DES MOINES, Iowa – While social distancing remains a part of daily life throughout the nation, U.S. Army health care recruiters are using online applications and virtual interviews to help interested individuals plan for the future and pursue full-time or part-time careers in Army Medicine.
Local recruiters are able to help individuals complete the majority of the Army's application requirements without any in-person contact to determine eligibility and guarantee training of choice and any monetary incentives for which they qualify.
The temporary reservation for training will be confirmed when it is safe to finalize the remaining in-person medical and commissioning requirements.
If applicants are inspired by current events to serve as commissioned officers in the medical field, the U.S. Army has fulfilling active or reserve career opportunities for all types of health care providers: physicians, dentists and nurses in over 50 different specialties. New Soldiers are
fully trained in their selected occupation and have opportunities to obtain additional education, credentials and certifications to support future career goals.
“I have talked to many people by phone who are impacted by the current pandemic happening. They all have similar stories and have to watch what they spend. They wish they had more of a financial cushion,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Gary W. Garner, a health care recruiter and the station commander for the U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Station in Des Moines. “They have applied for unemployment and are looking for other jobs wherever they can find one.”
"A manager the other day at the grocery store said they hired 26 new people and every one of them showed up for their first day of work, and that was the first time that has ever happened,” added Garner.
U.S. Army medical recruiters such as Sgt. 1st Class Garner are able to process applicants to serve as health care professionals and commissioned officers in the U.S. Army either by earning a direct commission after becoming board certified or while attending medical or dental school.
“I am available anytime to anyone who is willing to talk and interested in knowing just how great of an opportunity the Army has to offer them. I can be reached by email at gary.w.garner4.mil@mail.mil or by phone and text at 515-619-2710,” said Garner.
The F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program, pays for tuition at the medical/dental school of choice, and most fees, books and incidentals, and provides a monthly stipend at any accredited school in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
The HPSP Program is not the only way the Army supports medical education and career opportunities. There are other financial assistance programs tailored for medical residents and practicing physicians such as the Specialized Training Assistance Program and the Reserve Component Health Professions Loan Repayment Program.
Whether the nation is facing an enemy on the battlefield or an enemy in the medical lab, the U.S. Army stands ready to support the nation through the crisis and beyond, offering meaningful career opportunities for those interested in serving.
“The greatest part about Army Medicine is that you not only get to care for others but for those that protect our country, which sustains our freedoms and allows us to continue living the way that we are,” said Garner.
For more information about Army Medicine career opportunities, visit healthcare.goarmy.com.
Media interested in interviewing a local recruiter can contact the U.S. Army 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion Public Affairs Office at leanne.o.thomas.civ@mail.mil or 210-243-8864.
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 05.28.2020 17:58 |
| Story ID: | 370951 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Des Moines Army medical recruiter reaches out to community, by Leanne Thomas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
