SOST Part 2- With Maj Emily Opfer!!

[@RodrigoPerez-uf4mi]

No way you guys posted this just as I was doing more in depth research on the SOST teams, hell yeah!

[@neweragaming9165]

wish you luck bro

[@jimmypanda2235]

Same!

[@ObjectivelyBias]

💪🏾

[@johnstainbrook7467]

Premed student here, applying to medical school next year. This info is amazing! Thanks so much guys!!!

[@OnesReady]

Awesome- keep grinding. - A

[@kirramcdowell]

Massive respect to her.

[@neweragaming9165]

Im about to go to MEPS to hopefully hit into SR. Im super confident thanks to this podcast. Lets get it

[@Tanner.T]

I hear ya there brother. Will be going to go for TACP. I am going to try to delay my entry until after September/August though.

[@mrshovelbottom7475]

41:32 - The moment Trent realized medical people can live in chaos as much as the most operator of operators. *Person shot 7 times needing a crike* Maj Emily Opfer: "This is a good case; we will do great!"

[@dillonjones6074]

I will be board certified in emergency medicine soon but will be joining the USAF as a flight surgeon. Is SOST still in the cards for me as a career option?

[@emullen93]

I’m a critical care nurse in the Navy Reserve and a flight nurse civ side. But I’m blind as shit and i’m useless without my glasses. I’ve always wondered if this would preclude me from getting on a team like this in the future. I’m very interested in putting a packet together but don’t want to waste anyone’s time if my eyes will keep me out of it.- And the MAJ is a BADASS!!!

[@Hearthman1159]

You had this amazing person on here for an hour and no full screen view? Who wants to see a bunch of dudes when you have her? Seriously, major props (pun intended). As a retired paramedic with ICU nurse wife, I have the utmost respect for her and the teams. Please invite her back only this time, her on full screen.

[@OnesReady]

This is simultaneously awesome and creepy. Well done. - A

[@Sentry331]

Thanks for the show guys. Top flight banter and information as always.

[@jdotsalter910]

Nice. We're on the Rez(native reservation, remote, dusty), my wife is an ER doc and her co-worker is in Army Guard as an ER doc deployed to the ME. She would love SOST so I'm going to send this to her, she'll probably apply.

[@codylewis3111]

I have been waiting for this!

[@OnesReady]

We’ve been trying for a bit- glad the schedules worked out finally! -A

[@christopherbarham4402]

Getting my surgical tech degree. Then joining SOST. Have a 3.9 GPA super stoked and working hard.

[@OnesReady]

Well… you’ll join the AF. Then lay some dues. Then apply to selection. Then hopefully get picked up. Then join SOST. Lots of work ahead. -A

[@Mcpoletti]

Emily, mark r. sent me this. Very awesome...good stuff. Poletti...👊❤️

[@TheChemist2412]

Too old to be a PJ (sadly) but I believe SOST is in my wheelhouse lol

[@MrZachgonz]

She has some guns.

[@OnesReady]

This is facts. -A

[@joepesce6405]

Bad ass RN!

[@OnesReady]

Maj Opfer is a damn hitter, in all regards. -A

[@emullinax7721]

Does anyone know the difference between SOST and Ground Surgical Teams? From the podcast, I found out that SOST is more of an "assignment," as Maj. Opfer mentioned. Is GST the same in that sense? They are both 6 person teams, comprised of the same people I think, so I'm just wondering what the difference is. Thanks!

[@jaredvos4431]

Yeah they are very similar in concept but a couple differences. GST is a team that a Med Group puts together and is owned by that MDG. So they work out of a standard MTF for the most part until they are needed. SOST is more "full time" and deploys more frequently. When they aren't deployed they are focused on training for the next one, where as a GST has to go back to the MDG that owns them and do their regular 9-5 job

[@OnesReady]

Also, SOST is an AFSOC team, the GST teams aren’t (check me if I’m wrong). Thanks @jared Vos great answer. -A

[@jaredvos4431]

@@OnesReady Absolutely correct gentlemen! I'm putting my package together for SOST currently and hoping to go to selection next spring/summer. Been following you guys for a while now and love the content, thanks for all you guys do!

[@emullinax7721]

@@jaredvos4431 Thanks for the answer and information! Best of luck in your selection!

[@tshak7410]

Great video! Is it possible to get a general surgeon's perspective for SOST, I've talked to a couple during med school but would love to get more info! Thanks again!

[@OnesReady]

We can reach out- what questions do you have specifically for a surgeon that haven’t been answered in the 2 plus hours of content on SOST? Would those questions fill up an hour of time? -A

[@tshak7410]

@@OnesReady I don't know if I would have any questions that would fill an hour that hasn't been talked about, but I was just curious as Emed, and some other spots have been talked about just not the general surgeon's role in SOST. Thanks for the content though!

[@ridiculousiam1496]

Awsome video, is there any contact info with the emails and phone numbers that the Maj. Said she could provide??

[@zmanhollins]

I’m a civilian nurse with 2 years of Neuro ICU experience and want to be apart of SOST. I’m about to commission as an O-1 in January. What are some opportunities for me to gain trauma experience in the Air Force to be the top of my field?

[@vardaanbal4448]

So I’m a med student so I’m also trying to figure this out. What I’ve found by far is that there are also regular Air Force surgical teams called GST, which I think are probably easier to get into. Maybe your best shot would be to work with those first and get some more trauma experience? That’s how I’m aiming to plan out my approach so far.

[@karenrhoads1598]

Lol, the part 2 I wanted to see!

[@burbsl1672]

Those patches are epic. Shamans.

