Army HPSP Commissioning Timeline. Year end cutoff date Sep/Oct?

[chips&salsa]

I was board-selected for an Army HPSP 4-year scholarship back in June 2019. I've been waiting on a disposition waiver to process that has taken a really long time. According to my recruiters, the waiver has been signed by all officers except for the last senior official (a general).

I started medical school on July 22nd, so I've been in it for a little over a month. My medical school has placed my account on hold pending HPSP payment. All my tuition and fees are still outstanding. I've basically just been living off savings for a while because I haven't accepted any loans. Unfortunately, my savings are running low and I'm worried about how long it will take before final approval of the waiver and being cleared to commission. It's a weird position to be in because I will have a hard time paying the rent after a couple more months of waiting. Also, I don't want to use loan money if the army is going to pay.

Does anyone know about the timelines for this sort of thing? I heard a rumor that there is a cutoff date at the end of September where if you don't commission in time the recruiters try to convert your application into a 3-year without telling you. This way they get a head start on meeting next year's quota. Is that true or am I just psyching myself out? (FYI, I'm not interested in a 3-year scholarship. I've already been board-selected for the 4-year and I expect back pay).

Thank you to anyone who as insights about this.

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[armytrainingsir]

I heard a rumor that there is a cutoff date at the end of September where if you don't commission in time the recruiters try to convert your application into a 3-year without telling you.

Look at the contract you signed. That is the final word on 3 vs 4 years.



Get a loan if the alternative is living on the street, dumpster diving for food, or getting kicked out of school due to nonpayment of your tuition.
Take out a loan and get the money in your bank account. If the army comes through, just pay it back immediately. If they don't, you're gonna need it. Yes, you will pay a bit of interest for having money out for a few months, but, right or wrong, that is the price for getting a waiver dependent HPSP scholarship a few weeks before school started. The big green weenie just don't move that fast.

And this is a good lesson on waiting for someone else in the army to do a simple job(for them) that has huge personal impacts on you. This won't be the last time, so you had better have or develop some good coping skills.

 

[chips&salsa]

Thank you for your reply. I did sign a 4-year contract, so I hope that remains to be the case despite the wait.

I will consider the loan option as I continue to be patient. My school has given me 120 days to make changes if desired.