Highlights of the HPSP Handbook:
This handbook was issued to me when I entered the program.



Each participant is required to familiarize themselves with the requirements in this policy handbook.  Students may be financially or otherwise liable for following instructions or taking actions that are inconsistent with those contained in this policy handbook.  This section highlights the most frequently needed and important information in this handbook.  The first part of each chapter provides more detailed highlights with telephone numbers and addresses for quick reference.

1.  MANDATORY USE OF THE SECURED MEDICAL EDUCATION WEBSITE.  You must use the secured medical education web site at www.mods.army.mil/ to enroll in the Program, update contact information, manage leave of absence (LOA) status, apply for active duty training (ADT), and certify changes in medical status annually when applying for ADT.

2.  STUDENT STATUS (Chapter 1).

    a.  You are required to maintain full-time student status, comply with all requirements, and immediately report any status changes.  You must keep addresses and phone numbers current (chapter 3).

    b.  You are assigned to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) for command and control.  Reserve policy prevails whether or not it is included in this handbook.  You cannot participate in other reserve activities or the Financial Assistance Program. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps recipients who have a reserve obligation are ineligible for HPSP because the ROTC contract requires service in a unit or as an individual mobilization augmentee (IMA).    

    c.  You are ineligible initial HPSP entry if after selection you subsequently become ineligible for military service or HPSP participation due to a change in status (i.e. graduation year group, health care discipline, participation in decelerated academic curriculums, remedial periods, etc).

    d.  You are managed by the Student Management Office, Medical Education Directorate, for entitlements, administrative requirements and policy.  You receive academic advice and professional guidance from mentors and consultants.  You receive general assistance and military guidance from your local Health Care Recruiter.     

3.  MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATION (Chapter 2).

    a.  You incur a 2-year minimum active duty service obligation and enter HPSP as a second lieutenant.

    b.  You receive credit toward repayment of the reserve service obligation (RSO) for time spent on active duty as a participant in graduate professional education (GPE) (first year of graduate medical education (FYGME), Advanced General Dentistry Program – 1 (AGDP-1), internship, residency, fellowship) and for time spent on active duty beyond the required ADSO period.

    c.  You do not receive credit toward repayment of the RSO for reserve service as a participant in a civilian GPE program, prior reserve service, or the time spent in HPSP.

4.  ENTITLEMENTS AND MILITARY PAY (Chapter 3).

    a.  All inducements, benefits and entitlements referenced in this policy refer to those as authorized under current statute, regulation, or policy specifically governing the particular category or subject matter being addressed.  Budget policy and financial statutory provisions will prevail, regardless of whether the policy or statute is included herein.

    b.  You receive military pay as a second lieutenant while performing active duty for training (ADT), as well as per diem and travel between the school and non-local ADT site (chapter 3).

    c.  You receive all payments by electronic fund transfer.  You are paid on the 15th and 1st of the month.

    d.  You should: contact the Fort Sam Houston, Texas, DFAS Office for military pay, stipend, reimbursable expenses, W-2 form, and monthly Leave and Earning Statements; and send account changes to the Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, DFAS Office on Standard Form 1199A obtained from your local Health Care Recruiter (chapter 3).

    e.  You will have entitlements stopped automatically:  for deficiency in conduct, studies and other reasons; effective     10 May in the graduation year unless you or your school notify the Student Management Office of your actual graduation date by 15 September; upon ineligibility for military service (chapter 3); during leave of absence (LOA) (chapter 8); for failure to meet statutory, regulatory, contractual or administrative requirements (includes outdated addresses and phone numbers) (chapter 3); disenrollment or loss of HPSP eligibility (chapter 10); failure to meet licensure examination (chapter 5), physical examination (chapter 6), or FYGME application (chapter 12) requirements.

    f.  You may be held criminally liable for knowingly collecting unauthorized funds (chapter 3).

    g.  Your tuition is paid directly to the school.  You must submit reimbursement claims (books, supplies, equipment, etc.) on MEDCOM Form 678-R, HPSP Cost Data Worksheet (CDW), with paid receipts within 60 calendar days after purchases to the Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, DFAS office and must submit a copy of MEDCOM Form 678-R (without receipts) to the Student Management Office.  Reimbursement is normally made within three to five weeks.  You are reimbursed for only single rate health insurance coverage if required for enrollment ($950 annual limit).  You are not authorized reimbursement for the purchase of computers or microscopes, but may be reimbursed $250.00 annually for rental of a microscope (2-year maximum) and computer (4-year maximum). (chapter 7).

    h.  You must submit a written LOA request in advance of the LOA start date and at least 60 days (120 days if a medical reason) before the LOA expires to reactivate entitlements (chapter 8).

    i.  You must reimburse the government:  for some or all of the entitlements paid, plus interest, if contractual terms are not fulfilled; for interest or penalties assessed against the government; and if unauthorized entitlements are received, regardless of when the error is discovered or its cause (chapter 10).

