To be accepted as an applicant for the Commissioned Corps, you must:

In addition, commissioned officers are required to:

You may also contact the Recruitment and Assignment Branch at (301) 594-3360 or (800) 279-1605 during working hours (8:00 am-4:30 pm Eastern Time) and request that an application be sent to you. If necessary, please leave a message and your call will be returned. RAB will be glad to assist with any questions you may have on how to complete the application.

How long does it take to process an application?

In order to receive proper credit for prior service, you must submit official paperwork proving the dates of service. The most complete form of proof is a Statement of Service which may be completed on a PHS-6134 form or on an equivalent Department of Defense form. This Statement of Service should show the date appointed, the date called to duty, the date separated from duty, and the date discharged for any periods of service performed. If you cannot obtain a complete Statement of Service, a complete record of retirement points may be used. However, the time credited may not be entirely accurate due to the use of anniversary dates instead of actual service dates on these reports. A DD-214 is only proof of the most recent period of active duty and does not show a service member's entire record. If you cannot obtain a complete Statement of Service or complete record of retirement points, a DD-214 may be used, but other supporting documentation such as a copy of the original appointment document, copies of short tour orders, and discharge orders will be needed. None of these forms are acceptable for proof without the authentication of the official in charge of your military records -- you may not complete the forms yourself and submit them.

If this information is not provided at the time of call to duty, it may be submitted at any time thereafter. Your BPED and pay will be amended retroactive to your call to active duty date.

In addition, the following do not count towards retirement credit, no matter how they are credited in other Uniformed Services:

• Inactive duty retirement points.

In order to receive proper credit for prior service, you must submit the same forms listed in the answer above. It is vital that paperwork submitted show all dates of active service, or time may not be credited properly. Again, if this information is not provided at the time of call to duty, it may be submitted at any time thereafter. Your RCD will be amended retroactive to your call to active duty date.

An officer performing an IST will retain his/her current pay rank when joining the Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps. This differs from the other methods of joining the PHS Commissioned Corps because an officer can potentially start with a rank higher than his/her training and experience (T & E) credit would normally allow. An extreme example of this would be a Major (O-4) who has been an engineer in the army but only just obtained a B.S. degree from an accredited college or university. If joining the PHS by a method other than IST, this applicant would only be paid as an O-2, but joining via IST, this officer would still be paid as an O-4. There are very rare instances of this rule acting to the detriment of an officer. In these cases it is to the officer's benefit to request a discharge (or a release from active duty (sometimes referred to as REFRAD) and then a conditional release from the inactive reserves) from the other service rather than an IST. That way, the applicant's rank would be calculated strictly according to the PHS regulations instead of relying on his/her military rank.

An officer performing an IST will also transfer over to the same component they belonged to in the military. This means that an officer currently in the Regular corps of the other service will transfer into the Regular corps of the PHS Commissioned Corps, instead of having to wait the necessary period of time and applying for entry into the Regular corps.

When an officer performs an IST and travel is required from his/her prior duty station to the new PHS duty station, the officer is entitled not only to his/her travel entitlements under the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, but also to the dislocation allowance that is normally related to a Permanent Change of Station move.

Finally, it is mandatory that the officer's annual leave balance be transferred to the PHS Commissioned Corps. Once the IST personnel order is cut, a letter will be sent to the losing service informing them of the IST effective date and requesting copies of the officer's separation orders and annual leave balance. Once that information is received in Division of Commissioned Personnel, a memo with that leave balance is forwarded to the officer's agency to add their prior balance to their current annual leave.

All other benefits given to officers with prior Uniformed Service time will be the same for those who perform an IST.

Officers in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps work in a variety of settings. They work in the eight Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) that comprise the health agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

as well as other OPDIVs within HHS including:

Commissioned Corps officers also work in other Federal agencies/programs that include the following:

There are many opportunities for serving in the Commissioned Corps throughout the Nation. Officers may choose to work within the same agency/program or they may choose to transfer to other agencies/programs across the country. The Corps supports an officer's pursuit of diverse work experiences and career advancement. Geographic mobility may allow officers to achieve this. An officer may move frequently throughout his/her career but a minimum assignment of 2 years at each duty station is expected.

There are no specific requirements as to the frequency of moves that an officer must make during his/her career. Mobility is important for promotion but it is not required on a specific schedule.

The agencies and programs where commissioned officers are assigned support both short-term and long-term training.

