United States
Public Health Service
WWW.USPHS.GOV
USPHS History
1798 - Marine Hospital Service established.
1889 - PHS Commissioned Corps officially
established by Congress, with rank
and pay similar to Navy.
1912 - Renamed Public Health Service.
1939 - Transferred from the Treasury
Department to the Federal Security
Agency (now known as the
Department of Health and Human
Services)
USPHS Commissioned
Corps Mission
Protecting, promoting and
advancing the health and
safety of the Nation
USPHS Commissioned Corps
One of the Seven Uniformed
Services
Executive Branch
Department of Defense
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Department of Health
and Human Services
Department of
Homeland Security
Department of
Commerce
Public Health
Service
Coast Guard
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric
Administration
U. S. Public Health Service
• Part of Department of Health and Human
Services
• Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
• Dual Personnel System - includes civil
•
•
servants and Corps Officers
Approx. 60,000 employees combined
Close to 6,000 Commissioned Officers
Led by the Surgeon General
•
VADM Regina Benjamin,
M.D., M.B.A.
Surgeon General of
the United States
HHS Operating Divisions
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
HHS Operating Divisions
Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA)
Indian Health Service (IHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS)
Non-HHS Agencies who hire
officers
Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
National Park Service (NPS)
U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U. S. Coast Guard (USCG)
U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U. S. Marshals Service (USMS)
Professional Categories
Physician
Nurse
Dentist
Pharmacist
Professional Categories
(cont’d.)
Veterinarian
Engineer
Scientist
Environmental
Health Officer
Therapist
Dietitian
Health Services
Officer
Eligibility Criteria
U. S. citizenship
< 44 years of age (can be offset by up
to 8 years of prior uniformed service)
Qualifying degree from an approved
accredited institution
< 8 years prior service (active duty)
Medically and physically fit
Pay and Benefits




Pay scale based on rank and time in service
Some categories have additional special pay
Non-taxable housing and subsistence allowances
30 days of paid leave per year (2.5 days per
month)
 Sick leave granted as needed (with no preset
limit)
 Non-contributory retirement (based on a 20-30
year career)
Pay and Benefits
 Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance for officer




and spouse
Comprehensive healthcare (medical and dental)
to keep an officer fit for duty and medical care
for family
VA benefits (survivor and disability benefits,
burial allowance, home loans, educational
program, etc.)
Military Base/Post privileges (commissary,
exchange, officer’s club, etc.)
Space available (Space-A) travel on U. S.
military aircraft to numerous locations
throughout the world – Europe, HI, AK,
Caribbean, Asia
Student Opportunities
Commissioned Officer Student Training and
Extern Program (COSTEP)
– Junior (30-120 day short tours and no post
obligation)
– Senior (Receive approximately $2,500 per
month during final year of qualifying degree
and 2 for 1 payback of days sponsored)
See www.usphs.gov for details and deadlines
How to Get Started?
It is a dual process to become an officer in
the USPHS. Which differs greatly from the
other uniformed services.
The USPHS grants a Commission, whereas
government programs offer the employment.
A Commission cannot be granted to an
individual until employment is offered and
accepted
How to Get Started?
Meet eligibility requirements for the Corps
Begin Commissioned Corps application
process by going to www.usphs.gov
Start pursuing employment with any of the
Commissioned Corps affiliated Agencies
Once a job offer is made by the Agency, the
Office of Commissioned Corps
Operations (OCCO) will coordinate a “Call
to Active Duty” date and issue personnel
orders.
Job Search
• http://dcp.psc.gov/VATS/rept_select.htm
(recommended site)
• http://www.usphs.gov/html/other_federal_jobs.
html (alternate)
• We recommend that individuals start the
Commissioned Corps application process and
the job search with government programs
simultaneously.
QUESTIONS?
WWW.USPHS.GOV
1-800-279-1605