army doctor essay

So You Want to Be a Military Doctor

• By Kevin Jubbal, M.D.
• February 22, 2020
• Accompanying Video , Medical Student , Pre-med
• Military , Non-Traditional , So You Want to Be , Specialty

So you want to be a United States military doctor. You want to serve your country, travel around the world, and be at the cutting edge of medical technology. This is what it means to be a military doctor, and we’ll help you decide if it’s a good field for you.

Welcome to our next installment in So You Want to Be . In this series, we highlight a specific specialty or discipline within medicine, such as being a military physician, and help you decide if it’s a good fit for you. You can find more specialties on our So You Want to Be tag.

Military medicine is widely misunderstood by us civilians. We’re going to be comparing military medicine to civilian medicine, so it will make the most sense if you are familiar with the civilian medical training process. If you’re not, then take a look at this post to get a brief overview.

The Two Paths to Military Medicine

To become a physician in the military, there are two main paths to choose from: the Health Professions Scholarship Program, or HPSP for short, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, also known as the USUHS.

HPSP is the more common path of the two, whereby you go to any medical school, whether osteopathic or allopathic, and here’s the kicker: your tuition is entirely paid for and you also receive a monthly stipend for living expenses. For the most part, your medical training is pretty similar to that of your civilian counterparts. However, as an HPSP recipient, you will have basic military training, most commonly during your second year of medical school. During your clinical years, meaning third and fourth year, you are usually granted the opportunity to become “active duty” and rotate at military hospitals if you choose.

So what’s the catch? The United States military paid for your medical school education, so it’s only fair to pay it back. Generally speaking, there’s a 1 to 1 payback in service to the military under HPSP. That means if you graduated from medical school after the traditional 4 years, you are required to be a physician serving in the military for at least 4 years after completing your training. While you are of course being paid when you are serving as a physician, note that military compensation rates are usually lower than civilian counterparts.

The main benefit to HPSP is that you have complete flexibility to where you attend medical school. Want to go to UC San Diego and enjoy the awesome weather? No problem. What about staying at Ohio State to be close to family? Also totally fine.

The downside is that unless you’re attending a medical school that has several HPSP recipients, you will be isolated from the rest of the military medical training process. You won’t be exposed to the military match process, the military in general, and you won’t be participating in drills or field exercises.

The USUHS is the military’s medical school. Like HPSP, tuition is completely free, but rather than a small stipend for living expenses, you’ll be serving as an active duty 2nd Lieutenant and paid as such, which is around $40,000 per year base pay, with about another $20,000 of non-taxable income for housing.

The most obvious downside is that you won’t have a choice in where you attend medical school – you’ll have to attend USUHS, which is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Additionally, the payback period is longer than HPSP at 7 years on average.

That being said, there are several benefits to this path. You’ll be fully integrated into the military medical training system from the get-go, and that means many more opportunities, unique experiences, and full immersion into the military culture. Of course, you’ll be participating in field exercises, but it gets much more exciting than that. For example, you can gain early exposure and do rotations in humanitarian medicine, disaster medicine, rotate across the U.S. and even internationally.

How is Military Medical Training Different?

The world of military medicine shares many similarities with civilian medicine, but is in some ways a world of its own.

As a military physician, it’s not only necessary for you to be a specialist in your field, but also a competent and flexible generalist while deployed. For example, a general surgeon, while deployed, may be asked to do cases more typically reserved for a neurosurgeon, otolaryngologist, or urologist. Alternatively, a pediatrician may be deployed as a battalion doctor, the military equivalent of a primary care physician.

This is a difficult and stressful aspect of military medicine, but it’s mitigated by a strong support system and excellent training. You’ll always have someone to call to ask for help or clarification. And these cross-specialty responsibilities are only reserved while you’re deployed. Back home, you’ll stick to working within your intended specialty.

Military Match & Specialty Choice

The military match process is an entirely different animal. The regular civilian match occurs in March, but the military match occurs in December. All specialties are still available for residency training, however, the military is working to curtail the number of “non-deployable specialists.” For example, the military will still train pediatricians but may limit additional subspecialty training in fellowship.

Once you graduate medical school and start residency, you are promoted to captain in the Army and Air Force, or to Lieutenant in the Navy.

A majority of graduates match into their intended specialty of choice. For the Army, that number was 85% in 2018. The Air Force’s most recent published number was 85% for 2017. Taking into account specialty and  location, in 2016 72% of USUHS graduates got their first choice of specialty and site (across all branches). The Navy is a bit different in that the majority of their graduates will complete an intern year and do a General Medical Officer Tour prior to completing residency.

