Fact Sheets

1. Can you briefly describe what the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program is; when and why it was established?
 
The U.S. Army’s F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is one of the most comprehensive scholarships available to medical, dental, veterinary, psychiatric nursing, optometry and psychology students today. Those who qualify for the scholarship, receive the full cost of tuition, required books, equipment, academic fees, and a monthly stipend of $1,605.
 
The program is named for longtime Louisiana politician, Felix Edward Hébert, who chaired the Committee on Armed Services from 1971 to 1975.
 
2. What qualifications must prospective medical, dental, veterinary, psychology or optometry students possess to participate in HPSP? How do students apply?  
 
In order to qualify for the HPSP scholarship, prospective students must meet the following criteria:
Be a U.S. citizen with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school.
Be enrolled in or have a letter of acceptance or intent from an accredited graduate program located in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.

• Maintain full-time student status during the entire length of the program.
• Qualify as a commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve.
• Medical students who achieve a score of 29 or higher on the MCAT and hold a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible for automatic acceptance into HPSP.

 
To learn more about applying, students can contact an Army Recruiter specializing in the medical field online at goarmy.com/amedd/find_a_recruiter.jsp.

3. What benefits other than tuition reimbursement does the Army offer HPSP scholarship recipients?
 
Once their professional education and residency have been completed, Army medical Officers have access to a variety of financial incentives such as special pay, bonuses and loan repayment programs that are based on the individual’s years of service, board certification, and extensions to their service obligations. More information about benefits is contained in the individual Corps fact sheets also on this site.
 
4. How is life for a student in the HPSP different from that of a civilian student? What military training do they receive while in school and in residency?
 
One of the educational benefits the Army Medical Department is able to offer students participating in HPSP is the opportunity to gain more practical hands-on experience than their civilian peers. During their six weeks of active duty, students are trained at Army hospitals where they work with and learn from experienced health care professionals physicians and use advanced equipment.
 
During their residencies, Army physicians, dentists and veterinarians can participate in global humanitarian missions and research programs if they choose – activities which may be more difficult for their civilian counterparts to get involved in.
 
5. What military obligations does a student in the HPSP have upon graduation? Where might he or she expect to fulfill these obligations?
 
The period of military service for participation in a four-year HPSP medical scholarship is a minimum of two years or one year for each year individuals receive the HPSP, whichever is longer. The minimum period of service on active duty depends on the health care field chosen. For example, after completing internship training, the minimum period of service on active duty for medical students is two years. For dental, clinical psychology, optometry and veterinary students, the minimum period of active duty service is three years.
 
6. What are some specific aspects of military medicine that may be especially appealing to students who are considering choosing this career path?
 
In addition to the financial assistance, students who opt for a health care career with the U.S. Army have the benefits of:
 

• Access to advanced medicine, technology and research resources
• No overhead costs of private practice. You begin with an established patient base, a trained staff and no malpractice insurance premiums., schedule flexibility, certificate training in specialty, and specialty pay
• Opportunities to travel and experience living abroad while working at one of the Army’s medical centers, clinics or research facilities around the world, and
• Unparalleled ongoing education opportunities.

7. What benefits can the Army offer health care professionals who have already graduated and are working in their chosen field?
 
Health care professionals who join the Army Health Care Team have access to its Active Duty Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (ADHPLRP), which provides up to $114,900 for repayment of qualified educational loans. The annual repayment of $38,300 is contributed over a maximum of three years. Under the program, qualifying loans for repayment may include tuition, principal, interest, school and related living expenses.