Navy Bonus

[Floater268]

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You've caught me red-handed. I'm just a med student. The only experience I've had has been on rounds with fellows and attendings in my clerkship. I have to say that its been a blast though. The prospect of Lima/Cairo/Jakarta is pretty enticing too, although I realize its a long road before I could work there.

 

[megadon]

Are any of the other active-duty physicians dismayed by this development of a rapid, massive increase in the HPSP signing bonus? It’s disappointing to me, because instead of trying to fix the problems that have led directly to poor recruiting and retention—GMO system, GME decline, poor practice conditions, etc.—we are waving wads of cash at indebted 22 year-olds. It all makes perfect financial sense of course, since paying $20K up front to improve recruiting is way cheaper than doing away with GMO’s, increasing support staff, improved compensation for attendings, or any other major systemic changes.

This is one reason I am pessimistic about prospects for any near-term improvement in military medicine. It will always be cheaper to increase the HPSP stipend or give a signing bonus and get more people in the pipeline than it will be to make changes that will keep physicians happy.

What do some of the pre-meds think about the bonus? Is it sufficient to get more people to sign up, or pick the Navy scholarship over Army or AF?

Simple answer, the Navy has plenty of experience with the throw money at the problem answer. As a nuke sub guy, I deffinitely benifetted after my first five year. When the SWO's started having a retention problem the dept head bonus came out. The pilots have also long had one. When the nuke bonus was solving the problem, the upped the number. For example, when I got out it was 12k for rent a nuke (no contract, serving at the pleasure of GW) vs buy a nuke, 22k. Three years prior, buy a nuke was like 15k. The joke was, how do you know if a JO signed another contract? The Ethan Allen truck outside his house.

Only when the gravy train doesn't work do they actually look at the problem. However, I hope there is a huge reduction in GMO tours, cause I want to do one, and the points will help offset some of my grades. So, less people with offset credits, better for me. And no, I don't want to be an orthopod, I want IM, so I probably don't even need the GMO tour anyway.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Are you speaking as a military ID specialist or as a speculating med student?

I disagree. I think military ID docs see less HIV than civilians and are no more likely to see "exotic" or "tropical" diseases than anyone else EXCEPT when deployed. And those guys don't deploy much and when they do they don't like it.

The Navy MTFs have a reasonably robust HIV panel and they do see far more of the exotic diseases because although the doctors are here, the patients have travelled so much more. As a resident, I saw brucellosis, cutaneous anthrax, leish, malaria, etc, while on the wards or on their service. As for them not deploying much...say what? I was talking to an old friend who is an ID fellow at one of the MTFs and his PD is in Afganistan and all but one of the staff have deployed within the last 2 years.

The research stations in Lima, Jakarta and Cairo are pretty neat (you can go as an IM resident for a rotation BTW) but I wouldn't want to live in any of those places for a full tour.

One Navy ID doc is about to rotate to Geneva to work for the WHO while on AD.

So, if you are actually willing to do ID (god bless you), I think this is one of the rare specialties where being AD might be better than being a civilian.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Simple answer, the Navy has plenty of experience with the throw money at the problem answer. As a nuke sub guy, I deffinitely benifetted after my first five year. When the SWO's started having a retention problem the dept head bonus came out. The pilots have also long had one. When the nuke bonus was solving the problem, the upped the number. For example, when I got out it was 12k for rent a nuke (no contract, serving at the pleasure of GW) vs buy a nuke, 22k. Three years prior, buy a nuke was like 15k. The joke was, how do you know if a JO signed another contract? The Ethan Allen truck outside his house.

Only when the gravy train doesn't work do they actually look at the problem. However, I hope there is a huge reduction in GMO tours, cause I want to do one, and the points will help offset some of my grades. So, less people with offset credits, better for me. And no, I don't want to be an orthopod, I want IM, so I probably don't even need the GMO tour anyway.

You won't need the points for IM but they might help with a subspecialty application. You might consider trying to go straight-through, then take an operational utilization tour, then apply for fellowship. This would max out your points better than a GMO. Med school grades are important but performance as an intern is more important.

 

[megadon]

You won't need the points for IM but they might help with a subspecialty application. You might consider trying to go straight-through, then take an operational utilization tour, then apply for fellowship. This would max out your points better than a GMO. Med school grades are important but performance as an intern is more important.

Thanks, I do want GI. Plus this fits what I want to do too.

