A Premier Opportunity in Federal Healthcare: Optometrist (Industrial) at the United States Air Force Academy

The visual fitness and clinical readiness of military personnel are fundamental pillars of national security. Service members must maintain pristine visual health to perform precision operations, navigate high-stress environments, and accomplish complex missions around the globe. To support this objective, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) is recruiting an experienced and driven Optometrist (Industrial) to join the 10th Medical Group, located at the scenic United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.

This civilian GS-12 position offers an extraordinary blend of clinical practice, occupational health management, and public service. Working in a military treatment facility provides clinical professionals with a unique opportunity to apply their expertise in a structured, state-of-the-art medical environment while serving those who defend the nation. Below is a comprehensive guide to this career path, outlining the clinical duties, essential qualifications, compensation benefits, and application guidelines for this position.

About the Defense Health Agency & the 10th Medical Group

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) operates as a highly integrated, global healthcare delivery system supporting more than 9.5 million service members, retirees, and their families. Dedicated to maintaining medical readiness and combat support capabilities, the DHA provides comprehensive physical, dental, ocular, and mental health programs worldwide.

The 10th Medical Group (10th MDG), stationed at the historic United States Air Force Academy, stands at the forefront of this mission. Nestled near Colorado Springs and Fort Carson, Colorado, the Academy serves as the premier training ground for future Air Force and Space Force officers. The clinical team at the 10th MDG is charged with optimizing cadet health and keeping active-duty personnel fully prepared for both peace and wartime operations. Choosing a career with this unit means becoming part of a prestigious medical community that values clinical excellence, continuous professional growth, and mission success.

Job Responsibilities and Everyday Impact

As an Optometrist (Industrial) at the Air Force Academy, your daily clinical practice will extend far beyond routine eye exams. You will oversee occupational eye health programs and ensure visual optimization for personnel performing industrial, tactical, and aviation duties. Key responsibilities include:

Comprehensive Diagnostics & Disease Management: Perform clinical examinations to diagnose, treat, and manage visual system disorders, ocular pathoses, and systemic conditions manifesting in the eye.
Occupational and Functional Vision Evaluation: Utilize specialized clinical instrumentation to assess patient visual fields, binocular function, depth perception, and task-specific visual abilities.
Treatment of Duty-Related Trauma: Evaluate and manage occupational eye injuries, acute chemical exposures, foreign body removals, and sudden illnesses occurring during duty hours.
Prescription Protective Eyewear Programs: Manage military safety-glass programs. Ensure personnel working in hazardous, high-performance, or industrial settings receive appropriate ballistic and protective prescription eyewear, including hands-on fitting, adjustments, and optimization.
Deployment Readiness Optimization: Play a decisive role in verifying the visual health of active-duty forces to ensure their deployability and clinical safety across global operations.

Professional Requirements and Experience Levels

To secure this GS-12 position, applicants must meet both basic clinical credentials and specific specialized experience criteria. No educational substitution is permitted for this particular grade level.

Basic Clinical Qualifications:

Educational Degree: A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree obtained from an educational institution accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) at the time of graduation. (Official transcripts must be provided with the application).
National Examinations: A passing score on all parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations.
Active Licensure: A current, valid, active, and completely unrestricted state license to practice optometry in any U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. Territory.

Experience Requirements:

In addition to the basic clinical credentials listed above, candidates must satisfy one of the following criteria:

Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized clinical experience as a practicing optometrist equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This work must demonstrate a proven history of treating and managing clinical eye diseases and visual disorders.
Clinical Residency: Successful completion of a one-year residency training program at an institution accredited for such postgraduate training.

Salary Overview and Compensation Structure

The salary for this GS-12 position ranges from $91,870 to $119,434 per year. This compensation is structured under the federal government's General Schedule (GS) system and includes standard local market supplements or locality pay adjustments for the Colorado Springs and Fort Carson geographic areas.