A General Medical Officer, or GMO for short, is essentially a primary care plus doctor. After completing intern year, GMOs are assigned to different units. Depending on their unit, they will undergo additional training, lasting months to years, to best be in service of their unit. For example, Navy flight doctors will go to flight school where they will learn not only about the physiology involved in flying fighter jets and helicopters, but they themselves will also learn to fly. They’ll work with pilots, go in jets, and experience multiple aspects of the unit. The goal is to make them experts in their respective fields. GMO units have a wide range, from flight medicine to dive medicine, and much more.

As a GMO, you can expect to get significant field experience and even deploy, with tours usually lasting 2 to 3 years. During this time you will be treated and salaried as an attending physician.

GMO’s are colloquially referred to as “surgeons,” such as flight surgeon, dive surgeon, etc. However, they are  not  surgeons. If you want to be a surgeon and actually do surgery, the military has training programs for the traditional surgical specialties such as general surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedics, urology, etc.

If you don’t become a GMO, you will proceed with residency training in a similar capacity to civilians. The main difference is that you will be required to fulfill certain military requirements such as physical fitness tests, drills, and online training. Some programs offer the opportunity to attend military schools, such as airborne, air assault, or flight medicine.

Those that fail to match will complete a transitional year, and they will reapply during the subsequent match. If they go unmatched again, they will go on to become a GMO. Navy graduates have the highest rate of graduates becoming GMO’s. This has nothing to do with the applicants — it’s just part of Navy medicine to have GMO’s with units. The lowest rate for GMO’s is in the Army with the Air Force in the middle.

Who Should Consider Military Medicine?

Military medicine is certainly not for everyone. Here’s how you can decide if it’s a good fit for you. First, consider the downsides. If any of these are deal-breakers for you, then it’s likely not a good match.

Lower Compensation

The average military physician makes approximately $150,000 to $200,000 per year, depending on your rank, although that is not fully accounting for specialty bonuses. As a civilian, you can make much more, depending on your specialty. As a primary care doctor, you’ll be making a similar amount, but as an orthopedic or neurosurgeon, you’ll be making 2-3x that amount.

Inflexible Practice Location

As a military physician, you don’t have much control over where you’ll be living and practicing medicine. While you can certainly submit preferences, it’s ultimately up to the military to determine where you are most needed.

Additionally, after residency you can be deployed at any time, and that usually means significant time away from your family and loved ones. There are, of course, risks if you are deployed to active war zones.

Limited Fellowship Options

If you’d like to subspecialize with fellowship training, understand that while it is certainly possible, the military limits the number of fellowship trainees every year. Between 2016 and 2018, only about 50% of Army doctors who wanted to do a fellowship were allowed to do so. That said, if you are permitted, military physicians typically go to top flight fellowship programs.

Additional Considerations

Lastly, as they say in the military, you need to “embrace the suck.” If you are in military medicine, you  will  be deployed, and you will find yourself in conditions that are not comfortable.

Military medicine requires a greater level of flexibility and creativity than civilian medicine. Think of the generalist having to perform specialist surgeries while deployed. Additionally, you will have to work in austere, unique, and changing environments. Military medicine can be practiced in active war zones, areas recovering from conflict, pandemics such as Ebola, humanitarian missions, global training exercises, and areas subject to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis.

Military medicine allows you to serve your country, see the world, be with America’s finest, get additional training, work with world leaders in the field, push yourself, and do things you never thought would do. It’s not for everybody, but for those who do pursue it, there is nothing quite like it.

If you’re wondering how I know so much about military medicine, it’s because of our awesome team of physicians at Med School Insiders, several of whom are current military physicians. Maybe you need help deciding if military medicine is right for you, or want to ensure you’re as successful as possible given its unique training intricacies. Regardless of your situation, our team at Med School Insiders can help. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

What type of doctor should I cover in the next So You Want to Be post? As always, thank you all so much for keeping up with our blog. Much love to you all.

Kevin Jubbal, M.D.

So You Want to Be a Vascular Surgeon

So you want to be a vascular surgeon. Let’s debunk the public perception myths and give it to you straight. This is the reality of vascular surgery.

2024 Top 10 Least Competitive Specialties in Medicine

Every specialty in medicine is competitive, just some more so than others. These are the 10 least competitive specialties.

2024 Top 10 Most Competitive Specialties in Medicine

Based on brand new data from the 2024 NRMP Charting Outcomes, we meticulously reassessed the most competitive specialties.

This Post Has 7 Comments

Hi, i’m wondering if non-citizens but with green card can apply for US military doctors.

Hello. Currently, I am 41 years old, I am a reservist with 4 years of active duty service. I want to go to medical school and finish my time as an active duty physician. Am I too old for this goal?

