Medical Corps
Opinion – The military’s medical corps has a serious recruitment problem
BLUF – The article examines growing concerns that the U.S. military may face worsening shortages of physicians and other healthcare professionals as recruiting and retention challenges intersect with proposed reductions in incentive pays and workforce restructuring efforts. Military medical leaders and healthcare experts warn that special pays, bonuses, and scholarship programs have historically been critical tools for attracting and retaining physicians whose civilian earning potential is often substantially higher than military compensation. The piece argues that maintaining a ready military medical force will require continued investment in recruitment and retention incentives, particularly in high-demand specialties, at a time when the Military Health System is already facing staffing gaps and increased operational demands.
Medical Corps Collateral and Position Opportunities
Collateral Opportunities (Click here for more information)
– EMDP2 Interviewers, Applications, Reviewers, and Mentors (No deadline)
– Medical Corps Community Working Group Lead and Members (No deadline)
– Contributors to Military Medical Communities – monthly briefings to potential military medical students (No deadline)
– Interviewers for HPSP Applicants (No deadline)
Position Applications (Click here for more information)
– Ophthalmology Residency Program Director, National Capital Consortium – Report by 15 May 2026 (Application due 28 Jan 2026)
- Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program Director, National Capital Consortium – Report by 1 July 2026 (Application due 6 Feb 2026)
Course Announcement – Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders
Course Information:
Who: Senior Medical Corps Officers O-6 or senior O-5
When: April 27 – May 8, 2026
Where: Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC
Course Description: The purpose of the Institute is to provide an opportunity for the seasoned, practicing federal health professional to examine some of the current issues in health care policy and management and to explore their potential impact on the federal health care system. The design of the course assumes a high level of conceptual knowledge and leadership ability on the part of the participants. Given the intelligence and sophistication of these selected executives, the faculty maximizes the learning experience by presenting materials resulting from research and experience, as well as examples and case studies from the contemporary national health policy decision-making process. Faculty members seek involvement and interaction by the participants to stimulate understanding and communication across traditional agency boundaries.
Additional details and objectives can be found here: INTERAGENCY INSTITUTE FOR FEDERAL HEALTH LEADERS
Application Instructions:
Deadline: Monday, 16 February, 2026 at 1600 EST
Send the following to the Medical Corps Career Planner, CDR Marshall Hoffman:
– A current CV, biography, and why you would like to attend the course.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 