Military, Professional and Academic Orientation

Students without prior qualifying officer service experience must complete their service specific orientation program before actually matriculating into the School of Medicine. Orientation is conducted at the following locations:

Army*: Direct Commissioning Course (DCC) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma
*Note: Army students will complete the AMEDD BOLC-B curriculum during their four years at USUHS
Navy: Officer Development School at the Officer Training Command Newport, Newport, Rhode Island
Air Force: Commissioned Officer Training Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex Montgomery, Alabama
U.S. Public Health Service: Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland

During these orientation programs, administrative records are initiated for students entering active duty. Students are provided opportunities to purchase any required uniforms, and instructed in their proper wear. Students also learn basic information about the customs and courtesies of their Service, gain an understanding of one’s responsibilities as an officer, and begin to develop an ésprit de corps. Students who may not have been previously exposed to life in a uniformed service, typically find these orientation programs to be educational and challenging, while facilitating a smooth transition to military life.

Students report to the School of Medicine campus after completing their service-specific orientations. The University’s Brigade provides a general orientation during the first two weeks of August. During this time, the administrative requirements for registering students with the university and with their respective services are completed. Students are encouraged to finalize their living arrangements by the start of academic orientation.

Academic orientation begins the third week of August, and provides students with a more detailed overview of the curriculum, along with an introduction to the many educational and supportive resources that are available to them. Upon completing orientation at the School of Medicine, students formally begin their medical education.