So, I guess I have a few questions, no doubt I wanna do military medicine and all that, but what branch should I go into? Would chronic pain stop me from doing this job? What kinda things can be expected to be seen? How long are deployments? How long can training overall take? What age should or can I apply? And finally who should I go to to get more ideas or I guess a serious run through of, what to do, where to go, how to go about it, whats required, and pros and cons of every branch?

Hi Med School Insiders,

I am seriously considering the HPSP program, but am unsure as to how medical officers are treated in the army.

Is there somebody on your team that I could talk to? It would be appreciated if you could help me out.

There are 4 steps to become a military doctor. Step 1: earn a bachelor’s degree. Step 2: earn a medical degree. Step 3: join the military service. Step 4: wait for military residency matching.

Former enlisted infantry paratrooper…now a physician for the past twenty years. What man would want to join the military and serve a guy wearing a dress? No thanks. FJB

I wish to have the opportunity to become a ministry doctor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

A Career As A Military Doctor In The Military

Show More Miller 1 Mia Miller Mrs. B. Purdie English III 13 March 2015 Military Doctor Military doctors are people that are in the military to help the wounded or injured soldiers at war and they are also the same as a regular doctor but just deal more with the military. Also they get more benefits and help with an event that goes on in the world. Being a military doctor can benefit the armed services by helping to assists soldiers that have been in war, and also by helping when there is a natural disaster as well as function as a relief support group. Even though being a military doctor is very crucial to the military, there are certain requirements that must be meet in order to join the military. The first thing is you will have to be at least 17 …show more content… After one has completed their four years one can get their doctoral license. All the military members will have to sign a contract that includes a minimum amount of source time. Once one has done that one can now become a military doctor. A military doctor and a civilian doctor are both alike they diagnose and treat aliments. The military also employs doctors with specializations in more common types of medicine such as pediatrics, family care and neurology. A military doctor provides health care to military personnel and their families and can work in a variety of settings, including hospital ships or international medical centers. By being a doctor enlisted in the military they must take part in international relief efforts by providing care to victims of natural disasters. They may also be responsible for ensuring that the soldiers are physically fit for duty and treating injuries during combat and other emergencies. Also with being a military officer doctor you can advance in rank and receive commensurate pay raises. But to receive a promotion within the military they are based on the time served and performance evaluation. They can also leave the military and apply their skills to career in the civilian health …show more content… Plus a military doctor often work shorter hours than the regular civilian colleagues. They enjoy regular vacations and excellent benefits. They have a guaranteed job with generous retirement and benefits. Health issues that can prevent one from becoming a military doctor. If one has had a medical complication at any time in their life they will have to inform or tell their recruiter. They will be able tell rather if their condition can be waivered, or if it’s a permanently disqualifying condition. If one does not get an official waiver and their condition is later discovering by the military, one will have most likely be dishonorably discharged for fraudulent

Related Documents

Lieutenant general james gordon roudebush.

The seminar I attended was that of Lieutenant General James Gordon Roudebush. He was the nineteenth Surgeon General of the United States Air Force. James is a native to Gering, Nebraska. Later, he then received his bachelor’s of Medicine degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. After receiving these he entered into the Air Force.…

Unit 40 Aviation Medical Dispensary

40 aviation medical dispensaries were activated in 1994 to support the Normandy invasion, patients could remain no longer than 15 days due to supply shortages. In my opinion military aeromedical service during wartime is effective in combat support. The medical service must also keep the air and ground crews healthy and fit enough to defeat opponents. Flight Surgeons impacted…

Doctor Vs Physician Assistant Essay

The healthcare industry is thriving, despite today’s harsh economic times. For this reason, when considering their career options, many students may turn to medicine. There are several professions in the medical field from which students can choose, including home health aides, pharmacists, nurses, and even doctors. If the student decides to pursue a more hands-on patient care career, they find themselves at a crossroad with one path leading toward a career as a doctor (MD) and the other leading towards a career as a physician assistant (PA). This is a difficult choice for many students interested in the medical field; both professions offer patient care, are high-paying, and require rigorous schooling.…

Surgical Tech Narrative Report

While I was enlisted in the US Navy, I was privileged to attend the Naval School of Health Sciences, and study Surgical Technology. I graduated with honors, but unfortunately, the military at the time was not paying for its Surgical Tech graduates to nationally certify. I performed all sorts of surgical cases at the major military facilities I was posted. During my eight years as a surgical tech, I had performed over ten thousand surgical cases, working hand to hand with various surgeons in the operation bed from different specialties which included: General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmic Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, and Urology. As a military surgical…