Short-Term Training must be approved by the agency or program where the officer works (approval from the Division of Commissioned Personnel (DCP) is not required) and includes:

• full-time training that does not exceed 30 consecutive days or a total of 90 calendar days in a fiscal year (October 1 - September 30); and
• part-time training that does not exceed 70 hours in attendance in a 30-day period or a total of 210 hours in attendance in a fiscal year.

Long-Term Training must be approved by the agency or program and DCP and includes:

• all units or courses in a planned educational program leading to an academic degree, whether taken full time, part-time, continuously, or intermittently; and
• training, including internships, residencies, or fellowships which exceeds the period that is specified as short-term training.

The principal reason for long-term training must be to benefit the PHS. Intramural long-term training does not require a payback obligation; extramural long-term training requires a two-for-one payback obligation at the completion of the officer's training with the agency/program that supported the long-term training unless that agency/program is willing to release the officer to another agency/program. All long-term training requests for the next academic year are due in the DCP by March 31 each year. A Manual Circular on long-term training is sent annually to all active-duty officers. For an application and any questions regarding training issues, call Betsy Darracott at (301) 594-3352 or (877) 463-6327 and listen to the prompts.

All Commissioned Corps applicants being called to active duty into training, as well as officers currently on active duty, are required to be on training personnel orders prior to entering their training program as well as transferring to another site after the completion of their training.

When DCP has completed the processing of your separation request, a personnel order authorizing your separation will be issued to you. When you receive your separation personnel order, you may begin making arrangements for travel and transportation of your household goods as authorized on the personnel order and in accordance with the Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR). You and your dependents cannot travel at government expense nor can you ship, store, or release your household goods to a mover until your official separation personnel orders authorizing shipment of household goods are issued. Authorized travel and transportation must be completed within 180 days following your date of separation from active duty. Shipment of your household goods must have begun within this 180-day limitation.

Words of Caution

Unlike the military, officers in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service do not sign contracts to serve for specific lengths of time. An officer may leave the service after any length of time but should keep in mind that there are certain conditions that must be met in order to retain all of the entitlements available to a separating officer. The most common entitlements lost are the use of or payment for lump sum annual leave, or travel and transportation entitlements. The rules governing these conditions are as follows:

*If you are divested of unused annual leave, you will not be allowed to take or be granted terminal leave. If your leave-granting authority approves terminal leave without knowing that you are to be divested, and you have departed your last duty station on terminal leave, you will be ordered back to duty for the balance of your time. If you fail to report back to duty, you will be placed in Absent Without Leave (AWOL) status. While in AWOL status, you forfeit all pay and allowances, you are not eligible for medical care or disability benefits, and you will not be reimbursed for any travel and shipping costs. In addition, the time in AWOL does not count toward completion of an active-duty obligation. Therefore, it is your responsibility to know the reasons for which you may be divested of your entitlements and whether one of these reasons applies in your case.

Terminal leave is any annual leave approved before but taken after submission of form PHS-1373. Under PHS policy, you may be approved for an amount of terminal leave which does not exceed the number of days of unused annual leave that would otherwise be credited to you upon the date of your separation from active duty.

Since terminal leave is not an entitlement, your leave-granting authority may approve or deny your request based on your program's staffing needs. If your request for terminal leave is approved, submit the completed and approved form PHS-1345 to your leave maintenance clerk. The leave maintenance clerk will balance your leave record through your separation date, certify the leave record, and send it forward for processing of your lump sum leave payment for any unused annual leave.

Terminal leave includes each day, other than authorized travel time, after the last day that you are physically present at your duty station. For example, if your last day at your duty station is a Friday, and you are approved for terminal leave, that leave will commence on Saturday even though Saturday may normally be a nonwork day.

Once you submit your form PHS-1373, you cannot request annual leave except for emergency purposes, e.g., a death in the family. If leave is approved for emergency purposes, DCP must be notified immediately by telegram so that appropriate adjustments may be made to your annual leave record and lump sum payment.

If you decide not to take approved terminal leave, you will still be charged for the leave unless

the approved leave was revoked by the leave-granting authority because of program staffing needs or you become ill while on terminal leave. In either case, your leave-granting authority must notify the Officer Support Branch (OSB) immediately by telegram so that appropriate adjustments may be made to your annual leave record. You must submit certification from a physician to your leave-granting authority if you want terminal leave changed to sick leave.

