body fat limit of less than or equal to 26 percent for males or 36 percent for females.
- If you are medically cleared to take the physical readiness test (PRT) you must participate in the test regardless of your BCA results.
- You will face separation from the Navy if you fail two PFAs in a three-year period.
- Commanding Officers are now empowered to conduct BCA spot check programs to ensure Sailors are staying within standards. This moves the Navy beyond a two-test-a-year system by giving commands the ability to identify Sailors in need of additional support without subjecting them to administrative punishments that result from an actual BCA/PRT failure.
Additional info can be found at this 21st Century Sailor site.
Congress and Military Healthcare Reform
Recently there have been some high level discussions in the Senate Armed Services Committee, including our top Navy admirals, about reforming the Military Health System (MHS).
Here is a transcript of the congressional testimony of Dr. Jonathan Woodson, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and VADM Raquel Bono, Director, Defense Health Agency. In addition, here is an article that summarizes their testimony. The Navy Surgeon General, VADM C. Forrest Faison III, also provided testimony that can be read here. My summary of important points includes:
- The overarching strategy for the MHS is what they call the “Quadruple Aim.” This is to ensure readiness, improve health, improve healthcare, and lower cost.
- There is talk of military providers obtain admitting privileges at nearby civilian institutions. We could then provide a wider range of care for military beneficiaries and improve our clinical skills maintenance. In addition, here is an article that discusses allowing civilian trauma cases at more military hospitals.
- The MHS will provide a robust clinical experience to preserve skills and competencies by moving more workload in-house, growing our patient enrollment, rebalancing staff and investing in our graduate training programs.
- The MHS is extending hours to evenings and weekends in a number of military treatment facilities (MTFs).
- The MHS is encouraging the use of telehealth and smart phone applications.
- The Department of Defense (DoD) is implementing a pilot program that allows patients to access urgent care centers without requiring a preauthorization.
- DoD with reduce TRICARE regions from three to two, eliminating unnecessary administrative overhead for both the government and contractors.
- 2016 is the first phase of deployment of the new Electronic Health Record in the Pacific Northwest.
- The MHS will encourage beneficiaries to use MTFs by eliminating administrative burdens that impair access to care.
Navy Legislative Fellowship NAVADMIN Released
This NAVADMIN solicits applications for the 2017 Navy Legislative Fellowship Program. The Legislative Fellows Program allows naval officers, senior enlisted and Department of the Navy civilians to broaden their understanding of the legislative process and the operation of the U.S. Congress through a year-long full-time assignment to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. The Legislative Fellows Program also enhances the Navy’s ability to fulfill its role in the national policy development process.
2. This is a highly competitive program. Applicants records must reflect sustained superior performance and potential for future assignments in critical billets. Upon completion of the program, officers earn a Legislative Additional Qualification Designator. Additionally, there is an opportunity to earn a Legislative Studies Certificate through a sponsoring agency.
3. Military Applicants. Participation is open to unrestricted line officers, restricted line officers, and staff corps officers in the permanent grades of O-3 through O-5. Enlisted participation is open to all rates in the permanent grades of E-7 through E-9. The selection process will focus on individual performance, promotion potential, academic and subspecialty qualifications, needs of the Navy, and availability for follow-on assignment. Officers with permanent change of station orders already issued will not be considered.
a. Applicants must be available for Permanent Change of Station assignment to Washington, DC, from November 2016 through December 2017. During the fellowship, officers and senior enlisted will be assigned to the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) for administrative purposes. Upon execution of orders, fellows agree to serve for three years following completion or termination of the fellowship. A follow-on utilization tour in legislative affairs is preferred (making career timing an important consideration), but depends on community-specific billet requirements, needed
officer progression, and availability of legislative assignments. All officer applicants must contact their detailers for counseling on the career impact of participation in the Legislative Fellowship Program.
b. Submit applications via e-mail to the OLA point of contact no later than 29 April 2016. Program information and submission guidance are available on the Navy legislative affairs website.
c. Points of contact are LCDR Nicole Williams, Navy Fellows Program Manager, OLA, who can be reached at (703) 697-2885/DSN 227 or via e-mail at nicole.williams3(at)navy.mil; and LCDR Angelin Graham, PERS-440, who can be
reached at (901) 874-4056/DSN 882 or via e-mail at angelin.graham(at)navy.mil.
All 24 Podcasts Now Available on iTunes
When you are just learning how to create a website/blog and podcast, you learn as you go. I just figured out how to make sure that all 24 of the podcast episodes are available for download on iTunes. Previously I was only allowing the last 10 to be visible.
