Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am a specialist in the PAARNG currently serving in Iraq as a line medic for a Calvary Scout Recon, Surveillance and Target Acquisition platoon. I'm working on my medical school applications whenever I get the chance to get online here (not all that often) and one of the schools I would like to apply to is USUHS, however I have never heard of the "Letter of Approval to Apply". How do I get this letter, is it through my direct chain of command (Captain? First Sergeant?) or where do I apply for one?
"Letter of Approval to Apply"
- Thread starter orchimaxi
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The information is in the secondary app. You have to have permission from your branch, via whatever the army calls its personnel command. No, its not just a letter from your CO.
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As I recall your first stop would be your commander. It is not hard and military wants to make sure you are eligible to apply and the command is aware of your decision. Good luck. if you have any personal questions feel free to PM me as I was in your exact situation many years ago (enlisted in the foreign country).
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The request (through chain of command) needs to go to the department that has the authority to release you from military service. For NG/Reservists that would be your unit CO. For active duty it would be the Manpower section of your Service headquarters. Bottom line is approval will only be given if all obligation will be completed by the time you go to med school. Otherwise you will need to make a good argument on what your unit gains by giving up a medic BEFORE the end of enlistment.
Speak to your 1stSgt on how to submit admin requests like this one, and make sure the request will end up on the right person's desk. I walked my USU request through each level of my chain, but nonetheless the manpower knuckle head granted me approval to apply to "HPSP".
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My answer to that is "it depends." My unit will lose me if I get accepted, but big Army will transfer me to Medical Corps IF I do additional service as a physician to make up for the interrupted contract prior to USUHS.
It's a good thing you are not at a TDA unit. I work at MEDCEN and the paperwork and trouble that I went through to just request that letter is ridiculous.
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USUHS has a contact number for army folks wanting to get an LOA. Just look on their website and contact her. She will send you forms/examples of what the letter looks like. Basically you will get this signed by your COC and then have them send it to your branch at HR Army. They will then approve it or not.
My branch gave me a hard time about switching because they were "critically short" people in my rank and field. Instead of waiting for their approval, I just submitted my separation packet and got out of the army since I finished my obligation. Then I signed back up through HPSP.
My branch gave me a hard time about switching because they were "critically short" people in my rank and field. Instead of waiting for their approval, I just submitted my separation packet and got out of the army since I finished my obligation. Then I signed back up through HPSP.
