Military HPSP?

[Tiankum]

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Anyone who's been accepted thinking about doing the military HPSP to fund all four years? Also, how competitive is gaining acceptance into the program?

 

[ECUpirate19]

I have been thinking about the navy and airforce one but I dont know all that much about the application process and how it works so anyone who can fill me in I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Tiankum]

I'm in the middle of the HPSP application process and have been doing my research on it pretty extensively... and I have to say, if you're going to an in-state school..definitely don't do it! for example, if you're a resident of NC and you get into UNC... you'll end up losing around 40 thousand dollars a year while you're in the military and you'll be owned by the government. I've just got done with the military physical, which is VERY INVASIVE.. But, if you're in a situation like me and are going to go to a private school and end up with over $300,000 in debt, then it looks a lot more appealing. There is one point that most recruiters will fail to tell you... you will owe them 8 years out of dental school. it's one for one active duty payback, but then as soon as you get out of that, you're obligated to be on reserve for 4 years as well. Anyway, not to try to deter you from applying for it.. by all means, but just make sure you get all the facts before you sign anything.

Does anyone know how many people the NAVY accepts for a 4 year HPSP?

 

[Tommy43087]

is there anyway you can post some links to the apps? Thanks

 

[Tiankum]

they don't actually post their application... they make you talk to a recruiter and get everything from them... If you go to army.com, navy.com or airforce.com and put your info in.. it only takes a matter of days before you'll be in the recruiter's office getting all the materials.

 

[baseballjunkie]

If you're at all interested in Navy dentistry, then contact your recruiter and tell him/her that you want to go on the MEDVIP trip. They send you to San Diego (airfare, hotel, meals paid for) to tour the base and ships. It's a fantastic trip, and you physically get to see what Navy dentistry is all about...

 

[lphiewok]

Applications are very lengthy but they are similar for three branches so once you get one done the others will be easier.
unfortunately air force's deadline for 4 year was dec 29 (3 year was even earlier) so you wouldn't be able to apply anymore for air force. Board had the meeting last monday to select 5 people for this years AF hpsp and we should find out this week. This year air force selected only 5 people nation wide.
Army and navy are still open but I suggest anyone thinking of hpsp to fill out app. asap. They will accept until they fill up their budget quota but its filling quick.
I just got accepted to armys 4 year hpsp and I already know 3 others who also got accepted. Army and navy will have more than 5 spots like AF but esp with the economy, military will accept less while more people will be applying.
Remember in order to apply you need app, get physicals done, three LORs (for army your lors cannot be more than one year old), interview (did for air force but not army), personal statement, letter from school dean (army requests if ur still enrolled in school), transcripts from all colleges, u.s. citizenship, acceptance letter, etc.

As you can see its like applying to dental school all over again and they recommend you to start when you are applying to dental school..

You can always go for 3 years next year but remember 1) you wont get 20000 sign up bonus from army and navy and 2) it gets lot more competetive bc more students find out about it and realize what a good opportunity it is.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask or just hit up the military dentistry forum

 

[lphiewok]

I'm in the middle of the HPSP application process and have been doing my research on it pretty extensively... and I have to say, if you're going to an in-state school..definitely don't do it! for example, if you're a resident of NC and you get into UNC... you'll end up losing around 40 thousand dollars a year while you're in the military and you'll be owned by the government. I've just got done with the military physical, which is VERY INVASIVE.. But, if you're in a situation like me and are going to go to a private school and end up with over $300,000 in debt, then it looks a lot more appealing. There is one point that most recruiters will fail to tell you... you will owe them 8 years out of dental school. it's one for one active duty payback, but then as soon as you get out of that, you're obligated to be on reserve for 4 years as well. Anyway, not to try to deter you from applying for it.. by all means, but just make sure you get all the facts before you sign anything.

Does anyone know how many people the NAVY accepts for a 4 year HPSP?

Also there is HPCP program, which is little bit better for those who are going to in-state programs (HPCP program will not pay for your tuition but you will get full officer pay during school). If anyone is interested in this, go to Military forum and type HPCP in search bar.

 

[subdoc]

Also there is HPCP program, which is little bit better for those who are going to in-state programs (HPCP program will not pay for your tuition but you will get full officer pay during school). If anyone is interested in this, go to Military forum and type HPCP in search bar.

HPCP does NOT pay you officer pay...it is E6 or E7 pay. BIG difference. Petty officer does not = officer.

 

[dentalmon]

how much do they pay u as a military dentist though?........... is it worth it?

 

[subdoc]

how much do they pay u as a military dentist though?........... is it worth it?

Military pay is based on four things...Rank, time in service, location, and specialty pay.

