From Medical School to Military Physician My two-year active-duty commitment to the US Air Force provided many benefits worth considering Jacob Shepherd, MD Family Medicine – US Air Force
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ack to my college days, I had a desire to serve in the military. My grandfather had briefly served as a physician with the Navy during World War II, and my older brother has spent nearly two decades leading soldiers in multiple roles with the US Army. I see serving in the military as a way to give back and serve this great country. During my first-year of residency at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, I met with the recruitment coordinator for both the I see US Army and US Air Force at the AAFP National Conference for Family Medicine serving in Residents and Students. After discussion the military with my wife and family, we decided to choose the Air Force based on base as a way to locations and the contract. Initially, I had give back to pass a Medical Entrance Physical. Once I completed this at the local Kansas City and serve Office, I was sworn in as a Commissioned this great Officer in September 2016. The program I joined as part of my Air country. Force commitment is called the Financial Assistance Program. I was compensated approximately $70,000 per year during my last two years of Residency, which is two years of financial support, and I committed to serve two years active duty as an Air Force Physician. The Air Force allowed me to select up to 20 bases where I would prefer to be stationed. During my final year of residency, I did an elective at Whiteman Air Force Base (AFB) in central Missouri and put this base as my top choice. In May 2018, I found out that I was granted my first choice by the military. When I completed residency, I showed up at Whiteman AFB—newly commissioned as an Air Force captain. One of the benefits of being in the military is housing and meal allowances. It varies based on rank and location, but roughly $18-20K per year of my monthly check is a non-taxable housing allowance. This was very helpful for our young family.
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MISSOURI FAMILY PHYSICIAN January - March 2021