5.  MANDATORY ACTIVE DUTY FOR TRAINING (ADT) (Chapter 4).

    a.  You must:  perform one 45-day active duty training (ADT) tour annually; certify changes in medical status annually when applying for ADT to preclude suspension of entitlements (chapter 6); request ADT when required to avoid forfeiture of the tour; attend the Officer Basic Course (OBC) if medical and dental students; comply with orders to report for, remain at and successfully complete OBC to avoid being terminated from HPSP participation; apply for ADT at least 60 days in advance on line using the medical education web site; complete and return ARPC Form 1046 annually to AHRC - St. Louis to verify continued student status; complete SGLV-8286 (Servicemen's group Life Insurance Election and Certificate) to refuse insurance or request less insurance coverage (insurance valid only during the ADT tour); request cash advances 4 weeks in advance if desired; file ADT travel reimbursement claims with DFAS-Indianapolis within 5 days after ADT; file DA Form 3924 with the Student Management Office within 5 days after any ADT.  You cannot revoke an ADT that has already been performed to obtain an additional ADT in a current fiscal year.  You are not authorized reimbursement for rental car insurance.

    b.  OFFICER BASIC COURSE (OBC) (MEDICAL, DENTAL, VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS).  1ST-YEAR medical and dental students and 2nd-YEAR medical students who did not attend as 1ST–year students automatically receive orders to attend the OBC (normally held Mid-June through July.  Veterinary medicine students must apply on line to attend.  All students receiving orders to attend OBC must notify the Student Management Office before 15 April and be excused by that office if OBC attendance conflicts with the academic schedule or with health issues.  You cannot attend OBC if you are pregnant.  You may be terminated from HPSP participation for failing to comply with orders to attend or to successfully complete OBC.

    c.  You must:  request annual ADT on line by the appropriate time or forfeit your annual ADT tour; request ADT by 1 February and complete ADT by 1 April (4th-year students only); apply for all other ADT by 15 June annually (except aforementioned 4th-year students who must submit requests by 1 February; complete ADT at Tripler Army Medical Center or Hawaii by 1 December (4th-YEAR MEDICAL students are encouraged to complete all ADT tours before 15 October due to the Army First Year Graduate Medical Education selection board requirements).  4th-year medical students (one-year scholarship recipients) are ineligible for early entry to perform OBC because due to the Army First Year Graduate Medical Education selection board; and perform ADT requested at school for the full 45-day period from 17 August - 30 September.

    d.  You cannot:  perform ADT overseas (except Hawaii or Alaska) or at non-Army facilities; have family members travel to the ADT site; travel without orders, on revoked or verbal orders, or before the report date; perform two 45-day tours at the same training location or one 45-day tour at two different training locations; cancel an ADT that has been performed or is currently in progress; exchange an ADT performed in a prior fiscal year to obtain an additional ADT in the current fiscal year; or perform ADT at Tripler Army Medical Center or Hawaii in the month of December.       

6.  MANDATORY LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS (MEDICAL, DENTAL, OPTOMETRY STUDENTS) (Chapter 5).  Students must provide licensure examination results (pass or fail) to the Student Management Office by date indicated and pass the examination to avoid interruption of entitlements.

      a. Medical, dental, and optometry participants must take and pass part 1 of the appropriate licensure examination (USMLE/COMLEX, NBDE, or NBEO) before the beginning of the 3rd-year academic curriculum and provide the results by 15 October.

      b.  Medical participants must take and pass part 2 of the USMLE/COMLEX after completing the 3rd-year academic curriculum but before 15 September and provide the results by 15 October.   ATTENTION 2005 AND BEYOND MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS:  A clinical skills examination is pending implementation as part of the USMLE/COMLEX 2 beginning in FY 2004.  All medical students in the graduating classes of 2005 and beyond will be required to take the examination in December.  Therefore all fourth-year medical students in the graduating classes of 2005 must take the examination in December 2004.  Students must provide results of the examination to the Student Management Office by 15 January.  Students who are unsuccessful at the first attempt must retake the examination within 30 days of receiving the results.  A retest date must be provided to the Student Management Office.  

      c.  Dental participants must take part 2 of the NBDE in December during the 4th-year academic curriculum and provide the results by 15 January.  Second attempts must occur by the following March and results provided by 1 April.

      d.  Optometry participants must take part 2 of the NBEO in December during the 4th-year academic curriculum and provide the results by 28 February (second attempts must occur by the following April and results provided by 15 May).  Part 3 of the NBEO must be taken in April prior to graduation and the results provided by 15 May or upon receipt, which ever is earlier.

7.  MANDATORY APPLICATION FOR MILITARY RESIDENCY TRAINING (MEDICAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS) (CHAPTER 11).

    a.  4th-year medical students must:  apply to the Army First Year of Graduate Medical Education (FYGME) and participate on active duty if selected; and must register for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and withdraw from the NRMP if selected for Army FYGME.

    b.  Clinical psychology students must apply to the Army Clinical Psychology Residency Program (CPRP) and participate on active duty if selected. ­­­­­­­­­