 

[SecretAzianDan]

Has anyone actually received the $20,000 bonus yet? I was commissioned 30 May 07 and will be starting my first year of med school this year. I am currently at ODS (formerly OIS) and have been checking my account regularly. I have gotten two deposits for being here already. My recruiter never said a word about the bonus...the first time I heard of it was here at ODS from another student. Is there any paperwork or any requirements to meet in order to receive the bonus? Or is it more like...once you're commissioned, you will automatically receive it...and if so, when will you see it? Thanks much.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

Has anyone actually received the $20,000 bonus yet? I was commissioned 30 May 07 and will be starting my first year of med school this year. I am currently at ODS (formerly OIS) and have been checking my account regularly. I have gotten two deposits for being here already. My recruiter never said a word about the bonus...the first time I heard of it was here at ODS from another student. Is there any paperwork or any requirements to meet in order to receive the bonus? Or is it more like...once you're commissioned, you will automatically receive it...and if so, when will you see it? Thanks much.

I'm still waiting on my commissioning paperwork, but my recruiter had me sign a form about the bonus.

Also, you probably won't get it until you start school.

But, you actually brought up a question I had:
Has anyone gotten their 20K yet or started school and not gotten it?

 

[megadon]

I've seen the memo from recruiting authorizing the bonus, someone posted the link somewhere. More importantly, there is some list about who is authorized it, and apparantly those of us already under contract may be retroactively eligible. Anybody know where this list is, ie, a link? I talked to the recruitor here in Memphis today, and he thinks I'm eligible. Not spending any extra money yet, but I do have 5% hope.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I've seen the memo from recruiting authorizing the bonus, someone posted the link somewhere. More importantly, there is some list about who is authorized it, and apparantly those of us already under contract may be retroactively eligible. Anybody know where this list is, ie, a link? I talked to the recruitor here in Memphis today, and he thinks I'm eligible. Not spending any extra money yet, but I do have 5% hope.

Someone said it was retroactive for those signing a 4 yr deal between 01 OCT of last year and 30 SEP of this year.

 

[NavyFP]

I've seen the memo from recruiting authorizing the bonus, someone posted the link somewhere. More importantly, there is some list about who is authorized it, and apparantly those of us already under contract may be retroactively eligible. Anybody know where this list is, ie, a link? I talked to the recruitor here in Memphis today, and he thinks I'm eligible. Not spending any extra money yet, but I do have 5% hope.

If you signed your contract after 1 Oct 06 (the start of fiscal year 07) you are eligible. If not, you are out of luck.

No one will be paid prior to the start of school. This is when benefits are supposed to start. I would suspect the money will come in the August/September time frame, but DFAS is strange about bonuses.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

The Navy MTFs have a reasonably robust HIV panel and they do see far more of the exotic diseases because although the doctors are here, the patients have travelled so much more. .

I'll give you the fact that patients have traveled a lot (if you count going to Iraq and being locked down in a compound as traveling.)

I will not give you the reasonably robust HIV panel. I have seen maybe 2 HIV patients in a year. In places with a robust HIV panel, we see them all the time in the ED. Remember that HIV keeps people out of the military, so the only ones you see with it are family members (unusual to have a spouse with HIV when the military member doesn't have it), and those who acquired it while on active duty. I have yet to meet a retiree with HIV (although I'm sure they exist.)

Perhaps the Navy ID guys are so good that their patients never go to the ED, but I doubt it.

 

[almostfamous]

I'll give you the fact that patients have traveled a lot (if you count going to Iraq and being locked down in a compound as traveling.)

I will not give you the reasonably robust HIV panel. I have seen maybe 2 HIV patients in a year. In places with a robust HIV panel, we see them all the time in the ED. Remember that HIV keeps people out of the military, so the only ones you see with it are family members (unusual to have a spouse with HIV when the military member doesn't have it), and those who acquired it while on active duty. I have yet to meet a retiree with HIV (although I'm sure they exist.)

Perhaps the Navy ID guys are so good that their patients never go to the ED, but I doubt it.

I saw 2 last week. Not doing ID or EM right now, either.
My assumption is that they got medboarded out, but now get full medical with expensive haart regimens. I don't think one of them was old enough to be in for 20, although I guess it's possible.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I'll give you the fact that patients have traveled a lot (if you count going to Iraq and being locked down in a compound as traveling.)

I will not give you the reasonably robust HIV panel. I have seen maybe 2 HIV patients in a year. In places with a robust HIV panel, we see them all the time in the ED. Remember that HIV keeps people out of the military, so the only ones you see with it are family members (unusual to have a spouse with HIV when the military member doesn't have it), and those who acquired it while on active duty. I have yet to meet a retiree with HIV (although I'm sure they exist.)

Perhaps the Navy ID guys are so good that their patients never go to the ED, but I doubt it.

I can't explain why you've seen that few, there are currently 2 HIV pts admitted to the IM service at my MTF that I'm aware of. I don't know if they came through the ED or the ID clinic but when I was a resident, it was 75/25 clinic admits. People with HIV get a medboard and are eligible for lifelong care at an MTF. There is a small population of older, sick AIDS patients and a larger population of younger well-controlled HIV patients. Those folks are not frequent ED users and even the sick ones hate waiting for the ED (HIV patients are often a little entitled, ya know?) and just show up in the ID clinic septic and get dumped on the IM resident on the floor . The 2 pages the admitting IM resident dreads...ID and H/O clinics (especially since the ID admit comes with a free ID consultation).