Air Force Research Paper

The Armed Services are here to help protect their community. There are many different types but, the five main ones are, the Air Force, the National Guard, the Army, the Marine Corps, and finally, the Coast Guard. They all earn different amounts of pay and require different training and schooling. There are benefits to them all that could be life changing. These brave people, are here to help and protect you.…

NRAP Analysis

Around 2.5 million American members of military services have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan ever since September 11,2001.America’s recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have increased the rates of trauma and mental illnesses toward American veterans. Most Military services have exposed members to a range of injuries and family pressures (.U.S Department of Veteran Affairs,2014). In August of 2012, President Barack Obama placed Executive Order directing Federal agencies to create a National Research Action Plan (NRAP) to reduce factors that contribute to these problems (Office of the Press Secretory,2012) The NRAP is a combination of Veterans affairs (VA), Departments of Defense (DOD), and Health and Human Services (HHS). They have all come together to put in effort in response that called for access to mental health service for veterans, service members, and military families (Office of the Press Secretory,2014).…

Asvab Vs Airforce

When joining the Airforce, you first must take the ASVAB. This is a test for the military that you usually take some time in you high school years. When you take the ASVAB you need to make a score of 36 or higher as this is the preferred ASVAB score. After that That find an Airforce recruiter to talk about your plans. Recruiters are the people who find people wanting to go into whatever branch of military they are choosing, but however most recruiters aren't always reliable when it comes to choosing your preferred job.…

Becoming A Surgeon

In order to become a surgeon, you have to be good at science and biology. It also requires having a master's degree. Having a doctoral degree is also helpful. Have more than 4 years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training. You also need to be very careful about…

Army Professional Definition

Junior enlisted Soldiers have not obtained the level of experience and expertise to hold a leadership role. The absence of these key attributes in junior enlisted Soldiers is what prevents them from meeting the definition of professionals. Even though not all members of the Army can be considered professionals, there is still the potential to become professionals therefore the Army is still a profession. It is the duty of Officers, Warrant Officers and NCOs as stewards of the profession to develop Soldiers into professionals as well as further professionally develop junior leaders. “Stewardship is the responsibility of Army professionals to strengthen the Army as a profession”.…

How Doctors Make Mistakes In Dr. Brian Goldman's Ted Talk

Becoming a doctor is not an easy road to take. It takes a lot of time and effort for many years. When they finally become a doctor, they become even busier. Doctors work 12-hour days and are on call 24/7. It is one surgery after another, One patient after the other.…

Sports Medicine Physician Career Analysis

The career that I picked to investigate was Sports Medicine Physician. The connection that this career has with the field of Exercise and Sport Science is that is deals with sports, hints the title of the career. The job description for this job is to diagnose, treat, and help prevent injuries that occur during sporting events. The job description sounds close to an Athletic Trainer, but they are different. The difference is that Athletic trainers are first aid care treatment for injuries on the field or court.…

Military Career Research Assignment

Career Research Assignment In the military you serve and protect our country foreign and domestic. You also get to take the skills you learned and apply them to other jobs. With the military you get to travel for free. Another thing with the military you don’t have to go in to the front lines.…

Importance Of Following Orders In The Military

The army is important to me it gives me a sense of family and make me feel like in a part of the team. I don’t mind the pay in the army it gives me a sense of independence and makes me feel like I can spend on what I want and what I need to use to get through until the next check. The army has also has it good and bad experiences like deployment. Deployment can be only on how the person can make it like for example myself I made it hard on myself and the people I worked with because of how I lied and hindered the mission when we were being replaced. The other side was it was a good experience to see how life was in deployed environment like Afghanistan, experience some places on the road to and from Afghanistan like the food, people and the views.…

Why Join The Military Essay

If I had to describe myself with just one aspect about my life it would be when I decided to join the military. I’m sharing this aspect of my life because it is unique to me and not many other people have the military as part of their lives. Less than one-half of 1% of the U.S. population is serving in the military right now. Joining the Army was one of the most life changing experiences I’ve had so far in my life. In my time since joining I have learned a lot and met many people from all walks of life in the military.…

Informative Speech: The Army As A Profession

Main point 1: The Army as a Profession [Remember that main points must be phrased simply] A. Support for 1st main point 1. The Army as a plethora of jobs available: The Army offers training in more than 150 different career paths. As an active duty Soldier, you will have access to all of them. Choose from jobs in art, science, intelligence, combat, aviation, engineering, law and more. There is no limit to what you can achieve.…

Related Topics

• Armed forces

Ready To Get Started?

• Create Flashcards
• Mobile apps
•   Facebook
•   Twitter
• Cookie Settings

• Aim in life of ...

