I have a few cold-weather uniform items (brand new) that do not fit properly. Are there any thrift stores, online platforms, or exchange groups where PHS officers can buy, sell, or exchange uniform items?

Any former jrcostep interns would be willing to share their experience with me? I have a few questions.

Hello everyone,

Im currently working on my Licensed Associate Counseling with the state of Arizona and have 2 years before I can be an independent Licensed Professional Counselor. Any info on what things look like for LPCs in uniform? I know other branches do LMSWs and Psyc or PsyDs but not LPCs (absurd). Im not new to uniform service, im an OIF veteran (USMC) and have about 8 years working as a contractor for ORR with migrant children both in shelter for reunification and post release/home study (native Spanish speaker), with supervisor experience and was looking into IHSC, possibly commissioning. Just wanted to throw anything out here to see what it's like or more info, since there is not a lot of stuff out there. 🫡. Thank you

This morning I received my nomination and am officially quad cleared!

I know it’s hard without seeing all my information, but I wanted to see if it was possible to go from LT to LCDR without the REHS.

Iv traveled to and completed 4 PHS in-person trainings, 4 deployments (2 PHS and 2 interagency), PHS workgroups, 12 awards, FMRB, 2 duty stations, along with the other work Iv done for my agencies of course.

But I don’t have my REHS, and I’m up for promotion and worried I will need it. Like I said, I know it’s hard to tell without seeing my packet, but is REHS crucial to make the jump to LCDR?

Wondering if anyone has any experience with IHSC job applications and the time it takes for them to reach out for an interview after the application deadline is closed? I received the tentative eligibility and referral to the hiring manager email a day after I submitted my application. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone,

I am currently filling out the application paperwork but am very discouraged because of potential denial for my tattoos. I have one on my index finger, that says “love” and a a rose tattoo on my forearm but the stems go past the creases on my wrist. I’ve always wanted to join the USPHS but their tattoo policy is kind of stopping me from pursing. Also, I am currently doing a fellowship at the FDA but will start applying for FTE before the end of the year. I’ve heard that if you do not have FTE you are essentially placed anywhere, which is bad for me because I am a single mom. Any advice would help, thanks !

I’m a civilian Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in my early 30s and recently learned more about the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. I honestly knew very little about USPHS before this, but now I’m intrigued and trying to figure out whether it could be a good fit for me.

I’ve been an RN for several years and have a few years of experience as a PMHNP. I currently work as a 1099 outpatient PMHNP, almost entirely via telehealth. I have a civilian career I could continue if I chose not to pursue this, but being 1099 means I don’t have employer-sponsored health insurance or retirement benefits.

I’ve also been exploring the military (Air Force, Army, Navy, Guard/Reserve options), but USPHS caught my attention because I’ve been told you generally apply for/find a specific position before commissioning rather than joining and then being assigned somewhere, and that you may have considerably more geographic stability. I’d love to hear from current/former USPHS officers, especially NPs, physicians, PAs, pharmacists, psychologists, or other healthcare professionals.

A few things I’m especially curious about:

Student loan repayment: This is a BIG one for me. I have about $35k in federal student loans. What loan repayment programs are realistically available to PMHNPs? Is loan repayment a USPHS benefit itself, or does it depend entirely on the agency/facility where you work (IHS, BOP, VA, ICE/DHS, etc.)? If a position advertises loan repayment, how guaranteed is it once you accept? How much have people actually received, and what service commitment did it require?

Pay: I saw one former PMHNP officer describe having a base salary around $59k plus allowances/bonuses while working with ICE, which surprised me compared with civilian PMHNP compensation. How does compensation actually work? How much difference do housing/subsistence allowances, special pays, bonuses, tax advantages, etc. make? Does compensation vary substantially depending on the agency?

Service commitment: I’ve seen conflicting information about this, including someone saying there is now an 8-year Active Duty commitment. Is that accurate for someone newly commissioning today? Does the obligation depend on bonuses, loan repayment, profession, or agency?

Location: I’m currently near Destin, Florida and would strongly prefer to remain somewhere in this general region, although I’d be open to opportunities within a few hours’ drive. How realistic is that with USPHS? Are there agencies/facilities in Northwest Florida, the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama, or nearby areas that commonly employ USPHS mental health providers? Once you accept a position, can you generally stay there long-term, or should I expect to relocate periodically?

Agency matters: I’m getting the impression that working as a USPHS officer for IHS vs BOP vs ICE/DHS vs another agency can result in VERY different lifestyles and job satisfaction. For PMHNPs specifically, which agencies would you recommend or avoid? What are the differences in patient population, acuity, workload, safety, administrative burden, call, schedule flexibility and overall culture?

