Changing branches of the military after taking the Oath for HPSP

[scubadoc4life]

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Hello all members of the Military dental forum (especially the AF and Army folks):

An enormous thank you for all the information you have provided on this forum. I genuinely mean that. Without you and the information you have provided, I would not have been able to make such an informed decision that will influence my military career.

However, I am now presented with a difficult question.

To give a synopsis of my situation - I am presented with a wondrous dilemma. My deadline for accepting my Army HPSP is coming up Friday of this week, and if I don't take the Oath and sign the papers, then the Army will administratively reject my application and pass it along to another individual (I spoke directly to high levels out of Army Recruiting command in charge of HPSP applications to confirm what my recruiter told me).

If I forfeit my spot in the Army in the hopes of being accepted to the AF HPSP, there is a chance I will NOT get the AF HPSP and therefore, will not be joining ANY branch of the military. (I had asked if I could reapply to the Army if the AF doesn't accept me - but talking to 2 recruiters said it is highly unlikely given the # of applicants and the limited spots in the Army this yr). I want to serve in the military and the experience I get from it - regardless the branch, but the AF is my top choice (that doesn't mean to say I will be a miserable SOB in the army either).

So my question is:
If I take the Oath to the Army, but then, less than 2 weeks later the AF accepts my application, is there ANY provision, any way I can transfer to the AF?

It is ridiculous to believe that my entire military career hinges on a span of less than 2 weeks. I receive my first stipend check next yr, so I have some time - realizing that nothing is reversible once I receive my first payment.

Do you know anyone who I can talk to in the Army or the AF?

Do you recommend I talk to a JAG in the Army?

I DO NOT take the Oath lightly, and would feel it morally reprehensible to re-neg on my oath so I can try joining another branch, but I do have a preference for the AF and what it represents. It is also that I wouldn't be in this situation if the AF hadn't kept postponing their committee dates, and I had specifically requested an expedited decision with the AF - and to NO avail.

Do you have ANY suggestion on what I can do or is it 100% impossible to switch branches after I have taken my oath - even if I haven't received any funds?

Please understand, I do NOT want to lose my position with the Army and I don't want to take the risk of NOT joining any branch if I don't get accepted by the AF.

PLEASE anything you can advise, anyone I can talk to. I had considered calling Army JAG or something.

I realize I may receive from flak from individuals, but please keep them polite! 🙂

kind regards

 

[trent]

It sounds like you should wait for the AF decision, since that is where your heart is. I'm just a student, so I don't have any good answers, but it crossed my mind that maybe you could defer your Army HPSP and get a 3-yr instead of a 4-yr maybe? Another thought is to ask your recruiter for an extension on giving the Army a decision.

Again, I'm not in the military, so I have no clue, but thought I would throw out some options to explore.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

Here is what I see. If you really want to serve your country, you have two options here (which you already know):

1. Choose the Army because they were the ones that offered you a scholarship - not the AF or Navy. Chose them because of your desire to serve. Not because of the money.

2. Wait for the AF scholarship and risk never getting a scholarship. If you love your country and you really want to serve, then you are going to join the AF after d-school even if you don't get a scholarship.

No matter which option you choose, it must be based on a desire to serve. Yes, there will always be a certain portion that is money driven, but the main reason needs to be the desire to serve. If this is the reason, which branch you choose really doesn't matter because in the end you'll get a great experience no matter which branch you join.

Now, if you do accept the Army scholarship and get commissioned, then I highly doubt the AF will even take your package to a board and offer you a scholarship since you are already on a scholarship with another branch. It would be silly for them to waste an offer on a person already on a scholarship when they already have the ability to pick from a very large applicant pool.

Now, have people switched branches before? Yes. Is it easy? Hell no. Plus, I doubt it has been done while on scholarship or during the payback period.

My suggestion - choose which branch you want and stick to your guns. If you choose Army, then you have the scholarship at your fingertips. If you choose AF, then hope for the best knowing you may not be compensated for your schooling if you decide to serve as you seem you want to do. If your heart really says you want to serve, then the money will not be a factor in which you serve or whether you serve.

Do some soul searching quick!

 

[DrSmiles12]

Hello all members of the Military dental forum (especially the AF and Army folks):

An enormous thank you for all the information you have provided on this forum. I genuinely mean that. Without you and the information you have provided, I would not have been able to make such an informed decision that will influence my military career.

However, I am now presented with a difficult question.

