Air Force Medical Scholarships

The Air Force medical scholarships are aimed at graduating college students who dream of pursuing a career in the Air Force through medical services. Not all men or women are fit to be sent to the battlefield. Some of them choose to serve their country by giving all the talents they have in helping those who are actually sent to action.

Medical doctors are important in the success of an operation whether it be the Army, the Navy or the Air Force. The Air Force, specifically, gives a unique opportunity for pre-medical degree holders to serve their country whilst pursuing their medical degrees.

What exactly are Air Force medical scholarships?

Under the Air Force’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), college students eyeing a

The Air Force medical scholarships, together with the Navy and Army medical scholarship, offer one of the most comprehensive scholarships within the health care field. Applicants here can obtain assistance from the Armed Forces whether they want to pursue Dentistry, Clinical Psychology, Optometry, Anesthesiology or Psychiatry.

What does the Air Force shoulder in this program?

A lot of students are wary of applying for a scholarship program mainly because some of these scholarship programs do not really include everything that they would need to finish their degrees. Many of them offer only an initial stipend, just enough to support them in their first year of medical school for example. With the Air Force medical scholarships, students need not worry about any of these things. They make sure that once their scholars get started, they will be able to finish and get their medical degree.

The Air Force will pay for the tuition for students to be able to attend medical school. Those interested are free to apply in any school in the United States and even in Puerto Rico. Aside from tuition, the scholarship program also shoulders books, miscellaneous fees and other reimbursable things. There is also a monthly allowance given to those who are selected for the medical scholarships. This usually goes at the rate of more than $1000 for 10 months.

There are other benefits included in the Air Force medical scholarships. Under the HPSP, an applicant granted with the medical scholarship will also receive a “salary” equivalent to that of an Army Second Lieutenant. Upon graduation, they will be promoted to a higher rank, which means an increase in salary and other benefits.

In return, what will the Air Force be expecting from their scholars?

For the Air Force’s part, the main thing that they would be expecting from the students that they would be supporting is that they give back what they have gained in the form of service to the Air Force. Air Force medical scholarships are not like your usual college grants or loans, which would require you to pay the principal with spiking interests added. With the Air Force, all that they would be requiring from their scholars is their time.

Whilst enrolled in medical school, the Air Force will be expecting scholars to exert best efforts in pursuing their medical degree. They are expected to meet the standards set for them not only in academics but also more importantly, in social service.

Whilst pursuing their medical degrees, the Air Force expects scholars to spend at least 45 days in active service every school year. They will also be expected to fulfill one year of service for every year that they are under the scholarship program. The minimum amount of time is usually three years.

Things to remember to be eligible for Air Force medical scholarships

To qualify for an Air Force scholarship, one must be a U.S. citizen, first and foremost. They must have all the necessary documents to prove that they were born in the States of have at least spent the minimum amount of time to become a citizen of the country.

The next thing required is their pre-med degree. This can range from any science course offered by any accredited school within the States. They should have passed all the necessary tests and requirements that most medical schools look for.

The Air Force also requires their scholars to be full-time students who will concentrate only in pursuing their medical degrees and rendering their service to the Air Force.

A Win-Win situation

Getting accepted and granted one of the Air Force medical scholarships is a very big deal. Rarely does an opportunity come by where one can hit two birds with one stone, literally. Aspiring med students will pursue their dreams of becoming a doctor, all whilst fulfilling the noble purpose of rendering service to their country.