[@OnesReady]

Witch doctors FTW. -A

[@inkoftheworld]

So did the guy who took 7 bullets live? I feel like that story didn't have an ending! lol

[@Polymath76]

Does SOST have a reserves/guard component?

[@OnesReady]

No they do not.

[@Polymath76]

The application specifically stated there are IMA positions for SOST, FYSA.

[@AhmedMartinez-c5z]

Are there other medical teams like SOST? Or that are as forward as them?

[@nicolewade4253]

Can someone clear something up for me? I've watched both these interview videos you guys have and have the website up in front of me... it's saying they're not taking IRR/Civilian right now. So does that mean they're accepting National Guard soldiers? I've also read that you have 12-24 months to accept your assignment or PCS to your assignment? This all sounds super different than what I'm used to in regards to anything Military. I would rather attempt to do something like this than travel as a cardiac icu nurse. I like my army medic stuff but it's not enjoyable when you're going from critical care to putting bandaids on people one weekend a month. It's all important, don't get me wrong, but I'm striving for a bit more at the moment. My ETS date is approaching (2025) so it's time for me to start figuring something out :')

[@slothassasin1055]

Why would someone do SOST instead of joining the army and applying to a ranger battalion/any other special operations unit as a physician?

[@OnesReady]

Well, most notably- you’re not in the Army, and you’ll have a different mission than those jobs you mentioned. -A

[@nickkundrat9757]

Worth applying as an O-1 new nurse out of San Diego?

[@OnesReady]

Can you explain what you mean? I don’t know what ‘worth applying’ means. The job and lifestyle are worth it. Going through any selection process is worth it. -A

[@nickkundrat9757]

@@OnesReady oh yeah I definitely agree, but I have very minimal operational experience other than TCCC, but always striving for more, and as we all know MTF’s just don’t see the same acuity. Was wondering if I should wait until I’m an O-3 with some more experience before I apply or if I should just go for it sooner then later

[@OnesReady]

Ok- that makes way more sense. We aren’t huge fans of ‘waiting till you’re ready’. If you want to go SOST, and you’re allowed to (your chain is supportive, it’s legal to apply, etc)- typically we say go for it. -A

[@Amber-vk6dx]

Once you go to selection and if you are selected, that selection is good for 24 months from you assessment date. So if you want to line up your next opportunity and feel sost is right for you and you are right for sost you can apply then move when you’re eligible if selected.

[@DreaBe]

So as a medical trauma surgeon in the US ARMY can you transfer to SOST?

[@abcdude9322]

On the topic of medicine: any information about the enlisted to medical degree prep program ?

[@OnesReady]

We can ask some of our friends that have done that route- but what question do you have specifically? That the program exists? How to get in? I assume there is a good amount of info via the search engine if your choice. -A

[@abcdude9322]

@@OnesReady yeah I did look at the usuhs website for information. However most of the videos on KZbin are outdated, just wanted to get general information about the program. Ie how to start application? Any exemptions to requirements? Does my bachelors have to be in stem ? What does the program look like once inside ? Do e2mdpp participants have a better chance of getting into usuhs? When do I take the mcat? How to increase my chances of getting into the program? Thank you!!

[@s.l.noukpozounkou1396]

Hey man, I'm currently looking into this and i can tell you that there's not much info on it online. They do have a group on Facebook for admissions help and their website will give you all the information you need.

[@adrianrubalcaba3300]

Is there any chance that candidates from sister branches could apply for SOST, such as Navy Physicians?

[@felipevieira8277]

Yes. It's possible

[@jcas84]

Yes you can.

[@felipevieira8277]

Dude, do you know if they accept doctors straight out of residency? After med school I will apply for ER programs

[@jcas84]

Felipe, SOST looks to pick up people who have work prior experience. This is because you will need to learn everything else besides Emergency medicine as an ER physician. This job is demanding w/ you being trained (tactics & operations), Air Force responsibilities w/ your Unit & responsibilities w/ your team. The only time you have to learn about ER medicine would be: your mandatory clinical shifts or at home in a book (after the long work day). Some of those shifts you may do as a team in the OR, not the ED. So if you show up to selection, as a new ER doc, who has never managed multiple patients or haven't lead a team in the ED; it will show. Not only will the ER Doc Cadre see it, every Cadre will know it. Because in SOST all 6 positions know what right looks like for their team members. My recommendation is to get comfortable in an ED at a level 1 trauma hospital first, before applying.

[@felipevieira8277]

@@jcas84 Thanks man

[@loganburke659]

Aaron said back on, what other episode was the major in

[@VeritasPlus]

I can’t believe I just found this update to the first SOST video! Such awesome information! I was on the fence if I want to do Air Guard or just go all in as Active Duty. I was hoping to go through the CCATT Nurse route as a civilian (Trauma ICU, BSN, CCRN) since that’s an intriguing field, then throw my name in the hat for SOST, and if the usual assignment is about 6 years, go back to CCATT. Is this track/plan doable? I really want to do more than what I’m doing and help as much as I can with the skills that I have - and then learn some more!

[@hambam1-521]

Is it possible to go from a pj/cro to sost? Assuming you finished medical school before or after pj

[@OnesReady]

@@hambam1-521 technically yes. Realistically- why

[@hambam1-521]

@@OnesReady want to be a pj but as I’m looking at some the medical side I also like that. But true doesn’t make too much sense realistically

[@OnesReady]

@@hambam1-521 lots of folks have done PJ to PA OR doc. Going from PJ to Doc to SOST (or a like team) is super rare.

[@hambam1-521]

@@OnesReady gotcha, thank you

[@hambam1-521]

Would it make more sense to be a pj then just doctor

[@arib949]

❤️