HPSP: What to expect after "select"?

[forcefive17]

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Hello all,

I recently found out that I was on the official selected list, pending exception, for the Army HPSP. I was wondering if there was anyone who has gone through this process before and can explain what "pending exception" means, what the process is like after your selection and about how long it take until commissioning. My recruiter tends to speak to me in a very vacillating way. For example "Congrats!!!! You were selected, make sure to celebrate tonight!" Then in the next breath it's something like: "Don't make any calls yet, we need to figure out this exception." Tends to leave me very confused about what to expect next. I appreciate any guidance anyone may provide!

 

[student til 30]

Speaking from my experience, recruiters can be very hesitant to pass on definitive information unless there is a pretty high degree of certainty on their end, and if they're telling you to celebrate they probably have a good reason. I'd read it as Army Psychology wants you in the program, the board signed off on you, and perhaps there is an unknowable administrative step or two that needs to be completed before things are finalized. I'm not sure what the process is like after selection, but I do know there needs to be a decent amount of processing, ultimately resulting in orders being cut by HRC. I remember waiting about a month between selection and swearing in, with plenty of uncertainty involved. At this point, no bad news is good news until you hear otherwise.

 

[forcefive17]

Speaking from my experience, recruiters can be very hesitant to pass on definitive information unless there is a pretty high degree of certainty on their end, and if they're telling you to celebrate they probably have a good reason. I'd read it as Army Psychology wants you in the program, the board signed off on you, and perhaps there is an unknowable administrative step or two that needs to be completed before things are finalized. I'm not sure what the process is like after selection, but I do know there needs to be a decent amount of processing, ultimately resulting in orders being cut by HRC. I remember waiting about a month between selection and swearing in, with plenty of uncertainty involved. At this point, no bad news is good news until you hear otherwise.

Thanks! Your insight is valuable and has provided me some reassurance. The uncertainty is really the killer; it's almost like they want to test your resilience. I found out today my status is officially "Select, pending disposition of waiver or Secretary of Defense approval." Since I didn't have any waivers that needed to be approved, my recruiter seems to think that I'm just waiting on SecDef approval. Did your recruiter mention this approval process after you were selected?

 

[student til 30]

Thanks! Your insight is valuable and has provided me some reassurance. The uncertainty is really the killer; it's almost like they want to test your resilience. I found out today my status is officially "Select, pending disposition of waiver or Secretary of Defense approval." Since I didn't have any waivers that needed to be approved, my recruiter seems to think that I'm just waiting on SecDef approval. Did your recruiter mention this approval process after you were selected?

I'm no expert, but you're probably just awaiting approval. See page 5 at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r601_100.pdf

 

[forcefive17]

Hope this can assuage your anxiety. I was selected to the order of merit list ie. Basically an alternate, not selected but not denied.

So it seems like your a step above me on the heirarchy, so hopefully you're in good shape as there are people below you! Of course, if you search your heart of hearts and decide to decline the offer I'll gladly take your spot 😉

.

 

[forcefive17]

I'm no expert, but you're probably just awaiting approval. See page 5 at http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r601_100.pdf

Awesome, super useful. I appreciate it! Are you currently HPSP?

 

[Koogy]

forcefive17,
My army recruiter said it doesn't matter how many times you applied previously. You compete against the candidates that apply the same year. So if you applied last year and didn't get in, it means you were not a strong enough candidate against the others in the same applicant pool. Just because you previously applied doesn't mean anything other than reusing your MEPS screening (assuming your health didn't deteriorate). So if the pool is just as strong as it was last year, you could be wait listed. Your last chance to get in is on internship and then direct assent. But I'm not sure how many openings there are- maybe 5? I can't recall the details.

I'd put you in touch w a friend of mine who is post doc now (came in on HPSP) in the army so he can at least help you compete (as I've been helped myself by similar people I know in navy). But you were so unprofessional in your email to me that I would hardly do any favors for you. Try not to burn any bridges in the future. You never know who the person you are disrespecting knows or the power they have to help you or to make sure your name is "recognized". It's a tight community and most of the psych world is done on joint bases, so your bound to run into a person you met on a different base even if they are a different branch... so you show disrespect to one person... Word will get around. Might want to pocket that lesson now so you don't repeat it in future. For some one in your advanced level of training, you should have a little more "seasoning" in your demeanor and less of the childish defensive stuff.

Good luck on this round . Hope they weed out the incompetent ones. The army needs only the best of the best.

 

[PtolemysCassiopeia]

Hello all,

I recently found out that I was on the official selected list, pending exception, for the Army HPSP. I was wondering if there was anyone who has gone through this process before and can explain what "pending exception" means, what the process is like after your selection and about how long it take until commissioning. My recruiter tends to speak to me in a very vacillating way. For example "Congrats!!!! You were selected, make sure to celebrate tonight!" Then in the next breath it's something like: "Don't make any calls yet, we need to figure out this exception." Tends to leave me very confused about what to expect next. I appreciate any guidance anyone may provide!

I am applying for the Veterinary HPSP and my recruiter told me the same thing - I am not OML and I am not selected but I am 'pending exceptions'. He says that once the scroll is approved we will have a better idea. I have reached out and others who can see the list see me on OML (different than what my recruiter is saying). For the Vet Corps, it is very rare to be selected from the OML as there are very few declines. Anyways, I am curious if it all worked out for you in the end?? Did you ever find out exactly what 'exceptions' this refers to?