Aim in life of army doctor essay

My aim in life to become an army

From childhood I admire soldiers of our country. Main reason behind this may be my uncle who is in army. I used to listen stories of their daily life in border which was just terrible. May be this made me feel sympathetic towards them and influenced me to take care of health.

Living life as a Doctor in Army, is one of the most interesting thing. It is true that the experience they get is unmatched. As the other officer in army, the privileges and perks are same for army doctor.

In the Army hospitals, best kind of medical equipment and facilities are available. Army doctors can work on complicated medical conditions and injuries along with normal medical ailments of all soldiers.

I am determined that someday I will be able to fulfill my dreams and will become an army doctor.

diamondm7hh

Rate an answer:

If you know the answer add it here!

Can't find the answer, other related questions that may help you.

we just use the simple formula of frequency

kinsleyhood

Step-by-step explanation:

Profit Alex made =25%. Sales price =$150000. =25/100 ×150000=3750.

ryannicholson

i) Open the letter with a simple salutation. ...

ii)Grab the reader's attention. ...

iii)Explain what the letter is about at the start. ...

iv)Explain why the issue is important. ...

v)Give evidence for any praise or criticism. ...

vi)State your opinion about what should be done. ...

vii)Keep it brief. ...

viii)Sign the letter.

clinton1wyu

• an aeroplane leaves an airport and flies due North at 300km/h

Another aeroplane leaves the same airport at the same time and flies due West at 400km/hr.

• We know that, Distance = Speed × Time
• Distance travelled by aeroplane which flies due North in 1½ hours,
• Time = (2 + 1)/2 = 3/2 hours
• Distance = 300 × 3/2 = 150 × 3 = 450 km
• Distance = 400 × 3/2 = 200 × 3 = 600 km

OA is the distance travelled by the plane flying due North

OB is the distance travelled by the plane flying due West

AB^2 = OA^2 + OB^2

AB^2 = (450)2 + (600)2

AB^2 = 202500 + 360000

AB^2 = 562500

Taking square root,

biablopowell

Other English Questions

• இப்பாடலின் ஆசிரியர் யார் ​ Author: beanie 1 year ago
• What is the complete subject? Charlie decided to invite his friend Spencer over to play monopoly, Author: taryn 1 year ago
• IDEAS ON A PLANNING OF THE LETTER TO THE EDITOR Author: ryannicholson 1 year ago
• A report writing on how the presence of photosynthesis adds value to the life of plants ​ Author: mohammedgolden 1 year ago

Log in with Google

Forgot your password?

I don't have an account, and I want to Register

United States

Philippines

Bahasa Indonesia

By closing this banner, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies.

Your Trusted Advisors for Admissions Success

Admissions and test prep resources to help you get into your dream schools

How to Become a Military Doctor

What is life like as a military doctor learn how to pursue a career in military medicine, including admissions strategies to get into military medical school.

Learn how to become a physician in the U.S. military

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: how to become a military doctor: usuhs vs. hpsp  , part 3: military medical school admissions.

If you dream of becoming a doctor, you’ve likely imagined the types of patients you’d like to treat and the environment you’d like to work in. If that picture includes serving your country, caring for active-duty military personnel, and practicing medicine in sometimes austere locations, then you may be interested in a career in military medicine. 

Physicians in the military are trained to be officers first and doctors second , dedicating their careers to caring for those in harm’s way. For those who choose to take on this calling, there are multiple avenues that can lead to becoming a military physician. 

In this guide, we’ll cover all the information you’ll need to decide whether military medicine is right for you. We’ll also provide an overview of the paths you can take to achieve a career in military medicine, plus admissions strategies to get you on your way. 

Over 90% of our students get into med school—the first time.

Get our free 102-page guide to help you with every step: Get Into Medical School: 6 Practical Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Coat

100% privacy. No spam. Ever.

Thank you! Your guide is on its way. In the meantime, please let us know how we can help you crack the medical school admissions code . You can also learn more about our 1-on-1 medical school admissions support here .

What is life like as a military doctor? 

It depends! There is tremendous variety in day-to-day life, as well as between branches, service stations, and deployments. Your specific role as a physician depends both on your residency specialty, as well as the needs of the military at the time of your service. 

Deployment is a temporary assignment, usually lasting between 3 and 15 months, in which you serve as part of a mobilized military operation. During deployment, all your military, medical, and leadership training comes into play as you practice medicine in sometimes austere environments. 

The frequency of your deployments varies between branches. If you are not deployed, you will serve at an installation hospital or clinic, caring for service members and their families.

If you’re interested in operational medicine, you may choose to defer residency training after the completion of intern year and instead serve as a General Medical Officer (GMO). GMO billets, which are available to Navy and Air Force officers, are exciting hands-on roles. These physicians are attached to a specific unit, ship, or clinic, serving in a capacity similar to a general medical practitioner focused on preventative care. 

