Air Force Pharmacy HPSP Scholarship 2019

[Wisconsin1997]

Hello fellow PharmD candidates! I'm starting this forum to ask if anyone is applying to the AF pharmacy HPSP scholarship this year. Does anyone know how many slots are available? How competitive is it? If you have applied, do you mind sharing your stats and what you consider good LOR to be? Thanks in advance!

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[BC_89]

Another factor to consider: Air Force does different time commitments depending what you are applying for. All of the schooling, 2 years, in times past even 1 year. Though you may have done your homework, I would also still consider Navy and what they offer. Army doesn't have an HPSP but do offer up to 120k of loans paid for plus benefits as an O3 rank with BAH and health coverage once your degree and licensure is in hand.

 

[beautifulrobot]

I would also recommend looking into the USPHS COSTEP program, depending on your motivations for wearing the uniform. It's not as lucrative as HPSP or Army's loan repayment, but it's one of the few ways to get in to the PHS as a (future) pharmacist these days.

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

Army doesn't have an HPSP but do offer up to 120k of loans paid for plus benefits as an O3 rank with BAH and health coverage once your degree and licensure is in hand.

Not to go semi off topic but do you know of any changes to this? I'm finishing up my Army application and was told that the loan payment changed and pharmacists are now only eligible for 40k (or 30k cash accession bonus)

 

[DondeEstaElBano]

Not to go semi off topic but do you know of any changes to this? I'm finishing up my Army application and was told that the loan payment changed and pharmacists are now only eligible for 40k (or 30k cash accession bonus)

Likely true. ~50% cut in active duty pharmacists across Army, Navy, and AF has led to reductions in accession incentives for new commissions and retention incentives for those of us already in.

Honestly, I’m surprised they’re offering any loan repayment at all as it is. I’m sure our $15k/year retention bonus will be a thing of the past within 3 years as well.

We’re holding on for dear life in the military just as much as civilians are in retail.

 

[WorthlessOxygen]

Likely true. ~50% cut in active duty pharmacists across Army, Navy, and AF has led to reductions in accession incentives for new commissions and retention incentives for those of us already in.

Honestly, I’m surprised they’re offering any loan repayment at all as it is. I’m sure our $15k/year retention bonus will be a thing of the past within 3 years as well.

We’re holding on for dear life in the military just as much as civilians are in retail.

Yeah makes sense I guess. I was actually initially told that loan repayments were scrapped for pharmacists. Then about a week later my recruiter called me to tell me that they were offering the 40k repayment but stressed that it may change again soon

 

[APN-59 rph]

Likely true. ~50% cut in active duty pharmacists across Army, Navy, and AF has led to reductions in accession incentives for new commissions and retention incentives for those of us already in.

Honestly, I’m surprised they’re offering any loan repayment at all as it is. I’m sure our $15k/year retention bonus will be a thing of the past within 3 years as well.

We’re holding on for dear life in the military just as much as civilians are in retail.

Is this a big cut on those already on AD or is it just accessions..or both?...If AD pharmacists are Rif'ed..can they slide into another job like personnel or maybe supply..or is it outski?

 

[BC_89]

Not to go semi off topic but do you know of any changes to this? I'm finishing up my Army application and was told that the loan payment changed and pharmacists are now only eligible for 40k (or 30k cash accession bonus)

When I left the service earlier this year the 120k (less of taxable rates) still stood. With that, earlier this year the pentagon had talk on the healthcare officer specialties and would be pulling debt offers in the near future. The 30k signing bonus at first duty station still stands. I would have to get in touch with my officer comrades concerning the changes that are taking place (that I thought wouldn't be implemented until the end of next year).

If this was an officer telling you this (not the mini-mall enlisted recruiters) then unfortunately it is true. What I thought was in the future seems to be creeping into the present. If you do get in though, recession bonuses still stand for each obligation extension. Wouldn't be surprised if that changes soon as well.

