GRFD or Army Baylor DPT?

[ConyBoi445]

Hello everyone! I’m an MSII in the Army ROTC (New Cadet and not prior service) and I have all the requirements to contract with the ROTC except Basic Camp (going 3rd regiment this July). My plans were to become an Active Duty Physical Therapist (65B) through the Army-Baylor DPT program (they don’t require an approved education delay since it’s an active duty program). I talked to my PMS and he told me that not only do I have to be selected by that Graduate School (Army-Baylor) but I also have to be selected by an AMEDD board. So I have to be very competitive. I also have to be realistic because they only select 26 (18 ARMY, 4 NAVY and 4 Air Force) students per year. Most of the Army PT’s come from Army Baylor. So I talked with an ARNG recruiter and he told me that I can receive the GRFD scholarship that has a lot of benefits and help me for my studies financially but I will be commissioning in the NG. He also told me that if another Graduate School (physical therapy school) in another State selects me that I won’t have any problem transferring to another state after commissioning and finishing my bachelor’s. To finalize this I some the stats to back up my plan to go to Army Baylor ( doing my observation hours at VA hospital in PM & R and Spinal Cord physical therapy, ACE certified personal trainer and STEM major with a 3.5 GPA) but I genuinely don’t know if I should play it safe and take the GRFD scholarship so I can keep studying after finishing my degree. What should I do?

 

[Aglahad]

Personally, as someone who has dealt with the AMEDD board process and grad school as well, I would go GFRD. If you are dead set on being a PT then this is the safest option. I might be heavily biased though as I am sort of jaded with AMEDD, but that's neither here nor there.

Unfortunately, unless you are going MD or are a CRNA or CCU RN, the monetary benefits for reserve PT students is next till 0. Why? They just don't need that many. There aren't really any PTs in the guard FYI.

The bonus with the NG is that many states will pay the full tuition for NG members. This is USUALLY for a bachelor's but some will cover master's/PhD level work. It just depends on the state.

 

[gooseblitz]

Personally, as someone who has dealt with the AMEDD board process and grad school as well, I would go GFRD. If you are dead set on being a PT then this is the safest option. I might be heavily biased though as I am sort of jaded with AMEDD, but that's neither here nor there.

Unfortunately, unless you are going MD or are a CRNA or CCU RN, the monetary benefits for reserve PT students is next till 0. Why? They just don't need that many. There aren't really any PTs in the guard FYI.

The bonus with the NG is that many states will pay the full tuition for NG members. This is USUALLY for a bachelor's but some will cover master's/PhD level work. It just depends on the state.

I'd be interested in your AMEDD experience. DS is a AROTC MSII and we are wondering what his chances will be to Branch medical services when the time comes.

 

[Aglahad]

I'd be interested in your AMEDD experience. DS is a AROTC MSII and we are wondering what his chances will be to Branch medical services when the time comes.

Feel free to PM me. I am not really a fan of the MS branch overall. When you specialize past 70X, there seems to be some utility in the branch but for the most part, you are at the mercy of medical/nursing officers and their agenda outside of line units. You aren't really medical so it's hard to conceptualize certain things. Until 70 series officers specialize, there really isn't anything that sets them apart from other AMEDD officers (i.e. nurses could fill their job role). I do think 70H and 70k have viability though. I have a particular disdain for hospital administratiors so I never recommend that either haha. If he wants to be a pilot that's another thing. But I am just one person with one opinion.

I think people think MS officers are "medical" officers, but they are in all actuality mostly administration to varying degrees.

AMEDD is a killer deal if you are clinical and reserves though. The bonuses are hefty for certain jobs. MS officers are GROSSLY overstrength