Hi Potential HPSP Applicants,
I'm writing this thread to give you some important information in making the decision to apply for the HPSP program. If you've already decided that you are going to apply for HPSP, you may be wondering which branch you should apply to. I'm recommending that you don't pick the Air Force or Navy and consider the Army as the sole option. As an Air Force HPSP graduate myself, I have experienced the worst of it and have some credibility to make this statement.
First of all, the Air Force sends a lot of its HPSP graduates into the civilian world to do residency training. When you do residency training in the civilian world, most of the positions are classified as civilian deferred which basically means you'll get paid by the civilian hospital (you get paid crap) and you don't earn any years towards retirement (horrible for any prior military service). For the few lucky people that get an Air Force residency position, you'll get paid well and earn retirement years but there's a good chance that the residency program isn't very good (San Antonio Military Medical Center residency programs may be an exception). Also, if you're going for a competitive specialty, there's a really good chance that you won't get into the program, will have to do a 1-year internship and then a 2-year tour as a flight surgeon (basically you perform the duties of a family practice doc but without formal residency training), and then can reapply for residency training. If you follow this path, remember you're probably going to increase your commitment to the Air Force (they will own you for many more years).
From what I've seen, it seems the Army treats their HPSP graduates much better. Almost every one of them, if not all of them, are active duty and make a decent salary during residency training. In addition, most of them go straight into residency training programs and don't do the flight surgeon/GMO tours (GMO is similar to the Air Force flight surgeon idea) like the Air Force/Navy does. For this reason, I recommend trying for an Army HPSP position and I wouldn't even consider the Air Force or Navy. Honestly, I can't recommend anybody go into the Air Force or Navy HPSP program for the reasons I've already mentioned. In addition, the Army probably has better residency programs than the Air Force (in my opinion).
So if you do decide to apply for the HPSP program, realize that the branches of the military do differ and this is an extremely important decision to make. You don't want to be miserable during residency. Unfortunately I know too many Air Force HPSP students who are unhappy with their situation - whether it's because they didn't get the residency they wanted, will have to do a flight surgeon tour, aren't getting paid well in the civilian world, aren't earning retirement years in the civilian world (primarily for prior active duty enlisted/officers), have an increased commitment (more years owed to the Air Force), or for many other reasons.
Thanks of listening to my discussion. I've provided you with some things to think about when applying for the HPSP scholarship. My hope is that the Air Force and Navy will eventually wake up and fix the problems that plague military medicine so that morale improves. I wish I could be in position of power to fix these things myself but it looks like my fate has been sealed....I'll serve my time and get out ASAP!
Good luck!
I'm writing this thread to give you some important information in making the decision to apply for the HPSP program. If you've already decided that you are going to apply for HPSP, you may be wondering which branch you should apply to. I'm recommending that you don't pick the Air Force or Navy and consider the Army as the sole option. As an Air Force HPSP graduate myself, I have experienced the worst of it and have some credibility to make this statement.
First of all, the Air Force sends a lot of its HPSP graduates into the civilian world to do residency training. When you do residency training in the civilian world, most of the positions are classified as civilian deferred which basically means you'll get paid by the civilian hospital (you get paid crap) and you don't earn any years towards retirement (horrible for any prior military service). For the few lucky people that get an Air Force residency position, you'll get paid well and earn retirement years but there's a good chance that the residency program isn't very good (San Antonio Military Medical Center residency programs may be an exception). Also, if you're going for a competitive specialty, there's a really good chance that you won't get into the program, will have to do a 1-year internship and then a 2-year tour as a flight surgeon (basically you perform the duties of a family practice doc but without formal residency training), and then can reapply for residency training. If you follow this path, remember you're probably going to increase your commitment to the Air Force (they will own you for many more years).
From what I've seen, it seems the Army treats their HPSP graduates much better. Almost every one of them, if not all of them, are active duty and make a decent salary during residency training. In addition, most of them go straight into residency training programs and don't do the flight surgeon/GMO tours (GMO is similar to the Air Force flight surgeon idea) like the Air Force/Navy does. For this reason, I recommend trying for an Army HPSP position and I wouldn't even consider the Air Force or Navy. Honestly, I can't recommend anybody go into the Air Force or Navy HPSP program for the reasons I've already mentioned. In addition, the Army probably has better residency programs than the Air Force (in my opinion).
So if you do decide to apply for the HPSP program, realize that the branches of the military do differ and this is an extremely important decision to make. You don't want to be miserable during residency. Unfortunately I know too many Air Force HPSP students who are unhappy with their situation - whether it's because they didn't get the residency they wanted, will have to do a flight surgeon tour, aren't getting paid well in the civilian world, aren't earning retirement years in the civilian world (primarily for prior active duty enlisted/officers), have an increased commitment (more years owed to the Air Force), or for many other reasons.
Thanks of listening to my discussion. I've provided you with some things to think about when applying for the HPSP scholarship. My hope is that the Air Force and Navy will eventually wake up and fix the problems that plague military medicine so that morale improves. I wish I could be in position of power to fix these things myself but it looks like my fate has been sealed....I'll serve my time and get out ASAP!
Good luck!
