Air Force Advice?

I could tell you about the Navy, if you are interested.

Since getting into ortho in the military is a completely different process, I have not seen much info on it on this board. My friends who have had military commitments all did regular ortho programs and are now serving the military following residency.

Generally, military programs differ from the civilian ones in that it is a different patient population- young and healthy. They do a lot (A LOT) of scopes. I know some guy that as a PGY2 he did about 50 shoulder scopes. However, they tend to be weak in total joints, interesting and complex pathology, and the other things related to unhealthy patients.

Also, you may want to check out the web site of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons:

I'm also going through medical school on an Air Force scholarship. I'm going into my second year, so I haven't done a rotation at Wilford Hall. However, I was in the Air Force for a few years before medical school and had a chance to get to know a few of the orthopaedic surgeons.

In general, most recommended trying to defer if possible, but Wilford Hall is supposed to be a very good program. I think that you would actually see a significant number of total joints there as military hospitals treat 20-year retirees as well as active duty people, and San Antonio has one of the largest, if not the largest, military retiree populations in the country. I guess you will find all of this out when you get there.

I'd be very intersted in hearing how the rotation goes for you after you finish if you don't mind.