Navy: Hscp question

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Could someone explain the HSCP program for me? I couldn't find much on google or stickies. I'm starting med school in August with a relatively expensive tuition 42k. I'm trying to figure out the annual pay with hscp and whether it's worth applying to both hscp and hpsp or just hpsp. I think they set you as an E6 for active duty for hscp plus housing pay but I read that it's a better choice for those attending school with low tuition. Thanks a lot!

You will be on active duty with HSCP. With no previous time in the military you will be paid at the E-6 rate with less than 2 years. That is a base pay of $2,317.80 per month. That is taxable. You will also receive two non-taxable allowances. Basic allowance for subsistence is $348.44 per month. Basic allowance for housing varies based on location, but assuming no dependents you will get somewhere in the neighborhood of $1400 per month. That is about $4000 per month or $48,000 per year.

The HSCP program does not pay for school at all, no tuition, books, fees, board exam fees, etc. you are responsible for all of those. As you can see, with an expensive tuition you will still need to borrow money. You can think of it as you get paid enough to cover school costs, but have to borrow living expenses. Meanwhile HPSP pays both for school and the stipend can cover your living costs, $2088 for 10.5 months and full 0-1 pay for 45 days which is close to $30,000 per year. Total "income" is only about $18,000 different in favor of HSCP, but add in $45,000 in tuition and fees and it swings in favor of HPSP to the tune of $27,000 per year. The more expensive the school, the better HPSP is. The less expensive, the better HSCP can be.

You do get credit for active duty time in HSCP and not for HPSP. Because you have earned income you can contribute to a Roth IRA or the TSP (military 401(k)), but that is probably unwise as you would then have to borrow more money for school. For some the total compensation might be close. If so and you are strongly considering making the military a career then the four years towards retirement with HSCP are appealing.

HSCP is a good option for cheaper schools and for those with previous military time as they will get paid more to cover costs and probably invest all while building time towards retirement. For a civilian student coming in and going to an expensive school I think HPSP is a better option.

Originally Posted by Cooperd0g

You will be on active duty with HSCP. With no previous time in the military you will be paid at the E-6 rate with less than 2 years. That is a base pay of $2,317.80 per month. That is taxable. You will also receive two non-taxable allowances. Basic allowance for subsistence is $348.44 per month. Basic allowance for housing varies based on location, but assuming no dependents you will get somewhere in the neighborhood of $1400 per month. That is about $4000 per month or $48,000 per year.

The HSCP program does not pay for school at all, no tuition, books, fees, board exam fees, etc. you are responsible for all of those. As you can see, with an expensive tuition you will need to still borrow money. You can think of it as our get paid enough to cover school costs, but have to borrow living expenses. Meanwhile HPSP pays both for school and the stipend can cover your living costs, $2088 for 10.5 months and full 0-1 pay for 45 days which is close to $30,000 per year. Total "income" is only about $18,000 different in favor of HSCP, but add in $45,000 in tuition and fees and it swings in favor of HPSP to the tune of $27,000 per year. The more expensive the school, the better HPSP is. The less expensive, the better HSCP can be.

You do get credit for active duty time in HSCP and not for HPSP. Because you have earned income you can contribute to a Roth IRA or the TSP (military 401(k)), but that is probably unwise as you would then have to borrow more money for school. For some the total compensation might be close. If so and you are strongly considering making the military a career then the four years towards retirement with HSCP are appealing.

HSCP is a good option for cheaper schools and for those with previous military time as they will get paid more to cover costs and probably invest all while building time towards retirement. For a civilian student coming in and going to an expensive school I think HPSP is a better option.

Awesome! Thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by Cooperd0g

You will be on active duty with HSCP. With no previous time in the military you will be paid at the E-6 rate with less than 2 years. That is a base pay of $2,317.80 per month. That is taxable. You will also receive two non-taxable allowances. Basic allowance for subsistence is $348.44 per month. Basic allowance for housing varies based on location, but assuming no dependents you will get somewhere in the neighborhood of $1400 per month. That is about $4000 per month or $48,000 per year.

