JOIN PAK ARMY AS A DOCTOR

 A GUIDE ON HOW TO JOIN PAK ARMY

As soon as we enter a medical college, we feel like we have arrived at our final destination of success, but that's not the case at all. slowly we learn on how many career options do we have infront of us, but we know very little about them.

we are so happy to be able to elucidate atleast one of the career options as one of our meritorious seniors from the pioneer batch, Saad Mukhtar, gives his guidance upon the MCadet scheme. 

Aslam o Alaikum, this article is to let u know the procedure/ career progression/ benefits of joining Pak Army as a M-Cadet. Mcadet scheme is only for male students. Females and males who have passed MBBS can join via GDMO scheme, and those who have specialized can join via Specialist scheme.

 

MCADET SCHEME:

I will be explaining the Mcadet scheme here.

Criteria

The persons must have passed 4^th professional Exams from a PMC certified University and have a height above 5’4.

Procedure

1) 4^th and 5^th year students can apply at “joinpakarmy.gov.pk” when they start the induction each year around October.

2) Those who applied will be called for IQ / Intelligence test which includes verbal / nonverbal questions to be solved. (you can get an idea of the test at gotest.pk)(No MBBS knowledge is required for it)

3) Those who will clear the IQ test will be called for physical test after few days which will include:

                               -1.6 km run in 8 minutes

                               -15 pushups

                               -15 sit ups

                               -3 chin ups

                               -jumping over a small ditch

4) Those who clear the physical test will be called for interview (after few months) at CMH (taken by a panel of doctors). The interview will include questions about

                               -childhood

                               -one or two questions from MBBS

                               -hobbies

                               -some general knowledge

                               -future goals

                               -sports

                               (the interview is for judging one’s personality and confidence, not MBBS knowledge)

5) Those selected by the panel will be called for detailed medical checkup at CMH, after a month.

6) After complete checkup, the candidate will be given a bond for next 6 years, to be signed. After signing, the cadet gets paid Rs 23,000 monthly by army. And is paid 10-12 lacs later along the career to make up for the money spent for his degree.

Career Progression:

1) The cadet continues MBBS at his own university.

2) After clearing MBBS, the cadet is given 6 months military training at  PMA, Kakul. After which he is commissioned in the army as a captain.

3) One year house job at CMH

4) Two years service as a Medical Officer (in rough area e.g Kashmir, FATA, Siachin in an army unit)

5) Specialization (but one has to clear FCPS Part 1 on his own to apply for specialization in CMH).

6) After clearing FCPS Part 2, one is given the rank of major and he starts working as a specialist in CMH. (Rank of Major is given after 5 years even if the person hasn’t specialized)

7) Then the career progresses and the person ascends to the rank of Lt Col, Col, Brigadier, Major General, Lt General based on merit.

SOME FACTS:
Benefits of Joining Army:
If u plan on staying in Pakistan and work here after MBBS, then joining military is one of the best options for you.
1) Job security/ certainity.
2) Working environment of high standard military hospitals.
3) Great learning and practising.
4) Private practice in CMHs.
5) Career progression is merit based.
6) Perks that all army officers have e.g living in army cants, health insurance, allowances, army schools etc

Things to keep in Mind:
1) 2 years service in rough area (Kashmir, FATA, Siachin etc) is must
2) Specialization may get delayed one or two year depending on the availability of seats/ demand for specialist in a field/ number of applicants/ FCPS marks / your desired speciality, and may not be in the CMH of your choice as things are decided by merit.
3) Doctors once they are specialists (and all other officers) are posted to a different stations (city) every 2-4 years. So they have to pack their bags and move every 2-4 years.
4) One cannot just leave the army by choice before the bond ends. As the bond is of 6 years after MBBS, leaving the army before 6 years is only possible after submitting fine which is around 5-10 lack depending upon after how many years you are leaving, after joining.
You can only leave after 6 years if you stay a Medical Officer. If you go for specialization, then the bond gets extended.

Myths about Army Doctor Career:
1)No specialization opportunities: This is totally wrong. Although there is a bar of 2-year service before joining specialization, but the same two years are spent in BHU / Periphery in civil area as well, so it's almost the same.
2)No private practice: Again, this is totally wrong. All specialists can do private practice within CMH in the evening.

3)Army Doctors don't get the same benefits as other army officers: Wrong. Army doctors get the same service and retirement benefits as any other army officer.

Best of luck dear fellows!

 Thanking our highly respected senior for his valuable guidance!!
Contributor: Capt.Dr.Saad Mukhtar 

SITE LINK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:https://joinpakarmy.gov.pk/FAQs/FAQs_amcadet.php

Note: as we all know pakistan army can be joined as either GDMO or  MCadet (for males only) and that too only in the navy and military however for females to join military or navy and for joining pakistan Air force as an army doctor we have the GDMO scheme. 

as our pioneer batch just graduated, we didn't have much guidance related to the GDMO scheme but one of our 2nd year aspirants was kind enough to share his searched up information regarding the scheme. So following is that described:

GDMO SCHEME :

Following conditions must be fulfilled in order to apply for GDMO.

Qualifications:

1. MBBS with one year house job (will be appointed at captain rank) max age limit 28 Yrs

2. MBBS with higher postgraduate qualifications i.e MRCOG, FCPS, FRCS (will be appointed at Major Rank) max age limit 32 Yrs

Marital Status:

Male  (married/unmarried)

Female ( married/ unmarried/widow)

Physical Standards:

Height:

Male (min 5' 4")

Female (min 5' 2")

Weight as per BMI

Procedure:

One has to apply at www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk

A roll no will be allotted and date and time will be allocated

Written and intelligence Test:

Intelligence and personality based Questions in form of MCQs will be conducted at AS&RCs

Preliminary Medical Tests:

Selected candidates will undergo initial medical

Further selection:

Candidates who are selected by AS&RCs will be called for interview by GHQ selection board. Medical Examination of recommended candidates will be carried out at nearby CMHs. Final selection will be made on candidates' overall performance

Training:

There will be 22 weeks training for both male and female at PMA and AFPGMI respectively.

Bond:

Finally selected candidates will be required to sign a bond of minimum period of 5 years

thanking our contributor: Muhammad Ahmed (2nd year CR)

SITE LINK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: https://joinpakarmy.gov.pk/FAQs/FAQs_ssrc.php

Edited by: Aiza Anwar (publishing director)