HPSP Info Request

[beargunkarate]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi All,

Would anyone currently in medical school or in residency under the Air Force HPSP be willing to answer some questions for me? I'm particularly interested in how "easy" it is to defer to a civilian residency if you don't match for an Air Force one and whether it is "rare" for someone to have to do a tour/GMO unless they "want" to experience flight surgery (as I was told by the recruiter). I'm really interested in doing Air Force HPSP (I just was deemed medically qualified at MEPS today), but I'm also an older, non-traditional applicant (28...soon to be 29) and the thought of having to do a 2-3 year tour/GMO prior to residency is horrifying...

I REALLY appreciate any help/insight, particularly if you've gone through the residency match process recently. Feel free to private message me if you'd rather, too.

 

[AF M4]

Hah. Don't do HPSP unless you're prepared to be a GMO/FS. There are many threads on the forum regarding the military match process and becoming a GMO; some very recent.

 

[beargunkarate]

Yeah I've looked around a bit but didn't come across recent Air Force specific information referencing deferral possibilities. I wouldn't say that I'm not prepared to do a GMO/FS if I have to do so, but, given my age, I would definitely prefer not to. So you would be inclined to say that matching to an AF residency directly out of medical school or deferring to a civilian residency is a bit tougher than the recruiter indicated? Not really surprised if that's the case...

Also...and this may be crazy...can you negotiate that type of thing prior to accepting the scholarship (I'm sorry...but in my past career I was an attorney, and I can't shake the habit some times)? For example, would it be possible to make an amendment to the contract that states something like "should (my name) not match to an AF residency directly out of medical school, he will be permitted to defer to a civilian residency"?

 

[AF M4]

Yeah I've looked around a bit but didn't come across recent Air Force specific information referencing deferral possibilities. I wouldn't say that I'm not prepared to do a GMO/FS if I have to do so, but, given my age, I would definitely prefer not to. So you would be inclined to say that matching to an AF residency directly out of medical school or deferring to a civilian residency is a bit tougher than the recruiter indicated? Not really surprised if that's the case...

Also...and this may be crazy...can you negotiate that type of thing prior to accepting the scholarship (I'm sorry...but in my past career I was an attorney, and I can't shake the habit some times)? For example, would it be possible to make an amendment to the contract that states something like "should (my name) not match to an AF residency directly out of medical school, he will be permitted to defer to a civilian residency"?

You could always try. The worst thing they could say is no.

When you sign with the .mil, prepare to have your decision-making power subordinated to the needs of the service. That's what it's all about. GMO and deferrals change year to year. For instance, I originally applied in the AF military match for an ER residency. The year before there, were 12 AF spots, and 20 deferred. The year after, it was 12 AF, 25 deferred. But during my year, the AF needed more GMOs, so there were no deferred spots offered and all those applicants (including myself) went to various bases to be GMOs. Bad luck I suppose, but the possibility was in the contract I signed, and it happened.

If you sign on to HPSP, you'd better be prepared to be a GMO/FS. Anyone who tells you differently is BS'ing you. You can have the most stellar residency application ever, but if the AF has a GMO slot that needs to be filled at Minot AFB, ND, then you'd best stock up on thermal underwear.

 

[beargunkarate]

You could always try. The worst thing they could say is no.

When you sign with the .mil, prepare to have your decision-making power subordinated to the needs of the service. That's what it's all about. GMO and deferrals change year to year. For instance, I originally applied in the AF military match for an ER residency. The year before there, were 12 AF spots, and 20 deferred. The year after, it was 12 AF, 25 deferred. But during my year, the AF needed more GMOs, so there were no deferred spots offered and all those applicants (including myself) went to various bases to be GMOs. Bad luck I suppose, but the possibility was in the contract I signed, and it happened.

