WHEN DUTY CALLS

When serving in the Army Reserve Medical Corps, your family member will help defend our nation by treating and healing our Soldiers during various missions. Before going on any missions, your family member will participate in the Officer Basic Leadership Course. This course ensures your family member is fully prepared for duty and able to function effectively in his or her first duty position.

Once your family member is called for service in the Army Reserve Medical Corps, he will be mobilized or deployed. During mobilization, your family member will most likely serve as backfill for physicians who have been deployed overseas. Mobilization lasts 120 days and takes place in the United States. Although your family member may serve in your home state, he will be expected to serve in other states depending on the need of the mission.

During deployment, your family member will travel outside the United States to complete a particular mission. Deployment can potentially last up to 120 days. Two weeks prior to deployment, your family member will participate in training and information sessions. The following 90 days will be dedicated to the mission at hand. Upon your family member’s return, he will participate in a debriefing process. After a particular mission is completed, your family member will not be deployed for at least another 12 to 18 months. There is a chance your loved one may never be deployed. If your family member is in a residency program, he cannot be deployed until the program is completed.

If deployed, your family member will treat our Soldiers during and after battle. Although your family member may encounter unpredictable situations during this service, in general, physicians are one of the most protected groups in battle. Since physicians ultimately serve as our Soldiers’ lifelines, our Soldiers will do all they can to ensure your family member’s safety. To minimize risk as well as distractions when healing wounded Soldiers, physicians are kept far back of the battlefront and placed in a safe area called the green zone.

While your family member is deployed or mobilized, you’ll have the opportunity to maintain frequent communication with him through email, computer video camera, standard mail, and phone (by use of calling cards). By keeping contact on a regular basis, you can show your support and let your family member know you’re always there for him/her. Another way to show support is by sending care packages. You can send anything you think your family member may want or need including food, beverages, toiletries, magazines, letters, etc. We suggest you only send items that are appropriate and foods that will not melt or spoil during shipment. By sending these packages, you’ll express your support and remind your family member of how much you care.