I'd like some advice on how I should guide my future. I'll take life as it comes, of course, but I want to start planning now, and so I need your help.

It was my goal for several years to serve in the armed forces when I had the chance... But nearly a year ago I realized I also had a passion for health care... and I wanted to become a medical doctor. I am confident in my abilities to qualify for med school, and have been working hard to get there. I now am currently a freshman in college, majoring in biological sciences under the pre-med program, but I still want to serve- and I'm not sure how.

There are several options, I guess; I could sign up after I have become a medical doctor and acquired sufficient experience to serve with my profession... But I'm not sure about any others, because of how they might interfere with my road to become an M.D. There's 8 years of college, plus internship and residency (and possibly a fellowship). By the time I'm even allowed to call myself a "doctor" I'll probably be 30. I don't think fitting in some years of service/active duty would be doable. There isn't a resting point- it's more of one continuous journey and education. I'm not sure if interrupting that would prevent me from having a profitable career (which sounds dirty, but is a reality), or put me in an extreme financial situation... Because I'll also be nearly 200,000 dollars in debt.

So that's my predicament- I want to start an effective career as a medical doctor, but I also want to serve in combat and active duty. I was not born with a conviction for service... My dad is a coward and his worst fear is for me serve ... But over the past few years I've had to do some growing up quite fast due to circumstances at my home, and I have discovered that I do have a passion and belief for service. And I am driven. So I am going to do whatever I want to do, I just have to find the way .

Thanks for the help...

Ronnec, unfortunately, I don't remember if you've mentioned which branch of the service you're interested in, so I can't direct you specifically, but I do remember from my time in AFROTC that the services have a separate recruitment process for doctors and nurses (I think for lawyers as well, actually). I've posted some links below for the separate branches, but your best bet is to go talk to a recruiter and tell him what your plans are and find out what options they may have for you. I'm not sure about all of the services, but I know that the USAF offers scholarships for med students, as well as internship/residency programs, and I can't see why the other services wouldn't offer similar programs. Also, don't forget that you could serve part time in the reserves or national guard.

http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=312

http://www.navy.com/action/careers/officerplanner/results/

http://www.airforce.com/careers/healthcare/careers.php

better yet, I just thought of something. If you're near a college with an ROTC department, you should try getting in contact with their recruiting officer, as they'll definitely be more familiar with what you want to do, and may have helped other people in your situation. They're also not under pressure to meet a recruiting quota, so they're more likely to give it to you straight and not leave out any details.

I realize this post is probably really disjointed, but I've edited it 4 times as I run across more information, so I apologize. If I've left anything out or gave the wrong information, I hope someone else will point it out.

Check here as well, webpage says it better than I can:

http://www.navy-la.com/doctors.html

As soon as I get back from work I shall read those links...

And any branch of service is fine with me. I have my preferences, of course, but I'll take what ever opportunity comes my way.

Thanks again