How can I commission as a 70A, 70B, Medical Service Corps Officer if my GPA sucks?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 13:43:31 -0500

I'm looking to gain some insight from prior service officers, current officers within the 70A community that give me some insight. I am currently a HM2 (E-5) in the Navy Reserve I’m 27 years old. I have an MHA (Masters and Health Administration) that is not CAHME accredited which presents as a problem when trying to commission in the NAVY RESERVE in the Medical Service Corps as a Health admin officer . I currently work in the VHA system as a administrator (GS-9) and looking to move to GS-11 probably within the next couple of months. With that being said, I am extremely interested in commissioning. However, there seems to be barriers that seem to be limiting me.

My Undergraduate GPA sucks, I doubled major in Healthcare Management and Public Health while in college. However, I had to support myself work 2 jobs and while going to school full-time. I also had some personal health issues going on with my mom so because of that my undergraduate grades suffered. I graduated with a 2.47 cumulative GPA in 2017. I manage to complete and get accepted into a MHA program due to a lot of letters of recommendation and a steller CV and I managed to finish out with a 3.5PGA. After obtaining my education, I've had no issues in employment opportunities and obtaining promotions within the government sector. However now, I can’t seem to commission in the Navy Reserve as a Healthcare Care Administrator in the Reserves because one, I don't seem to have the proper accreditation, which is CAHME, also secondly my undergrad GPA sucks. This is an extremely frustrating process as I have all these certifications: Healthcare Green Lean Belt, Healthcare Informatics certificate, Healthcare data Analyst cert. and I feel like I’m a good candidate but because of my GPA I’m held back.

I currently have 4 years working as a Healthcare Administrator within the government sector and I was hoping that it would give me a competitive edge when applying or getting by certain barriers, well from my personal experience it does not. So now I’m looking at 2 options at this point.

1. Obtaining a MPH and boosting my GPA, while obtaining the correct accreditation for a naval commission as a Healthcare Admin.

2. Going to the Army as a direct commission as a 70A series in the reserve. I was looking online and it says that I need at least 3 years of direct experience, in which I do have. However, will my GPA hold me up again.

What other options do I have at this point?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 6:50 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 18:50:02 -0500

PO2 West, currently AMEDD is not recruiting any 70B through direct commission. Only way is to go through the Academy, ROTC, or OCS. Also, all enter as a 70B and only move to 70A through 70K after fulfilling specific PME and civilian requirements and meeting TIG requirements. The recruiting mission may change, but with the switch to DHA, unlikely to be reopening direct commission route anytime soon.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2020 8:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 20:06:10 -0500

The MS Corps, specifically 70 series is also very over strength right now. To answer your GPA question, they go off of the qualifying degree, a bachelors degree for this AOC. Unfortunately, that means you may not be competitive if it was under 3.5. Talk to an AMEDD recruiter, but I’d plan to attend OCS for a basic branch (non AMEDD) if you want to commission.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 25 at 2020 10:51 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 22:51:16 -0500

So are you saying that because of the GPA you do not meet the requirement? You need to talk to AMED recruiter to know for sure. Anything in the form of a waiver, probably isn't going to happen.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 26 at 2020 2:01 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:01:04 -0500

That’s a question for an AMEDD recruiter, which you might want to contact directly. Do not confuse them with the standard recruiters.

Response by CPT Anthony Motsinger made Dec 26 at 2020 8:48 AM

CPT Anthony Motsinger — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 08:48:18 -0500

I echo 1LT Brooks’ comments. 70A is over strength. From my experience, for the past several years, health admin has been very competitive. Best of luck to you!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2020 4:39 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 04:39:07 -0500

Apply. Find an AMEDD recruiter, see if they have spots opened , and drop a package. I was in your situation sort of, my undergrad gpa was a 3.01 but I also had a masters degree, two deployments. And picked up HM1..and was a federal e.ployed, GS-7 , in the public health field. Go talk to the recruiter..see what you qualify for..and drop a kit/package and let the Army tell you no. Also, use linkedin to your advantage and NETWORK

-HM1 Jared Fletcher