SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) TRAINING PROGRAM
A. TRAINING AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST M1500.10(SERIES)
B. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6(SERIES)
C. MEDICAL MANUAL, COMDTINST M6000.1(SERIES)
1. THE HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTORATE IS SOLICITING APPLICATIONS FOR
THE FY2009 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) TRAINING PROGRAM. MEMBERS
SHOULD READ THIS MESSAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE. IN
ADDITION, UNDERSTANDING APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF REF (A) AND (B) IS
ESSENTIAL TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
2. THE CG SPONSORED PA TRAINING PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED AT THE
INTERSERVICE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM (IPAP), FORT SAM HOUSTON,
SAN ANTONIO, TX. THE DURATION OF THIS PROGRAM IS 26 MONTHS. PHASE I
(50 WKS) IS HEAVILY DIDACTIC (CLASSROOM), OFFERING 96 SEMESTER
HOURS (SH) AND CONSISTING OF MEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES. PHASE
II (54 WKS) CONSISTS OF CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND CONTINUED DIDACTIC
INSTRUCTION, IN ADDITION TO 50 PLUS SH AT DESIGNATED DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE (DOD) SERVICE SPECIFIC SITES.
3. THIS TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROCESS REQUIRES A PERMANENT CHANGE
OF STATION (PCS) AT THE END OF PHASE I. SELECTED APPLICANTS SHOULD
BE PREPARED TO PCS FOLLOWING PHASE II TO THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT AS
A CG PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.
4. THE NUMBER OF PA APPLICANTS SELECTED EACH YEAR IS BASED UPON CG
STAFFING NEEDS. THIS YEAR, NO MORE THAN FOUR APPLICANTS
WILL BE SELECTED. IPAP STUDENTS RECEIVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS)
DEGREE UPON COMPLETION OF PHASE I AND A MASTERS DEGREE UPON
COMPLETION OF PHASE II FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. WITHIN 12
MONTHS OF GRADUATING FROM IPAP CG STUDENTS WILL ATTEND A 4-WEEK
DIRECT COMMISSION OFFICER PROGRAM AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY IN NEW
LONDON, CT AFTER RECEIVING A CG COMMISSION (TEMPORARY REGULAR) AS
AN ENSIGN.
5. IPAP GRADUATES INCUR A 3 FOR 1 SERVICE PAYBACK OBLIGATION FOR
THEIR FIRST YEAR OF TRAINING AND A 1 FOR 1 SERVICE PAYBACK
OBLIGATION FOR THEIR SECOND YEAR OF TRAINING, FOR A TOTAL PAYBACK
OBLIGATION OF 4 YEARS CG SERVICE.
6. THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAS TWO COMPONENTS - QUALIFYING FOR THE
ACADEMIC AND MEDICAL PORTION AND QUALIFYING FOR THE OFFICER
COMMISSION PROGRAM.
 A. THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO E4-E9. AS PART OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS AND FUTURE CG PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS, OFFICERS UP TO THE GRADE OF O-2 WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR
ONE OF THE TRAINING TABS AUTHORIZED FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE SELECTED
OFFICER WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION.
 B. ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS:
 (1) DOCUMENTED 100 HOURS (HRS) OF PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE AS AN
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT), HEALTH SERVICES TECHNICIAN
(HS), PARAMEDIC, HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER, OR OTHER HEALTH RELATED FIELD.
DOCUMENTATION MUST BE IN LETTER FORM FROM A SUPERVISOR IN THE
FACILITY WHERE THE EXPERIENCE WAS GAINED, OR FOR CG EMTS AND HEALTH
SERVICES TECHNICIANS, A COMMAND ENDORSEMENT THAT DOCUMENTS THE
EXPERIENCE.