If you sign on to HPSP, you'd better be prepared to be a GMO/FS. Anyone who tells you differently is BS'ing you. You can have the most stellar residency application ever, but if the AF has a GMO slot that needs to be filled at Minot AFB, ND, then you'd best stock up on thermal underwear.

Thanks very much for sharing your experience and opinion. I appreciate the insider perspective. Honest information from people in-the-know helps to balance out the recruiters' consistent best case scenario presentation of life in the HPSP.

 

[logankenley]

So I did the DODMERB physical for USUHS. I am pretty sure I am going to go to a civilian medical school and want to do HPSP.

At USUHS they said HPSP accepts DODMERB physicals. Do they really? If so, how do I get this done because my recruiter insists I need to go to MEPS(which is a good distance from my home).

 

[teacherman84]

So I did the DODMERB physical for USUHS. I am pretty sure I am going to go to a civilian medical school and want to do HPSP.

At USUHS they said HPSP accepts DODMERB physicals. Do they really? If so, how do I get this done because my recruiter insists I need to go to MEPS(which is a good distance from my home).

When I went through the process it did not work for HPSP. I had to drive about an hour to see the DODMERB physician and an hour in the other direction to an approved optometrist. Then for HPSP I had to drive 3 hours and spend the night in a hotel for MEPS.

I tried calling several people to avoid doing both but in the end just had to suck it up and waste a few days to get them done.

 

[oneyearwonder]

When I went through the process it did not work for HPSP. I had to drive about an hour to see the DODMERB physician and an hour in the other direction to an approved optometrist. Then for HPSP I had to drive 3 hours and spend the night in a hotel for MEPS.

I tried calling several people to avoid doing both but in the end just had to suck it up and waste a few days to get them done.

This isn't the last time that the .mil/.milmed will do this to you-- where you will be scrambling and driving around all over the place for some obscure signature or form....

when all it takes is someone with initiative and thought and care to help you avoid that pain.

Those people are just hard to find, but find them if you can and life does get easier.

 

[logankenley]

This isn't the last time that the .mil/.milmed will do this to you-- where you will be scrambling and driving around all over the place for some obscure signature or form....

when all it takes is someone with initiative and thought and care to help you avoid that pain.

Those people are just hard to find, but find them if you can and life does get easier.

So, in response to my question and the rest of the comments. Here I go:

I have been in the military for 10 years I totally understand all the comments so far.

After pushing the button over and over with my recruiter. We went to the surgeon general who said they can accept a DODMERB physical. So, I do not have to go to MEPS! YAY! If anyone else had a DODMERB physical done it is possible to use this for HPSP you just have to push the issue. 🙂

 

[fozziewan]

Hi All,

Would anyone currently in medical school or in residency under the Air Force HPSP be willing to answer some questions for me? I'm particularly interested in how "easy" it is to defer to a civilian residency if you don't match for an Air Force one and whether it is "rare" for someone to have to do a tour/GMO unless they "want" to experience flight surgery (as I was told by the recruiter). I'm really interested in doing Air Force HPSP (I just was deemed medically qualified at MEPS today), but I'm also an older, non-traditional applicant (28...soon to be 29) and the thought of having to do a 2-3 year tour/GMO prior to residency is horrifying...

I REALLY appreciate any help/insight, particularly if you've gone through the residency match process recently. Feel free to private message me if you'd rather, too.

Hi beargunkarate,

Glad to hear you are interested in the Air Force. I'm prior service and currently in a civilian internship program (I was deferred for personal medical reasons).
Civilian deferments are not Easy to come by. You can rank Deferment on your Match wish list but...it can be considered a red flag if you put deferment as your #1 choice.
As one of the posts mentioned above the # of available deferments per specialty changes on a yearly basis due to the needs of the Air Force. The risk of not matching to your specialty of choice, being given a transitional year and going GMO after your internship is something you have to be aware of. It can happen. What the recruiters told you is not entirely true (big surprise right?), GMO's in the AF are not voluntary and as rare as they lead people to believe.
Think long and hard about this, if you are okay with signing your life and your freedom to do a residency in whatever you want wherever you want than go for it. If not, then wait and see if you are still interested in military service after medical school and apply for the Financial Assistance Program (FAP). Good luck!

