Want to ask Captain Rakow your own questions?
Contact your Army Healthcare Recruiting Officer today:
Captain Michael Rakow at 888-571-4849
Q: If I sign on with the Army as a health care officer, can they turn me into an Infanty soldier if they want to?
A: No. As health care providers, we are well trained to defend ourselves if necessary, but we fight only in defense of ourselves and our patients. Each of us has a professional specialty that we are hired to do, and that is our specific wartime and peacetime mission. Combat arms soldiers are trained and assigned to protect us in deployed environments, so that we can continue to provide uninterrupted care.
Q: What are the basic requirements for being an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer?
A: Requirements vary by specialty, but generally speaking, to qualify for a commission in the Army Medical Department and become a member of the Army Health Care Team you must be:
- 21-46 years of age at the time of application (older applicants are eligible in certain specialties)
- A U.S. citizen
- Of high moral character
- Physically qualified - physically fit for your age, with no chronic health problems
- A graduate of an accredited school in the United States or its territories
- Licensed to practice in the United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories
Q: Why are some specialties unavailable, and when is the best time to apply?
A: The Department of Defense hires according to a fiscal year which begins October first. Completing an application can take several weeks or even a few months in some cases. Although some specialties only make hiring decisions at one board per year (usually in January/February), others will hire continuously until all positions have been filled. This means that beginning an application from July through September will generally provide the best odds by having an application packet ready for the first selection board of the new fiscal yea,r when all positions for that year are open and available.
Want more information right away?
Contact your Army Healthcare Recruiting Officer today:
Captain Michael Rakow at 888-571-4849
For the most current official Army Health Care Career field information, please visit: healthcare.goarmy.com