droz88 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hi everyone, I have just joined the forum and am looking forward to spending time here sharing information and experiences with other aviators and even getting to know some of you! I am currently 23 and a junior in college. I am going to graduate with my bachelors degree in 2013 in a highly specialized and specific healthcare field. My major is in cardiovascular perfusion (operating the heart-lung machine during open heart surgery). Once I graduate, I will be able to sit for a national board exam. If I pass the exam, I will earn my certification and I will be able to start practicing as a clinical perfusionist. In order to keep my certification current, I have to pump AT LEAST 40 open heart surgery cases per year. If I do not meet this requirement, I will lose the certification and it can be very difficult to reaquire it. Here is my dilemma: I wish to join the army and become a rotary wing pilot after I earn my certification. At this point I am planning on putting in my 7 year commitment and once my army career is over I want to go back into the civilian world and work as a perfusionist, therefore it is important for me to keep my certification. I have researched working as a perfusionist for the army but came up with absolutely nothing. It appears as though there was an MOS for it a while ago but it has since gone away. My question to you all is if there is any way that I can become a pilot for the army and somehow have a stipulation added to my service contract where they would guarantee me that I could get my 40 cases per year in? It may seem like a far fetched expectation, but I believe that if the army has a need for perfusionists, then they would be willing to work with me to allow me to do both. If they are not willing to do this, then what are the chances that I would have enough free time while off duty to work part time at civilian hospitals? As far as talking to a recruiter about this, would it be wise to speak to an officer as opposed to an enlisted recruiter? I have the impression that an officer would be more willing and able to help me out. Thank you for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droz88 Posted November 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 Talked to an officer recruiter today and there is no way to do this. If you are applying for WOFT, then that is your only MOS and nothing else. Just an FYI in case anyone had any similar plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcDonald Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 If you did this on a volunteer basis, you MIGHT be able to get it done. However... Don't expect to keep the certification IF you get accepted into the Aviation program. Bottom line is, you can make anything work. Just have to figure it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBuzzkill Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 No, it wont work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.