To give a synopsis of my situation - I am presented with a wondrous dilemma. My deadline for accepting my Army HPSP is coming up Friday of this week, and if I don't take the Oath and sign the papers, then the Army will administratively reject my application and pass it along to another individual (I spoke directly to high levels out of Army Recruiting command in charge of HPSP applications to confirm what my recruiter told me).

If I forfeit my spot in the Army in the hopes of being accepted to the AF HPSP, there is a chance I will NOT get the AF HPSP and therefore, will not be joining ANY branch of the military. (I had asked if I could reapply to the Army if the AF doesn't accept me - but talking to 2 recruiters said it is highly unlikely given the # of applicants and the limited spots in the Army this yr). I want to serve in the military and the experience I get from it - regardless the branch, but the AF is my top choice (that doesn't mean to say I will be a miserable SOB in the army either).

So my question is:
If I take the Oath to the Army, but then, less than 2 weeks later the AF accepts my application, is there ANY provision, any way I can transfer to the AF?

It is ridiculous to believe that my entire military career hinges on a span of less than 2 weeks. I receive my first stipend check next yr, so I have some time - realizing that nothing is reversible once I receive my first payment.

Do you know anyone who I can talk to in the Army or the AF?

Do you recommend I talk to a JAG in the Army?

I DO NOT take the Oath lightly, and would feel it morally reprehensible to re-neg on my oath so I can try joining another branch, but I do have a preference for the AF and what it represents. It is also that I wouldn't be in this situation if the AF hadn't kept postponing their committee dates, and I had specifically requested an expedited decision with the AF - and to NO avail.

Do you have ANY suggestion on what I can do or is it 100% impossible to switch branches after I have taken my oath - even if I haven't received any funds?

Please understand, I do NOT want to lose my position with the Army and I don't want to take the risk of NOT joining any branch if I don't get accepted by the AF.

PLEASE anything you can advise, anyone I can talk to. I had considered calling Army JAG or something.

I realize I may receive from flak from individuals, but please keep them polite! 🙂

kind regards

I was always impressed with how well the Army took care of me. Since day one they have always satisfied me.

On the other hand I started off with all the intentions to do the AF scholarship, but they weren't as responsive and respectful as the Army. Obviously they are a smaller branch, they have less scholarships, so they fill up fast and could care less about the rest of the people that are interested in the AF.

I have a really good friend here in school now that is in the AF and we occasionally talk about it and he always gripes how he never got T-shirts, back-packs, free lunches, Army discounts, and all sorts of silly stuff. For example we got 2 free months at the YMCA for being in the Army, but they wouldn't give him the same deal for being in the Air Force. Not a major deal, but as NavyDDS said, The Army wanted me and it showed and still shows as they continue to take care of me, my wife, and 2 kids 100%. I don't regret joining the Army over the AF, but it all depends on who you are and what matters to you.... Everyone has a different opinion! Good luck!

 

[AFDDS]

I was always impressed with how well the Army took care of me. Since day one they have always satisfied me.

On the other hand I started off with all the intentions to do the AF scholarship, but they weren't as responsive and respectful as the Army. Obviously they are a smaller branch, they have less scholarships, so they fill up fast and could care less about the rest of the people that are interested in the AF.

I have a really good friend here in school now that is in the AF and we occasionally talk about it and he always gripes how he never got T-shirts, back-packs, free lunches, Army discounts, and all sorts of silly stuff. For example we got 2 free months at the YMCA for being in the Army, but they wouldn't give him the same deal for being in the Air Force. Not a major deal, but as NavyDDS said, The Army wanted me and it showed and still shows as they continue to take care of me, my wife, and 2 kids 100%. I don't regret joining the Army over the AF, but it all depends on who you are and what matters to you.... Everyone has a different opinion! Good luck!

I had the exact opposite experience. The Army lost my package when I was in dental school, so I never even met the board. After I was out and wanted to join. The Army wouldn't give me the time of day and remember, I am prior Army. The AF took care of me the recruiter I had was extremely helpful. The Army didn't act interested until I told them I had already been sworn in by the AF.

I'm not trying to argue with DrSmiles12, the point I'm making is that you are always going to have some who feel they were treated better by one service over the other. I do take exception with the statement that we could care less about the people that apply for, but are not accepted for an AF scholarship. Lot's of things go into why each service has the number of scholarships they have. We'd like to give more, but don't have them to give.

Navy DDS 2010 made some good points. If you want to serve, any of the services will allow that. If your heart is set on the AF, the Army may not work for you. You need to sit down and make up a pros and cons list for each service and decide based on your needs and desires. Anything we tell you will be subjective and somewhat biased for the service we are in.

Good luck in your decision and thanks for even considering to serve in the first place.