What exactly do Physician Assistants in the Air Force do?
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I know for a fact that I want to be a PA and I'm still a little ways off from even starting PA school but I was curious as to what exactly do PAs in the Air Force do? My understanding so far is that after being accepted into a PA school if your wanting to join the Air Force as a PA you apply and they will pay for your schooling etc...then after school you give up 3 years of your time for the Air Force (more if you choose to stay). Also you then go through a training program where you learn about military customs etc. During that 3 years as a PA you will work on base at the hospital etc and you can be deployed to wherever and while there you help with the medical side of things. Is that basically right? I'm curious as to if PAs for the Air Force go through any sort of combat or gun training? Are you issued a weapon for your personal use while deployed? I'm confused as to if PAs go out in the front lines with soldiers weapons and all and help with medical things or if you stay at a base wherever. Sorry if my question seems a little confusing...thanks for the help
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Answer:
You will actually have more than 3 years as all initial contracts are for 8 years. More than likely, you will have reserve time built into your contract because they are paying for special training. Anyway, a PA in the AF is like a PA on the civilian side. You will see and treat patients. If you are assigned to Lackland in Texas, you will probably provide medical support for trainees. If you are forward deployed to Afghanistan, you will treat deployed troops. The AF also supports the Army with medical support so do not be surprised if you eventually work with army personnel. By the way, you can be stationed stateside or overseas. If you are able to choose, go to Germany. Lunstuhl (not sure of the spelling) is a great medical facility. I forgot, you can also be assigned to do humanitarian missions. You could go to places like Haiti and provide emergency medical assistance or help with vaccinations. There are tons of different scenarios.
Christia... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source
Other answers
You would get similar basic training to everyone else in the AF, which is probably the last time you'll ever need to fire a gun. You'd be deployed mostly to hospitals and clinics at USAF bases both in the US and abroad. You may also be deployed for shorter periods to bases in Afghanistan. However the AF operates almost entirely out of very large bases well behind the lines. The chances are you will never be "in the field."
rent249
Good answers!! Remember, if all the Army PA's get injured (heaven forbid) Then all the Air Force PA's will be sent in to take their places. WE all need to be ready for taking care of the troops and families.
David B
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