Overview for Army Medical Service Corps

 

Active Duty (Full Time Job)

 

Are you a student interested in Optometry school? 

 

  • Check out the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP).

     

     

 

 

Interested in what the Army offers for Counseling or Clinical Psychology?

  • Check out the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) for students
  • The Clinical Psychology Internship Program (CPIP) for residents 
  • The Clinical Psychology Post Doctoral Supervision Program for residents  
  • Special Pay for Practicing Licensed Clinical Psychologist 

 

Do you have a Doctorate in Audiology and interested in an externship?

 

  • Look at the Audiology Externship Program (AEP) below for more information.    

     

     

 

Are you a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) and interested in a Surgical Residency Program? 

  • Check out the Podiatric Surgical Residency information below.

     

         

 

Interested in what the Army has to offer for Social Workers? Check out:

  • The Army Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
  • The Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP)
  • Also fully qualified licensed Clinical Social Workers may receive a special pay for joining

     

     

**Practicing Pharmacists may be eligible for a special pay bonus.**

 

 

 

Interested in paying off student loans? 

  • Check out the Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP)

     

       

     

 

Army Reserves (Part Time Job)

 

 

Interested in what the Army Reserves has to offer?

  • Check out the Reserve Component Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (RCHPLR) and the Health Professions Special Pay below.

 

 

 

 

Active Duty Incentives/Programs:


Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) -- Optometry 

Provides 2 and 3 year scholarships to students enrolled in or accepted to accredited optometry programs. Applicants must be a US Citizen. HPSP provides full tuition, monthly stipend of over $2,300 for 10 and one half months and reimbursement of certain academic fees. Provides second lieutenant pay for 45 days during Active Duty Training. Appointed and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service (MS) Corps while participating in the HPSP program. Active Duty Obligation is year-for-year for each year receiving the scholarship with a minimum obligation of 3 years. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in January of each year.

 

 

 

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) -- Counseling/Clinical Psychology 

Provides 1 and 2 year scholarships to students in American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical or counseling psychology doctoral programs. Applicant must be a US Citizen. HPSP provides full tuition, monthly stipend of over $2,300 for 10 and one half months and reimbursement of certain academic fees. Provides second lieutenant pay for 45 days during Active Duty Training. Appointed and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service (MS) Corps while participating in the HPSP program. Active Duty Obligation is year-for-year for each year receiving the scholarship with a minimum obligation of 3 years. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in December of each year.

 

 

Clinical Psychology Internship Program (CPIP)

The Army sponsors a 1-year clinical psychology internship program at five military medical treatment facilities. Applicants must have completed all course work toward a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology. Officers enter the program in the rank of captain and incur a 49-month Active Duty Obligation (including the 1-year internship); must be a US citizen. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in December of each year.

 

 

Clinical Psychology Post Doctoral Supervision Program

The Army sponsors a 1-year clinical psychology residency program for students at one of five military medical treatment facilities. Applicants who are currently completing an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited civilian clinical or counseling psychology internship are eligible to compete for this 1 year of post-doctoral supervision requirement towards licensure. Officers enter the program in the rank of captain and incur a 36-month Active Duty Obligation upon completion of the residency and licensure; must be a US citizen.

 

 

Accession Bonus (AB)

All fully qualified licensed clinical social workers and clinical psychologists who do not currently hold a commission as a licensed clinical social worker or a clinical psychologist in any service may be eligible to receive special pay. Social workers may receive up to $18,750 for a 3 year Active Duty Obligation and up to $30,000 for a 4 year Active Duty Obligation. Clinical psychologists may receive up to $37,500 for a 3 year Active Duty Obligation and up to $60,000 for a 4 year Active Duty Obligation. This incentive cannot be combined with any other incentive.

 

 

 

 

Audiology Externship Program (AEP) 

AEP provides a 1-year clinical audiology externship to students who have completed all academic coursework for their clinical doctorate in audiology and are eligible for the 1-year program. Training is conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. Applicants incur a 36-month Active Duty Obligation following completion of the externship. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in October of each year.

 

 

 

Podiatric Surgical Residency 

The Army sponsors a 36-month podiatric surgery residency at one of three medical treatment facilities. Applicants must have a doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM). Officers enter the program in the rank of captain and incur an 84-month Active Duty Obligation (including the 36-month residency).

 

 

The Army-MSW Program 

The Army Master of Social Work (MSW) Program is a 14-month course through the University of Kentucky consisting of 60 semester hours, followed by a 26-month Social Work Internship Program. This program is open to civilians, officers and enlisted personnel requesting to become Active Duty Medical Service Corps Army officers so that they may pursue the MSW via the Army MSW Program. Applicants must have a liberal arts undergraduate degree from an accredited university, preferably in the social sciences (sociology, psychology, social work, political science, criminal justice or similar areas of focus). To enter into the MSW program students must have completed undergraduate coursework that includes 18 semester hours of social and/or behavioral sciences. Applicants incur a 42-month Active Duty Obligation. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in January of each year.

