Some Navy HPSP Questions

[Starch96]

Hey everyone,

I’m a soon-to-be D4 and recipient of the Navy HPSP scholarship. I’ve found a lot of answers from searching through the forums and even read the entire “Ask any questions to a Navy Dentist!” thread, but I still have a few questions regarding what to expect in this next year and beyond. Any insight is much appreciated.

1. My understanding is that sometime around the start of the fall semester I’ll be asked whether I plan on doing a credentialing tour or AEGD/GPR. If I plan on doing a credentialing tour, I’ll be asked sometime around January about preferencing base locations. Will this be a ranked list of specific bases or just a ranking of regions in the US (Southwest, Southeast, etc.)? I have heard both of these and am not sure what the current process is.

2. It seems from others’ comments that if going the credentialing tour route, it’s best to do one at a base without a GPR or AEGD program so that you’re not getting slim pickings in terms of more advanced cases/procedures. Is there any truth to this? It also seems like most of the bases offering credentialing tours are larger installations or recruit depots. Do smaller bases offer credentialing tours, and if so, how does the experience there compare to the experience at somewhere like San Diego or Norfolk?

3. I’ve heard of hardship tours, specifically unaccompanied deployments at “undesirable” locations like Diego Garcia or Bahrain. Is it true that if I elect to deploy to either of these places for the year following credentialing tour that I’ll have my pick of where to PCS for the next couple of years? And if so, would that include duty stations like Rota or Sigonella that are typically more difficult for newer officers to get?

4. After a credentialing tour when receiving operational orders, it seems fairly likely that I will be attached to a ship and deploy when it does. I’m totally fine with the concept of a typical deployment of 6-7 months, but I’ve also heard of people spending far longer than that out at sea during work-up periods that last several months. Folks on here have mentioned that that all depends on where a ship is at in its cycle and that one could also be attached to a ship that never deploys due to maintenance. Is there a way to see or find out where a ship is at in this cycle or some sort of calendar with projected deployment dates for specific ships? I’d like to avoid being away from home for much longer than a traditional deployment if possible tbh

5. When receiving operational orders, one of the options is going overseas. If I were to end up going overseas, is there a chance I could deploy from there? Or is it safe to say I’ll be in that same location for the duration of my orders unless I’m stationed at a base with an attached carrier like Yokosuka?

Thanks in advance for any guidance. I definitely feel like I'm in the dark about many aspects of the HPSP, but this forum has been a helpful resource for me. Hopefully y'all can offer some more insight into some of these questions.

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[averageasian]

1. You’ll have a ranked list of bases to choose from.

2. Credentialing tours and AEGD/GPRS are now only offered at the large navy and marine corps installations, although this was not the case in the past.

Your experience totally varies on who sets up your rotations for you. I did a credentialing tour alongside an AEGD program, I got less time with the endodontist and oral surgeons and no time in perio or ortho but if I wanted time with Perio or ortho i could have asked. I’ve been able to set up my own rotations with endo and omfs as I’m deploying soon.

Im not at SD or Norfolk so can’t speak to either of those. People in charge and specialists rotate out year after year so no aegd or credentialing tour will be the same year after year.

3. Typically if you take a overseas hardship tour or some sort of operational billet, you’re in the running for shore duty (Europe, continental US) afterwards. As to where depends on what billets are available.

Let’s say you did Diego Garcia for 1 year. You might be able to get Rota after but if not, you might get shore duty in San Diego or Newport RI for instance.

There are no guarantees however and as a junior officer, your first real duty station will probably be a marine battalion or ship or a hardship tour (Cuba, Africa, Diego Garcia, Bahrain)

4. It’s public info which ships are docked and in maintenance. For obvious reasons, you’re not going to be able to find out the deployment schedule online; this is classified.

If something happens, expect to deploy and maybe be out longer. This is out of your control and something you have to deal with should you take a ship.

5. Most overseas locations for the navy are non deployable. You will stay at your duty station.

Exceptions include ships docked in japan (sasebo, Yokosuka) and 3rd dental in Okinawa.

Okinawa is a marine battalion and technically you can deploy out of there to support any marine deployments there.

 

[Starch96]

1. You’ll have a ranked list of bases to choose from.

2. Credentialing tours and AEGD/GPRS are now only offered at the large navy and marine corps installations, although this was not the case in the past.

Your experience totally varies on who sets up your rotations for you. I did a credentialing tour alongside an AEGD program, I got less time with the endodontist and oral surgeons and no time in perio or ortho but if I wanted time with Perio or ortho i could have asked. I’ve been able to set up my own rotations with endo and omfs as I’m deploying soon.

Im not at SD or Norfolk so can’t speak to either of those. People in charge and specialists rotate out year after year so no aegd or credentialing tour will be the same year after year.

3. Typically if you take a overseas hardship tour or some sort of operational billet, you’re in the running for shore duty (Europe, continental US) afterwards. As to where depends on what billets are available.

Let’s say you did Diego Garcia for 1 year. You might be able to get Rota after but if not, you might get shore duty in San Diego or Newport RI for instance.

There are no guarantees however and as a junior officer, your first real duty station will probably be a marine battalion or ship or a hardship tour (Cuba, Africa, Diego Garcia, Bahrain)

4. It’s public info which ships are docked and in maintenance. For obvious reasons, you’re not going to be able to find out the deployment schedule online; this is classified.

If something happens, expect to deploy and maybe be out longer. This is out of your control and something you have to deal with should you take a ship.

5. Most overseas locations for the navy are non deployable. You will stay at your duty station.

Exceptions include ships docked in japan (sasebo, Yokosuka) and 3rd dental in Okinawa.

Okinawa is a marine battalion and technically you can deploy out of there to support any marine deployments there.

Thanks for the quick and detailed response! This is super helpful

 

[averageasian]

Thanks for the quick and detailed response! This is super helpful

Good luck shipmate