A newbie dentist could expect to make around 90-100 k/yr "civilian equivalent." Of course, this is based on where you are stationed as housing allowance (tax free BTW) is locality-driven.

Civilian equivalent takes into account tax advantages from a large portion of your pay being tax-free, not paying for insurance, and things like your military retirement and commissary and exchange privileges. You would expect to see about 4500-5500 per month in your pocket after taxes.

 

[Emmie]

Military pay is based on four things...Rank, time in service, location, and specialty pay.

A newbie dentist could expect to make around 90-100 k/yr "civilian equivalent." Of course, this is based on where you are stationed as housing allowance (tax free BTW) is locality-driven.

Civilian equivalent takes into account tax advantages from a large portion of your pay being tax-free, not paying for insurance, and things like your military retirement and commissary and exchange privileges. You would expect to see about 4500-5500 per month in your pocket after taxes.

4500-5500 /mo. right after you got out of DS right? So you're only making about 50K a year for the first 4 years in the military?

 

[Roto Picante]

No, it is more like 70k to 80k a year. Also keep in mind that you don't have to subtract a monthly loan repayment from that total. Joining the military is like paying off ALL of you school debt in 4 years. If you leave school with 250,000 in debt and tried to pay it off in 4 years, your monthly payments would be more than 6000/month. Try making that payment, still feed your family, and pay taxes from a salary in the private sector right out of dental school. The military really is a great deal plus the extra training that you will get.

 

[subdoc]

4500-5500 /mo. right after you got out of DS right? So you're only making about 50K a year for the first 4 years in the military?

TAKING HOME 5500ish/mo is the same thing as 100k/yr civilian equivalent. Divide take home by tax rate, figure the nearly 1k/yr + savings from commissary/exchange privileges, the fact the government is paying into a retirement program for you, the fact you don't pay for a gym membership, and the fact you are not paying for health care makes your pay the equivalent of a 6 figure salary. Find someone who makes 100,000 per year and ask them how much they see in their paycheck at the end of the month after the aforementioned expenses. Oh yeah, and you get a hell of a lot more paid vacation days too.

 

[lphiewok]

HPCP does NOT pay you officer pay...it is E6 or E7 pay. BIG difference. Petty officer does not = officer.

Oops sorry for wrong info. That was how it was described in the forum so I used the term. Still the point I was trying to make was thay hpcp pays more than hpsp monthly but does not pay for your tuition which could be a better deal for instate schools.

Either way miltary is a hell of a deal. They pay full tuition (my case its one of the highest tuition nearly 300k), books and equip, monthly stipend of 1900 dollars, not having to worry about a job after ds, great chance to serve your country and travel u.s. and world, too many to list. Financially wise my hpsp comes close to half million dollars.

I would suggest it to anyone who is willing to serve and knows how to work with others

 

[dentalmon]

any more spots?..... how many people have they accepted for the scholarship already?

 

[subdoc]

Take it for what it is...my advice would be to only do HPSP/HPCP if you are interested in serving. Don't do it for the money. There are absolutely many PROS to the military scholarships, but there are also many CONS. Everything you hear from the recruiter will be on the PRO-side. They won't discuss the less-than-favorable aspects of military dentistry.

Like I said...I have MANY friends who are military dentists (all Navy) and shadow at a base clinic. The senior dentists are all very happy, but the junior (newbie) military dentists want to jump the proverbial ship ASAP. To a person, they almost all say it is not worth it. Just ask my friend who moved with his family to Jacksonville but was plucked out of the blue to go to Cuba for 6 mos. Or ask my friends how clinics are undermanned, or if your employee or assistant is not good you can't fire them, about how people outside of the dental community administer your clinics since medical and dental merged in the Navy, or how there is so much burocracy, often times certain dentists can't get the materials they prefer to do the job. Oh yeah, and new dentists often aren't moved to desireable places around the globe since the senior officers end up "homesteading."

So, dreams of living in Hawaii...unlikely. San Diego...unlikely. Rota, Sparin, Sicily or Naples...fugettaboutit! Hello Twentynine Palms, CA, Camp Lejune, NC, Okinawa, Portsouth, NH, Central Valley, CA. Yuma, AZ, or Millington, TN.

Recruiters give you one side of the story. Their mission is to put butts in uniforms. And you know what...by the time you feel the effects of being in the military, they will be long gone from their recruiting command. You are a number to them...something they use for evaluation reports and quotas. Do you really think they will tell you the whole side of the story?

Do it for the service, not the dollars. If you think burocracy in medicine is nuts, just wait until you see what burocracy in medicine is like when you add a layer of government and a layer of military!

Please look at it from all angles. I would hate for you all to not be happy once you finish four long and hard years of school.