 

[Wisconsin1997]

Hello fellow PharmD candidates! I'm starting this forum to ask if anyone is applying to the AF pharmacy HPSP scholarship this year. Does anyone know how many slots are available? How competitive is it? If you have applied, do you mind sharing your stats and what you consider good LOR to be? Thanks in advance!

BUMP

 

[Tdavis62]

I applied last year and was in process of re-applying this year also. Today I was informed that there would not be any 1 year scholarships available and that anyone in their final year may be denied because of that reason. Little disappointed to hear that after I had already done everything required and the recruiters did not catch it till the last minute.

 

[aspiringgator]

I applied for HPSP Pharmacy with the AF this cycle. They're only offering two year scholarships but it's 3 years back in service. My recruiter told me that they typically accept P3's just b/c they're closer to being done with school and able to start their commitment sooner. I am just waiting to hear back. The board is supposed to meet this month with results releasing towards the end of the month or in November. Although, I've always heard they always push the release date back. My GPA isn't high but my leadership skills were good and my interview went well. It's just a waiting game now.

 

[Pharmd = Phake Doctor]

If your plan is to get a cushy government job, then I think pharmacy is not the career for you (unless you have veteran status).

The armed forces aren't looking to commission any more pharmacists at the moment. I know a coworker (5+ year experience in the inpatient setting) who just recently settled for an enlisted position in the Army.

It looks like the only sure route to a pharmacist position in the Armed/Uniformed Services is through Jr/SrCOSTEP, ROTC, or HPSP. I could easily see HPSP for pharmacists disappearing in the very near future (if not already).

The PHS, one of the largest employers of pharmacists, is not actively recruiting pharmacists. Furthermore, the IHS/PHS has just granted PAs greater autonomy and expanded clinical privileges within their organizations, I don't see how pharmacists can compete against PAs and NPs for clinical positions given their limited training.

And my sources in the VA have expressed doubts to the future of clinical pharmacy positions. While ambulatory care is a nice service, pharmacists are very bad at providing midlevel care (by isolating themselves to narrow fields of anticoagulation, HTN/DM/Lipid clinics, psych pharmacy) while NPs/PAs are better adept at providing a more broader care.

I expect the 30,000 NPs and 7,000 PAs that graduate each year to gradually erode or limit the expansion of certain clinical pharmacy services in the VA.

My two cents - don't expect a government job to be around for you when you graduate.

 

[Samsada]

I applied for HPSP Pharmacy with the AF this cycle. They're only offering two year scholarships but it's 3 years back in service. My recruiter told me that they typically accept P3's just b/c they're closer to being done with school and able to start their commitment sooner. I am just waiting to hear back. The board is supposed to meet this month with results releasing towards the end of the month or in November. Although, I've always heard they always push the release date back. My GPA isn't high but my leadership skills were good and my interview went well. It's just a waiting game now.

Did you hear anything back?

 

[aspiringgator]

Did you hear anything back?

Not yet unfortunately. My recruiter told me that the board met like 3-4 weeks ago, but now they're just waiting to release the results. Not sure why it's taking so long.

 

[right500]

FWIW, my Army Direct Commissioning board results were assumable after three weeks (my recruiter could surmise I was selected somehow) but the results took about six weeks officially and the scroll memo was about ten weeks after the board met.

 

[aspiringgator]

Ended up not receiving the scholarship. My recruiter told me it was most likely because I am a 2nd year and they prefer 3rd year students. This year they only gave away 10 scholarships is what I was told. If I reapply next year, I have a higher chance of receiving it because it would be my second time applying. Fingers crossed!

 

[Poison123]

Anyone on here accepted for the 1 or 2 year scholarship this last year? Thanks!

 

[Poison123]

Ended up not receiving the scholarship. My recruiter told me it was most likely because I am a 2nd year and they prefer 3rd year students. This year they only gave away 10 scholarships is what I was told. If I reapply next year, I have a higher chance of receiving it because it would be my second time applying. Fingers crossed!

That was exactly what I did! I think it shows more dedication to the military. There was a few P2s in my school that also applied and were not selected. They decided they won't reapply (which just tells me they weren't really that dedicated in the first place). Good luck to you 🙂