Navy Health Services Collegiate Program

Hello Everyone,

I was just notified of my acceptance for the HSCP. I'm stoke but I was also informed by my recruiter that the Navy procedures recently changed regarding the promotion from E-6 to E-7. It used to be they you could refer someone to one of the medical officer programs or make the dean's list in one semester. I knew it would be no problem for me to achieve the latter. Now I have to find someone that's interested. I spoke with everyone I know at my school and no one is. I think this is a great opportunity but no one wants to pursue it here. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can find someone? Thanks.

I don't know if you're still interested, but I have every intention of applying for HSCP after my next tour. No one has officially referred me yet, and you're welcome to do so. I doubt that would help you because it's not for a few years, but I wouldn't mind talking to you about the program anyway. Let me know if you're still interested.

Hi there, I am actually applying for the HSCP program and was wondering if you would be able to help...

Congrats on getting a slot in these competitive times.

I have applied for the Navy HSCP; I was told my application went before the 1/12/12 board. I'm still waiting to hear whether or not I was selected. Has anyone else applied and heard anything from that board?

I found out last week that the HSCP Board did not meet in January, but either met on Feb. 9th or will meet on the 23rd. So, I'm still waiting to hear...

Does anyone know if prior year service is taken into account when calculating pay for HSCP or does everyone get E-6/E-7 pay with 1 year of service? If anyone has a reference that would be greatly appreciated.

It is taken into account, so whatever years of service you had will be added on.

Hey again guys, can anyone give any tips on applying to this program? Especially those who were accepted? Does an ACL regraft (although I'm perfectly fine and am with the Marines as a Reserve corpsman and finished my active duty years as a Marine Corpsman) hurt your chances? What should the motto statement look like? I'm receiving 20% compensation from the VA... Will that hurt me/How do they find out I receive compensation?

Much needed help and thanks all!?

Just curious, because I have almost no understanding of the VA compensation system, but if you're perfectly fine, why are you receiving 20% compensation?

I was told the "magic number" for reserves was 30% disability.

I have not done a VA Physical, but I was told by a VA doc I was talking to when I took my dad into the VA hospital for some stuff, was most pilots get close to that from hearing loss and back issued (helos anyways). Not sure how accurate he was.

That is the number our reserve recruiters say, but our processor says less than 30%.

It seems hearing is the easy one, then any injuries usually lead to some other ratings, how bad depends on the rating.

K, to clarify, first of all, that Warren Zevon track was off the chain, secondly, I have a recruiter friend who explains that knee trouble is something Programs like the HSCP strive away from. When I separated, they said get your VA done now, you’ll be glad you did. I did, and they hooked me up with 20%. Thing is, I never needed anything from them. My knee is great and actually better than before… So, while applying to the HSCP program, I find myself a bit nervous cause I don’t want to get disqualified for something that is not an issue. I also started thinking, well how do they find out anyhoo? Lots of here say, my officer recruiter says underneath 30%, I’m underneath, but my buddy says not to mention it. I actually believe in honesty, but don’t want my chances hurt from applying cause of something that is not an issue. I’m also applying for medical, not flying BTW. Just wondering if anyone knows how they will find out about the compensation?
And no, there are no set guidelines about <30% and in the Reserves. That’s false. I found the instruction a while ago, but if you google in some way shape or form, there are some Vet links that explain that You can still be a higher percentage and be in the Reserves. You just can’t take drill pay and compensation pay at the same time.

Do you feel even a little bit uncomfortable receiving VA disability compensation when you have no "disability"? Or is this a normal occurrence?

As far as disclosing that you are receiving VA disability compensation, I'm pretty sure that there's a question on the physical exam paperwork that asks about that. If so, disclosing is your only valid option.

This is a regular occurence once someone separates... When you separate your records go to Archives, then, unless you have tricare for life after your retire, you have the VA, we still have guys who have Tricare for life, but have service connections (which would result in a compensation) where the VA takes care of you. When you fill out the VA forms, you can either opt to receive compensation or retirement pension, I would pick retiring unless you have a ton of medical problems, there's nothing like free health care. People can file service connections (which once again result in compensation) for anything like allergies, scars, you name it. In all reality, everyone should because this enhances VA services, you don't have to pick the compensation when you have a pension, but you file for a service connection, they will take care of everything from the mileage to getting to where you need to go, to surgical services if needed and ordered buy a VA provider. Bigger need for services means opening more VAs where Vets don't have the ability to receive care of specialty services.