 

[beegeforty4]

I love how a thread about the new navy bonus has turned into a discussion about whether HIV patients exist regularly in milmed...

 

[mississippi DO]

Anyone know if there is an extra service requirement beyond our HPSP contract? I'm 4 yr HPSP and was just wanting to make sure there's not some fine print extra service deal.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

wanting to make sure there's not some fine print extra service deal.

Ahh....HPSP disappointment # 234, the IRR time. You thought it was a year for a year? Nope, it is 2 for 1, advantage military. The military has the option to recall you for four years after your 4 year HPSP commitment is up. It doesn't happen often, and as far as I know, it hasn't happened to doctors, but it seems to be happening more and more these days. And don't forget Stop-loss, which also happens frequently, but I can't say how often it gets doctors.

 

[almostfamous]

It is 8 years total, 4 active after HPSP and 4 IRR, BUT that IRR time is served during HPSP.

IRR time is served during med school, but it ain't the IRR time that the DoD counts as part of the 8 year total commitment.
Let's say you graduate med school, do an internship, then do your 4 yrs of payback and get out to do a civilian residency. Say you start as a PGY 2 in a FP program, finish that (2 yrs), and start your own practice for a year or so. You still have a year left on your committment and you could be called back to active duty and MUST leave your practice to go work for them, again.

 

[mississippi DO]

I meant is there an extra service requirement if you take the 20k bonus. I knew about the 4 yr IRR stuff.

 

[jfitzpat]

I meant is there an extra service requirement if you take the 20k bonus. I knew about the 4 yr IRR stuff.

You incur an obligation, but it runs concurrently with your existing one.

 

[jmspilka]

Wow this bonus things sucks for those of us who commissioned just before the retro date. Guess we will still be trying to live on the low monthly stipend that barely covers my rent. Anyone know if we are at least getting the 2 or 3% raise to our stipends and when it will take effect if we are?

 

[Tooth]

Wow this bonus things sucks for those of us who commissioned just before the retro date. Guess we will still be trying to live on the low monthly stipend that barely covers my rent. Anyone know if we are at least getting the 2 or 3% raise to our stipends and when it will take effect if we are?

We get the raise every July 1st. We already got it. It's like $675 twice a month before taxes.

 

[Founder]

How much will the bonus be after taxes? I've asked a few and some believe $14,000 or so.

 

[Tooth]

How much will the bonus be after taxes? I've asked a few and some believe $14,000 or so.

It depends on the state and how many dependents you have.

 

[Founder]

I don't have any dependents, I am right out of college and live in VA. SO I'm guessing around 14k.

 

[Founder]

I found a VA tax calculator. $720 on $17,000 and then 5.75% for all money after that came to $892.

Now for the federal taxes... I used paycheckcity.com calculator, I just Googled a "federal tax calculator" and it came to taxes based on $20,000 to come to payment of $16,200.

With VA taxes...

I am guessing around $15,300 or so

 

[Blando]

is this bonus going to be for army peeps also?? anyone know?

 

[SeminoleFan3]

is this bonus going to be for army peeps also?? anyone know?

No. It's just a Navy thing right now.

 

[Blando]

No. It's just a Navy thing right now.

bush league

 

[SeminoleFan3]

Anyone gotten this yet?

 

[natedizzle]

.

 

[Founder]

I'm assuming I'll have it on the next pay day which should be this Friday I think...? And it'll be nice to finally start getting my stipend. I've been going off my savings for rent, food, and books.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I'm assuming I'll have it on the next pay day which should be this Friday I think...? And it'll be nice to finally start getting my stipend. I've been going off my savings for rent, food, and books.

I don't know about that. I got my first stipend already, and the bonus was definitely not with it.

 

[cyclegirl]

I have talked to the financial people at NMETC and they said the bonus will not show up on a payday it will show up on some random day. Some people have already received it and others will get theirs soon. The disbursements are going out based on where you are on the list. Basically people are not going to get it at the same time. Also, the only people that will be getting it are those that signed their contract after Oct 1, 2006.

 

[Roshario]

I have talked to the financial people at NMETC and they said the bonus will not show up on a payday it will show up on some random day. Some people have already received it and others will get theirs soon. The disbursements are going out based on where you are on the list. Basically people are not going to get it at the same time. Also, the only people that will be getting it are those that signed their contract after Oct 1, 2006.