If you are separating from extended active duty (2 or more years of active duty) and have completed any active duty obligation, travel for you and your dependents, and transportation of your household effects, will be authorized on your separation personnel orders.

All travel on common carriers must be in coach class on a Government contract carrier. Dislocation allowance is not payable upon separation.

Per diem is payable for the number of days actually used for the travel, not to exceed the authorized travel time. The amount of travel time you are authorized will be based on the distance from your current duty station to either the place from which you were called to active duty or your home of record. Travel time will be computed by DCP to begin the day following any approved terminal leave or the last day you are physically present at your duty station if no terminal leave has been approved. For those officers serving on limited tours (tours of active duty with "not to exceed" dates), you may not serve on active duty past the "not to exceed date" and therefore will have travel time added prior to the date of separation as your pay continues and you are considered an active duty officer during authorized travel time.

Your Dependents' Travel: Your eligible dependents will be entitled to transportation allowances to the place specified in your separation personnel order, or a place of lesser distance, only if they actually perform the travel to that location to establish a residence.

Payment of Travel: You will not be paid for travel until you submit your travel voucher(s) to the finance office serving your last duty station. Vouchers are required for your travel and the travel of your dependents. For your travel, use form SF-1012, "Travel Voucher", and list your dependents' travel expenses on the same form. You must also complete form PHS-2988, "Voucher for Reimbursement for Travel - Dependents of PHS Commissioned Officers", for your dependents' travel. When you submit your travel voucher(s) for payment, you must include a copy of your separation personnel order.

Shipment of Household Goods: Unless stated otherwise, the authority to travel as set forth on your separation personnel orders includes authorization to ship your household goods.

Deadlines: Authorized travel and transportation must be completed within 180 days following your date of separation from active duty. Shipment of your household goods must have begun within this 180-day limitation. You may not, however, ship, store, or release household goods to a mover until you have received your official separation personnel order. If you have a need to expedite your travel, you may request a faxed copy of your personnel order from your agency liaison office.

At the time you are separated from active duty, you must surrender all Uniformed Services identification (ID) cards issued to you and your dependents. The cards should be delivered to the ID card issuing official or the personnel office for the activity to which you are assigned. If you leave your duty station prior to the date of actual separation, as is the case with officers going on terminal leave, and you will not be near your administrative office on the date of actual separation, you must return all Uniformed Services ID cards to the appropriate office through the mail. The ID cards must be returned by registered mail, return receipt requested, as close to the date of separation as possible.

You and your dependents lose all eligibility for medical care under the Uniformed Services Health Benefits Program (USHBP) as of midnight on the date you are separated from active duty. This includes loss of entitlement to benefits under TRICARE. You will have no health care coverage after separation, either for yourself or your family, until you take out a health insurance policy on your own as an individual, or until you are enrolled in a group health insurance program offered by your future employer.

After separation from active duty, you are automatically issued a PHS "Statement of Service". This form is accepted by the VA as proof of active duty service in the PHS Commissioned Corps and is the key document you must provide to establish entitlement to most VA benefits. It is the PHS equivalent of the Form DD-214, "Armed Forces of the U.S. Report of Transfer or Discharge." Do not release the original of the PHS "Statement of Service"; retain it for your personal records.

If you believe that your "Statement of Service" is incorrect, you must return the original in order to obtain a corrected statement. An officer is never issued more than one original "Statement of Service" for each period of active duty.

Upon leaving active service, you will receive all pay and allowances due you. When authorized, your lump sum payment will be based on the amount of unused annual leave to your credit at the time of separation, not to exceed 60 days. It will be computed at the rate of your active-duty pay on the day of separation and will include only your basic pay, and subsistence and quarters allowances. Payment will not include any other elements of pay, such as variable housing allowance or special pay. Payment of unused annual leave cannot be made until DCP receives your leave records, and will not be made until the month following the month you are released from active duty (including travel time). If you feel your lump sum leave payment has been unduly delayed, you should contact your agency liaison office first to see if they have forwarded the leave record cards to DCP.

INACTIVATING

Inactivating allows you to retain your commission in the PHS Commissioned Corps through an appointment in the inactive reserve corps. The purpose of the inactive reserve corps is to maintain a pool of highly-trained health professionals for recall during national emergencies and for ongoing agency/program support. Officers volunteer for the inactive reserve corps, and recalls to active duty are with the consent of the officer unless the President, by Executive Order, declares the PHS Commissioned Corps to be a military service. For the duration of such an Executive Order, all Corps officers would be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and could be ordered to active duty at the discretion of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The PHS Commissioned Corps was last militarized from 1945 to 1952.

