# Presentation: 744956

## U.S. Public Health ServiceCommissioned Corps Veterinary Medical Careers

- Updated July, 2006

## USPHSCom Corps Veterinarians

- Who are we & what do we do?
- How do you get a job with the Com Corps of the Public Health Service?

## PHS Commissioned Corps

- All-officer organization composed primarily of health professionals

## PHS Commissioned Corps

- One of the seven Uniformed Services
- Non-combat orientation
- Personnel system similar to DoD

## Commissioned Corps Personnel System

- Commissioning affords rights and respect
- Surgeon General leads the CC
- PHS Veterinary CC Mission

## In what departments and agencies do Com. Corps. veterinarians work?

- Dept. of Health and Human Services
- National Institutes of Health
- CDC/ATSDR
- Food and Drug Admin.
- Indian Health Service
- Dept. of the Interior
- National Parks Service
- Fish and Wildlife
- Dept. of State
- US Agency for International Development

- US Dept. of Agriculture
- FSIS
- APHIS
- Dept. Homeland Security and Dept of Defense
- Environmental Protection Agency

## Public Health Veterinarians in the Federal Government

**Total: ~2,400**

## Example Geographic Locations

- NIH
- Washington DC
- Research Triangle, NC
- Rocky Mountain Lab, MT
- CDC
- Atlanta, GA
- Fort Collins, CO
- Puerto Rico
- EPA
- Puget Sound, WA
- FDA
- Nationwide
- USDA-FSIS
- Nationwide

## What are our roles?Epidemiology and surveillanceLaboratory animal medicinePathology and other laboratory sciencesEntomologyFood safety and zoonoses control Bio/chem terrorism preparedness and securityQuarantine and inspectionDrug safetyEnvironmental health and toxicology

- What are our roles?Epidemiology and surveillanceLaboratory animal medicinePathology and other laboratory sciencesEntomologyFood safety and zoonoses control Bio/chem terrorism preparedness and securityQuarantine and inspectionDrug safetyEnvironmental health and toxicology

## Response Forcefor the Nation

- Response Forcefor the Nation

**Notes:**
AI isn’t new to the U.S. Several Eastern states were affected by an avian influenza outbreak in 2002. That outbreak cost more than $140 million, and affected birds in Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. 

## How are rank and pay determined? 

- Enter as an O-3 or an O-4
- Post-DVM degree related activities
- BASIC PAY +

- ALLOWANCES +
- SPECIAL PAY =
- GROSS PAY B

## Pay and Allowances

- Pay is taxable
- Allowance (usually) non-taxable

## Compensation Comparison Example 1

- 2005 example

- http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/StayNavyTools/CareerTools/

- Compensation Comparison Example 1

- Recent graduate enters as a LT (O-3) with < 2 years
- No dependents
- Living in the Baltimore, MD area

## Compensation Comparison Example 1

- Gross Pay = $56,982
- Take Home Pay = $49,215
- Retained $ due to tax break = $9,447
- Comparable civilian after tax income
- _$66,429_
- The $66.4K does not include
- Veterinary special pay = $1200/yr
- Indirect annual compensation

## Compensation Comparison Example 1 (cont)

- Veterinary pay:					$ 1,200
- Indirect Annual Compensation Costs
- Medical: 		$ 994
- Dental:			$ 162
- Vision:			$   9
- (free glasses)
- Commissary:		$ 988
- SUBTOTAL					_$ 2,153_
- TOTAL						$3,353
- The civilian job would need to pay:
- 				$66,429 + 3,353 		= _$69,782_

## Compensation ComparisonExample 2

- 2005 example

- Compensation ComparisonExample 2

- CDR (O-5) with 9 years
- Married with 2 children
- Specialty boarded
- Living in the
- 	Baltimore, MD area

- http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/StayNavyTools/CareerTools/

## Compensation Comparison Example 2

- Gross Pay = $90,477
- Take Home Pay = $74,023
- Retained $ due to tax break = $14,364
- Comparable civilian after tax income
- _$104,841_
- The $104.8K does not include
- Veterinary special pay = $1200/yr
- Indirect annual compensation

## Compensation Comparison Example 2 (cont)

- Indirect Annual Compensation Costs
- Medical: 		$ 3,226
- Dental:			$   292
- Vision:			$     19
- (officer gets free glasses)
- Commissary:		$ 2,842
- Veterinary pay:	$ 1,200
- Board Specialty pay	$ 2,000
- TOTAL			$9,579
- The civilian job would need to pay ~
- 			$ 104,841 + 9,579 = 		$_114,420_

## Commissioned Corps Advantages

- Relocation expenses paid
- Educational debt deferred/forgiven
- 30 days annual leave
- Sick leave and maternity leave
- Healthcare at Uniformed Services Facilities
- Free medical to officer & family
- Dental - free to officer, low cost to family
- Commissary privileges
- VA Home loans
- DoD Recreational facility access
- Excellent noncontributory retirement
- Thrift Savings Plan
- $400,000 of Term Life insurance
- Montgomery-GI Bill - for higher education
- Optional retirement at 20 years

**Notes:**
www.usna.edu/ MWR/weeklynews.htm 
Boat pic is from Carr Creek Marina located on the east end of Naval Station Annapolis 
MWR rents tents, ground tarps, screened gazebos, camp cots; ice chests; propane lantern, flashlight lanterns, 2-person cook sets and crab nets to help you experience the great outdoors.  The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. 

## Promotions

- Training and education
- Experience
- Time in service
- Performance
- Physical fitness and readiness
- Geographic and Agency mobility
- Skills and knowledge

## Qualifications for a PHS Commissioned Corps position

- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from an AVMA accredited college
- Current, unrestricted, and valid veterinary license
- U.S. citizen
- < 44 years of age
- Meet medical requirements
- Pass a suitability investigation
- Identify and compete for a position

## Appointment Process

- 		 		Step 4: Call to active duty
- 			Step 3: Obtain offer
- 		Step 2: Identify vacancy
- Step 1: PHS Application

## For More Information

- About the USPHS
- http://www.usphs.gov
- Basic pay rates:
- _[http://](http://www.dod.mil/militarypay/)__[www.dod.mil/militarypay](http://www.dod.mil/militarypay/)__[/](http://www.dod.mil/militarypay/)_
- Compute comparable civilian salary:
- http://militarypay.dtic.mil/actives/pay/calc/index.html

## Agency Contacts

**Centers for Disease Control & Prevention**
- CAPT Hugh Mainzer – HMM2@cdc.gov
- CAPT Fred Angulo – FJA0@cdc.gov
**National Institutes of Health**
- CAPT Bill Stokes – WS51w@nih.gov
- CAPT Kathy Perdue – KPerdue@niaid.nih.gov
**Environmental Protection Agency**
- CDR Stephanie Harris - Harris.Stephanie@epamail.epa.gov
**Food and Drug Administration**
- CAPT John Braddy - johnny.braddy@cfsan.fda.gov
**US Dept of Agriculture (FSIS and APHIS)**
- CAPT Sean Altekruse – Sean.Altekruse@aphis.usda.gov
**Inactive Reserve Corps**
- CAPT Roger Clemmons - rmc@neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu

## Where Are Jobs Listed?

- 		    _[http://www.USAJOBS.com](http://www.usajobs.com/)_
- 	Also:
- 	_[http://www.fsis.usda.gov/om/hrd/quickhire/default.htm](http://www.fsis.usda.gov/om/hrd/quickhire/default.htm)_
- 	_[http://www.cdc.gov/train.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/train.htm)_