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BMJ Classified 18/25 DECEMBER 1999
Life as an army general practitioner provides plenty of variety while you develop your professional skills, argues Major Julian Woodhouse
Most newly vocationally trained general practitioners may wish to settle down into the practice of their dreams until retirement beckons, but some will want something different to do between finishing their vocational training scheme and drawing their pension. Although the days of serving all over the world are over, the army of the next century still offers plenty of variety. The strategic defence review led to the hospital based specialties largely being amalgamated into a tri-service organisation (navy, army, and air force combined), which is based near Portsmouth and in military wings attached to NHS hospitals near larger garrisons, but the general practitioners of each service still retain their single service identity. The army employs 220 uniformed general practitioners worldwide, with the option of serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) for anything from three years to 30 years.
Joining up
Most army doctors join as sponsored or salaried medical students three years before finals under a system known as the cadetship scheme. At the end of their second year, after having contacted the RAMC Officers Recruitment Office, they and qualified doctors attend a familiarisation visit, where the process of mutual evaluation begins. After an interview and passing a medical examination they "sign up." Female officers make up 25%of the initial intake, and ethnic minority doctors are well represented at 8%Until the recent European court ruling on gays in the military, it has been illegal to serve as a practising homosexual. It is too early to comment or whether this legislation will lead to a rise in homosexuality in the military medical community.
All new army doctors start a four month residential course-together with nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, vicars, vets, and lawyers-in Aldershot. Slowly the vagaries of army life, uniform, and surviving on the battlefield are unfolded so that "life in green" becomes comfortable and familiar. Though the emphasis is on changing your outlook from that of a civilian general practitioner to a military one, this is not all square bashing and digging trenches. ATLS/ACLS (advance trauma life support/advance cardiac life support) and prehospital care are revised, along with extensive...