USPHS Vet Category - Prior Active Duty Service

Interservice Transfers (IST) are not available to those interested in serving in the USPHS. Waivers to obtain retirement credit for more than 8 years of active service are initiated in the application process by the Career and Assignment Manager (CAM) Teams.

Waivers requested for over 8 but less than 15 years may be approved by the Director of OCCO. Waiver requests for more than 15 years will be initiated by the CAM and must be approved by the Office of the Surgeon General. Waiver requests are more likely to be approved for individuals with specialized skills in career fields with personnel shortages, or for those willing to take “hard to fill” duty assignments for their initial tour of duty. Qualified applicants that receive a waiver will be required to sign "10-year commitment letter" with the understanding that they will serve at least 10 years with the USPHS before requesting retirement.

Applicants that are currently on active duty in another uniformed service must resign their regular commission before accepting a reserve commission in the USPHS. Officers apply for a regular commission at approximately the three year point in their PHS career through a process called Assimilation. Leave earned while on active duty in another uniformed service cannot be transferred to service in the USPHS.

Prior service members in the USPHS are authorized to wear many of the awards, ribbons, and medals earned in sister services. Complete details on authorized devices and the approval process can be found in Instruction 525.01: -- Authorization to Wear Non-PHS Awards.