I don't feel uncomfortable because while you guys have the safety and security of a job for now, I don't and this helps me get groceries or gas up my car for the service I provided while on submarines, while sent out to 9/11 during the terrorist activities, or providing medical support during the initial push into baghdad, only to be sent straight to the Marines for my next command, and you guys know how that is.

Big tip though guys, once you separate, make a copy of your record, cause it might get lost, and I'd rather you know now than to come in yelling at some poor smuck who gets paid 13 bucks an hour while wearing 4 hats trying really hard NOT to yelled back because this gentleman is a fellow Vet.

So I guess no one really knows then... thanks guys... I'll take it into consideration.

Failing to disclose info for an officer is grounds for courts martial, there is a former Ens in the brig right now for falsifying info in order to get in.

The 30% deals with what Navy Medicine is comfortable with waivering.

I'm at 20% with the right knee. I keep hearing, as well as reading from the Army Medical Manual, which is what we follow as well, is that knee gets you disqualified. I really appreciate your feedback on this which from your title, seems like you do the recruiting for Os. Do you have any experience with the HSCP program? I guess I'm just looking for reassurance prior to putting in the time and effort before heading to NRD Atlanta...

There has to be some evidence in order to get a rating, it may not be causing issues now but may later, for instance my arches have fallen, don't really notice unless I do hard PT but I will get some money for it, later on down the road it will get worse. In some cases a person will get a 0% rating, that means there is something there but it is causing no issues and requires no meds or anything, however if it gets worse then it can be upgraded.

Apply for the program you may get an ortho consult but it is worth a shot.

Thanks Sir, do you think I can just skip to the chase. I'm in the Reserves right now, might have an Ortho guy on my watch, and have him do a clear for go with this. That way, I'm not wasting any time and have it included in my package... Not to worry as well, I bike 11 miles to and from work 4 times a week and hit the gym after, def not a weennneeee.

You could, but I would talk to the recruiter you would be working with to see if it is even necessary based on the medical documents, it shouldn't take long to get the documents submitted to N3M for clearance.

Hey guys, I've read over this e-mail string and I would like to say to you Cris that if you're having any ideas of NOT disclosing this information, please don't. Disclose the info, it sounds like your knee is not an issue and you should be fine.

Sir, I think this young sailor is asking how will the Navy find out. Is it possible for you to just tell him so that he does not make a mistake. Will they contact the VA? This is what I'm sure the Navy does.

If you apply for a commissioning program, when you get your medical exam you will have to fill out a form detailing your medical history. When I was doing reserve officer recruiting, the form used was the SF-93. NavyOffRec should be able to tell you if there is a newer or different form in use now. Take a look at the SF-93; as a corpsman, you may be familiar with it. On the back/second page, question 20 specifically asks about disability compensation received, pending or applied for. Any form used in place of the SF-93 likely asks the same kind of question. You do not want to complete these forms with anything but straight, honest answers. (And since you "actually believe in honesty," I guess that won't be a problem.)

You seem to want to have things both ways: you want to continue to receive disability compensation, and yet you don’t want the Navy to consider you disabled. I understand that having a disability rating does not necessarily preclude you from getting picked up for a commissioning program, as long as you meet the required physical standards or get a waiver for standards that you don’t meet. However, in an earlier post you wrote that you are “perfectly fine,” which caused me to wonder why you are receiving VA disability compensation. You make it sound like applying for VA disability compensation is an automatic thing upon separation from active duty, and it is not. You have to decide to file a claim and then file it. You have to explain in your claim what kind of service connected disability you have. A separating service member who is not disabled but claims that they became disabled through their military service, for the purpose of receiving disability compensation, commits fraud. I would think that VA disability compensation is only given for a condition that is considered permanent, or if the disability is not permanent, the disability compensation stops when the disability goes away. I’m sure that someone who knows better will let me know if I am wrong.

I understand that the disability compensation that you get is nice because it helps you get groceries and gas up your car. But it is not payback for the service you provided while on submarines, or for providing medical support during the initial push into Baghdad, only to be sent straight to the Marines for your next command. For that, you received pay and allowances, just like everyone else, and hopefully a measure of job satisfaction. Trying to spin it the way you are is just rationalizing.

If you truly have a service connected disability, than belay my last. But from what I’ve read so far, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ve heard of too many cases of people trying to cheat the system for me to be complacent. It’s no better than welfare fraud, and it’s stealing from the vets who are actually disabled and who really do need the VA’s resources.

Yes there is.