ROTC Service Obligation w/o HPSP Scholarship

[aaronlin003]

Hi everyone! MS2 here. Some general information and questions:

I graduated from undergraduate in 2023 and commissioned through Army ROTC after receiving a 4-year national scholarship with a 4-year AD service obligation.

I applied for and received the HPSP scholarship, but decided to decline it to avoid extra years of service obligation (my Texas medical school is pretty cheap anyways). I started medical school in Fall 2023 and am planning to graduate in 2027. I'm not sure of my specialty yet, but currently interested in Neurology or primary care (Peds, IM). And just for some background, I chose this route not for the money but because I wanted to serve my country, serve soldiers and do something meaningful with my career/skillset. I know money is a big factor for many, understandably, but that's not why I personally joined.

I'm quite an uncommon case, as I owe 4 years through ROTC but not through the HPSP. Most of my friends who did ROTC and pursued med school afterwards also signed up for the HPSP scholarship, but I'm one of the few who didn't. Due to my unique position, I'm still under HPSP's jurisdiction and have to apply for the military match with the rest of the HPSP scholarship students, even though I'm not a HPSP scholarship student myself. Additionally, since I'm not an HPSP scholarship recipient, I did not attend BOLC (wasn't required since I did ROTC). Also, I'm not sure if I'm approved for ADT's due to me not being a HPSP scholarship student, but I will look into that further, since I really want to attend a few for my exposure and residency application.

I've accepted the fact that I will likely have to do a military residency given my specialty interests and made peace with it, but I have a few questions about service obligation and residency application.

Questions:
1. Will my military residency (let's say for Neurology: 4 years) accrue more ADSO? Or will I simply owe the 4 years of service after my military residency training is over? (This is the outcome I'm planning on currently)
2. What are my chances for applying to residency if I don't get the chance to do ADT's (still need to find out if I can even attend one)?
3. I'm currently looking at Madigan and NCC for my residency options; what are y'all's experiences there, particularly in Neuro, IM, and Peds?
4. Is there any helpful HPSP staff that you guys worked with who can answer my questions directly? I've corresponded with some of the HPSP folks but they don't seem to be able to answer my questions.
5. Any tips for a young blood like me about residency, military life, PCSing, etc?

Thank you for reading this and for your help!

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[Helpful Troll]

... Questions:
1. Will my military residency (let's say for Neurology: 4 years) accrue more ADSO? Or will I simply owe the 4 years of service after my military residency training is over? (This is the outcome I'm planning on currently) You will owe the 4 years unless the AD residency/fellowship is greater than 5 years.
2. What are my chances for applying to residency if I don't get the chance to do ADT's (still need to find out if I can even attend one)? Reach out to the Director of Medical Education. The last one I recall is the author of the annual GME document. Reach out to Program Directors or Coordinators and schedule Non ADT's at NCC and Madigan. You may need to get an agreement signed by your school and the GME office to approve a rotation. Regulations and policy included payment of ADTs for AROTC 'obligees' but read previously they don't have funding.
3. I'm currently looking at Madigan and NCC for my residency options; what are y'all's experiences there, particularly in Neuro, IM, and Peds? Can't help here.
4. Is there any helpful HPSP staff that you guys worked with who can answer my questions directly? I've corresponded with some of the HPSP folks but they don't seem to be able to answer my questions. Reach out to the Army Director of Medical Education. His contact information might be available on the HPSP facebook page documents.
5. Any tips for a young blood like me about residency, military life, PCSing, etc? Find a mentor on a rotation.

Thank you for reading this and for your help!

I'll get some of the reference sources for the responses above in a day or two...
You are required to attend BOLC. ROTC does not eliminate that requirement. You may have to attend after you graduate medical school, before residency.

 

[aaronlin003]

I'll get some of the reference sources for the responses above in a day or two...
You are required to attend BOLC. ROTC does not eliminate that requirement. You may have to attend after you graduate medical school, before residency.

Yes, I spoke to the HPSP program manager this morning and he told me to plan to take BOLC between medical school and residency, like you said. Thank you!