These are services that many people do not know about. They are not considered "armed services", but "uniformed services". They are unique in that every member is a commissioned officer, and share uniforms and rank structure with the US Navy and pay grades with all the other services.
Like the Coast Guard(Department of Homeland Security), they are not under the Department of Defense. The NOAA Commisioned Officer Corps is part of the Department of Commerce and the USPHS Commissioned Corps is part of the US Public Health Service. Unlike the Coast Guard, however, they are not entitled to VA benefits(outside of retirement, which they are the same as the other services). They are also not eligible for the Navy Credit Union nor American Legion.
What is your opinion on these services? Should they be treated as all other DoD services and the Coast Guard? Status quo? Other opinion?
I'm a civil engineering student currently working on my masters. I will graduate in December and am currently looking for both an internship this summer and a full-time position after graduation. I'm exploring all my options, and I've learned about the USPHS Corps. Among the doctors, pharmacists, etc, they also need engineers. As far as I can gleam, it's mostly state-side work doing things like building hospitals, research facilities, and water systems.
I'm currently applying for their JRCOSTEP summer intern program. You basically can get a flavor for the type of work they do without committing to any sort of full tour of duty.
Still, I'm wondering if anyone on Reddit has heard anything about this branch of the service. They're pretty small, only 6000 according to Wikipedia. While there is always the possibility of being sent overseas, as far as I can gleam, they haven't been even through all of Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Has anyone on Reddit been a member of this branch, or know someone who has?
Edit: cross-listed in r/military: http://www.reddit.com/r/Military/comments/b238f/united_states_public_health_service_commissioned/
Has anyone joined the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service? It’s basically like military service except you work as a public health professional at federal jobs like the Indian health service, ICE, federal prisons, NIH, etc etc mostly within the US. Service means federal pay, and all the best benefits of military service (student loan repayment, basic housing allowance, GI bill, Tricare, and others)
I just learned about its existence from a textbook I’m reading for a BSN class. How have I never heard of this before?
Just curious if anyone has any experience with the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and could give me some information. I have been reading on their website about it and I am going to talk to a recruiter in a few days but just wanted to know if anyone here has any firsthand experience. Thanks!
I am part of the Canadian Army
My question came up because due to covid I have been seeing the U.S. Surgeon General in the news a lot and noticed that they are uniformed in military attire and have a rank but the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHSCC) is not part of the military.
Through less than 5 mins of research, I found out that under an amendment to the U.S. Public Health Service Act the USPHSCC can be militarised not only in times of war but also in cases of national emergency.
So I ask "Why is the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps not always part of the U.S. Military?" is it just economics? politics? |
Sidenote in my 5 mins of research I also discovered that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps is a thing, also with uniforms and ranks not part of the military. If anyone wants to comment or DM me about that hmu lol.
I receive many DMs with questions regarding the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and most of the time I have to give the bad news that recruitment is closed for non-clinicians. Today, I am happy to announce that as of 1 Nov 2019, PHS has been accepting applications for all categories. The emphasis is still on recruiting medical, veterinary, dental, and nurse practitioner officers, but applications are being accepted for all categories (e.g. environmental health, engineer, and health services). Inter-service transfers (<8 years of active duty service) are also being encouraged to apply (this has been relatively closed off the past several years as well).
Internally, PHS has 5 recruitment priorities, and is currently recruiting for agencies that fall under priorities 1-3. The plan is all 5 recruitment priorities will be open starting 1 Jan 2020. This in theory opens up additional agencies that one may apply to for first assignment. Currently, new applicants must be willing to serve in one of the following priority agencies for their first tour (minimum of 2 years):
- Indian Health Service
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Coast Guard
- ICE Health Service Corps
- National Institutes of Health
- Federal Occupational Health
- Department of Interior/National Park Service, Clinical Site
- Department of Defense/Defense Health Agency
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Health Administration
Understand, these are the priority agencies; there is no guarantee there is an open billet at your favored agency/agencies. Some agencies only employ certain categories as well. Coast Guard, for example, generally only takes officers in medical, dental, pharmacist, environmental health, clinical and rehab therapists (PT/OT), and health services (PAs and LCSWs) categories. The ICE Health Service Corps is very big on nurse recruitment. Indian Health Service needs clinicians and also heavily recruits environmental health and engineer officers.
