The Medical Field The Department of Defense permits up to two percent of each USMA graduating class to attend medical school immediately following graduation. The exact number each year will vary depending upon the needs of the service, the qualifications of the applicants, and their acceptance into a medical school. The ruling took effect with the graduates of the Class of 1979.
Currently, there are two fully-funded sources which produce physicians for the Army: The Medical School of the Department of Defense Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the Department of the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. USMA graduates may participate in either of these programs.
Department of Defense Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
USMA graduates who attend the USUHS Medical School accept Medical Service Corps Reserve commissions of second lieutenant. While enrolled in USUHS, participants draw the normal pay and allowances of a second lieutenant. Tuition, books, and equipment costs are paid by the U.S. Government
Longevity credit for pay purposes does not accrue to officers while in school, and they are not eligible to receive longevity pay increases during that time. Additionally, active duty time spent in student status does not count in determining eligibility for retirement, but is creditable for computing retirement pay. The time spent in school is also fully creditable for promotion purposes.
Upon graduation, officers are tendered commissions as captains in the Medical Corps. The Army Medical Corps offers professional challenges that prevent a doctor's career from becoming a predictable daily routine. Patient care, teaching, research, directing a medical facility-a physician can do all this and more in the Army.
USMA graduates incur an additional ten-year service obligation or seven years of obligated service with a six-year reserve obligation, which starts following residency. If you come to West Point to be an Army doctor, understand that you will be an Army doctor for a long time.
Usually USUHS graduates continue their medical education with one year of internship and two to four years of residency. No additional obligation is incurred for internship training.
Obligations incurred for medical training are added to any other active obligation, whether incurred prior to matriculation or subsequent to graduation. For USMA graduates, this means that the seven-year obligation is in addition to the five years for which they are already committed as well as one year of internship. In terms of total service, this means approximately 13 years.
The Army Health Profession Scholarship Program
The Army Health Profession Scholarship Program allows USMA graduates to attend accredited osteopathic or allopathic medical schools located in the United States or Puerto Rico. Just as with the USUHS program, the USMA graduates accept Medical Service Corps Reserve commissions of second lieutenant. While attending medical school, officers are in an inactive status drawing a stipend for 10 1/2 months each year plus 45 days pay and allowances of a second lieutenant during annual active duty for training. The total compensation is more than $12,000 per year. Tuition, books, and most associated expenses are paid by the U.S.Government. While in school longevity credit for either pay or retirement is accrued.
Upon graduation, officers are tendered commissions as captains in the Medical Corps. USMA graduates incur an additional four-year service obligation.
Graduate medical education for officers under this program is the same as under the USUHS. No additional obligation is incurred for internship or residency training.
Under the program, USMA graduates incur a four-year obligation in addition to the five years for which they are already committed as well as one year of internship training. In terms of total service this equals approximately 10 years.
The Army's Funded Legal Education Program There is a small, fully-funded program which produces lawyers for the Army, known as The Judge Advocate General's Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP).
Under the provisions of FLEP, not more than 25 officers per year attend a course of instruction (usually 3 years) leading to a J.D. or LL.B. degree at an approved civilian law school. this is done at government expense and at full salary.
To be eligible for the program, officers must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree or equivalent; have not less than two years, nor more than six years of total active duty; be in the rank of captain or below; and be a Regular Army officer, a Reserve officer willing to accept voluntary-indefinite status or a Reserve officer willing to accept voluntary-indefinite status. Selection for the program is based on an evaluation of application packets by a selection board appointed by the Office of the Judge Advocate General. Those application packets include academic transcripts, Officer Efficiency Ratings, Staff Judge Advocate interviews, and results of the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Selection is conditioned upon acceptance into an approved law school. USMA graduates with prior service may meet the eligibility requirements for this program upon graduation; although the most competitive time-in-service range is 2 1/2 to 4 years of commissioned service.
Upon selection for the program officers are detailed to the Judge Advocate General Corps for the duration of their schooling. After successful completion of the course of study and admission to the bar, officers will remain detailed to the JAGC for a minimum observation period of one year. At the end of this probationary period, officers who are found to be "fully qualified" continue serving as JAGs.
Officers accepted for FLEP incur a two-year service obligation for each year or part thereof spent in the law school. The service obligation begins on the date the officer reports to the JAGC Officer Basic course or begins the performance of legal duties as prescribed by The Judge Advocate General (TJAG), whichever occurs first. Obligations incurred for legal training are added to any other active duty obligation and time spent in law school does not satisfy and service obligation.
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Webmaster note for prospective applicants: While the service obligations in this fact sheet sound a bit ominous, American Indian West Pointers have gone on to medical school and law school after graduation, and are doctors and lawyers today.
TROPHY POINT AI-GRADS PERSHING BARRACKS 1ST DIVISION