ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT (AMEDD)

As a medical professional, you will ensure that Soldiers receive the best healthcare possible on and off the battlefield. As an Army Officer, you’ll enjoy extra benefits, too. The Army National Guard can help new officers pursue their educational goals and desired careers by offering a variety of financial assistance to qualified recipients in return for their service.

AMEDD BENEFITS

• Low-cost medical and dental care for you and your family (TRICARE Reserve Select)
• Low-cost life insurance up to $500,000
• Discounted and tax-free grocery and shopping privileges at post exchanges and commissaries
• Free and low-cost military air flights based on space availability
• Access to recreational facilities on military installations
• A retirement pension plan at the completion of 20 years of part-time service
• Accessions Bonuses and Retention Bonuses are available for qualifying individuals
• Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) is available for qualifying individuals

AMEDD REQUIREMENTS

• Meet the prescribed medical and moral standards for appointment as a commissioned officer
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have completed an accredited qualifying degree program within the United States, US Territories or The District of Columbia
• Must be at least 21 years of age or older
• Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance

AMEDD Training

• Direct Commissioning Course (DCC) at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma
• This three-week course establishes the foundation of US Army values, attributes, and skills for newly commissioned officers assigned to the Medical, Dental, Medical Service, Army Nurse, or Medical Specialist Corps. Students receive a foundation in leadership, physical fitness, mental toughness, and tactical and technical proficiency skills required of US Army Officers.
• Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) located at Joint Base Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas
• This course is designed to instruct students on the basics of being an Army and Army Medical Department (AMEDD) officer. It will assist the student in making their transition into the Army a smooth one. This course will provide the student with an increased understanding of the U.S. Army, its various missions and most importantly, how to contribute to the success of those missions. The students focus at the Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) should be discipline, teamwork, basic Soldier skills, tactical medical doctrine, and learning the principles behind becoming a resilient, agile leader.
• A hybrid option is available for physicians, dentist and other healthcare professionals consisting of an 80-hour distance learning course followed by a three-week resident course in San Antonio.
• A nine-week resident course is required for all 70 series and 67J officers.

CAREER OPTIONS

• Medical Corps (MD and DO)
  Providing a wide range of healthcare to Soldiers at home and during combat and covering medical specialties such as internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and more.
• -Accession Bonus (AB) and Retention Bonus (RB)- Fully qualified individuals with certain specialty licensure are eligible to receive bonuses.
• The current AB or RB is $25,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract.
• Flight surgeons currently receive $40,000 per year for length of bonus contract.
• Psychiatrist – The current AB or RB is $55,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract.
• -Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)- Fully qualified individuals that aren’t receiving AB or RB can elect to have their qualified student loans repaid directly to the lender.
• The current HPLRP Rates are up to $40,000 per year with a lifetime maximum of $250,000.
• -Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP)- is offered to those individuals who are in an approved US residency program. This can be a great incentive to have to financially aid individuals in the completion of residency programs.
• The current monthly stipend is $2,870.00. Amounts are adjusted every July.

• Army Dental Corps (Dentist)
  Ensure that each Soldier is in optimal oral health in preparation for deployment and assist in the emergency medical management of combat and noncombat casualties.
• -Accession Bonus (AB) and Retention Bonus (RB)- Fully qualified individuals with certain specialty licensure are eligible to receive bonuses.
• The current AB or RB is $25,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract.
• -Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)- Fully qualified individuals that aren’t receiving AB or RB can elect to have their qualified student loans repaid directly to the lender.
• The current HPLRP Rates are up to $40,000 per year with a lifetime maximum of $250,000.

• Medical and Dental Students
  Medical and dental students can serve as a Healthcare Student Officer while attending medical or dental school. Healthcare Student Officers are placed in non-deployable positions and are eligible for financial assistance programs.
• -The Health Professions Stipend Program– Stipends offered are the Specialized Training Assistance Program and the Medical and Dental School Stipend program. Stipends can be taken for any number of months but must align with the program end date.
• -Medical and Dental School Stipend Program (MDSSP)- is offered to medical and dental students attending a US accredited medical or dental school. This stipend is good to aid in completion of programs and assist the student financially. The officer taking advantage of this stipend must understand that they incur a 1-year obligation for each 6-month period on MDSSP. This obligation must be met before receiving any other incentive.
• The current monthly stipend is $2,870.00. Amounts are adjusted every July. 

• Medical Specialist Corps (Physician Assistants)

As a Physician Assistant in the Guard, you’ll play a critical role in providing medical care to Soldiers, ensuring they are fit and ready for their duty. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from diagnosing illnesses and injuries to prescribing treatments and performing medical procedures.

• -Accession Bonus (AB) and Retention Bonus (RB)- Fully qualified individuals with certain specialty licensure are eligible to receive bonuses.
• Physician Assistant – The current AB or RB is $25,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract.
• -Health Professions Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)- Fully qualified individuals that aren’t receiving AB or RB can elect to have their qualified student loans repaid directly to the lender.
• The current HPLRP Rates are up to $20,000 per year with a lifetime maximum of $60,000.

The Army offers well qualified officers, warrant officers, and enlisted Soldiers an incredible educational opportunity to become a Physician Assistant (PA) through the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, or IPAP located at the Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE), Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Graduates earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and receive a commission as a 1LT in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. For more information visit the IPAP page.