I'll start receiving my bonus this week (got a bank notification of the impending deposit). Also they are going to give the bonus in increments: $9,000, $9,000 and $2,000. Don't know why it's split but it is (has to do with the max deposit amt given to students, tax purposes, etc...). Also, for taxes taken out of the bonus, my friend only received about $6,700 for each of the $9,000 increments and I will receive about $1500 from the $2000 increment (and this does not include state tax as he and I do not have it because we are Texas residents). But depending on what tax bracket you fall in, come tax return time, you'll receive some of that back.

 

[zephyrhills123]

I'll start receiving my bonus this week (got a bank notification of the impending deposit). Also they are going to give the bonus in increments: $9,000, $9,000 and $2,000. Don't know why it's split but it is (has to do with the max deposit amt given to students, tax purposes, etc...). Also, for taxes taken out of the bonus, my friend only received about $6,700 for each of the $9,000 increments and I will receive about $1500 from the $2000 increment (and this does not include state tax as he and I do not have it because we are Texas residents). But depending on what tax bracket you fall in, come tax return time, you'll receive some of that back.

So I've received the $1500 and $6700 already, I'm going to be getting another $6700? This is exciting.

 

[vmarwin]

If you think that is pure awesome, wait until you get the ASP! $15,000 every July! That's totally awesome! Except, of course, for the fact that your friends who didn't take the scholarship also get $15K in June, July, August, and every other month while you idle away with $6K/month.

My friend and his wife both work for the military. She paid for school with loans and is a contractor. He paid for school with HPSP and is active duty. After less than one year here her loans are paid off. He and I are off to the Middle East as we enjoy the next few years paying back our "loans." I figured out once that I came out $180K behind by taking HPSP over loans. Do you really think that 20K is so awesome now? 20K would be one month's salary if I weren't in the military.

Some of the post-HPSP people in these forums seem like such whiners. Did you honestly not know what it was going to be like post med school? Didn't you know that you would make less money for the 4 years of repayment? Why are you complaining about heading over to the sandbox? Thats in the job description dude! You signed a contract to accept money from the govt and repay with service? What's so unfair?

Im most probably going to do Navy HPSP for medical school and I completely understand that during my repayment I may be in San Diego, Pensacola, or even...Iraq (or maybe Iran by 2012), but I understand that's part of the deal, as do many other HPSPers.

Honestly, did you not know what you were getting in to?

Stop dogging HPSP, its a great opportunity for some people. Stop trying to bring people (who are excited about HPSP and the Navy) down b/c you're miserable and regret your choice.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

For those of you that have already received the bonus, when was your Benefit Start Date?

Has anyone with a BSD in August received the bonus yet?

 

[SeminoleFan3]

For those of you that have already received the bonus, when was your Benefit Start Date?

Has anyone with a BSD in August received the bonus yet?

I got my bonus last week, and my BSD is at the end of July.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

I got my bonus last week, and my BSD is at the end of July.

Thanks for the update! I'll give it a couple more weeks before I start sending e-mails then.

 

[Founder]

I commissioned in August and I will receive my bonus before the end of the month. I already received a small amount of it and will get two more payments. One at the end of the month and one mid October.

I'd just email them and ask. The HPSP website tells you what to put in your subject line and then the email is directed to the right person. They were helpful. I got an email reply the same day within 5 hours.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I commissioned in August and I will receive my bonus before the end of the month. I already received a small amount of it and will get two more payments. One at the end of the month and one mid October.

I'd just email them and ask. The HPSP website tells you what to put in your subject line and then the email is directed to the right person. They were helpful. I got an email reply the same day within 5 hours.

I got all of mine in the same week. (Well, I got all the LESs that week, and two of the checks. I'm missing a check, but they're taking care of that right now).

 

[Founder]

I finally got it all. It's nice to have that money. I'm throwing it all into savings (about 15,000). And with the extra 300 in stipend, I don't see money being a problem. This area isn't too expensive and there aren't many distractions to spend money on.

I know it sounds silly to the older members, being excited over those two things, but it is pretty nice when you go in expecting $1,250 a month and then you get a $20,000 bonus and $1,600 a month.

 

[LadyCatamount]

I was commissioned Mid August, and haven't gotten it yet. but I am getting my pay check, I think it just takes a bit. They have been very on-top of everything else, so I am going to be patient a bit more.

 

[Nice Pipes]

I was commissioned Mid August, and haven't gotten it yet. but I am getting my pay check, I think it just takes a bit. They have been very on-top of everything else, so I am going to be patient a bit more.

Same situation, but I have you beat. I've been recieving my paycheck, but no bonus or TUITION paid yet. Not complaining, I just want to get this settled already.

 

[Nice Pipes]

Same situation, but I have you beat. I've been recieving my paycheck, but no bonus or TUITION paid yet. Not complaining, I just want to get this settled already.

So anyone who cares, I made a bunch of phone calls and my tuition is now paid. My bonus comes Nov. 2nd. Wasn't that difficult.