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Air Force enhances medical scholarships with $20,000 bonus

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Squadron Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Students selected by the Air Force for three- or four-year medical school scholarships in fiscal year 2008 will get an extra $20,000 in their wallets thanks to the new Critical Skills Accession Bonus.

Qualified Medical Corps Health Professions Scholarship Program recipients awarded contracts from Oct. 1, 2007, to Sept. 30, 2008, have the option to accept the bonus.

"This is an outstanding benefit for those selected for an already robust Health Professions Scholarship Program," said Lt. Col. Curt Prichard, Air Force Recruiting Service officer accessions chief. "In addition to the extra pocket money and gaining a top-notch education, as medical officers they will gain leadership skills and clinical experience while serving as valuable members of the Air Force Medical Service."

Acceptance of the Critical Skills Accession Bonus results in a four-year active-duty service commitment, served concurrently with the HPSP service commitment. Acceptance of the bonus by three-year scholarship students adds just one year to their commitment. The Air Force goal is to contract 250 scholarships through the year.

The scholarship program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, equipment and other various educational expenses for students selected for the program based on their eligibility for commissions and desires to pursue health-related degrees. Those awarded are commissioned as Air Force Reserve second lieutenants and are on inactive duty status during medical school training.

In return, students are required to serve 45 days of active duty per year, during which they receive pay and entitlements, and typically attend Officer Training School and medical officer training. Following graduation, students are promoted to captain and complete postgraduate training while serving on active-duty status in a military medical facility or in a civilian residency program. After postgraduate training, medical officers are obligated to fulfill a minimum of two years on active-duty service, at a rate of one year for every year of medical school sponsored.

People interested in the Health Professions Scholarship Program should contact a Health Professions recruiter. Recruiter locations and contact information are available by clicking on the www.airforce.com Web site's "Recruiter Locator" link.

Select enlisted Airmen with an approved separation date can also qualify for the scholarship program and bonus. Active-duty members, and U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets interested in the program should call the Air Force Personnel Center at 1-800-531-5800, ext. 1, for more information.