So…if you want to check out all the podcasts, click here:
Also, PLEASE leave a review of the podcast on iTunes. So far I have no feedback and any reviews would be helpful.
Normal Promotion Timeline and the Jobs/Achievements That Get You There
(Here are some Military Career Progression Slides from a career planning lecture I often give to accompany this post.)
The typical career progression for a Medical Corps officer if promoted on time (the first time they are in-zone) is:
- 5 years – selected for promotion to LCDR
- 6 years – promoted to LCDR
- 11 years – selected for promotion to CDR
- 12 years – promoted to CDR
- 17 years – selected for promotion to CAPT
- 18 years – promoted to CAPT
For example, I’m a 15 year CDR, so I’ll be in-zone in 2 years at year 17. If I’m selected the first time I’m in-zone, I’ll be promoted to CAPT in year 18.
There are 5 general career paths in the Navy that lead to promotion, and I firmly believe that all can lead to promotion to CAPT. They are:
- Academic
- Administrative
- Clinical
- Operational
- Research
One of my favorite things about the Navy is that you don’t have to stay within the same career path as you progress in your career. I have happily jumped around and managed to promote to LCDR and CDR on time. During my first tour at USNH Okinawa, I was largely clinical. After that I was academic but transitioned to more of an administrative role, culminating with my time as a Detailer at PERS. In my current role as Commander of a Joint Medical Group and Joint Task Force Surgeon, I’m both administrative and operational. My next tour will return me to an academic setting where I hope to score a major administrative role at the command but once again “be academic.”
As you progress down your chosen career path, one of the major determinants of whether you will promote is whether you get the jobs that will allow you to progress to the next rank. The following lists include many, but certainly not all, of the collateral duties, positions, and achievements you should strive for once you reach each rank. If you can get some of these positions and do well in them, it should allow you to break out on your FITREPs and increase the chances you will promote. Of note, in each rank appropriate list there are positions from all 5 general career paths.
LTs or LCDRs looking to promote should focus on achieving these milestones or positions:
- Getting board certified, which is pretty much a requirement to promote
- Completing a fellowship, but trying to avoid being a fellow in the years right before they are in zone so that the non-observed FITREPs you often get don’t hurt your chances at promotion
- Completing a deployment, but again trying to avoid doing it right before you are in zone due to the small competitive groups you often get on your FITREPs
- Assistant/Associate Residency Director
- Department Head (DH) is a small/medium military treatment facility (MTF)
- Assistant Professor at USUHS, which is very easy to get if you just apply. See my promo prep document for the info on how to do this.
- Publishing professional publications
- Research, preferably defense-related
- Departmental collateral duties
- Hospital committee member or chair
- Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECOMS) member
- Civilian leadership positions, like in your specialty society’s state chapter, for example
- Senior Medical Officer (SMO) or Medical Director in your department at a large MTF
CDRs looking to promote should focus on:
- Residency Director
- DH of your department in a large MTF
- Associate Professor at USUHS
- Director position (Director of Medical Services, Director of Clinical Support Services, etc.)
- Officer-in-Charge of a clinic
- Major committee chair
- ECOMS member, Vice-President/President-Elect, or President
- Senior operational leadership position
- Division Surgeon
- Group Surgeon
- Wing Surgeon
- Commander, Amphibious Task Force (CATF) Surgeon
- SMO on an amphibious platform
- Staff position at BUMED
- Specialty leader
- Deployment requiring an O-5 or higher
- Detailer
As a LT or LCDR, I was able to get board certified, complete a fellowship at the right time, deploy twice, become an Assistant Professor at USUHS, publish numerous publications, do some research, obtain numerous departmental collateral duties, chair a hospital committee and be an ECOMS member at USNH Okinawa, become a SMO in the Navy’s largest emergency department, be an Associate Director at a large MTF, and hold numerous civilian leadership positions.
As a CDR so far I have promoted to Associate Professor, been a major committee chair and member of ECOMS, and served a tour as a Detailer. Currently I’m a specialty leader and am deployed in a senior operational role that required a CDR or CAPT.
All of this took a lot of work, but made it easy for my leadership to fight for and justify early promote (EP) FITREPs that allowed me to promote to LCDR and CDR on time. Will it work for CAPT? We’ll have to wait on that, but the more of these things you can achieve, the easier it will be for your leadership to do the same thing for you. You need competitive EPs to promote, and doing these things, giving your leadership the ammunition to justify EP FITREPs, is the path to getting them.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 