ABOUT COMMISSIONING
Students without prior qualifying officer service experience must complete their service specific orientation program before actually matriculating into the School of Medicine.
During these orientation programs, administrative records are initiated for students entering active duty. Students are provided opportunities to purchase any required uniforms, and instructed in their proper wear. Students also learn basic information about the customs and courtesies of their Service, gain an understanding of one’s responsibilities as an officer, and begin to develop an ésprit de corps. Students who may not have been previously exposed to life in a uniformed service, typically find these orientation programs to be educational and challenging, while facilitating a smooth transition to military life.
Students report to the School of Medicine campus after completing their service-specific orientations. The University’s Brigade provides a general orientation during the first two weeks of August. During this time, the administrative requirements for registering students with the university and with their respective services are completed.
Academic orientation begins the third week of August, and provides students with a more detailed overview of the curriculum, along with an introduction to the many educational and supportive resources that are available to them. Upon completing orientation at the School of Medicine, students formally begin their medical education.
CONTACT INFORMATION
USU COMMISSIONING COORDINATOR
(301) 295-1361 or commissioningcoordinator@usuhs.edu
Army Company Commander
CPT Derek Arndt, AN, USA
(301) 295-9433 or derek.arndt@usuhs.edu
Air Force Company Commander
Lt Col Melinda H. Boyd, USAF, BSC
(301) 295-3280 or melinda.boyd@usuhs.edu
Navy Company Commander
LT Amanda Rabbitt, MBA, MHA, USN
(301) 295-9434 or amanda.rabbitt@usuhs.edu
USPHS Company Commander
LCDR Devin Cooper-Robinson, MD, FACOG, USPHS
(301) 295-3965 or devin.cooper@usuhs.edu
COMMISSIONING REQUIREMENTS
For questions concerning commissioning requirements, contact commissioningcoordinator@usuhs.edu.
SECURITY
Upon the receipt of an invitation to interview, applicants will be instructed to begin a background screening. Once applicants are invited for an interview, instructions will be sent via email for downloading and completing the electronic personnel security questionnaire. The applicant must complete the forms as instructed and submit them to the USU security office after arriving on campus for interview day. Service members on active duty who have current security clearances must provide verification. When an applicant matriculates at the School, the security questionnaire is sent electronically to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to begin the investigation.
An individual is not eligible for a United States security clearance unless they renounce their dual citizenship, in writing, and sign a statement that they will destroy their foreign passport, if one exists. A potential student who refuses to renounce their dual citizenship, or otherwise fails (or refuses) to answer any pertinent questions in the course of the official investigation will not be eligible for commissioning.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Medical Screening
When applicants are invited to interview they are sent instructions on how to begin physical clearance process with the Department of Defense Medical Review Board (DoDMERB) where the Department of Defense screens for certain conditions that may be disqualifying for military commissioning. The medical review is generally completed within 4-6 weeks. Applicants should be vigilant for any further information (remedials) that may be requested by DoDMERB. All requests and status updates will be posted to your DoDMERB account.
In addition, regardless of your service preference, all applicants are screened against the Army’s weight standard. If an applicant is not within standards at the time of their DoDMERB physical, a notification will be sent with instructions on how to proceed.
Disqualifying Conditions
Department of Defense Instruction 6130.03 provides medical accession standards for the military services and lists many potentially disqualifying conditions. Although all of the conditions listed in DoDI 6130.03 are disqualifying, many may be eligible for a waiver. If an applicant should be deemed medically disqualified after DoDMERB review, the Commissioning Coordinator will reach out in order to initiate the waiver process.
Age Requirements
Commissioned officers must be at least 18 years of age at the time of matriculation. Commissioned officers must be no older than 36 years of age as of June 30 of the year of matriculation. Applicants older than 36 years of age as of June 30th of the year of matriculation must receive an age waiver which our staff will coordinate and process as required.
Fitness
It is every service member’s responsibility to maintain fitness standards, ensuring they are physically fit and able to contribute to the mission. Within the first week of reporting for officer training, trainees will be required to take an initial Fitness Assessment. While at officer training, trainees will exercise 5-6 days per week in a rigorous, full body fitness program. Additionally, trainees will be required to complete a 5K (3.1 mile) run as well as several obstacle courses, which may require climbing, low-crawling, jumping, etc. Fitness regimens should not begin at training; they should begin prior to acceptance and should include running, biking, or other aerobic activities. Additional information regarding service specific fitness is provided below:
Army | Navy | Air Force | Public Health Service
RECEIVING ORDERS
After you have been unconditionally accepted, the Commissioning Coordinator will work with you and your branch of service to prepare for your commissiong, attendance at summer officer training, and to arrange your military relocation (PCS) to the Bethesda area. Once all required commissioning requirements have been met, incoming students will receive orders within 2 weeks of the start of officer training. Delays in processing could result in receiving your orders within days of the start of officer training.
