Hello sir, I'm graduating next year and am very interested in a direct commission. Over Christmas, I visited a buddy at his residency at Ft. Carson and was very impressed with the program. I grew up an Army brat and have been a KC-135 crew chief in the Air Guard for the last 14 years (except for a two year stint in the IRR when I was 19). The military has been very good to me and my family over the years and I want back in full-time. I don't know if I want to make a career out of it, but with the excellent residencies, great benefits, and unique opportunities (e.g. airborne, EFMB, C4, deployment), I know I can't go wrong starting out practicing in the Army.
I've done a fair amount of digging in other threads, but I still have a few questions.
1. Is it possible to commission prior to graduation? If so, would a 1-year AEGD be available to me right after graduation?
I have of a program, but can not remember the name at this time. I can look into it if you are interested...You basically come on in an IRR status so that your time in Service accrues and you could apply for the AEGD - however you also have a payback for recieving no other benefit (no sign on bonus, stipend, etc...). Not worth it in my book. from time to time they will select someone for a 1 yr HPSP (with 3 yr payback) - not the best deal either. Excluding these 2 options there is no other chance to commision before graduation since you must have a dental license to join the Dental Corps.
2. After residency, I want start out as a brigade dentist in an airborne unit. Can I request specific units on my dream sheet (e.g. 82nd, 173rd, 4-25th) or is this best done indirectly by selecting the locations of these units (e.g. Bragg, Camp Ederle, JBER)?
Those units typically want someone who is a graduate of a 1 yr AEGD or has some experience first. You can list those units on your sheet - or better yet email/call the assignment officer, but you will not be the ideal candidate. You can always go to one of the bases with a unit like that and get your skills up and then jump in with them the following year or 2.
3. I don't have the best GPA and class rank, if I stick around long enough (with good OERs and deployments) is there good chance I can eventually get selected for the 2-year AEGD? As a bravo, is it possible to get assigned to high-speed units (e.g. Rangers, SF) in later tours?
If you stick around long enough you can get into a 2 yr AEGD with good OERs and other things that will help round out your resume. The jobs you mentioned are filled with general dentists who have not done the 2 yr AEGD. Once you do the 2 yr AEGD (or any specialty) you are not put into those units (group, brigade, rangers, etc...). There is 1 position in a SF unit that is for a 2 yr AEGD graduate - so if you want to play on the other side, you need to do that as a general dentist.
4. When is the Army going to stop handwriting patient charts?