Cheers
-Foz

 

[deuist]

I'm particularly interested in how "easy" it is to defer to a civilian residency if you don't match for an Air Force one

Not easy at at, and likely harder than matching at a civilian program in the regular match.

and whether it is "rare" for someone to have to do a tour/GMO unless they "want" to experience flight surgery

Almost 25% of my graduating HPSP class was shuttled into the FS pathway, most against their will.

 

[beargunkarate]

fozziewan and deuist,

thanks for your input. whether to accept an HPSP offer is a huge decision, and i appreciate the information you have provided. as you mentioned, fozziewan, i'm thinking that post-residency FAP may be the best option for me if still interested in purusing military medicine at that point. at 28 years old (soon to be 29), going straight through from medical school to residency is just too appealing for me to risk by going the HPSP route and possibly (likely) getting forced into a GMO.

 

[logankenley]

question about HPSP via USAF. My package is just about complete and will be submitted for the next board.
1.I am curious about the current stipend rates?

2.Also, does the USAF HPSP have a 20k sign on bonus?

I asked these questions of my recruiter and have yet to hear back from him.

 

[logankenley]

question about HPSP via USAF. My package is just about complete and will be submitted for the next board.
1.I am curious about the current stipend rates?

2.Also, does the USAF HPSP have a 20k sign on bonus?

I asked these questions of my recruiter and have yet to hear back from him.

Oh one more question..

Given the current DOD cutbacks. Has anyone heard how the HPSP program could be affected?

 

[a1qwerty55]

you should definitely put those Lawyer skills to work. I'd make sure you are only assigned in nice places, get your first choice of residency, never deploy, and while you are at it you might as well exempt yourself from the PT test and uniform policies.....You do realize this is the military and not corporate America right??

 

[logankenley]

you should definitely put those Lawyer skills to work. I'd make sure you are only assigned in nice places, get your first choice of residency, never deploy, and while you are at it you might as well exempt yourself from the PT test and uniform policies.....You do realize this is the military and not corporate America right??

hahahahahha thanks for cheering up my day!

 

[johnnyringo]

1. Stipend - I currently receive $904.95 on the 1st and 15th of every month. You get active duty pay during COT/MSOAM and during your ADT's in 4th year. The ADTs are 1 month long but you get 45 days active duty pay, you are allowed 2 ADT's during 4th year, one of which can be a campus tour. That turns out to somewhere around $1700 instead of the stipend.

2. Signing bonus - When i signed (Jan 2008) there wasn't one but I was contacted by my recruiter in April 2008 and told Congress approved one, I received the bonus (after taxes) shortly thereafter. I'm not sure if they have since done away with it.

The HPERB is the list of positions by specialty and outlines the number of active duty and civilian deferred spots. It comes out sometime late spring/early summer (there is a specific date, I just don't remember what it is). In my experience (from the most recent match and from what program directors have told me), the active duty spots are typically taken by those individuals who have done prior service as FS/GMO, because they are paid significantly more due to their time in service than they would get as a civilian. I have posted a link for the 2011 HPERB at the end of this post for your enjoyment.

The military match is a different animal from civ match in that it's based on the "point system". You get points for prior service, board scores, class rank, and research. Program directors are also permitted to award "bonus points" for candidates they believe would be able to contribute to that field.

Another unique part is that you have to rank all active duty programs in whatever field you want to go into whether you want to go there or not. You also rank civilian deferral. However, fozziewan was correct in that ranking civilian deferral as #1 could be viewed as a huge red flag. There is a "second choice" form you also can fill out (if you choose to) where you can choose a second specialty in case you don't get selected for your first choice. Additionally, there is a PGY-1 Only form you fill out where you indicate if you wish to be chosen for a military PGY-1 only year. You choose b/w Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Transitional Medicine. For each of those choices, you then rank ALL the military programs that have that PGY-1 only year.

