Financial Assistance Program
The Financial Assistance Program (FAP) is for physicians and dentists currently accepted to or enrolled in an accredited residency or fellowship program progressing toward a specialty which has been designated as critical to the Department of Defense.
Appointments
Appointment of dentists in residencies in the dental corps (DC) of the U.S. Navy Reserve for inactive duty, designator 2205, and concurrent enrollment in the financial assistance program (FAP) leading to active duty in the DC, U.S. Navy.
Appointment of physicians in residencies and fellowships in the medical corps (MC) of the U.S. Navy Reserve for inactive duty, designator 2105, and concurrent enrollment in the financial assistance program (FAP) leading to active duty in the MC, U.S. Navy.
FAP Qualifications
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program is open to male and female applicants who are citizens of the United States. There are no marital status restrictions.
Applicants must be commissioned before their 42nd birthday. In cases where the applicant does not meet the age requirement (For applicants between the ages of 42 and 57), but otherwise has an exceptional record or proven skill-set required by the Navy, a waiver may be authorized. When considering an age waiver request, strong emphasis will be placed on undermanned specialties.
Applicants must meet physical standards for appointment as prescribed in the Manual of the Medical Department, Chapter 15. Candidates must meet the physical fitness weight and/or percentage of body fat standards at the time of application and at time of commissioning.
Education
Dentist: Be a graduate of a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association.
Physician (Doctor of Medicine): Be a graduate of a medical school in the United States or Puerto Rico approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and licensed to practice medicine or surgery in a state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
Physician (Doctor of Osteopathy): Be a graduate of a college of osteopathy approved by the American Osteopathic Association and be licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy in a state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
Professional Experience
For Dentist:
- Be accepted for, or enrolled in a graduate dental education program approved by the American Dental Association. The program must lead to certification in the specialties designated annually by the Secretary of the Navy; and
- Be in good standing and authorized to provide dental care in the graduate institution to which attached; and
- Must have a current, unrestricted license to practice dentistry a state, territory or commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
For Physicians:
- Be accepted for, or enrolled in a Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. The program must be approved by either the American Medical Association or American Osteopathic Association leading to certification in the specialties designated by the Secretary of the Navy; and
- Be in good standing and authorized to provide medical care in the GME institution to which attached; and
- Must have, at a minimum, an educational license to practice medicine, surgery or osteopathy in the state or the District of Columbia where undergoing training.
Dentist and Physician Training
Officers enrolled in the Financial Assistance Program shall serve on active duty for training, with full pay and allowances in their appointed grade, for a period of 14 days annually, at a location to be designated by the program sponsor.
Service Obligation
For Dentist:
- Eight-year minimum service obligation (MSO). Any portion of the 8-year MSO not served on active duty will be served as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). At the discretion of the program sponsor, IRR obligation may be served in the Selected Reserve. Previous residual IRR obligation will be served concurrently with newly incurred IRR obligation.
- Member shall incur a minimum active duty obligation of two years for the first one year, or portion thereof, of program participation. Participation for periods in excess of one year incurs an additional obligation of one-half year of active obligated service for each one-half year, or portion thereof, of program participation.
- Active service obligation incurred under this program is in addition to other unfulfilled active service obligation.
- Navy Dental Corps Officers deferred for graduate training before or during an initial active duty obligation resulting from Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program shall incur only the additional active duty obligation for FAP participation, as calculated in paragraph a.
- FAP participation time is not creditable for retirement or pay purposes (longevity).
- Time in residency training shall not be applied against the eight year minimum service obligation.
- FAP participants are eligible for consideration for promotion by inactive reserve Dental Corps selection boards.
- All program participants are required to sign a contract which contains the following clause:
- "I agree to serve any active duty obligation incurred or to reimburse the government for all costs incurred as a result of participation in this program if I fail to complete my obligation under this contract because of action not initiated by the government. This does not relieve me from any obligation to reimburse the government should the action initiated by the government be the result of my own misconduct. The Secretary of the Navy may waive this requirement if it is determined to be in the best interests of the government."
For Medical Doctor:
- Eight-year minimum service obligation (MSO). Any portion of the 8-year MSO not served on active duty will be served as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). At the discretion of the program sponsor, IRR obligation may be served in the Selected Reserve. Previous residual IRR obligation will be served concurrently with newly incurred IRR obligation.
- Member shall incur a minimum active-duty obligation of 2 years for the first 1 year, or portion thereof, of program participation. Participation for periods in excess of 1 year incurs an additional obligation of 1/2 year of active obligated service for each 1/2 year, or portion thereof, of program participation.
- Active-service obligation incurred under this program is in addition to other unfulfilled active-service obligation.
- Naval Medical Corps Officers deferred for graduate training before or during an initial active duty obligation resulting from Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program shall incur only the additional active duty obligation for FAP participation as indicated in paragraph a.
- FAP participation time is not creditable for retirement or pay purposes (longevity).
- Time in residency training shall not be applied against the 8-year Military Service Obligation.
- FAP participants are eligible for consideration for promotion by inactive reserve Medical Corps selection boards.
- All program participants are required to sign a contract which contains the following clause:
- "I agree to serve any active duty obligation incurred or to reimburse the government for all costs incurred as a result of participation in this program if I fail to complete my obligation under this contract because of action not initiated by the government. The Secretary of the Navy may waive this requirement if it is determined to be In the best interests of the government."
Pay and Allowances
Members may be entitled to and annual grant and monthly stipends.
For Dentist:
Members shall be entitled to an annual grant, the amount of which is established annually by ASD(HA), to be prorated for any projected partial year of participation.
Members will be entitled to a monthly stipend at a rate equal to that established annually by the ASD(HA) for members of the Armed Forces Health Profession Scholarship Program for each month in the program except during periods of active duty for training.
Stipend payment will start effective on the date of execution of the Oath of Office, the date of execution of the FAP contract, or the date of commencement of specialized training, whichever is latest.
Acceptance of the aforementioned stipend and grant does not preclude acceptance by the member of payment by the civilian training institution.
FAP participants will be assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve.
Payment of educational expenses incurred by the member is authorized. Such payments shall be limited to educational expenses normally incurred by dentists pursuing the same specialized training at the same institution and who are not members of the FAP.
For Medical Doctor:
Members shall be entitled to an annual grant, the amount of which is established annually by ASD(HA), to be prorated for any projected partial year of participation.
Members will be entitled to a monthly stipend at a rate equal to that established annually by the ASD(HA) for members of the AFHPSP for each month in the program except during periods of active duty for training.
Stipend payment will start effective on the date of execution of the oath of office, the date of execution of the FAP contract, or the date of commencement of specialized training, whichever is latest.
Acceptance of the aforementioned stipend and grant does not preclude acceptance by the member of payment by the civilian training institution.
FAP participants will be assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve.
Payment of educational expenses incurred by the member is authorized. Such payments shall be limited to those educational expenses normally incurred by physicians who are pursuing the same specialized training at the same institution and who are not members of the FAP.
