National Guard Briefing
LTC Steve Owens
Key points:
Promotion
Ensure that all of your documents are accurate in IPERMS. Whenever you receive a military certificate or other permanent document (diploma, license, etc.), make 10 copies and then hand one to your unit administrator (S1) on your next drill. Continue to hand in a copy at your following drills until you see the document in IPERMS. If you don’t see it after four drills (4 months) then send a copy to your states Joint Force Headquarters: Attn perms. In essence, a well maintained IPERMS = promotion. Your performance in the military will be evaluated upon the documentation in your permanent file and your Officer Evaluation Report (OER). Documentation also includes: oath of office, all diplomas and certificates of completion (military and civilian), transcripts, licenses, awards, etc.
Ensure that your personal information is accurate in the 2XCitizen record. Although, for the most part, you will find them to be accurate, mistakes are made. In order to view your records, log on to https://www.hrc.army.mil/portal/default.aspx. The log in information is the same as your AKO account. To view records, you must click on the hypertext that states Log on to my records. When the corresponding page loads, you will click on the national guard emblem. A new page will then pop up. Click on the Reserve record tab located in the upper right hand corner of the page. View the documents and information for errors, omissions and duplications. You will want to open up every document individually as file names aren’t always accurate. To make corrections, follow the instructions at: https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/protect/reserve/soldierservices/records/recordcorrection.htm or e-mail corrections to: perms.records@conus.army.mil , be sure to include your SSN.
Ensure that your personal information is correct in the Standard Installation and Division Personnel Reporting System (SIDPERS). This website is infrequently updated with accurate information. Ensure (annually) that the following is accurate: Your primary area of concentration (AOC) – what you are qualified to do, contact information, highest military education level completed, highest civilian education level completed. Aside from assisting with promotion, checking the accuracy of this system will ensure that your pay and specialty incentives are paid correctly.
Ensuring that you have accurate documentation will allow you to be “picked up” for promotion. It will set you ahead of the pack. Ensuring that your medical license is up to date is tremendously important.
Because you are a medical professional, you have the ability to reach Colonel O6 without position openings (basically, if you breathe well: get paperwork done, don’t aggravate anyone, and participate in regular military education, you will eventually make it to 06.)[1]. This is because there is no limit on the amount of physician Colonels in the army. Beyond that, it is up to you to shine.
To further clarify, as a physician, you are guaranteed to make it to 06 via the Department of the Army (DA) Mandatory board which functions on the maximum time in grade[2] (max TIG) window of consideration timeline. This process can be quite lengthy; see table below. If you perform exceptionally well, you may be promoted via the Unit Vacancy Board which functions off of the minimum time in grade (min TIG) window of consideration timeline; see table below. If you are a medical student, you will be promoted to CPT after completion of medical school regardless of your time in grade. If you are not promoted via the unit vacancy method, make a point of writing a letter to the president of the board. This letter should fill in any missing information, gaps in assignments, etc; basically anything that will clear up potential questions the board may have.
Be aware that windows of consideration may shift periodically. You need to be on top of your game so that you are prepared for the board.
If your goal is to be promoted quickly, It can be helpful to continue your military education[4]. Some courses to look into include: the AMEDD Captains Career Course (CCC) (you can take this course as a 2LT, maximum capacity for the course is 500), the Long term health and education course, and the Intermediate Level Education Common Core (ILE-CC)[5]. You should look into course offerings at the Surgeon Generals page on GKO. Be proactive and plan to take the course well ahead of time. Look into your breaks in training to see if you can fit in a course. Sometimes they only last a few days. Schedule courses with your unit training manager.
Some things to consider when scheduling military education:
The 45 Day rule. Basically, if you do not get enrolled in the course of your choosing upon first shot, mark a date forty five days out from the course on your personal calendar. Upon that date, call your training manager and ask them to look for new vacancies (caused by people droping the course). Continue to do so until you secure a spot, or the course begins. Be aware that the full-time military has the option of reserving many more spots in the course. Also know that the Full-time military often insert’s fake information into the system to preserve reserved spots until the last minute—just in case an active duty member decides to join the course last minute. If you still have problems getting into the course, contact Colonel John Grote, Senior ARNG Advisor AMEDD, 210.221.7320, john.grote@us.army.mil. Make Sure to exhaust all other options before contacting Colonel Grote; utilizing the chain of command is very important in the military.
