GENERAL SURGEON

U.S. Army General Surgeons lead the way of a world‑class military health care team.

If you are a Surgeon and want to combine your passion for patient care with a desire to serve in the U.S. Army, a career as an Army General Surgeon might be the one for you.

Outstanding Opportunities

As a General Surgeon on the U.S. Army health care team, you’ll be at the front line of medical and surgical innovations and a wide range of procedures. The surgical advancements being developed by the U.S. Army Medical Department assist patient outcomes and changing the medical practice, from groundbreaking work in regenerative medicine to the development of 3‑D anatomical models to assist with surgical pre‑ and post‑op planning. You will examine, diagnose, consult, and prescribe courses of treatment, and perform surgeries for Soldiers, retirees and their family members. You will also participate in continued education programs, additional trainings, seminars and conferences to learn, grow and collaborate with fellow general surgeons for the benefit of your patients and the Army as a whole.

If you choose to serve in the Army Reserve, you will be able to serve your country as needed while still supporting your community.

Regardless of how you serve, a career as an Army General Surgeon allows you to serve the Army in critical ways.

Outstanding Benefits

When you join the Army Medical Corps, you’ll be making a difference in the lives of our Soldiers and the country at large while gaining access to invaluable opportunities, like supporting humanitarian missions, leadership training, and state‑of‑the‑art equipment, all while earning a competitive benefits package.

Benefits may include:

• Repayment of qualified education loans to lending institution, paid annually over a maximum of three years while serving
• Based on your field of concentration, you may be eligible for an accession bonus, paid over a four‑year period while serving. You may also be eligible for special pay as a physician
• For Army Reserve, a monthly stipend through the Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP) for physicians currently enrolled in an accredited residency program
• Travel opportunities within the Unites States and internationally
• Up to 30 days of paid vacation earned annually
• Enrollment into the Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System
• No‑to low‑cost medical and dental care for you and your family
• Commissary and post exchange shopping privileges
• For Active Duty, you may qualify for a monthly stipend through the Financial Assistance Program (FAP) while enrolled in an accredited residency program.
• Specialized training to become a leader in medicine

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree from an accredited U.S. school of medicine or osteopathy
• Foreign graduates may apply if they have a permanent certificate from the Educational Council of Foreign Medical Graduates
• Must have a current license to practice medicine in the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico
• Must be eligible for board certification
• Must have completed at least one year of an approved Graduate Medical Education (GME) internship
• Must have completed a training program in general surgery
• Must be a U.S. citizen to serve on Active Duty
• Must have permanent U.S. residency for Army Reserve

Have questions or want more information? To find out more information about general surgery in the U.S. Army, visit You may also reach out to your local Army Medical Recruiter to learn how you can get started on your journey as an Army General Surgeon.