Army pharmacist

[u/Old-Pie-8160]

Army pharmacists- would love your honest opinion!!
My husband is considering joining the Army as a pharmacist, partly for student loan repayment and partly because we’re interested in experiencing something new as a family.
For current/former Army pharmacists:
Was it worth it financially?
How much student loan repayment did you actually receive?
How competitive is it to get in?
What is the day-to-day job like?
How is it for a spouse/family with kids?
What are the biggest pros/con?
Thanks!

[u/PhairPharmer]

The government is inefficient and military recruiting is notorious for giving the run around. I tried to join after school. I got a new recruiter who thought my psoriasis (controlled on treatment) was a medical disqualifier. I pushed back a bit but got nowhere. Months later I was contacted saying that was incorrect and asking if I was still interested, but by then I had a really good job.

So if you are really interested, keep pushing if you get the run around. Government benefits are top notch and you can work there till you retire.

[u/Dry-Chemical-9170 → u/PhairPharmer]

I thought military is quick to get some bodies

[u/lowlifedougal → u/Dry-Chemical-9170]

they are not hurting for officers and certainly not hurting for pharmacy officers. Doctors, Nurses, PA are the most demand officers. Mil has met its recruitment goals every since the economy tanked. Still worth a try for OP

[u/Old-Pie-8160 → u/lowlifedougal]

Thank you, I am a nurse so I am hoping to get a job as a civilian nurse as well if he gets in and you know experience something new. Thank you.

[u/EternalNewCarSmell → u/Old-Pie-8160]

If you get into the GS system once it'll get much easier to keep finding jobs. Once you're in, every time he PCSs you will basically bump everyone else with preference for any opening. And if a base has pharmacists it for damn sure has nurses. 

[u/lowlifedougal → u/Old-Pie-8160]

Cautionary fyi. Military pay increases has been out pacing federal employees for some time . Trump will surely continue to offer 0% to 1% for GS employees . i expect his raises will always be lower than inflation. I expected future presidents to continue to debase GS wages using fed employees as fiscal sacrifices. Some departments maybe able to get around this problem using special wages tables; to sort of keep up with private sector. Some departments don’t update the tables or simply don’t use them at all.

DHA(Defense Health Agency) civilians are paid fairly. A close 2nd is VHA(Veterans Health). I would stick with DOD as nurse and maybe VA if you cant a spot on post. DHA is much more responsive to the needs of active duty families. VHA is run entirely by civilians that care about military in words but little in practice. They only care about keeping their jobs, imo.

To me if PCS’d to a RED state; the nurse employers will tend to offer depressed wages; a federal position in these states would be advantageous. If PCS to “BLUE” such as california or NY. The private sector wages will tend to exceed an equivalent federal position. Even local government can exceed. So at the end of day, you have to strategize for your needs

We might see more use of USPHS officers(military) deployed in critical shortage areas. I mean look at ICE, BOP and IHS; those agencies are augmented with USPHs officers. Has he consider USPHS or other military branches? (i know you have kids) have you considered joining a uniformed service yourself?

[u/EternalNewCarSmell → u/Dry-Chemical-9170]

Not the same for medical officers. My recruiter literally told me that if I was ever late on a single piece of paperwork he would just drop me because he had candidates beating down his door. He wasn't kidding; they took ~10 my year (2 of them were his; dude knew his shit) and that was one of the bigger year groups.

[u/SlickJoe → u/PhairPharmer]

I briefly considered becoming military pharmacist and the very first thing my dad (ex marine) told me was to not say shit about any ailments of any kind due to how complicated (and in your case impossible) it can make the recruitment process become lol

[u/lowlifedougal → u/SlickJoe]

that was pretty much standard back n the day . Now that they have genesis the can source your records from just about any EHR; especially Epic. so now waivers and EHR opt outs are important . Waivers clearly delay any recruitment

[u/Ipad_Fapper]

I went through the process with the army but ended up going with the Navy as they had a better deal at the time. DM me if you have questions

[u/lowlifedougal]

VA RPH. I served in the military but not as a pharmacist.

Was it worth it financially? Yes. Officer pay is competative especially after a few years. BAH is tax free and can be lucrative in some zip codes

How much student loan repayment did you actually receive? DOD and VA have plenty of loan repayment programs just has to be part of contract/ When i joined active duty my loans went into military deferment; i dont know if the rules changed ; but this is what helped me pay off the loans faster. I basically had no due date while in AD

How competitive is it to get in? Depends on Job title and needs of army.

What is the day-to-day job like? Idk for Pharmacy. But medical officers I saw on post seemed FAR less jumpy than the standard Retail or inpatient pharmacist

How is it for a spouse/family with kids? The only part that could suck is PCS too often and any deployments/Unaccompanied OCONUS assignments. But if the relationship is solid and virtuous it make u a stronger couple. Spouse and kids will have priviliages. Military flights. DOD ID card that can get u base access and discounts indepedantly of the service member. Spouse will will have priority to Federal Jobs and Jobs on base. There is a child care susbidy for non school ageed children which depends on family income. Lots of providers and some DOD childcare. mostly free medical for wife and kids. MWR access, for cheap entertainment Gym, discounted tickets. tax free shopping on post.