The HSCP program does not pay for school at all, no tuition, books, fees, board exam fees, etc. you are responsible for all of those. As you can see, with an expensive tuition you will still need to borrow money. You can think of it as you get paid enough to cover school costs, but have to borrow living expenses. Meanwhile HPSP pays both for school and the stipend can cover your living costs, $2088 for 10.5 months and full 0-1 pay for 45 days which is close to $30,000 per year. Total "income" is only about $18,000 different in favor of HSCP, but add in $45,000 in tuition and fees and it swings in favor of HPSP to the tune of $27,000 per year. The more expensive the school, the better HPSP is. The less expensive, the better HSCP can be.

You do get credit for active duty time in HSCP and not for HPSP. Because you have earned income you can contribute to a Roth IRA or the TSP (military 401(k)), but that is probably unwise as you would then have to borrow more money for school. For some the total compensation might be close. If so and you are strongly considering making the military a career then the four years towards retirement with HSCP are appealing.

HSCP is a good option for cheaper schools and for those with previous military time as they will get paid more to cover costs and probably invest all while building time towards retirement. For a civilian student coming in and going to an expensive school I think HPSP is a better option.

I read on their site that the total service obligation is 8 years, of which only 3 years are spent as active. Does time spent in school and residency count toward the obligated service? If not, then is it possible to get drafted during school or residency?

SO, I submitted my Air Force 4-year HPSP med school package back in January 2012 and it was in for the February boards. I found out in the middle of March that I was rejected and I was totally bummed out.

I contacted the ONLY Navy recruiting station in my area that deals with HPSP in the middle of March and told him that I wanted to apply for Navy, and that I had already done MEPS, etc. He said oh yeah, that's no problem, I could use the MEPs I'd already done, and assured me because I sent in all the paperwork to him within 1 week of contacting him, we could have a Navy HPSP/HSCP package in for the April boards.

Well, lo and behold he started dragging his butt and wouldn't return my calls or emails. He first scheduled my 1/of 2 Navy physician interviews last week ( I completed it immediately) and I still don't have a second scheduled yet. I asked him if he got the interview report and he again wouldn't return my emails so I called him today.

He was like, "oh yeah, I still have to schedule your second interview. And we're gonna have to re-do MEPs because your package will be ready after 90 days from when you originally did MEPs. Your package will make the May boards." He was completely non-chalant about it!

Then, I asked him, "Isn't it a little late to be applying for HPSP/HSCP in May?"

He, the complete professional that he is, said, "Naaaah!"

I swear. Anyway...

How does the 3-year Navy application process work? I would like to ask others here, considering I have ZERO trust in this recruiter.

Would I stand a better chance of applying for the 3-year HPSP/HSCP in May 2012 versus going ahead with the 4-year HPSP/HSCP?

Or am I just screwed either way?

Thanks in advance for your replies!!!!

Originally Posted by BillSaunders

SO, I submitted my Air Force 4-year HPSP med school package back in January 2012 and it was in for the February boards. I found out in the middle of March that I was rejected and I was totally bummed out.

I contacted the ONLY Navy recruiting station in my area that deals with HPSP in the middle of March and told him that I wanted to apply for Navy, and that I had already done MEPS, etc. He said oh yeah, that's no problem, I could use the MEPs I'd already done, and assured me because I sent in all the paperwork to him within 1 week of contacting him, we could have a Navy HPSP/HSCP package in for the April boards.

Well, lo and behold he started dragging his butt and wouldn't return my calls or emails. He first scheduled my 1/of 2 Navy physician interviews last week ( I completed it immediately) and I still don't have a second scheduled yet. I asked him if he got the interview report and he again wouldn't return my emails so I called him today.

He was like, "oh yeah, I still have to schedule your second interview. And we're gonna have to re-do MEPs because your package will be ready after 90 days from when you originally did MEPs. Your package will make the May boards." He was completely non-chalant about it!

Then, I asked him, "Isn't it a little late to be applying for HPSP/HSCP in May?"

He, the complete professional that he is, said, "Naaaah!"

I swear. Anyway...

How does the 3-year Navy application process work? I would like to ask others here, considering I have ZERO trust in this recruiter.