Navy physicians can also specialize in the clinical field of aviation or in dive medicine, attaching to flight squadrons as flight surgeons or dive units as undersea medical officers. These physicians bring the practice of medicine to the air and the sea.

The exciting and unique opportunities of military medicine come with a certain degree of unpredictability, so military physicians must be flexible and open to change. Military physicians often do not have control over their practice locations and their debt-free education comes tied to a multi-year service commitment. 

Some physicians find the thought of multiple deployments to be daunting, as they can place strain on family members staying behind. Deployments can also be located in hazardous areas and last for months at a time. 

Furthermore, depending on the specialty, military physicians may make less money than their civilian peers. Because the needs of the military come first, military physicians might find themselves constrained when it comes to sub-specializing in the fellowships of their choice. 

All said, a life in the military is not for everyone. It takes the right type of person—one looking for adventure and service to your nation—to enjoy it and thrive. 

In this section, we’ll discuss the two options that lead to becoming a military physician: military medical school, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS or USU) , and the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) . 

The main differences between USUHS and HPSP are your status in relation to the military and the type of medical school you attend. 

HPSP students attend civilian medical schools. During this time, they are commissioned as officers in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) and receive full tuition plus stipend to the medical school of their choice. In contrast, USUHS students are active-duty officers who spend more time in a military environment while attending medical school at USUHS.

Next, we will take a closer look at each of these options.

Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS)

The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at USUHS , or “America’s Medical School,” is a four-year, allopathic medical school located near the nation’s capital on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Base in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Students without prior military experience must complete their service-specific orientation program (at other military bases within the United States) prior to matriculation. During this officer training, students spend 4–6 weeks learning about the customs of life in their respective services, as well as the responsibilities of a uniformed officer. At the end of officer orientation, all medical students are commissioned as active-duty service members in one of the following branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, or U.S. Public Health Service. 

Once students step foot on USU, they begin their medical education as officers in the military and must wear the uniform of the day to classes and clerkships. The USU curriculum incorporates military training, which we will discuss more in the next section.

USU’s medical education is paid for by the U.S. government. As a result, students do not pay tuition to the school. In addition to free tuition, students receive a military salary and benefits , including a housing allowance and supply reimbursement. As an O-1 officer (a second lieutenant in the Army or Air Force, or an ensign in the Navy), students will receive active-duty pay and benefits commensurate to an O-1 rank, which amounts to over $70,000 yearly.

For their debt-free medical school education at USUHS, students owe a seven-year active-duty commitment to the United States Military, or ten years for the Public Health Service. This commitment begins after residency is completed. Time spent in internship or residency training does not count towards payback.

What is it like to study at USUHS?

The medical education at USUHS integrates basic and clinical science with over 500 hours of military-specific training, centering on leadership, trauma training, and disaster response. 

The first eighteen months of the curriculum focuses on pre-clinical medicine through an organ-systems-based approach, while also incorporating military-relevant clinical care and population health. 

In their third and fourth years, students complete clinical clerkships (in family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, gynecologic surgery and obstetrics, medicine, and surgery, along with a four-week selective) at military hospitals around the country. With 24 different locations for core clerkships throughout the U.S., they may take you as far away as Hawaii or as near as Portsmouth, Virginia, and all expenses are covered during rotations from travel to lodging. 

Working at various sites ensures that students interact with different members of the military system, including veterans, active duty members, and their families. Through clerkships, students also gain exposure to potential residency training sites and have the opportunity to network with faculty. 

In addition to clerkships, USUHS teaches tactical combat casualty care, simulates deployments in medical platoons, and hosts field practicums to expose medical students to hands-on training designed to increase military readiness.

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

For students interested in attending a civilian medical school, the Army , Navy , and Air Force offer service scholarships as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). 

If accepted to this program, students receive full coverage of medical school tuition, as well as reimbursement of health insurance and other school expenses (e.g., books and licensing exams). HPSP students may also receive a signing bonus of up to $20,000, plus a living stipend that amounts to approximately $2,000 per month. 

Each year of medical school supported by the HPSP scholarship accrues one year of active-duty commitment. Thus, students who receive a four-year HPSP scholarship owe four years of active duty to that specific service branch. 

Students may accept between two- and four-year HPSP scholarships. Minimum service obligations may also apply for students not receiving a four-year scholarship. During medical school, students must participate in 45 days of active duty annually and attend their service-specific officer orientation prior to graduation. 

Both USUHS and HPSP students are eligible to apply for civilian-sponsored residencies, although the military must grant civilian deferment for training at a civilian institution during residency.

