Military Match

Match Processes

Air Force

Air Force (can apply for Military and Civilian positions):

Graduate Medical Education applications are submitted through the Medical Operational Data System website. However, MODS will not be accessible from computers that are not on the military network. Therefore, applicants, Medical School Officials and non-military Letter Writers won't be able to access MODS via personal or school computers. 

For applicants in medical school, in a deferred or re-deferred status, or in a civilian sponsored status, a fillable PDF application is available below. This fillable PDF application and a PDF of your CV may be submitted to the Physician Education Branch organizational email. Handwritten and late applications will not be accepted. These applications will then be transcribed line by line into MODS by Physician Education program managers. 

If applicants have access to a computer on the military network between July 1 through August 31 (e.g., during an ADT), they're encouraged to submit their application and CV through MODS. Medical School Officials and non-military Letter Writers may submit LORs, transcripts, licensing exam scores and MSPEs via the Physician Education Branch organizational email. 

Army

Start the application process in MODS as soon as possible. MODS, or the Medical Operation Data System, is the platform you will use to apply to each program. The best person to contact to gain access to MODS off-base is your local Army Healthcare recruiter.

  • The Army Medical Education Directorate publishes instructions for applying to the Match each year in July. These instructions can be accessed through MODS.
    • Pro-tip: Become familiar with the previous year’s requirements and get a head start on your application so you are not overwhelmed with the application process during your audition rotations.  You can find this information on MODS.

Navy

Navy Application Procedures

As you approach your fourth year, you will receive an email from HPSP leadership with specific instructions about your residency application timeline. Details are also included in BUMEDNOTE 1524, updated annually. Deadlines for the military match are typically a few weeks or months earlier than similar civilian deadlines. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your match year’s deadlines to maximize your chances for success.

MODS, or the Medical Operation Data System, is the service used to submit your military residency application. Start the MODS residency application process as soon as possible, especially if you are seriously considering the civilian residency match — deadlines vary between the military and civilian match, and can sneak up on you very quickly. The last thing you want is to accidentally sabotage your own residency application should any last-minute issues arise.

  • Pro-tip: MODS is only available through CAC-enabled computers. If you are not near a base or have CAC access on your personal computer, you will likely complete and submit a paper application. You will receive more detailed instructions via email from HPSP leadership when you become a fourth-year student, as well as in the BUMEDNOTE 1524 for your application cohort.

There are a couple different options of how you can do residency or intern year. The first is you could get an active duty slot, which means that you are paid by the military and don’t incur extra duty time since you are active. You could be civilian deferred, meaning that you are not paid by the military and would be considered inactive. Lastly, you could be civilian sponsored, meaning that you are paid by the military but not considered to be active, so you do incur extra duty time.

Military Match Timeline

  • In early summer, the Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board (JSGMESB) will release the list of residencies available for the next year.
  • Start filling out your application packet and ranking military residencies of your choice. If you wish to attend a civilian residency, rank that first.

September

  • JSGMESB application closes.
  • Interview with military residency programs.
  • Apply to the Electronic Residency Application Service, used for the civilian match, in case you do not match to a military residency and the military authorizes you to attend a civilian residency.

October

  • Interview with military residency programs.
  • Deadline for providing results for Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge) of your USMLE or Level 2 (Cognitive Evaluation) of your COMLEX.

November/December

  • Schedule interviews for civilian residencies for late December/January.
  • Receive results of the military match via email.
  • If you match to a military residency, you must withdraw from the civilian match process and cancel any interviews you have set up at civilian institutions.
  • If you get permission to continue in the civilian match, you must wait to find out whether you match to a program in March.