This year's match I've heard nothing but good things from everyone I've spoken with. We're all 4th yr med students without prior experience. I matched Emergency Medicine with civilian deferral as did several of my friends from COT. I honestly don't know how it worked out like that, I expected to get an intern year.

I feel like the information given to me before/during the match was pretty scant and had to get everything on the fly, I hope this helps.

If you have more questions I'd be happy to answer them, I'll give you my private e-mail if you like.




http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/in...lowInterrupt=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest

 

[logankenley]

1. Stipend - I currently receive $904.95 on the 1st and 15th of every month. You get active duty pay during COT/MSOAM and during your ADT's in 4th year. The ADTs are 1 month long but you get 45 days active duty pay, you are allowed 2 ADT's during 4th year, one of which can be a campus tour. That turns out to somewhere around $1700 instead of the stipend.

2. Signing bonus - When i signed (Jan 2008) there wasn't one but I was contacted by my recruiter in April 2008 and told Congress approved one, I received the bonus (after taxes) shortly thereafter. I'm not sure if they have since done away with it.

The HPERB is the list of positions by specialty and outlines the number of active duty and civilian deferred spots. It comes out sometime late spring/early summer (there is a specific date, I just don't remember what it is). In my experience (from the most recent match and from what program directors have told me), the active duty spots are typically taken by those individuals who have done prior service as FS/GMO, because they are paid significantly more due to their time in service than they would get as a civilian. I have posted a link for the 2011 HPERB at the end of this post for your enjoyment.

The military match is a different animal from civ match in that it's based on the "point system". You get points for prior service, board scores, class rank, and research. Program directors are also permitted to award "bonus points" for candidates they believe would be able to contribute to that field.

Another unique part is that you have to rank all active duty programs in whatever field you want to go into whether you want to go there or not. You also rank civilian deferral. However, fozziewan was correct in that ranking civilian deferral as #1 could be viewed as a huge red flag. There is a "second choice" form you also can fill out (if you choose to) where you can choose a second specialty in case you don't get selected for your first choice. Additionally, there is a PGY-1 Only form you fill out where you indicate if you wish to be chosen for a military PGY-1 only year. You choose b/w Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Transitional Medicine. For each of those choices, you then rank ALL the military programs that have that PGY-1 only year.

This year's match I've heard nothing but good things from everyone I've spoken with. We're all 4th yr med students without prior experience. I matched Emergency Medicine with civilian deferral as did several of my friends from COT. I honestly don't know how it worked out like that, I expected to get an intern year.

I feel like the information given to me before/during the match was pretty scant and had to get everything on the fly, I hope this helps.

If you have more questions I'd be happy to answer them, I'll give you my private e-mail if you like.




http://airforcemedicine.afms.mil/in...lowInterrupt=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest

thanks for the great post. my brother is a ms3 so he will be doing this military match thing when I am an MS1 should be good to hear how his goes. thanks

 

[fior1]

Does anyone know the probability of getting a civilian deferment for internal medicine via the AF? The match list had only 3 deferred spots in internal medicine, but 60 deferred for a transitional year. Could you request a transitional year, and afterwards request another two years deferment to complete a IM residency? Also, why would civilian deferment as first choice be a "red flag?" Thanks!

 

[Gastrapathy]

Does anyone know the probability of getting a civilian deferment for internal medicine via the AF? The match list had only 3 deferred spots in internal medicine, but 60 deferred for a transitional year. Could you request a transitional year, and afterwards request another two years deferment to complete a IM residency? Also, why would civilian deferment as first choice be a "red flag?" Thanks!

You've joined the AF. You should plan on training in the AF. Asking the question in additional threads will not make that any less true.

 

[mj316]

Did you end up getting an ER residency the next year?