Benefits for inactive reserve officers include:

There is no retirement program for officers in the inactive reserve. They are also not eligible for commissary or PX privileges, Space-A flights, or Uniformed Services healthcare except during periods of active duty for which a personnel order is issued.

It is very important that the inactive reserve officer keep the Division of Commissioned Personnel (DCP) informed of his/her current address, licensure, telephone numbers, medical, and employment status. If DCP is unable to locate the inactive reserve officer or if the officer fails to respond to correspondence as requested within the allotted time, the commission as an inactive reserve officer can be terminated automatically.

The individual ready reserves (IRR) is a subset of the inactive reserves.

Officers agree to serve on active duty for a minimum of 2 weeks over a 2-year period in PHS programs across the country. Tours generally run from 14 - 120 days and bring much needed services to the underserved and unserved populations throughout the U.S.

*Special rules apply for Federal civil servants who are in the inactive reserve corps and are called to active duty. He/she must either give up his/her federal civil service position or be called to active duty without pay. An inactive reserve corps officer cannot be called to active duty with pay, even if he or she is on leave-without-pay from a federal civil service position. If the inactive reserve corps officer who is a federal employee is interested in serving on a tour, the officer must use administrative or annual leave from his or her federal agency. Although he cannot receive PHS pay and allowances, the agency calling him or her to active duty is permitted to authorize travel and transportation allowances.

RETURNING TO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE PHS COMMISSIONED CORPS

If currently in the Inactive Reserve, former PHS Commissioned Corps officers may reactivate by doing the following:

• Submit a request to reactivate. The request should include your name, phone number, fax number (if available), e-mail address, information regarding any specific job the officer will be hired into including the hiring agency and expected start date, and should be sent to:

Division of Commissioned Personnel
Attn: Recruitment and Assignment Branch
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 4A-18
Rockville, MD 20857-0001

Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume covering their work experience from the date of inactivation to present. This should include the number of hours worked per week and a brief description of duties performed, and all dates should be in a month/year format;

• Provide three (3) current references including one from the applicant's current supervisor. If the applicant has been inactive for fewer than six (6) months, this requirement is usually waived; and
• Provide a photocopy of your current professional license.
• Contact RAB's medical evaluation staff at 1-800-279-1605 or 301-594-3360 to find out whether a full physical or specific updates are required.

Upon receipt of the reopen request, RAB will reopen the officer's file and request any additional information such as updated transcripts, then await the arrival of the PHS-1662 (Request for Personnel Action) from the hiring agency. At that time, if the file is completely cleared, the officer will receive a letter of acceptance similar to the one from their initial commissioning. Once the response to the acceptance is received in RAB, personnel orders will be issued and mailed to the officer.

CONTINUED HEALTH CARE BENEFIT PROGRAM (CHCBP) SUMMARY

The Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) is a program of temporary health benefit coverage for certain eligible individuals who lose military health benefits. The CHCBP is premium based, with the medical benefits under this program mirroring the benefits offered in the TRICARE Standard Program and functioning under most of the rules and procedures of TRICARE Standard.

Yes. Beneficiaries must elect coverage in the CHCBP within 60 days following:

• Loss of entitlement to the Military Health System; or
• Being notified of the CHCBP.

Beneficiaries may not select the effective date of their CHCBP policy; the period of coverage must begin on the day after loss of military entitlement.

CHCBP provides two types of coverage plans: individual and family. Individual coverage is available to the sponsor, an unremarried former spouse, and a child losing military benefits due to age. Family coverage is only available to the separating service member and his or her dependents. Once the election is made, the sponsor's enrollment category can be changed from individual to family coverage under the following conditions:

• Birth of a child;
• Marriage of the sponsor;
• Legal adoption of a child by the sponsor; or
• Placement by a court of a child as a legal ward in the home of the sponsor.

If one of the above events has occurred, the former member can change his or her enrollment from individual to family coverage, effective as of the date of the qualifying event. The sponsor must send a written request to the CHCBP Administrator no later than 60 days from the qualifying event and must include sufficient documentation to support the change in enrollment categories.

In order to enroll in the CHCBP, an eligible individual must submit a completed enrollment application form, proof of eligibility, and payment in full for the first 90 days of coverage (check or money order made payable to the U.S. Treasury).

