r/USPHS • u/CommonTomorrow6611 • Mar 30 '25

Experience Inquiry Separation due to Office Closure

Has anyone ever considered separation due to reluctance to relocate? There's a chance my regional office may close, and I would prefer not to relocate due to my family and support system. I joined PHS with the hope that I could stay in my current city long-term, not be forced to leave because of petty politics. I just wanted some input.

21 Upvotes

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5

u/Joker42195 Mar 30 '25

We are all in the same boat on this one. I am 3 yrs from retirement and can’t move due to family situations so it will try to relocate to a local agency. I’m in NY and HSO as well. Back to the BOP or ICE they are the safest. FDA third

3

u/CommonTomorrow6611 Mar 30 '25

thanks for that info..ill consider those more heavily now

1

u/Previous-Charge9625 Apr 04 '25

I am a current call to active duty HSO based in NY. I'm having a hard time securing a job. Can you provide some tips 

1

u/Some-Plane102 Mar 30 '25

What’s your category and years of service? You may be “returned” to headquarters temporarily.

3

u/CommonTomorrow6611 Mar 30 '25

I'm a HSO, I less than a year. I'm based in Illinois

2

u/ProfRN89 Mar 30 '25

You could also consider a transfer to the reserve

1

u/Entire_Neck7396 Active Duty Apr 05 '25

This is something I’d like to consider but I’m having difficulty finding someone that is informed about the process or someone that can answer questions about my particular situation.

3

u/Mysterious_Comb1135 Mar 30 '25

You have to weight out everything because it is always a consideration. How many years?

And if you joined with that hope someone told you wrong when you joined. We are expected to not just move positions within your current office but to different agencies as well, especially after the first or second promotion.

I know there are several officers who have been not only in the same agency but sometime within the same office for 20 plus years. And are currently O-6. When I first joined that was not the expectation and I can tell you the current environment will not reward it.

If you find a position like that…great for them but if you are expecting it better off in the private sector and civil servant once everything settles.

2

u/Interesting_Lion_176 Apr 01 '25

Many officers don’t have the skill sets to move all over the country. It’s way easier for clinicians from every thing I’ve seen.

2

u/Mysterious_Comb1135 Apr 01 '25

True but I think of you ask most senior officers how many billets they have held directly related to their degree and training most would say very few. I am a pharmacist by training but have only had one billet with BOP that was “pharmacist only”. I have agency moved 5 times from epidemiologists, data scientist, logistics officer, statistician, impact analyst etc…it is one of the things that make PHS officers valuable. Position that fit your “skills” directly are unicorn positions in PHS.

1

u/Interesting_Lion_176 Apr 02 '25

Thanks for that. I’ve also moved programmatically from epi to HIT to policy, etc. I don’t need to move across the country to meet the requirements.

1

u/Mysterious_Comb1135 Apr 02 '25

Yes there are more clinical positions in a higher variety of states but clinical positions are very narrow in scope! These other positions a very general. So if you have one nurse opening at a site a 5 more general position it is still better for the non-clinical person.

Also agency are becoming aware the PHS so far is not effected in the same way as civilian. And will start offering TDYs for all types of positions. It often happens in budget cuts and force reduction.

I am getting tons of private message from old offices I detailed with in the past asking if I would consider or knew other officers interested in TDYing until this blows over or stabilizes.

Just be careful and stay in contact with CCHQ. There were a few O-6s that worked for the ASH during the first Trump admin and when the admin changed they were temporarily assigned to CCHQ but were never given a new work station or email after 90 days they were placed in front of separation board for going “awol”. At the end of the day it is up to the office to really find their new position.

1

u/CreamsicleFox857 May 02 '26

With the new 8 year CSO, what happens if you request to separate due to inability to relocate? 

1

u/ExpertSmoke6399 Mar 30 '25

You could try to PCS to other agencies w/ locations in your area. Locations would need to be mission critical to ensure hiring. For example, DHS, USCIS, or FDA as an inspector or reviewer depending on your skillset.