 

[THINKOFMYFUTURE]

^ Excellent post! I think I've just about nailed my decision...

 

[alec0884]

Take it for what it is...my advice would be to only do HPSP/HPCP if you are interested in serving. Don't do it for the money. There are absolutely many PROS to the military scholarships, but there are also many CONS. Everything you hear from the recruiter will be on the PRO-side. They won't discuss the less-than-favorable aspects of military dentistry.

Like I said...I have MANY friends who are military dentists (all Navy) and shadow at a base clinic. The senior dentists are all very happy, but the junior (newbie) military dentists want to jump the proverbial ship ASAP. To a person, they almost all say it is not worth it. Just ask my friend who moved with his family to Jacksonville but was plucked out of the blue to go to Cuba for 6 mos. Or ask my friends how clinics are undermanned, or if your employee or assistant is not good you can't fire them, about how people outside of the dental community administer your clinics since medical and dental merged in the Navy, or how there is so much burocracy, often times certain dentists can't get the materials they prefer to do the job. Oh yeah, and new dentists often aren't moved to desireable places around the globe since the senior officers end up "homesteading."

So, dreams of living in Hawaii...unlikely. San Diego...unlikely. Rota, Sparin, Sicily or Naples...fugettaboutit! Hello Twentynine Palms, CA, Camp Lejune, NC, Okinawa, Portsouth, NH, Central Valley, CA. Yuma, AZ, or Millington, TN.

Recruiters give you one side of the story. Their mission is to put butts in uniforms. And you know what...by the time you feel the effects of being in the military, they will be long gone from their recruiting command. You are a number to them...something they use for evaluation reports and quotas. Do you really think they will tell you the whole side of the story?

Do it for the service, not the dollars. If you think burocracy in medicine is nuts, just wait until you see what burocracy in medicine is like when you add a layer of government and a layer of military!

Please look at it from all angles. I would hate for you all to not be happy once you finish four long and hard years of school.

I certainly won't refute any of what you pointed out, as it is mostly all true, and should be considered prior to taking your oath.

Although I will say that for those of us who face 300k-400k in loans saying to not do it for the money is absurd. If an individual is so narrow minded to not be able to put their future ahead of comfort for a short 4 years than I suppose they aren't military material to begin with. The examples you give of navy dentist supposedly hating life may be true, but realize that there are an equal amount who left after 4 years but would certainly attest to the value of serving and different experiences.

After 4 years I will have money in the bank, no debt, and the freedom to be any kind of dentist I wish...rather than be tied down to a debt that will likely last 20 years.

Do it for the money......do it for the service.....do it for the experiences....

 

[subdoc]

A perfect example would be when a civilian employee barged in on a procedure I was shadowing at the base clinic when the doc was trying to find the amalgam she prefers. They were out, and she has tried to get the right materials for over a month. The front desk employee (ironically last quarter's civilian employee of the quarter! 🙂) came in and said that she as the doc and her assistant must be all messed up and the mixing machine must be on the wrong setting. Oh, and this is when she has a pt in the chair and another officer (me) observing! One important trait of leadership is critique and reprimand in private, praise in public. Something about morale and good order and disciple. 🙂

In private practice he would have been canned in about 5 minutes. Military side, you have to deal with it. I have plenty others. And this is just from what I observe with my two eyes in the relatively short time I have been there.

When you are in the proverbial trenches, it is not as rosey as you think.

 

[subdoc]

I will also say (from personal experience) trying to resign your commission once you are in is a pain the butt, and I am even a medical casualty. Think getting in times 10. Also, you will probably be PCSed (moved) when you are a year or less from the end of your obligation. What this means is you will owe them another 2 years of service for the gov't moving you. More then likely, your 4 years will resemble 5 to 5.5 years. Or did the recruiter tell you this information as well?

 

[Tiankum]

4500-5500 /mo. right after you got out of DS right? So you're only making about 50K a year for the first 4 years in the military?

that's base pay.. you would have to include BAH and BAS which would raise your income to around 70,000 a year for the first four years.

 

[Tiankum]

I will also say (from personal experience) trying to resign your commission once you are in is a pain the butt, and I am even a medical casualty. Think getting in times 10. Also, you will probably be PCSed (moved) when you are a year or less from the end of your obligation. What this means is you will owe them another 2 years of service for the gov't moving you. More then likely, your 4 years will resemble 5 to 5.5 years. Or did the recruiter tell you this information as well?

That's why you start on your decommissioning papers early and don't piss off your detailer.

 

[Tiankum]

Anyone know anything about when you actually get paid for the five week ODS and when you start getting paid your monthly stipend?