 (2) MINIMUM OF 60 SH OF TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDITS WITH A GRADE
POINT AVERAGE OF 2.5 ON A 4.0 SCALE. AT LEAST 30 SH MUST BE IN
RESIDENT AND UP TO 30 SH MAY BE OBTAINED THROUGH MILITARY SCHOOLS
AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (ACE), CLEP OR
DANTES. NONRESIDENT SH MUST BE ACCEPTABLE BY THE UNIV OF NEBRASKA,
AND BE REPORTED ON A COAST GUARD INSTITUTE EDUCATION ASSESSMENT
WORKSHEET, FORM CGI-1561.
 (3) COMPLETION OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES FROM A REGIONALLY-
ACCREDITED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. THE COURSES MAY BE LOWER-LEVEL
(FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE) OR UPPER-LEVEL (JUNIOR OR SENIOR) BUT MAY
NOT BE REMEDIAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL. THE COURSES MUST BE NUMBERED WITH
THE SEMESTER HOUR (SH) EQUIVALENTS LISTED AND HAVE RESULTED IN A
LETTER GRADE. THE PREREQUISITE COURSES MAY BE COMPLETED IN AN
ONLINE FORMAT PROVIDING THEY MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS DETAILED
IN THIS PARAGRAPH.
  (A) ALGEBRA (3 SH)
  (B) ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (6 SH TOTAL OR 3 SH OF EACH)
  (C) CHEMISTRY (6 SH)
  (D) ENGLISH (6 SH TOTAL - 3 SH MUST BE ENGLISH COMPOSITION)
  (E) HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (6 SH TOTAL)
  (F) PSYCHOLOGY (3 SH)
 (4) TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM A CG PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
AND/OR U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE PHYSICIAN/PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
FAMILIAR WITH THE APPLICANTS MEDICAL EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL FOR
CLINICAL CARE. ALTHOUGH LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM CG PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS ARE IDEAL, NON-HEALTH SERVICE TECHNICIAN (HS) APPLICANTS
MAY SUBSTITUTE LETTERS FROM A CIVILIAN PHYSICIAN OR PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE APPLICANTS HEALTH CARE
EXPERIENCE.
 (5) APPLICANTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO SECURE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
FROM A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR PHYSICIAN SHALL CONTACT THE PA FORCE
MANAGER IDENTIFIED AT THE END OF THIS MESSAGE.
 C. OFFICER COMMISSIONING REQUIREMENTS:
 (1) REGULAR COAST GUARD E-4 OR ABOVE IN ANY RATING, IN SECOND OR
SUBSEQUENT ENLISTMENT. WAIVERS FOR TIME IN SERVICE REQUIREMENT MAY
BE CONSIDERED BASED ON NEEDS OF THE SERVICE, BUT APPLICANTS MUST
HAVE MORE THAN 3 YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE AT TIME OF
APPLICATION.
 (2) PHYSICALLY QUALIFIED FOR WORLDWIDE DUTY AND PASS A
PRECOMMISSIONING PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IAW REF C.
 (3) NO COURT-MARTIAL CONVICTIONS OR NON-JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT (NJP)
DURING CURRENT ENLISTMENT.
 (4) UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP.
 (5) MINIMUM COMBINED SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT) REASONING TEST
SCORE IN CRITICAL READING, MATH AND WRITING OF 1530, OR A MINIMUM
OLD SAT COMBINED SCORE IN VERBAL AND MATH OF 1020, OR AN AMERICAN
COLLEGE TESTING (ACT) SCORE OF 22. THE SCORE MUST BE LESS THAN 5
YEARS OLD.
 (6) OFFICER PROGRAM INTERVIEW. THE OFFICER PROGRAMS APPLICANT
ASSESSMENT FORM, FORM CG-5527 MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE INTERVIEW
PANEL AND SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO CGPC-OPM-1 FOR ENCLOSURE WITH THE
MEMBERS APPLICATION BY 15 JUNE 2009. THE OFFICER INTERVIEW PANEL
CAN NORMALLY BE SCHEDULED THROUGH ANY CG ISC, SECTOR, GROUP, MSO OR
AIR STATION. THOSE APPLICANTS RE-APPLYING MAY USE THE SAME CG-5527
FOR UP TO 2 YEARS. THEREAFTER, A NEW INTERVIEW SHOULD BE CONDUCTED.
