USPHS for prior service Army?

[bostons]

Hey All,

I know there are a number of threads on here for USPHS but I was wondering if anyone had some answers regarding prior service military joining the commissioned corps. I emailed the recruiter but all they sent me were a couple of regs that didn't really address my questions. I'm hoping you all have some answers so here goes:

1. How does the commissioned corps deal with people receiving VA benefits? I have a rating from the VA and the compensation pension to go along with it. Would I have to give this up in order to commission?

2. Due to my disability I am entitled to Chapter 31 Voc Rehab benefits to pay for my MSN. Will receiving Chapter 31 disqualify me from future service because it is related to a disability rating?

3. How does military retirement affect commissioning? I am currently fighting for retroactive military retirement and I'm assuming I would have to give it up if I get retired. Any experience on this one?

4. I can't find standards of fitness for commissioning. I have the typical wear and tear you see on the bodies of all soldiers (back, knees, etc) plus a couple of surgeries, but I don't know if that would disqualify me from joining. Also, in the Army you cannot commission as an officer unless you can do all three events on the PT test (2 mile run, 2 mins pushups, 2 mins situps). I know there is a PT test in the USPHS but from the bit I've read it is nowhere near as strict as Army standards because one officer can be the test grader for another. I can run, do pushups, and do situps but when I have to do it in a way that hurts (a.k.a. the Army way) I am guessing there isn't organized PT in the USPHS so I could workout at my own pace, right?

Thanks for the help!

[random officer]

Hello,

I see that no one replied yet, perhaps no one with USPHS experience saw your post. I am an officer in the USPHS but I'm not in the nursing category/field. I felt I should chime in to a certain extent... I can't answer much about nursing category so I wouldn't know what to tell you specifically. When they evaluate potential officers every case is different I'm sure and many factors likely play into passing or not. Nurses are usually in high demand as you are aware, so that should play a role I would think. Passing medical boards and meeting the physical conditions per regs and standards that i don't have access to will be very important.

I would advise you to keep trying to reach your Career Advisor Manager (CAM) or your recruiter if that is who you have been communicating with. Continue asking him or her these questions. If you don't have a CAM call and ask if you could get one or continue contacting the call in line from the website and request to speak with someone regarding your situation/questions specifically. A lot of times you just have to be a squeaky wheel before you will finally get someone. They are very busy..

If you meet the basic requirements listed on the usphs.gov website then you at least know you are eligible to apply (i.e. age, qualifying degree/education/experience in nursing, etc.). I honestly have no clue about VA benefits from being prior service, etc. so I can't help with that question.

As you are probably very well aware, nursing can be demanding and quite physical at times and I'm sure that could play a role in your application process and situation, also depending on what you want to do in the field of nursing within USPHS perhaps. We do have to meet APFT standards and they are not as strict as Army, that is true. You can find our APFT instructions and guidance online by just doing a quick google search.

I also have no idea about how retroactive retirement benefits could affect the commissioning process/decision. Keep asking your contacts.

Another good resource to use as far as forums like this go is phschat.com. You can thank me for this website later I believe you will fare far better by posting your questions there. Join up and search around, copy and paste these questions in the chat rooms and see if you can get some more info there.

Hope it helps.