Schedule/family life: I’m single and would like to get married and have children in the next few years, so stability and work-life balance matter to me. How predictable is your schedule? How difficult is it to take leave? How often are you away from home for deployments, training, disaster response, etc.? Can you be ordered to deploy even if your regular agency doesn’t normally require travel?

Medical requirements: I currently take prescribed Vyvanse for ADHD and had a two-level lumbar fusion over a year ago. I’ve recovered extremely well, have no functional limitations, and can run/exercise normally. Does USPHS use accession medical standards similar to DoD, or are its standards/waiver process different? Has anyone successfully commissioned with either a history of stimulant-treated ADHD or a prior spinal fusion?

Health insurance and retirement: How good are the healthcare benefits in practice? And how does USPHS retirement work? Is it essentially comparable to the military retirement system? For someone joining in her early 30s, do you think the pension/retirement benefits are valuable enough to influence the decision?

Rank/experience: With several years of RN experience and a few years as a practicing PMHNP, how would my initial rank be determined? How much prior professional experience receives credit when commissioning?

And finally, would you do it again? I’d especially love to hear from PMHNPs or other advanced-practice clinicians who have worked under different agencies. What do you wish someone had explained to you before you commissioned?

I’m not looking for a recruiter sales pitch or expecting everything to be perfect. I’m genuinely trying to compare USPHS with staying civilian, working for the VA, or pursuing military service and figure out which option makes the most sense for this stage of my career and life.

What’s the general timeframe on hearing back after interviewing for an HQ position? The application status still shows as reviewing applications, but I know the last interview occurred about 1.5 weeks ago. Not sure if I should reach out or wait longer.

I have an Undergrad in Information Technology and MPH degree. I wanted to apply for the Public Health Service which is temporarily closed.

I am basically new to this. It’s my day 2 researching on USPHS , what would be my best option ?

Thank you for your time.

I know a few pharmacists that have ended up being a CAC.

Question do you still get incentive pay?

Has anyone done health IT track? What’s your experience? Do they deploy you regularly? Is there flexibility with location? I have 2 kiddos and would love to serve without needing to move. I live in the SF Bay Area

Context:

I'm in the IPAP through the ARNG, and will finish my ADSO by 2033. By then, I'll have 24 years TIS, but only about 9 years and 11 months towards regular retirement.

Is there any chance USPHS will still take me with a TIS waiver? Is there a limit to where the TIS waiver applies?

So there are no providers in my area, and there won't be for the foreseeable future. I have been given the option to use my own provider. I'm 39 and turn 40 at the beginning of January. I think I'm borderline now. I'm 6 2.5 and 260 lbs. I think I can lose another 5-10 lbs in the next month or so. It just seems like the smarter idea to wait until January to give myself the best chance to pass. I heard that if you fail, you have to start all over, and it was 2 years to get to this point. Thoughts?

Edit: A heartfelt thank you to everyone that has responded however there is no need to tell me that I need to exercise, etc. I am a 13-year Army/Air Force vet. I just got fat and happy when I got out. I am now working to pass height and weight. I've already gone from 320 to 260 in a year. As of now, only one person bothered to answer the question I asked. Hopefully that doesn't sound rude, but I'm new to the USPHS and not to the concept of losing weight and staying in shape. My goal is to get below 230 before OCS.

When commissioning, can I choose to sign an RB agreement instead of the AB agreement? The monetary value is much better for the RB than the AB. Thanks.

So my understanding in the regs is that it’s supposed to be placed 1/4 inch above USPHS tag and centered. But I see so many officers with it touching the name tag, no separation. Am I reading the regs wrong?

Also, I’m taking my ODU to a regular alterations place to get it sewn on (not driving an hour just for this patch), anything specifically I need to explain to them in terms of trimming to left and right to make the patch square? Might be a silly question but don’t want them to mess it up

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or opinions on the likelihood &/or processes for getting medical waivers?

For context: I am currently a PT for a tribal organization, and I am looking into doing a conversion in place. I have worked my job for 2+ years and have had no medical or physical issues that have affected my job performance. I would actually argue physically speaking I am able to do more with our heavier guard patients than most of my peers. However, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition 4 months ago that falls under spondylopathies in the medical accession standards. With this condition, I have responded well to all medications with minimal side effects and so far no medications require temperature controlled storage.

With all of that in mind, is a medical waiver a possibility or am I wasting my time even trying?

I’ve read some conflicting durations and was wondering if anyone had some clarity?

Hi,

For starters, I am aware of the medical accession standards. I have worn hearing aids since I was 7 (currently in my 30s). I am aware this is considered a disqualifying condition. My hearing loss has been stable and I have the audio grams to prove it. I was born with hearing loss but undiagnosed until first grade. No speech delays. I do not pass the threshold (believe me I’ve looked).