Would I stand a better chance of applying for the 3-year HPSP/HSCP in May 2012 versus going ahead with the 4-year HPSP/HSCP?

Or am I just screwed either way?

Thanks in advance for your replies!!!!

Im not sure if it's too late to apply in may to get 4 year scholarships, but I know that a bunch of students start th application process during July/August as they start their first year. Many of them find out about military hpsp as school starts...perhaps didn't pay attention during fin aid talk at interview...anyway...who knows. If you don't get in, you could always do FAP (I hope that ths is what it's called)

Originally Posted by Ibn Alnafis MD

I read on their site that the total service obligation is 8 years, of which only 3 years are spent as active. Does time spent in school and residency count toward the obligated service? If not, then is it possible to get drafted during school or residency?

There is no draft and hasn't been for decades. The three year minimum would not work if you do a four year HSCP program for med school. You owe year for year on active duty with the minimum being three years. So someone in a two year program, like a PA, did HSCP for two years, they would still owe three of their eight years on active duty. The time in school is not as a commissioned officer so it does not count towards your eight years because the eight year commitment is as an officer.

The part about the residency has conflicting information. The HSCP contract indicates that you will not be required to perform additional time after residency, but Navy GME instructions say that you owe year for year after residency. Best to assume that you will incur commitment for GME training. I know guys whose contracts were superceded by either federal law or conflicting obligations. This was in aviation though.

Originally Posted by Cooperd0g

There is no draft and hasn't been for decades. The three year minimum would not work if you do a four year HSCP program for med school. You owe year for year on active duty with the minimum being three years. So someone in a two year program, like a PA, did HSCP for two years, they would still owe three of their eight years on active duty. The time in school is not as a commissioned officer so it does not count towards your eight years because the eight year commitment is as an officer.

The part about the residency has conflicting information. The HSCP contract indicates that you will not be required to perform additional time after residency, but Navy GME instructions say that you owe year for year after residency. Best to assume that you will incur commitment for GME training. I know guys whose contracts were superceded by either federal law or conflicting obligations. This was in aviation though.

thank you

Originally Posted by BillSaunders

SO, I submitted my Air Force 4-year HPSP med school package back in January 2012 and it was in for the February boards. I found out in the middle of March that I was rejected and I was totally bummed out.

I contacted the ONLY Navy recruiting station in my area that deals with HPSP in the middle of March and told him that I wanted to apply for Navy, and that I had already done MEPS, etc. He said oh yeah, that's no problem, I could use the MEPs I'd already done, and assured me because I sent in all the paperwork to him within 1 week of contacting him, we could have a Navy HPSP/HSCP package in for the April boards.

Well, lo and behold he started dragging his butt and wouldn't return my calls or emails. He first scheduled my 1/of 2 Navy physician interviews last week ( I completed it immediately) and I still don't have a second scheduled yet. I asked him if he got the interview report and he again wouldn't return my emails so I called him today.

He was like, "oh yeah, I still have to schedule your second interview. And we're gonna have to re-do MEPs because your package will be ready after 90 days from when you originally did MEPs. Your package will make the May boards." He was completely non-chalant about it!

Then, I asked him, "Isn't it a little late to be applying for HPSP/HSCP in May?"

He, the complete professional that he is, said, "Naaaah!"

I swear. Anyway...

How does the 3-year Navy application process work? I would like to ask others here, considering I have ZERO trust in this recruiter.

Would I stand a better chance of applying for the 3-year HPSP/HSCP in May 2012 versus going ahead with the 4-year HPSP/HSCP?

Or am I just screwed either way?

Thanks in advance for your replies!!!!

1) It's too late for HSCP. They're cutting the size of the program substantially, and I've heard that they want to phase it out. Either way, you're unlikely to get it, even if you apply next year.
2) There is still time for a 4 year HPSP if you get your packet in soon. Last I heard (in March) they were about 1/2 full. Don't know how reliable that info was, but that's what I was told.

3) MEPS is good for 2 years.

If you'd like the contact info for another recruiter, shoot me a PM and I'll give it to you.