Visit https://usphs.gov/apply/apply.aspx for general applicant requirements. You will need to meet those as well as requirements of the category for which you are applying. Use the "Careers & Benefits" drop down menu under the page banner to see the different categories. Once you are on a category page, go to the "Salary and Benefits" section of the page and click the "More About Salary and Benefits" link. On the left hand side you wil
... keep reading on reddit ➡https://dcp.psc.gov/ccmis/features/Feature_2019NovelCoronavirus.aspx
“Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mission - Deployments Readiness Updates
As we position ourselves to assist with controlling the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), please note that we’re in an “all-hands on deck” status.
Messaging has gone out from the Assistant Secretary for Health reminding Commissioned Corps officers of their deployment responsibilities.
Important Points on Deployment: Under Commissioned Corps Directive (CCD) 121.02, “Deployment and Readiness,” the Secretary can order the deployment of Commissioned Corps officers without supervisor approval for any emergency that, in the judgement of the Secretary, is appropriate for the deployment of members of the Corps.
The Secretary has determined that COVID-19 missions meet that standard. Officers assigned to an HHS OPDIV/STAFFDIV will be deployed without supervisor approval for the COVID-19 missions.”
Curious as to whether there are equivalents in other countries to the US PHSCC, which is a "uniformed service" aka military-style organization.
i originally wanted to join the navy and planned to enter during med school but sadly the ban happened and i already started transitioning long before it,
am i also banned from the public health service corps?
Just curious if anyone has worked for them? What's your experience? Love it/hate it? Just want to know a little more about it before contacting a recruiter.....
All in the title! Do you know anybody who has participated? Have you yourself participated?
What were your qualifications going in? What was the application process like? Any other thoughts? Thanks!
Introduced: Sponsor: Rep. Katherine Clark [D-MA5]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
1 cosponsor is on that committee.
This survey is 8 questions and will take 3-4 minutes, tops. We need info by tomorrow 9 am EST/ 6 AM PST. Yikes, I know.
Link: https://forms.gle/1JUhbVyJfqvR1C3PA (I have also posted this in the link area, but people tend not to see this, so also posting it here)
Please feel free to forward!
Thanks!
Jessi & Colby
Press Release: https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/california-volunteers-california-higher-education-institutions-announce-historic-college-service-program/
> Governor Gavin Newsom and the leaders of California’s college and university systems joined Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday to launch the largest state-level investment in a college service program in California history. California Volunteers announced the 45 colleges and universities selected as inaugural partners for the service-based college opportunity program.
Eligible Campuses: https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/californiansforall-college-corps/#colleges
> UC Davis
> If you attend one of these schools, please stay tuned for more details this spring on how to apply to become a College Corps Fellow. We anticipate that our partner campuses will have application information available for their students by March 2022, and we will update our website accordingly.
I received an email about these two NYSPHC Fellowship job ads that were posted this week. Both opportunities are grant-funded roles that will each last for about one year. Alas, to qualify, you must already have "valid and unrestricted" authorization to work in the U.S., so there's no visa sponsorship for these roles:
-Evaluation Specialist II (NYSPHC Fellowship Program): Deadline to apply is Dec. 21, 2021.
I had applied earlier to this Fellowship program, but ultimately decided to pursue another opportunity. Nevertheless, it was through this subreddit that I was interviewed for another public health role. I'll always be grateful for that and therefore, I'd like to return the favor.
Thanks again and good luck!
I'm a civil engineering student currently working on my masters. I will graduate in December and am currently looking for both an internship this summer and a full-time position after graduation. I'm exploring all my options, and I've learned about the USPHS Corps. Among the doctors, pharmacists, etc, they also need engineers. As far as I can gleam, it's mostly state-side work doing things like building hospitals, research facilities, and water systems.
I'm currently applying for their JRCOSTEP summer intern program. You basically can get a flavor for the type of work they do without committing to any sort of full tour of duty.
Still, I'm wondering if anyone on Reddit has heard anything about this branch of the service. They're pretty small, only 6000 according to Wikipedia. While there is always the possibility of being sent overseas, as far as I can gleam, they haven't been even through all of Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Has anyone on Reddit been a member of this branch, or know someone who has?
Edit: cross-listed in askreddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/b235e/united_state_public_health_service_commissioned/
Introduced: Sponsor: Rep. Marcia Fudge [D-OH11]
This bill was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services, House Committee on Education and Labor, and 2 other committees which will consider it before sending it to the House floor for consideration.
Rep. Marcia Fudge [D-OH11] is a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