Want expert guidance on medical school admissions?

Enter your name and email for weekly advice, plus our free 102-page guide to help you with every step: Get Into Medical School: 6 Practical Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Coat

Applying to both USUHS and HPSP requires you to submit an AMCAS application and follow the standard medical school application process, including composing your personal statement , assembling your Work & Activities section , writing secondary essays , and going on medical school interviews .

In addition, since HPSP students attend civilian medical schools, this path will also require you to put time and effort into picking the right schools . 

How to apply for an HPSP scholarship

To apply for and receive an HPSP scholarship, you’ll need to first select the branch of service you are interested in. Then, you’ll need to begin gathering the appropriate documents for applying (such as your academic transcripts, MCAT scores, and AMCAS application). This can be done with the same materials used to apply to medical school.

Next, you’ll speak to a recruitment officer. The recruiter will help walk you through the necessary documents as well as specialized portions of the application process, such as the security clearance and medical screening. 

Ultimately, your application will be screened by the recruitment board for selection. Selection boards are primarily concerned with academic, medical, and professional potential. They are held twice per month and, on average, 85% of applicants are offered a scholarship. The average successful applicant has a GPA of 3.65 and an MCAT of 507.

Note that, in order to be eligible for HPSP, you must also gain acceptance to an accredited medical school.

How to apply to USUHS

Next, we’ll discuss applying to USUHS. Since the USUHS application process has some key differences from that of its civilian counterparts, we’ve provided an overview below of what you need to know to submit a competitive application. 

Both military applicants and civilian applicants without prior experience may be considered for admission to USUHS. Approximately 60% of accepted students have no prior history of military service. 

In order to be eligible for USUHS admission , you must meet the following requirements:

Be a U.S. citizen as of November 1st in the year in which you apply (if you have pending citizenship, you must be scheduled to receive it no later than the November 1st following matriculation)

Be at least 18 but no older than 36 years old as of June 30th in the year in which you matriculate (if you are older than 36, you may request an age waiver; waivers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis)

How hard is it to get into USUHS? Over 3,000 applicants apply each year for around 170 spots, and the USUHS acceptance rate is around 9%. Representation varies by branch, but generally there are 63 Army students, 51 Air Force students, 51 Navy students, and 2 Public Health Service students.

To apply to USUHS, you’ll need an MCAT score of 496 or higher and a GPA of at least 3.0. However, take note that the average MCAT score of successful applicants is much higher at 511, while the average GPA is 3.7. Academic requirements closely mirror those of other medical schools, and all prerequisites must be completed before June 1st of the year of matriculation. 

Of note: applicants must submit a premedical committee letter packet or at least two science letters and one non-science letter of recommendation . In addition, a recommendation is needed from a physician or other healthcare professional who has observed you in a clinical setting. 

If you are currently or were previously a service member, it’s recommended that you submit an additional letter of recommendation from your supervisor or another superior officer. Active duty military must also procure a letter of approval or letter of release.  

Not all students will be interviewed for admission, but students who are will be evaluated on their motivation and potential as a future military physician. For example, the interview committee will be looking for students with integrity, leadership experience, and a willingness to respect, as well as sacrifice, for others. This is the heart of military medicine.

USUHS secondary essay (with example)

USUHS’s secondary application consists of three essay questions. Each is limited to a 1,500-character response, so remember that brevity and clarity will be key. 

While the majority of USUHS’s secondary prompts are similar to prompts you might see in your other medical school applications (e.g., a diversity essay), one question in particular gives you an opportunity to elaborate on your calling for military medicine.

Let’s take a look at this question and an example essay that answers it successfully. 

“Medicine and Officership are time-honored professions that unite at ‘America’s Medical School’ in rewarding and challenging ways. What are your thoughts and impressions about serving as a uniformed medical corps officer, and why do you want to pursue this career path?” (1,500 characters)

This question explicitly addresses USUHS’s mission of training physicians and military officers. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that your essay can convince its readers that whatever aspect of yourself you choose to write about will contribute to this specific mission. In other words, you should demonstrate that you have an understanding of and passion for both military service and medicine—and the ways they intersect in the military medicine field.

While performing research at the National Institutes of Health, I admired the collective mission of the world’s largest biomedical research program, whose aim is to serve the public by enhancing health and lengthening life. Though I am eager to pursue a medical career, I want to continue to serve a calling that is both greater than medicine and greater than myself. I wish to work jointly in a system that considers both the domestic and global impact of improving health. I can be a better physician by training in a system backed by the resources of our government with opportunities for travel and unique educational experiences. To this end, an unremitting desire of mine has been to find new horizons both through intellectual and physical undertakings and by journeying to new places. A military lifestyle, in this sense, is as enticing as it is formidable. It would be a privilege to work alongside others with similar ambitions, to attend to those who make this possible, and to become a part of this team. I understand that what sets military medicine apart is the men and women who would be in my charge, those who have willingly sacrificed themselves for a cause. By tending to them, as both a physician and military officer, I hope to become a part of this cause. 