• Medical Service Corps (Behavioral Sciences, Health Services, AirEVAC)
  Help the Guard’s medical services run smoothly in administrative and engineering functions such as aeromedical evacuation pilots, human resources and more. Plan, direct, and administer programs and services relating to clinical psychology and social work and promote all aspects of mental health and the social well-being of Soldiers.
• Social Workers – Must possess a Master of Social Work (MSW) from a program accredited by Council on Social Work Education and a current unrestricted license for independent practice.
• Clinical Psychologist – Must possess a doctorate (PsyD or PhD) in clinical or counseling psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program and completed a 1-year APA approved clinical psychology internship. Must possess a current, unrestricted license to practice psychology.
• -Financial Incentives- Fully qualified individuals with certain specialty licensure are eligible to receive bonuses or student loan repayment.
• Aeromedical Evacuation Officer – The current AB or RB is $10,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract. Student loan repayment is $20,000 per year with a lifetime max of $60,000.
• Social Workers – The current AB or RB is $15,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract. Student loan repayment is $25,000 per year with a lifetime max of $75,000.
• Clinical Psychologist – The current AB or RB is $20,000 per year for the length of the bonus contract. Student loan repayment is $40,000 per year with a lifetime max of $250,000.
• Army Nurse Corps
  Nurse officers provide professional nursing care, services, and health promotion in military health treatment organizations as Registered Nurses or Family Nurse Practitioners. Nurse slots are limited and require approval from a board hosted every 1-2 years. Refer to the (LINK TO NURSE BOARD) for board dates and requirements.

CHAPLAIN

Nurture the Living – Care for the Wounded – Honor the Fallen

Serving as a Guard Chaplain is an intense yet profoundly rewarding experience. You will care for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers, ministering to their needs and helping them meet challenges in areas like religion, morals, and morale.  Chaplains will minister according to their own faith tradition in alignment with their ecclesiastical endorser.

 Chaplains are non-combatants and do not carry a weapon. As a Guard Chaplain, you’ll lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of you and a trained Religious Affairs Specialist (an enlisted Soldier trained to support chaplains during their missions and everyday activities).

 If you’re already an ordained minister, you can earn your commission and begin your ministry to Guard Soldiers as soon as you complete the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC).

OFFICER BENEFITS
As part of the Chaplain Corps, you’ll begin your service as an officer, earning monthly officer drill pay. The Guard also provides unparalleled benefits for a part-time commitment, including:

• Low-cost health insurance for you and your family through Tricare Reserve Select
• Low-cost Life Insurance up to $500,000
• A retirement pension plan at the completion of 20 years of part-time service
• Discounted and tax-free grocery and shopping privileges at post exchanges and commissaries
• Free and low-cost military air flights based on space availability
• Access to recreational facilities on military installations

CHAPLAIN MISSION

• The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps provides religious support and advises on matters of spirituality and religion to build strong, ready teams to deploy, fight, and win our Nation’s wars as a unique and necessary branch of the total Army that is fully engaged in joint and multidomain operations in war and peace.

CHAPLAIN (56A) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Possess a bachelor’s degree (not less than 120 semester hours)
• Possess an accredited master’s degree, typically a Master of Divinity, of not less than 72 semester hours (36 semester hours must be in Theology)
• Obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your denomination or faith group. 
•  The chaplain is an ordained minister or member in good standing of the respective denomination or body.
•  The denomination approves of the chaplain serving as a military chaplain.
• Are qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually, and emotionally.
•  Are sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel and their family members.
• For a list of Department of War recognized Religious-Endorsing Organizations/Agents visit: https://prhome.war.gov/M-RA/MPP/AFCB/Endorsements/.
• Are less than 47 years of age.*
• Be mentally and physically fit
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Be able to obtain a Secret security clearance

*Age waivers for applicants at or above the maximum age are considered on a case-by-case basis.

CHAPLAIN CANDIDATES (56X)

• Those accepted into a Master of Divinity program with less than 32 credit hours can direct commission as a 2LT to earn on the job training while completing their professional degree. Must be less than 37 years of age, some age waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

TRAINING FOR CHAPLAINS AND CHAPLAIN CANDIDATES

When you join the Guard as a chaplain, you’ll be a commissioned officer. If you join prior to completing your Master’s degree, you will enter as a chaplain candidate. In either case, you’ll attend the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (CH-BOLC), where you’ll learn fundamental military tasks and how to perform religious duties in a military environment.

The CH-BOLC consists of multiple phases all hosted at Fort Jackson, SC:

• Direct Commissioning Course (DCC)
  A four-week resident course focused on core noncombatant skills such as map reading, military customs and courtesies, operations in field conditions, and combat survival
• Phase I
  A two-week course on Army writing and correspondence, focusing on the essential staff officer skills needed to function in the Army
• Phase II

A three-week course that provides basic chaplain ministry and pastoral skills necessary to function as a chaplain at the battalion level

• Phase III
  A three-week course that brings together leadership, professionalism, and officership in field, garrison, and social environments. The main focus of this phase is a field training exercise (FTX)

For many students, CHBOLC is the first opportunity to work as a member of a multi-faith team providing religious support and services to a diverse community. To support student success the Chaplain School’s CHBOLC program stresses:

• Teamwork to accomplish the religious support mission
• Integration into the Army Community and its customs, courtesies, ethic and traditions
• Adapting civilian education and experiences to the Army environment
• Performing the critical staff officers skills to work in collaboration with other Battalion staff officers and NCOs
• Advising leaders on the impact of religion on the military community and operations