AMA

[DynamicDental]

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I've applied to the Army's HPSP, but wondering if I could apply to AF and Navy as well? Do branches look down on those that apply to multiple branches (will I have a better shot at just sticking with the Army)?

You can definitely apply to others. I would hurry though. For example, the Air Force board is meeting this week apparently. You're best bet is to start contacting recruiters asap.

 

[O Gaúcho]

It's a good icon.

How do I snag one of those beautiful icons?

 

[schmoob]

How do I snag one of those beautiful icons?

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[Ranger_Danger]

That icon under your name looks amazing man.

There are other icons out there. You don't have to settle for the first one you see.

 

[Zippojake]

D1 here who is on the HPSP - I’ve had a few classmates come up and ask me about doing the military programs in the last two weeks - unfortunately, for some of the branches, it is too late for them to grab a scholarship as the deadline to submit an application has passed.

So I figured I’d try to answer any questions anyone here on the board has/raise awareness about it now, and that way, you can get a head start on applying for next year’s scholarships if you are interested.

If you have any questions about the HPSP/application process, feel free to ask!

I am starting in Aug 2018, is it too late to apply now. Will they allow to to go on if I want to go into Oral Surgery? or is it limited to just general dentists. I don't want to start this and then find out I can't go on... I understand its a 1 to 1, but after that are you on reserve and if so how long. If you go into Private Practice how would that work..

 

[Incis0r]

I am starting in Aug 2018, is it too late to apply now. Will they allow to to go on if I want to go into Oral Surgery? or is it limited to just general dentists. I don't want to start this and then find out I can't go on... I understand its a 1 to 1, but after that are you on reserve and if so how long. If you go into Private Practice how would that work..

Sorry for my late response. We were in final exams week and I neglected this thread.

1) It is late for the AF. I have had two friends get selected for that scholarship so the board has met already. I don’t know about Army/Navy. Best thing to do would be to contact all 3 services/recruiters and get a timeline/plan towards the 3-year HPSP or 4-year if still available.

2) No - no residency is guaranteed in the military, and the chances of a new grad getting a residency vary year to year (depends on who else is applying, needs of the service, etc.). You could get OMFS straight out of school, or you might not get it until 3 years out. No guarantees.

3) All contracts are for 8 years total.

The formula will be: Active Duty time + Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) = 8.

Your active duty time will be equal to the amount of years you get the scholarship + whatever extra time you decide to stay on after your obligation ends (if you choose to extend beyond the HPSP obligation or do a residency for example)

If you get out immediately after your ADSO, you’ll be on IRR for the remainder of your time to the 8 year mark.

So:

3 years active duty = 5 years Reserve
4 years active duty = 4 years Reserve
8 years active duty = 0 years Reserve

Make sense?

 

[Zippojake]

Sorry for my late response. We were in final exams week and I neglected this thread.

1) It is late for the AF. I have had two friends get selected for that scholarship so the board has met already. I don’t know about Army/Navy. Best thing to do would be to contact all 3 services/recruiters and get a timeline/plan towards the 3-year HPSP or 4-year if still available.

2) No - no residency is guaranteed in the military, and the chances of a new grad getting a residency vary year to year (depends on who else is applying, needs of the service, etc.). You could get OMFS straight out of school, or you might not get it until 3 years out. No guarantees.

3) All contracts are for 8 years total.

The formula will be: Active Duty time + Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) = 8.

Your active duty time will be equal to the amount of years you get the scholarship + whatever extra time you decide to stay on after your obligation ends (if you choose to extend beyond the HPSP obligation or do a residency for example)

If you get out immediately after your ADSO, you’ll be on IRR for the remainder of your time to the 8 year mark.

So:

3 years active duty = 5 years Reserve
4 years active duty = 4 years Reserve
8 years active duty = 0 years Reserve

Make sense?

What is OMFS.? So I could apply but better chances are for next year.. correct
if I’m understanding this correctly , if I stay in active duty for 8 years there would be no reserve requirements? I’m trying to figure out how I would do reserve if I was in a single Dr private practice. But who knows I might like the service and stay in. Except I do want to go on into oral surgery, that may be my stumbling block...

 

[schmoob]

The reserve requirement is Inactive. You won't need to drill or anything. You won't be called to Active Duty unless something MAJOR happens.

I've never met anyone who's been recalled from Inactive Ready Reserve.

 

[Ranger_Danger]

If you get out immediately after your ADSO, you’ll be on IRR for the remainder of your time to the 8 year mark.

For clarity's sake, you can ELECT to go the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) route to complete your initial 8 year Military Service Obligation (MSO) or you can find a traditional reserve unit, where you drill one weekend a month/two weeks a year. The military does not make that decision for you; either option would fulfill your MSO. However, depending on unit manning levels, they may try to influence your decision by throwing money at you in the form of a bonus.

I've never met anyone who's been recalled from Inactive Ready Reserve.

I know of quite a few people who were recalled from the IRR between 2004-2007. FWIW, none of them were dentists, but I don't want to mislead people into thinking that it cannot happen.

 

[Zippojake]

What is OMFS.? So I could apply but better chances are for next year.. correct
if I’m understanding this correctly , if I stay in active duty for 8 years there would be no reserve requirements? I’m trying to figure out how I would do reserve if I was in a single Dr private practice. But who knows I might like the service and stay in. Except I do want to go on into oral surgery, that may be my stumbling block...

The reserve requirement is Inactive. You won't need to drill or anything. You won't be called to Active Duty unless something MAJOR happens.

I've never met anyone who's been recalled from Inactive Ready Reserve.

I guess I need to check around with the schools and see how they feel about me taking 3-4 years in the service then applying to get into OMFS, I have always been interested in the Service but also to be a dentist not sure of the specialty yet. I want to be able to have options but am nervous about the amount of debt I am going to be taking on.

 

[ybrijette]

Is there a DAT or GPA requirement for HPSP, and does this depend on the branch?

 

[Illstartmydiet2maro]

health professions Scholarship program -> serve in the military as a dentist. you get dental school paid for in return for 4 years of active duty and reserve duty following that.

AKA the only way to graduate from a private school unscathed by debt. Unless you have very wealthy parents

how much do they actually pay you when ur working under this scholarship?

 

[Incis0r]

Is there a DAT or GPA requirement for HPSP, and does this depend on the branch?

Yes there is. It's getting more and more competitive each year too. The recruiter for each branch will know the most up to date GPA/DAT requirements.

how much do they actually pay you when ur working under this scholarship?

A SDN user calculated this out on the military dentistry forum back in 2015. I have quoted what he found:

For anyone who wants some current salary information. I have done some research and come up with the following:

O3 Base Pay $3912.60/mo
BAH ~$1800/mo (depends on where you live; non-taxable)
Officer BAS $253.38/mo (non- taxable)
IP: $1666.66/mo

Annual Salary: ~ $91,591.76

Special Pay (IP) explanation:
There is special pay available for being a military dentist as well. The old system was that new dentists would receive an annual ASP of $10,000/yr and a VSP of $208.33/mo. There now appears to be a new system in which they have combined both special pays into one pay called Incentive Pay. The IP is $1666.66/mo ($20,000/yr) and is beneficial to new dentists, but would actually cause dentists who have been in >8 years to lose some money.

Oh, and this salary information should be the same across all 3 branches.