What to do after commissioning for the Navy HPSP dental program

[klovr89]

Hi guys,

I was commissioned last Wednesday for the 4 year HPSP dental scholarship for the Navy.
I am planning to schedule the ODS before my school starts in September.
My question is that after commissioning other than the ODS (which is not necessary required right away I guess) is there anything else I need to do before my school starts?

Is there a to-do list of some sort and where can I get that information?
Also, I am planning to make an USAA bank account. When can I start?

I will be very grateful if you guys can enlighten me. Thanks a lot. 🙂

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[chill45]

Nothing you need to do but enjoy life while you can. I would definitely do ODS if you can. They wouldn't let me commission until August even though I was accepted for it in February so I can't do ODS now until after I graduate. Is there a USAA bank near your school? I wouldn't open one there just because you are in the Navy now. I opened a new account with my school's credit union since there is a branch on campus and made it easy to cash checks or deposit money into. I did switch my car insurance to USAA cause they were cheaper at the time (I use someone different now but might want to look into that too).

One last thing. There were a couple items I bought for school trying to be ahead of the game (like a clicker or my background check). These are not reimbursable unless you purchase them within 30 or 60 days before school starting, could of been a couple months I can't remember, I just know I did it too soon to get reimbursed. Look at the Navy handbook though. Read it on other stuff too, you'll learn a lot.

 

[klovr89]

Nothing you need to do but enjoy life while you can. I would definitely do ODS if you can. They wouldn't let me commission until August even though I was accepted for it in February so I can't do ODS now until after I graduate. Is there a USAA bank near your school? I wouldn't open one there just because you are in the Navy now. I opened a new account with my school's credit union since there is a branch on campus and made it easy to cash checks or deposit money into. I did switch my car insurance to USAA cause they were cheaper at the time (I use someone different now but might want to look into that too).

One last thing. There were a couple items I bought for school trying to be ahead of the game (like a clicker or my background check). These are not reimbursable unless you purchase them within 30 or 60 days before school starting, could of been a couple months I can't remember, I just know I did it too soon to get reimbursed. Look at the Navy handbook though. Read it on other stuff too, you'll learn a lot.

Thank you for the information. I guess I should check if there is a USAA near my school. I do have a local credit union account as well.

Also thanks for the tip. I should look through the handbook intently. you mean the HPSP handbook right?

 

[vellnueve]

USAA only has a few branches nationwide. It's never been an issue though as they have been doing distance banking since their inception.

 

[chill45]

USAA only has a few branches nationwide. It's never been an issue though as they have been doing distance banking since their inception.

Yeah I never really understood how it would work if you sold something for a couple hundred dollars and needed to deposit it to an account?

 

[vellnueve]

They partner with other banks, have ATMs all over. But I do all my check deposits on my phone.

 

[chill45]

They partner with other banks, have ATMs all over. But I do all my check deposits on my phone.

Everywhere I read online about it you would have to have an account with another bank and then transfer the funds, so why not just have the one bank to do it all. Is there something special about USAA that makes it worth it?

 

[vellnueve]

I use the phone app for all my deposits.

 

[chill45]

I use the phone app for all my deposits.

I'm just talking about depositing cash. Most banks today you can deposit checks on your phone. But like last year I sold a car for $18k and the guy paid cash...how would you get this into your account since there is no branch to take it to?

 

[vellnueve]

They have branches or cash-accepting ATMs near most of the large bases.

I personally have 3 banks so it's never been an issue for me. NFCU has more branches if you're concerned.

 

[S-dizzle]

Hello, I will be commissioning for the Navy 4 year dental HPSP this week. As far as completing ODS before the start of school, are we put on Annual Training and receive active duty pay?

 

[S-dizzle]

Nothing you need to do but enjoy life while you can. I would definitely do ODS if you can. They wouldn't let me commission until August even though I was accepted for it in February so I can't do ODS now until after I graduate. Is there a USAA bank near your school? I wouldn't open one there just because you are in the Navy now. I opened a new account with my school's credit union since there is a branch on campus and made it easy to cash checks or deposit money into. I did switch my car insurance to USAA cause they were cheaper at the time (I use someone different now but might want to look into that too).

One last thing. There were a couple items I bought for school trying to be ahead of the game (like a clicker or my background check). These are not reimbursable unless you purchase them within 30 or 60 days before school starting, could of been a couple months I can't remember, I just know I did it too soon to get reimbursed. Look at the Navy handbook though. Read it on other stuff too, you'll learn a lot.

Will the time at ODS be paid for? Are we considered active duty while at ODS even though we have not started school?

 

[chill45]

Will the time at ODS be paid for? Are we considered active duty while at ODS even though we have not started school?

Not 100% sure but I think you are paid active duty. You can't do ODS without being commissioned first so if you are commissioned then they have the ability to pay you. One thing though is your uniforms will cost around $2k but they only give you $400 allowance for them. Like I told the OP, read the student manual and you'll learn a whole lot about all that.

 

[NavyToothDoc]

I did ODS between first and second year of dental school, but would have preferred doing it after graduation. That way all of your uniforms will still fit, you will remember all the military stuffs, and you won't have to buy new rank insignia/shoulder boards etc 😉

 

[Dentalkid20]

I have heard waiting to do ODS after you graduate can hinder your acceptance into a specialty because that first month after graduation you will be at ODS instead of reporting to the specialty program. However, I'm not 100% sure if that is accurate. Just something to think about.

 

[NavyToothDoc]

Yeah I guess that could be something to keep in mind. I guess I always wondered why someone would want to specialize in something that they have only done a couple times in dental school. But to each their own.

 

[vellnueve]

Yeah I guess that could be something to keep in mind. I guess I always wondered why someone would want to specialize in something that they have only done a couple times in dental school. But to each their own.

From the military mindset that makes sense since so many do specialty training after practicing. But on the outside it's certainly more common to go straight from school or from an AEGD/GPR.

I have heard waiting to do ODS after you graduate can hinder your acceptance into a specialty because that first month after graduation you will be at ODS instead of reporting to the specialty program. However, I'm not 100% sure if that is accurate. Just something to think about.

I think that has been an issue before but I also know of cases where the student goes to residency and then finishes ODS after residency. I've heard of a case or two where ODS was skipped entirely. That said, in order to maximize your chance for selection, I'd do it first just because if given the choice between two equal applicants, I'd pick the one who had finished ODS already.

 

[BobbyBeavis]

From the military mindset that makes sense since so many do specialty training after practicing. But on the outside it's certainly more common to go straight from school or from an AEGD/GPR.



I think that has been an issue before but I also know of cases where the student goes to residency and then finishes ODS after residency. I've heard of a case or two where ODS was skipped entirely. That said, in order to maximize your chance for selection, I'd do it first just because if given the choice between two equal applicants, I'd pick the one who had finished ODS already.

Do you know how competitive the AEGD/GPR is for the Navy? Is it something you do right at the completion of Dental School/ODS or can you apply later as well?

 

[vellnueve]

Do you know how competitive the AEGD/GPR is for the Navy? Is it something you do right at the completion of Dental School/ODS or can you apply later as well?

You can only do it your first year in the Navy.