What works about this essay?

This nontraditional applicant describes in detail how their work at a national research institute helped guide their awareness of the importance of a greater calling, which fits nicely with USUHS’s mission of training at “America’s Medical School” and caring for those in harm’s way .

Not only do they use this space to elaborate on an experience that would otherwise be just a line on their resume, they are also able to show how that experience has helped them develop a purpose in medicine and an appreciation for teamwork. In combination with their sense of adventure, they demonstrate why military medicine is a good fit for them.  

Final thoughts

Both the Uniformed Services University and HPSP seek students who have a calling for service, a commitment to leadership, and a passion for overcoming challenges. The primary mission of both USUHS and HPSP is to prepare its graduates for service to the United States, both at home and abroad in the medical corps. Students motivated to pursue military medicine should be eager to serve something greater than themselves through a career that will truly define who they will become. 

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

USMilitary.org

Military News, Benefits, and Jobs

Become an Army Doctor: Here are 5 Major Benefits

August 25, 2021 by Kevin

There’s no doubt that U.S. Army doctors are some of the bravest people in the world. And while becoming a medical doctor in the Army comes with sacrifice and dedication, it also yields great benefits.

As an Army doctor, you work in different settings, including hospital ships or international medical centers. These may include participating in international relief efforts and providing care to natural disaster victims. Your job is to make sure all soldiers are physically fit to take on their duties and treat injuries and other emergencies in combat.

The US Army mainly enlists doctors with specializations in various medical fields such as pediatrics, neurologists, and family care specialists.

TRENDING : 2025 Military Retiree Pay Raise: COLA, Benefits, and Planning

Pursuing your medical career through the U.S. Army Medical Corps ( non-combat ) is an honorable pursuit that pays off in the long run. Here’s how

1.     Becoming an Officer at Signing

One of the main things that will draw you in to become an army doctor is that you also automatically become an officer at signing besides being a military doctor. You get all the same perks as those of captains upon signing in as an army doctor.

You also get paid as active-duty officers in the military, which is a much higher pay rate than other civilian jobs in the same capacity. As an army doctor, you essentially become part of the team and enjoy all the benefits of the job upon signing.

2.     Salary/Benefits

The military has a four to eight years’ service requirement for army officers, and the salary is determined based on your standard Department of Defense pay grade. For example, an  O-1 officer , the lowest pay grade can receive up to $3,107.70 monthly at a basic level. This is the absolute minimum an army doctor could earn.

You also get to enjoy numerous ‘special pay’ bonuses for specific roles, such as being a medical professional. Military doctors with at least one year of service may receive Variable Special Pay up to $12,000 annually. And as much as $75,000 if you have completed a four-year commitment, divided across your usual paychecks.

3.     Free Medical School (Via Scholarship)

Another added benefit of being a military doctor is that the  Army pays for your medical school . Congress has authorized the Army to pay up to 100% of its doctor’s tuition expenses. This added benefit is also available to all active-duty Army service members, the National Guard , and Reserve service members.

The Army covers your technical, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate programs through scholarship. All new Army doctors and recruits can also enjoy the Military’s Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate up to $65,000 of your existing loan debt.

4.     Monthly Stipends While on Scholarship

You stand a higher chance of qualifying for military financial aid to support your education by attending a military medical school. 

You may also qualify for military financial assistance to help you in non-affiliated medical schools, guaranteeing you a position to join the army as a commissioned medical officer after graduation.

5.     $20k-$40k Signing Bonuses

Upon joining the military doctor ranks, you will receive a signing bonus ranging between $20k-$40k. The bonus is coupled with many other salary benefits, including basic pay, drill pay, special pay, allowances, and bonuses.

The military is also one of the few jobs that provide a full pension after you have served 20 years or more.

Interested in Joining the Army Medical Field?

Joining the U.S. Army Medical Department is unlike any other job description because it comes with handsome benefits. 

It is an essential step to understand the many advantages of choosing the army medical field as your career path. Get in touch today and learn more.

About Kevin

Kevin is a small business owner. He has written thousands of articles that have appeared on MSN, Bing, and a variety of niche news sites and magazines. His siblings and parents are veterans, which helped foster his passion and appreciation for the U.S. Military and helping veterans with quality information.

Military Benefits

• Retirement Benefits
• Military Benefits News
• About USMilitary.org

USMilitary.org Offers