Proof of eligibility:

The following three documents are acceptable to prove eligibility for the CHCBP:

• DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty";
• Final divorce decree;
• DD1173, "Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card".

Additional information and documentation may be requested to confirm the applicant's eligibility.

CHCBP coverage ranges from a period of 18 to 36 months, depending on the category of the beneficiary. Former active duty members and their family members are entitled to purchase up to 18 months of coverage. All other eligible beneficiaries are entitled to 36 months of coverage. Certain former spouses may be eligible for coverage beyond 36 months. All former spouses should review the criteria for extended coverage before enrolling in CHCBP to determine their eligibility for continued coverage beyond 36 months. CHCBP coverage is offered in increments of 90 days, renewable up to the total number of months referenced above.

The cost of CHCBP coverage depends on the category of enrollment, either individual or family. The premium for individual coverage is $933.00 per quarter and the premium for family coverage is $1,996.00 per quarter.

Premium refunds are only available in three cases. The first case is former active-duty members recalled to active duty. The second is former spouses who remarry. These two groups would receive a prorated refund from the time of their loss of eligibility for the program to the end of the enrollment period. The third case is those enrollees who prepay their premiums and elect to disenroll prior to the start of the enrollment period.

Health care coverage under the CHCBP mirrors the coverage of the TRICARE Standard benefit, which covers a majority of medical conditions. However, for some types of treatment, coverage can be limited. Prior to enrolling in the CHCBP, interested beneficiaries are encouraged to contact a TRICARE Service Center to ask specific questions regarding TRICARE Standard coverage.

When medical care is received, the beneficiary will be responsible for payment of certain deductible and cost-sharing amounts in connection with otherwise covered services and supplies. For detailed information concerning the amounts of cost-shares and deductibles, beneficiaries are encouraged to contact a TRICARE Service Center nearest their home.

Current active duty members anticipating separation from the military should ensure they participate in pre-separation counseling, which will provide information regarding various benefits available to members after leaving the military. Former members must also ensures that their correct status is recorded in DEERS upon separation.

How to obtain information about CHCBP:

The CHCBP Administrator provides administrative and educational support for the CHCBP. As part of this effort, they operate a toll-free line 24 hours a day. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Time (except holidays). After regular business hours, callers may listen to general information about the CHCBP Program or leave a message requesting that an application package be mailed to them.

For additional information, write or call:

CHCBP Administrator
P.O. Box 1608
Rockville, MD 20849-1608
(800) 809-6119

The MGIB program is an educational benefit administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible individuals. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

The reasons for participating may include the following:

• The cost of participating in the MGIB is only $1,200 (usually $100 is deducted monthly from your pay check for 12 months) (For information on how much the Department of Veterans Affairs pays, see question pertaining to that below);
• You may wish to pursue a second undergraduate or graduate degree or you may wish to enhance your current skills; and
• You have up to 10 years after you terminate from active duty in which to use your educational benefits. These can be used for education courses through institutions of higher learning or training courses through vocational programs approved for veteran training.

You may begin using your educational benefits after completing 24 months of continuous active duty in a Uniformed Service.

The easiest way is to call the school offering the training and ask to speak with the person who handles veterans' certifications. You may also call (888) GI-BILL-1 and speak with a representative.

Under current laws, VA education benefit payments are based on both the rate of training, such as full-time, 3/4 time, ½ time, and on the length of your training. If you serve in a Uniformed Service less than 3 years, you are eligible for $528 per month for full-time training (a total of $19,008 for a $1200 investment). If you serve 3 years or more, you are eligible for $650 per month for full-time training (a total of $23,400 for a $1200 investment). In addition, recent legislature allows an active-duty member to contribute an additional $600 which will result in greater benefits. More information about this will be forthcoming.

You may apply by completing VA Form 22-1990, "Application for Education Benefits." Applications may be obtained from your school or from any VA regional office. For further information, call (888) GI-BILL-1 and talk with a VA representative.

No. The Montgomery GI Bill is non-transferable to dependents.

I elected to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill program (MGIB) but I am also serving on a limited tour of duty. No money has been withheld from my pay. Is something wrong?

