HPSP interview/physical

[Vigilante]

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I had my interview for the 4yr scholarship last week and am scheduled for the physical this week. My recruiter has kept postponing things and now says I won't hear back until Jan/Feb, when I was originally told decisions would probably be made in Oct/Nov. Also, the officer I interviewed with was just a local AF dentist so didn't seem to really know much about the scholarship itself.

Just wondering where anyone else is in the process or if they have heard anything different or have any more feedback to share. Thanks!

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I had my interview for the 4yr scholarship last week and am scheduled for the physical this week. My recruiter has kept postponing things and now says I won't hear back until Jan/Feb, when I was originally told decisions would probably be made in Oct/Nov. Also, the officer I interviewed with was just a local AF dentist so didn't seem to really know much about the scholarship itself.

Just wondering where anyone else is in the process or if they have heard anything different or have any more feedback to share. Thanks!

I went through this myself a couple years ago and might be able to share some insight.

As long as you do your physical (which I presume you mean MEPS) in time, then don't worry. The decisions are made in Jan/Feb like he said (not sure where the Oct/Nov came from? That's usually when things need to be turned in to insure they are completed in time). By the way, he has no control over when you "hear back". All the decisions are made in Jan or Feb and you'll know in early Feb if you got it.

As for the dentist that interviewed you, was it a dentist currently working on base as an AF dentist or a local dentist who had retired from the AF and was doing his/her own thing? Also, just FYI, the dentist that interviewed me did not do the HPSP program. It's not really their job to try to help you relate to the HPSP program specifically, but simply to see how you would fit in as an Air Force dentist and officer. Whether you go straight into the military or do it via the HPSP, you're still a military dentist so at that point there's no difference so it's irrelevant in terms of what AF dentist can interview you and what they look for. Most AF dentists (to my knowledge) are obtained via the HPSP but looks like you and I hit that narrow window of dentists that joined in some other fashion, not a big deal.

Hope that helps, feel free to email me (see below) if you want to chat about anything and best of luck!

 

[Vigilante]

I went through this myself a couple years ago and might be able to share some insight.

As long as you do your physical (which I presume you mean MEPS) in time, then don't worry. The decisions are made in Jan/Feb like he said (not sure where the Oct/Nov came from? That's usually when things need to be turned in to insure they are completed in time). By the way, he has no control over when you "hear back". All the decisions are made in Jan or Feb and you'll know in early Feb if you got it.

As for the dentist that interviewed you, was it a dentist currently working on base as an AF dentist or a local dentist who had retired from the AF and was doing his/her own thing? Also, just FYI, the dentist that interviewed me did not do the HPSP program. It's not really their job to try to help you relate to the HPSP program specifically, but simply to see how you would fit in as an Air Force dentist and officer. Whether you go straight into the military or do it via the HPSP, you're still a military dentist so at that point there's no difference so it's irrelevant in terms of what AF dentist can interview you and what they look for. Most AF dentists (to my knowledge) are obtained via the HPSP but looks like you and I hit that narrow window of dentists that joined in some other fashion, not a big deal.

Hope that helps, feel free to email me (see below) if you want to chat about anything and best of luck!

Thanks for the insight. Glad to hear I'm on schedule. I've heard the timeline for AF is tight, and then my recruiter went on emergency leave for a while, so I think I got a little paranoid. My physical (MEPS) got postponed again, but I'll keep on top of it and then I guess just sit back and wait.

The guy I interviewed with was a current dentist in the AF and didn't do HPSP either, but it was cool to hear a little more about life as a military dentist. Anyway, thanks again for the feedback and your contact info.

 

[NOLAdentist2016]

For those of you who have already done MEPS, are we going through the same MEPS process as all of the other people who are joining as enlisted and getting ready to ship to boot camp?
I know that we really only need the physical, but the enlisted people will be there for their test, oath, etc. I assume they just put us all together and we still have to do all the same things (underwear olympics, have someone watch us pee in a cup, one-on-one with doc, spend the night in a hotel with a roommate, etc), but I'm hoping that we may get a simplified version. Anyone have any experience here?

Also, my application was deferred for further review by a doc (for a DQ med condition). I was supposed to go to MEPS today, but got news of the deferral yesterday. Anyone know how long it will take them to review my file? I'm hoping just a few days, because I'm really nervous about getting it passed.

 

[woof44]

You have the same process as everyone else. There is not a simplified version for your physical. People who are enlisting do their oath last...you eat lunch with them, and then you can leave. They do their oath afterwards. Mine took a total of about 6 hours - it's a long day.

 

[shinywisdom]

Make sure your paperwork is good to go, or they will send you home.

For those of you who have already done MEPS, are we going through the same MEPS process as all of the other people who are joining as enlisted and getting ready to ship to boot camp?
I know that we really only need the physical, but the enlisted people will be there for their test, oath, etc. I assume they just put us all together and we still have to do all the same things (underwear olympics, have someone watch us pee in a cup, one-on-one with doc, spend the night in a hotel with a roommate, etc), but I'm hoping that we may get a simplified version. Anyone have any experience here?

Also, my application was deferred for further review by a doc (for a DQ med condition). I was supposed to go to MEPS today, but got news of the deferral yesterday. Anyone know how long it will take them to review my file? I'm hoping just a few days, because I'm really nervous about getting it passed.

 

[Vigilante]

My MEPS has been postponed repeatedly for the past month, and it doesn't look like I'll be able to schedule it until after Thanksgiving. Has anyone else had this problem? Has any recruiter given anyone an actual date as to when your file must be complete? Every time I ask my guy, he just tells me not to worry about it, but I get the feeling he's just blowing me off.

 

[the67project]

I just finished the MEPS process (11-21-11) and stopped by to my recruiter to drop off the paperwork and he told me that the deadline for all material to be in and filed in on January 17th. He then told me the board will meet on the 6th of February and I should expect to hear a response as by February 26th. This is for Utah, so im not sure if it is slightly altered per state.

 

[MatthewLeeDDS]

I just finished the MEPS process (11-21-11) and stopped by to my recruiter to drop off the paperwork and he told me that the deadline for all material to be in and filed in on January 17th. He then told me the board will meet on the 6th of February and I should expect to hear a response as by February 26th. This is for Utah, so im not sure if it is slightly altered per state.

This was about the same timeline for mine a few years ago. My recruiter wanted my stuff in earlier however. Maybe because he just wanted to get it done with and not mess with it. He was very good about staying on top of things. Either way, this sounds accurate for when I did it and if this is the timeline, this "should" be the timeline nationally, if I'm not mistaken.