 

 

 

 

The Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) 

This program is open to civilians, officers, and enlisted personnel requesting to become Active Duty Medical Service Corps Army officers. The SWIP is conducted at multiple Army Medical Treatment Facilities for a 26-month period. The SWIP is an educational bridge between the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the AMEDD Center and School and independent social work practice. It is a formal training program designed to give social work interns structured supervision as they transition from their role as social work students to independent providers. The SWIP exposes unlicensed active duty social workers to key areas of practice within the social work career field, and allows for the advanced application of theory to practice in a supervised setting. Applicants incur a 30-month ADO upon completion of the program and licensure. This is a one-time-a-year board meeting in June of each year.

 

 

 

 

Pharmacist Accession Bonus (AB)

 

Accession Bonus for qualified pharmacy applicants of up to $30,000 paid in a lump sum to Basic Office Leadership Course (BOLC) graduates at the first permanent duty station. ADO is a minimum of 48 months. Pharmacy is only authorized ADHPLRP or the Accession Bonus, but not both at the same time.

 

 

 

 

Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP) 

This program will repay up to $40,000 of qualified loans to lending institutions annually for a maximum of 3 years. Participants of the ADHPLRP will incur an active duty obligation (ADO) consisting of a minimum 2 years, or one year of ADO for each annual repayment, whichever is greater. The active duty obligation (ADO) time will be served in addition to any education/training ADO (consecutively). No portion of the ADO for ADHPLRP will be fulfilled by prior military (Active or Reserve) service, during graduate professional education (internship, residency, fellowship and so forth), or during and obligation incurred for any accession bonus. Fully qualified applicants for all Medical Service Area of Concentration (AOC) and The Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) applicants are authorized ADHPLRP. Note for SWIP applicants receiving the ADHPLRP: An Active Duty Obligation incurred for Graduate Professional Education (GPE) is in addition to and will be served after the ADHPLRP ADO. If currently not fully qualified in the specialty targeted by the ADHPLRP, be licensed to practice in the profession or specialty in which they are train before payments are executed consistent with the ADHPLRP contract. Taxable income.

 

 

 

Army Reserve Medical Service Corps Programs/Incentives:

 

Reserve Component Health Professions Loan Repayment (RCHPLR) Program

 RCHPLRP provides education loan repayment up to a total of up to $60,000 for qualified Optometry, Aeromedical Evacuation, Microbiology, Clinical Laboratory, Entomology, Audiology, and Social Work serving in an Army Reserves Troop Program Unit (TPU), the APMC or the IMA Program. For each year of satisfactory service in an AR TPU, the APMC or IMA Program, a maximum of $20,000 annually (minus taxes) will be applied to an education loan. RCHPLR provides education loan repayment up to a total of $250,000 for Clinical Psychology (73B) serving in an AR TPU, the APMC or the IMA Program. For each year of satisfactory service in an AR TPU, the APMC or IMA Program, a maximum of $40,000 annually (minus taxes) will be applied to an education loan. Individuals may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in one other AR incentive program; must be a US citizen. Taxable income.

 

 

 

Health Professions Special Pay (Accession Bonus (AB)

Special Pay provides up to $20,000 per year, participants must choose 2, 3 or 4 years of affiliation for Optometry (67F), Aeromedical Evacuation (67J), Microbiology (71A), Clinical Laboratory (71E), Entomology (72B), Audiology (72C), and Social Work (73A). Special Pay provides up to $20,000 per year, participants must choose 2, 3 or 4 years of affiliation for Clinical Psychology (73B). Participants must serve in an AR TPU, APMC or IMA Program. Individuals may be eligible, if qualified, to participate in one other AR incentive program.

 

 

 

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Based on the annual needs of the Army, commissions may be available to applicants in the Regular Army (RA) or Army Reserve (AR).
  • Commissions are available in the areas of audiology, biochemistry, clinical laboratory, clinical psychology, entomology, environmental engineering, environmental science, health services administration, health services system management, immunology, microbiology, nuclear medical science, optometry, parasitology, pharmacy, podiatry, research psychology and social work.
  • Specific degree requirements may be obtained from the local Health Care Recruiter.

 

Videos:

 

 

Watch this video talking about the Medical Service Corps!

 

 

Watch this video about Social Workers within the U.S. Army.

 

 

 

Real life demonstration of just some of the U.S. Army medical capabilities.

 

 

 

How do Audiologist contribute to the Army? Check out this video for more information!

 

 

See how Optometrists contribute to Army Medicine!  

Factsheets:

 

Want to learn more about joining the Army Medical Service Corps? Click on "Army Medical Service" which will provide more information like eligibility, benefits and financial assistance.