General Advice:
If you are assigned the task, take the time to write a professional looking Officer Evaluation Report (OER). If you don’t respect the person, there are ways to write a decent report without saying bad things.
An AMEDD officer can take a company command, in fact it may help with promotion (it’s not necessarily a deal breaker if a physician doesn’t take such authority, but it couldent hurt).
If you do take command stay away from micro-management “green and clean” Allow subordinates the opportunity to delegate. (in dire conditions micromanagement may be needed, however, stop as soon as possible.)
Be aware, as a physican, if you do become a company commander, the 90 Day Boots On Ground policy no longer applies to you. Therefore, if your unit is deployed you will be deployed with them for the entire duration of their deployment (1 year or more).
Do not fraternize, do not play favorites with enlisted.
Council fellow guard members regularly (both the good and the bad; if bad, lead with positives).
Give junior officers expectations.
Deployment
Interns may not be deployed. Residents may not be INVOLUNTARILY deployed. If you decide that you want to deploy during residency, make sure to clear the deployment with your residency director, you will not have protection from losing your spot. You may however, be able to receive day for day credit while serving under the command of Army personnel overseas. This will take some coordination, but it is possible. (Possible day for day credit could be found in Family Practice, internal medicine, ER medicine).
It would be a good idea to contact the NGB surgeons office so that you can deploy before you search for your first job. This way, you will not have to leave your first practice right away. If interested, contact the NGB surgeons office at 703-607-7140 and ask for Nicki Reed. Nicki is the go to gal for all deployment related questions.
Incentives
Health professions loan repayment program (HPLRP). This program may be used to pay off both undergraduate loans (if they were incurred in the pursuit of a medical degree) and medical school loans. Basically, any loan not provided by the “bank of Mom and Dad” is eligible for loan repayment. If a loan has been consolidated it can still be paid off using the HPLRP. You will need to show documentation which states the exact dollar amount of the original loan. Since, home and other loans can sometimes be consolidated with school loans; the army will only pay the remaining % of student loans not to exceed $50,000 (now up to $120,000).
How to ensure a good year:
As a doctor, it’s very important that you have a good year in the national guard (A good year consists of 50 points per year) so that your bonuses/loan repayment is/are not recouped or denied. Attending Annual training (AT) will help you to secure. In order to make the most out of AT, talk with you state to see if you can do split training. Your State controls annual training, and may pay for you to attend an annual CME event which in turn could count as half of your annual training commitment (please know that each doctor is allowed up to $2,500[6] per year for CME training). This will take planning and coordination, but could definitely be worth your while; you could fulfill both military and civilian (hospital CME) requirements in the same week. Your state may also allow you to do OCONUS (military hospital time) to fulfill your AT requirement. Again, considerable planning and coordination is required.
Other
Be sure to review the following policies regularly. Policies can be found on the Chief Surgeons page on Guard Knowledge online[7]. They change yearly, so it is very important to stay up to date. If you find it difficult to find the pages on GKO, just type the corresponding text into Google.
Special Branches over-grade policy
Special Branches over-Strength policy
AMEDD personnel management policy
AMEDD incentives Memo
Flexible Training Policy
90 Day Rotation Policy
Continuing Medical Education (CME) policy – currently $2,500 per year
[1] Other professionals are usually limited by position openings after they reach the rank of 04 (Major).
[2] Time in grade refers to the amount of time you have spent at a specific rank.
[3] The memo has not yet been published, but 2LTs are eligible for promotion to 1LT after 18 months from the creation of their federal orders/ the day they swear in. Your federal orders can be found on IPERMS. It is a good Idea to politely/discreetly remind your unit command of eligibility 3 months prior to the 18 month promotion timeframe.
[4] Check out the Preparing for Promotion PDF File.
[5] http://medicalservicecorps.amedd.army.mil/leader_dev/ILE_Info_Paper_and_FAQs.pdf
[6] Be cautious: do not try to utilize every last dollar. Spend your taxpayers money wisely. Your consideration will be appreciated. Remember this for every government dollar you receive.
[7] You will not be able to view GKO/AKO until you sign your contract and set up an account. Therefore, use google to access these documents until you sign up.