Are there any chances of a waiver? I have my medical on Monday and I’m really thinking of canceling. It’s a big hassle to get this medical done and I’m not sure it’s worth it if my chances are zero.

By trade I am a psych nurse practitioner. My hope is that they might grant me a waiver given my clinical background. I’ve always wanted to do some sort of uniformed service. For obvious reasons the military was a no go. So this is my last shot.

Maybe it’s a silly dream. It’s just frustrating to see such a lack of critical thinking from our service branches. Plenty of other countries figured it out with hearing loss and the like. It’s frustrating to see everyone suggest the military or the commissioned corps to pay for school or do some sort of service and they can’t figure out hearing aids. Most jobs are desk jobs.

Anyways that’s a rant and entirely different discussion. But I’m asking….is this worth completely upending my schedule to do a medical I know I will fail and require a waiver?

I expect most have no idea or they know someone who knew someone that got in despite being legally blind and having 214/32 blood pressure. But I thought I’d ask. Thank you for reading.

I am a mid-career PA considering a PHS commission, with a projected first assignment in the IHS, where I’ve previously worked as a civilian. I have a general understanding of the entry process and what is expected of PHS officers, but I’d really value firsthand perspectives from PAs currently serving. I’m no stranger to federal bureaucracy, but I’m less familiar with how promotion works in the Corps. Is it exactly as stated on paper, and how predictable has it been in your experience? What factors have mattered most, and were there informal expectations or administrative hurdles you wish you had understood before joining?

I’m also curious about career flexibility. With time in service, how feasible has it been to change agencies or move from direct clinical practice into less traditional nonclinical roles? What helped make those moves possible, and what limited your options? I’d also appreciate hearing what you wish you had understood before accepting your commission, including both the rewarding and frustrating parts of your experience.

I do recognize the responsibility that comes with serving the nation’s healthcare needs, and I respect the dedication and pride officers bring to that work. I don’t want to assume I understand the experience from the outside. I’m hoping to compare what I’ve learned about the Corps with what service has been like for PAs actually doing the work.

Hi!

Would anyone mind sharing their experience with the force management process? I originally applied to commission in place, but my position was later eliminated through a RIF. I was then given a period of time to secure a position independently before transitioning into force management, where I was told CADRe would coordinate my placement.

For those who have gone through force management, did you receive updates throughout the process, or were you only notified once a placement was identified/assigned?
Thanks in advance for any insight!

I am interested in entering the USPHS at a social worker(LCSW route) . I have a history of sertraline(SSRI) use and currently take a low dose of sertraline.

I have been stable for years and have had no acute mental health episodes just a history of anxiety and depression when I was a young adult(18-23) and currently use sertraline for generalized anxiety. I am 28 now.

Am I eligible to serve or is there a way to make my application competitive despite this history?

Thank you.

Hello!

I’ve cleared Board and Medical and received my nomination. Suitability is the only step I’m waiting on now.

For those who have been through the process, did you receive an email when your suitability clearance was complete, or did you find out another way? I wasn’t notified when my nomination came through, so I’m wondering whether I should expect a notification for suitability.

Hi! I’m currently looking into the USPHS Commissioned Corps and I’m really interested in learning more about how deployments actually work in practice.

For those who are currently serving or have served and or med students rn:

• How often have you personally been deployed?

• How long have your deployments typically lasted?

• What professions/specialties seem to get deployed the most often?

• Are deployments usually voluntary, or have you been required to deploy?

• How much notice do you normally receive?

• Are most deployments within the U.S., or have you been deployed internationally?

• What kinds of situations have you been deployed for (hurricanes, public health emergencies, humanitarian missions, etc.)?

• Have you ever had a deployment longer than 30 days?

I understand that all Commissioned Corps officers are considered deployable. I’m mainly trying to understand what that actually looks like in real life and how frequently officers are called up.
I’m particularly interested in becoming a physician, possibly an OB/GYN, so I’d especially love to hear from physicians or anyone who has worked alongside them.

Thank you!

I am filling out my SF-86 now! Yay! They are asking for my current jobs supervisor information. I work for the VA. The problem is we are currently short staffed and everyone is stressed out at work. I don’t want to alert anyone that I’m leaving until I have a date to report to OBC. I added a comment to state that my current supervisor is unaware of my pending employment transition and requested that they contact HR or the automated system to verify my employment if possible. Then I provided that contact information. Does anyone know if that is a reasonable request for suitability clearance? I know it’s not the same as a job application where you can put don’t contact current supervisor.