OFFICER TRAINING
Officer training for each service takes place during the summer and lasts 5-6 weeks. Detailed instructions for officer training will be included in your orders such as: travel, arrival times and dates, items to bring, etc. Incoming students who are not required to attend officer training will report directly to USU per their orders.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ARMY
Army Direct Commission Course (DCC)
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
All civilian and enlisted incoming students
NAVY
Navy Officer Development School (ODS)
Newport, RI
All civilian and enlisted incoming students
AIR FORCE
Commissioned Officer Training (COT)
Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, AL
All civilian and enlisted incoming students
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
Officer Basic Course (OBC)
Rockville, MD
All incoming students who have not completed OBC without a greater than two year break in service.
SERVICE OBLIGATION
Students commit to serving at least seven years in the uniformed services after graduation. Upon completion of the active duty service obligation, students who served on active duty for less than 10 years after graduation are placed on the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) roster (graduate medical education does not count toward the 10 years). While on the IRR roster, service members are in an inactive reserve status, with no weekends or annual active duty drill requirement; however, they are subject to recall by the President of the United States during times of emergency. The amount of time required on the IRR roster is as follows:
- Active duty service less than 8 years: 6 years on the IRR roster
- Active duty service of more than 8 years, but less than 9: 4 years on the IRR roster
- Active duty service of 9 years or more, but less than 10: 2 years on the IRR roster
- Active duty service of 10 years or more: no requirement to be listed on the IRR roster
Except as law or service policy otherwise prescribed, the IRR obligation is added after all other active duty obligations have been served, including time for USU, ROTC, or the service academies.
The obligation for those serving in the Public Health Service is ten years, as the Public Health Service does not have an inactive ready reserve component. However, after having served not less than 7 years
of active duty service in the Corps, Public Health Service Officers may request an inter-service transfer to U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, or U.S. Coast Guard. If the inter-service transfer is approved, these officers may then request to be placed on the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) roster of the applicable military service. If a transfer to the IRR occurs, these officers may complete the remainder of their service obligation on the IRR roster as set forth below:
- Active duty service less than 8 years: 6 years on the IRR roster
- Active duty service of more than 8 years, but less than 9: 4 years on the IRR roster
- Active duty service of 9 years or more, but less than 10: 2 years on the IRR roster
RELEASE NEEDED FOR CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS
Active Duty
All current active duty and reserve service members must submit a Letter of Approval from their commanding officer at the time of application or shortly afterwards.
In addition to the submission of a Letter of Approval at the time of application, all current service members will be required to submit an approved conditional release or contingent resignation as it applies to their current status. This process should be initiated at the time of application or at the latest when an interview is offered.
Reserves
The following forms will need to be completed:
- An endorsement Letter of Release (in memo form) from your commanding officer (who has the authority to release you).
- Fill out DD368, sections 1 through 4 only (Service Member or Recruiter)
For privacy protection, use your EDIPI for section 1C when completing the DD 368.
Once you receive your endorsement memo signed by your Commander and DD368 signed by your Recruiter or Commander, the two should be combined and sent to your USU Admissions Counselor.
The contact information for each branch of service is listed below.
ENLISTED ACTIVE DUTY
ARMY
Active Component Enlisted Separations Team
usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.epmd-retirement-separations@mail.mil
NAVY
PERS-832
PERS832ADSEPS@navy.mil
AIR FORCE
HQ AFPC/DPAM
matthew.kush@us.af.mil
RESERVE ENLISTED MEMBERS
ARMY
AGR Separations Team
usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.epmd-retirement-separations@mail.mil
NAVY
PERS-913
(901) 874-4713
AIR FORCE
HQ AFPC/DPAM
matthew.kush@us.af.mil
OFFICER ACTIVE DUTY
Obligation Currently Owed: Contingent Resignation (LOR)
ARMY
Army HRC- Separations and Retirements
(502) 613-6608
NAVY
PERS-834F
(901) 874-2085/2095 or PERS832ADSEPS@navy.mil
AIR FORCE
HQ AFPC/DPAM
matthew.kush@us.af.mil
End of obligated service prior to matriculation at USU: Letter of Intent (LOI)
ARMY
Army HRC- Separations and Retirements
(502) 613-6608
NAVY
PERS-451O
(901) 874-2085/2095 or resignations.fct@navy.mil
AIR FORCE
HQ AFPC/DPAM
matthew.kush@us.af.mil
RESERVE OFFICER
Contingent Resignation
ARMY
Army HRC- Separations and Retirements
(502) 613-6608
NAVY
PERS-834F
(833) 330-6622
AIR FORCE
HQ AFPC/DPAM
matthew.kush@us.af.mil