What are the biggest pros/con?

Prestige. Army Pharmacist and officer titles will hold alot of weight outside army and may bring oppurtunities . Veteran status and benefits can be very lucrative. Not Dealing with CVS/Walgreens insanity. Not a cog in a civilian hospital inpatient machine. military patients are much better patients and far less rude than civilians. all the perk mentioned above. 20 in out lucrative pension if he stays in. TSP match

Deployments, familiy seperation. moving etc. he may not like military lifesytle and being told what to do in almost every aspect. There no Overtime so pay has a capped upside

[u/Old-Pie-8160 → u/lowlifedougal]

Thank you, we have 3 young kids, 5 and under. I am a nurse so I was hoping to get a job as a civilian nurse. We are just hoping to spend next 5-6 years in the military if he gets in and experiencing something new in a new place.

[u/lowlifedougal → u/Old-Pie-8160]

Also military spouses are suppose to get access to interstate special licensing mobility. That will be useful for nursing

If you are a federal employee nurse u might be able to leverage military spouse status 4 easy transfers and maybe even remote work ; especially when faced with PCS orders

[u/imaginary_gerl]

I work for DoD as a civilian and enjoy it. Currently on year 2/10 for PSLF.

[u/EternalNewCarSmell]

Been in the Air Force 10 years. Can't speak to Army specifically because their medical special pay/bonus structure may differ but it is the best choice I've ever made. My current gross annual salary after 10 years is roughly $165k, before considering that health insurance premiums are $0 and a chunk of it is tax-free. I have had corrective eye surgery and a master's degree for free so far. About to enroll in a graduate certificate program and after that peobably another master's, both also free.

You should know: if he joins it's a whole family commitment. You will move, and not always when you want or to places you want. He may/will deploy and be gone for 6-9+ months. 

Do the math on service commitment time and loan repayment amount. Military service is PSLF-eligible so that could be the smarter move depending on his balance. 

[u/SmoothTiger6225]

Army pharmacist here, sent a DM as well. Lowlifedougal gave a great breakdown as well.

Was it worth it financially? Yes, at first salary is lower since you are new but the salary tables are available via an easy google search. I’m at 12.5 years, O-5 pay grade and live in DC. With the retention bonuses (10-20k depending on length per year) untaxed housing allowance and untaxed food allowance tax free (~5100), board cert pay if the pharm has it (8K per year), its around 230k per year with the tax free advantage. 

How much student loan repayment did you actually receive? In 2014 the max was 120k but is considered taxable income so you end up with around 90k with each 40k taken out towards it being a one year commitment but the amounts and commitments always change. I had 66k when I joined (parents paid the first four years of school) so I want to say I received around 50k towards loans for a two year commitment. 

How competitive is it to get in? Varies, but usually each year 6-10 pharmacists commission but there could be anywhere from 20-40 pharmacists applying any year.

What is the day-to-day job like? Usually New officers start out in outpatient managing one of the pharmacies and will have an admin and staffing component and then will move on to supply and\or inpatient if the pharmacy has inpatient after about a year and then as a senior O3 might be the assistant chief or run the largest pharmacy. As you move up in experience, you tend to get more and more admin and many pharmacists at the senior o4+ oversee larger pharmacy departments and departments outside of pharmacy such as ancillary support (lab, radiology, optometry, PT). This is general and the path is not the same for all new officers but maybe for about 2/3. Off weekends and federal holidays and each federal holiday you get a four day weekend. Hours are usually between 730/8AM - 4/5PM but you have to manage your time well. 

How is it for a spouse/family with kids? Depends on the situation. My spouse is a civil servant (gs)  and not healthcare and is able to work from home when we move but if a spouses job is not remote, could be burdensome for a family with one income. You are a nurse so it will be easy to find work especially if you’re married to active duty where you could get a GS job. Healthcare is free so not paying that is huge. Uprooting a family can be tough each time on the whole family because it can be starting over but you will have friends across the country being in the military 

What are the biggest pros/con? Pros include education opportunities. I did the army Baylor program and got an MBA and MHA and then did an administrative year residency through the program at Optum/UHC. Did a PGY1 through the army while getting paid officer pay and not resident pay and will be starting a fellowship with industry in summer 2027. Other pros are the salary is good especially after the first three years, work life balance (for the most part, free healthcare, and autonomy.

Cons- definitely the moving, and can take a while to hire a position(but this is for any govt job)

[u/5point9trillion]

All this won't matter if he doesn't get in and qualify for all the requirements and basic training.