Nothing is wrong. The withholdings of officers called to active duty on a license- or medical-limited tour are suspended until the limitation is lifted, usually within 1 year. This is done to avoid the loss of MGIB contributions which are nonrefundable. While most officers called to active duty on limited tours have their limitations lifted, occasionally an officer will fail to obtain a license or meet the medical requirement and is subsequently separated. When the limitation is lifted, a personnel order is issued indicating that the officer is enrolled in MGIB effective the date that he/she was called to active duty and the withholdings begin automatically.

I originally enrolled in the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) but I understand that I can now enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program. How do I do that?

Officers who are enrolled in VEAP may enroll in MGIB if they:

• enrolled in VEAP on or before October 9, 1996;
• served continuously on active duty from October 9, 1996, through April 1, 2000;
• make a non-refundable payment of $2,700; and
• make an irrevocable election to enroll in MGIB by October 31, 2001.

The Division of Commissioned Personnel (DCP) will be contacting officers enrolled in VEAP to provide them with the necessary forms and instructions. Officers who enrolled in VEAP while serving on active duty in one of the other Uniformed Services will have to contact the Officer Support Branch (OSB), DCP, at (301) 594-3384 or (877) 463-6327 and select OSB to make sure that they receive the enrollment information.

What if I have money remaining in my VEAP account?

You must apply for a refund of your remaining contributions by completing VA Form 5281, "Application for Refund of Educational Contributions." This form may be obtained from the Division of Commissioned Personnel by calling (877) 463-6327 or your local Veterans Administration Regional Office.

I originally came on active duty during the Vietnam era. Do I have any educational benefits?

You may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill if you:

• had remaining entitlement under the Vietnam era GI Bill on December 31, 1989;
• served on active duty for any number of days during the period between October 19, 1984, and June 30, 1985; and
• continued to serve on active duty without a break from July 1, 1985, through June 30, 1988.

For further information, contact Norman Chichester at (301) 594-3393 or (877) 463-6327 and listen to prompts.

Each year, promotion-eligible officers are sent a letter notifying them of their promotion eligibility. Information on how and when to submit information to the officer's official personnel file (OPF) is included in the letter. Eligible officers' records are reviewed by a promotion board that consists of 5 officers from the specific professional category. This review includes careful consideration of the officer's career as it relates to 5 of the 6 precepts upon which promotion recommendations are based. These 5 precepts are as follows:

• Performance based largely on the Commissioned Officers' Effectiveness Report (COER) ;
• Mobility (geographic and/or programmatic);
• Awards;
• Career progression; and
• Career potential.

A sixth precept is the agency/program recommendation.

Officers eligible for promotion to the O-3 (LT) (and to the O-4 (LCDR) in the Medical category) are eligible for an administrative promotion rather than a competitive promotion. Provided the officer has met the requirements for promotion (generally successful completion of at least 6 months of active duty service in the PHS and submission of a COER), they will be administratively promoted after review by the Officer Support Branch, Division of Commissioned Personnel, rather than being reviewed by a board.

NHSC Loan Repayment:

To obtain an application: (800) 221-9393
To speak with someone: (800) 435-6464 or (301) 594-4400

NHSC Scholarship:

To obtain an application: (800) 638-0824
To speak with someone: (800) 793-1547 or (301) 594-4410

Scholarship Recipients and Loan Repayors from IHS and NHSC have the option to serve their payback as Commissioned Corps officers as long as work sites are approved.

The health mission of the PHS Commissioned Corps differs from that of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard). Unlike the military, the Commissioned Corps is an all-officer organization that offers controlled mobility. Officers in the Corps are also eligible for promotion based on different criteria than those used in the military system.

The Home of Record (HOR) has nothing to do with state taxes. The main purpose of the HOR is for an officer's travel and transportation, and shipment of Household goods (HHG) entitlements. When officers are called to duty, they are asked to provide the city and state they consider their "permanent home" or HOR. This must be a location in which they have lived or owned property PRIOR to call to duty, but it does not have to be the same location from which they are called to duty.

Upon call to active duty, an officer's HHG may be shipped from either the city and state from which they travel or their HOR. After serving a minimum of two years of active duty (and meeting any other obligations such as those resulting from training or special pay contracts), officers are entitled to travel and shipment of HHG from the duty station back to either the location from which called to duty or their HOR (or to a point of equal or lesser distance) upon inactivation or termination (in the case of retirement, an officer may also travel and ship HHG to a "home of selection").

The state to which an officer pays taxes is called the "State of Legal Residence" and is declared after the call to active duty.