APPLICANTS HAVING TROUBLE SCHEDULING AN OFFICER INTERVIEW SHOULD
CONTACT THE PA FORCE MANAGER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.
 (7) DIRECT ACCESS E-RESUME.
 (8) COMMAND ENDORSEMENT TO DIRECT ACCESS E-RESUME.
 (9) LIST OF PERSONAL AWARDS (NO MORE THAN FIVE).
 (10)PRIVACY ACT RELEASE.
 (11)REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL RELEASE, FORM DD-368.
 (12)NATIONAL POLICE RECORD CHECK, FORM DD-369.
 (13)COPY OF SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
 (14)FINGERPRINT CARDS, FORM FD-258: TWO ORIGINALS.
 (15)PERSONNEL SECURITY ACTION, FORM CG-5588.
 (16)ELECTRONIC QUESTIONNAIRES FOR INVESTIGATIONS PROCESSING (E-
QIP), FORM SF-86: PROVIDED VIA COMMAND SECURITY OFFICER).
 (17)OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AGREEMENT, FORM CG-3211B.
 (18)ADMINISTRATIVE REMARKS, FORM CG-3307 ACKNOWLEDGING PROHIBITION
ON USING MONTGOMERY GI BILL FOR COURSES TAKEN AS PART OF PA
PROGRAM.
7. APPLICANTS MUST ALSO SUBMIT A SELF-COMPOSED, TYPED ESSAY (350
WORDS OR LESS) EXPRESSING THEIR REASONS TO BECOME A CG OFFICER AND
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, HOW THE CG WILL BENEFIT BY SELECTING THEM, AND
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OR EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY RESPOND TO STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS.
8. APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AN E-RESUME AND SELECT THE POSITION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT POST GRADUATE PROGRAM.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 15 JUNE 2009.
9. COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS FORWARDED VIA THE E-INTERVIEW SHALL INCLUDE
A COMMENT ON THE APPLICANTS LEADERSHIP, INTERESTS, ABILITY AND
POTENTIAL VALUE TO THE SERVICE AS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT. ONLY
ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE IMMEDIATE COMMAND ARE AUTHORIZED. IN THE "JOB
ENDORSEMENT" PAGE UNDER THE "RECOMMENDATION" DROP-DOWN MENU,
COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD CHOOSE "MAKE OFFER" TO POSITIVELY
ENDORSE A CANDIDATES APPLICATION.
10. APPLICANTS MUST SEPARATELY MAIL REMAINING APPLICATION MATERIALS
(OFFICIAL COPIES OF TRANSCRIPTS, SAT/ACT SCORES, TWO LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION, PERSONAL ESSAY, APPROVED PRE-COMMISSIONING PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, CERTIFIED DOCUMENTATION OF HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE,
SIGNED PAYBACK STATEMENT, AND A SIGNED PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT) TO
CGPC-OPM-1. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED NLT 15 JULY
2009.
11. AN APPLICANT WHOSE TRANSCRIPTS ARE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER PA PROGRAM WILL BE
DISQUALIFIED FROM APPLICATION TO THE CG PA TRAINING PROGRAM.
12. DO NOT CALL UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOR PREREQUISITE OR COURSE
REQUIREMENTS. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK AMPLIFYING INFO ON
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, PREREQUISITES, AND CLARIFICATION OF
APPLICATION PROCEDURES BY CONTACTING LCDR JAMES CANNON, COMDT
(CG-1122), AT 202-475-5183 OR JAMES.D.CANNON(AT)USCG.MIL. QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE PROCESSING OF ADV EDUCATION APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE
DIRECTED TO YN1 CHRISTOPHER HORN (CGPC-OPM-1), AT 202-493-1617.
13. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WORK-LIFE SENDS.
14. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.