Because this is a Direct Hire Authority vacancy, the hiring agency has several valuable mechanisms to attract elite clinical talent. These include:

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Financial bonuses may be authorized for highly qualified candidates who must relocate or are transitioning from the private sector.
Salary Step Negotiation: Candidates new to federal service may negotiate their starting step based on extensive non-federal work experience and past compensation levels.
Student Loan Repayment: The agency may authorize participation in the federal Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), allowing for direct repayment contributions toward qualifying clinical education loans.
Service Credit for Leave: Creditable service may be granted for private-sector experience, allowing newly hired civil servants to earn annual vacation hours at a accelerated rate.

Comparing Private Practice vs. Federal Industrial Optometry

Transitioning from commercial or private practice to a federal occupational optometry setting involves unique shifts in focus, patient demographics, and overall compensation stability. Below is a comparison to help clarify the differences:

Operational Feature	Standard Private Practice	Federal Industrial Optometry (GS-12)
Primary Objective	Commercial growth & general patient care	Military clinical readiness & occupational eye safety
Patient Focus	All ages, routine refractive errors	Active-duty airmen, cadets, and hazardous-duty workers
Clinical Focus	Glasses, contacts, age-related pathology	Eye trauma management, ballistic optics, functional vision
Compensation	Profit-based, commission, or variable salary	Structured federal GS scale with stable locality pay
Relocation & Hiring Benefits	Rarely offered in independent settings	Potential relocation bonuses and student loan repayment

Comprehensive Federal Benefits

Civilian employees with the Department of Defense enjoy access to some of the most comprehensive and secure benefit structures available in the modern job market. These benefits include:

Retirement Security: A three-part retirement plan consisting of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The government matches TSP contributions up to 5%.
Insurance Offerings: Diverse healthcare coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, as well as access to federal dental, vision, life, and long-term care programs.
Paid Time Off: Accrual of separate annual (vacation) and sick leave hours, alongside 12 paid federal holidays per year.
Work-Life Balance: Structured, predictable duty schedules with no insurance billing overhead or administrative business ownership worries.

Application Procedures and Insider Tips

Applying for a federal position requires strict adherence to administrative rules. Failing to follow specific guidelines will lead to automatic system disqualification.

Strict Two-Page Resume Rule: Your federal resume must not exceed two (2) pages in length. Any application containing a resume that is three pages or longer will be removed from consideration immediately. Carefully curate your content to highlight only relevant, high-impact clinical experience.
Clearly Document Work Hours: To verify your specialized experience, you must document the specific start and end dates (Month/Year) and the number of hours worked per week for every position listed. Leaving out weekly hours will result in your application being marked as incomplete.
Submit All Required Credentials: Ensure you upload high-quality copies of your official optometry transcripts and active clinical license with your application. Missing credentials will lead to an immediate "ineligible" rating.
Avoid Clinical Jargon and Acronyms: While clinical skills are essential, translate complex military terminology or highly niche private abbreviations into clear, accessible language. Human resources personnel must understand your qualifications to rate your application successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the deadline for this position?

Applications must be submitted electronically through USA Staffing no later than August 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Q: Is this a Direct Hire position?

Yes. This vacancy utilizes Direct Hire Authority (DHA), which bypasses traditional competitive rating procedures to expedite hiring and bring qualified clinical talent on board quickly.

Q: Can military veterans and military spouses apply?

Absolutely. Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. They will be evaluated alongside all other eligible public candidates under this open public announcement.

Q: Is a clinical residency program required to qualify?

No. While completing an accredited residency qualifies you for this position, you can also qualify through one full year of specialized optometric practice at the GS-11 equivalent level.

The Optometrist (Industrial) role at the United States Air Force Academy is more than just a medical job—it is a mission-critical service position supporting the visual health and safety of the military community. Based at one of the nation's most historic service academies and backed by stable federal pay, excellent incentives, and an outstanding benefits package, this is an unmatched career move for a dedicated optometrist. Review your credentials, refine your resume to meet the strict two-page limit, and submit your application today to take the next step in your professional clinical career.

Why This Optometrist (Industrial) Job Matters

Elevate your professional clinical practice at the world-renowned United States Air Force Academy, ensuring the visual readiness and mission success of our nation's active-duty airmen and future military leaders.

Optometrist (Industrial) Job Overview

The Defense Health Agency is seeking an exceptional and dedicated Optometrist (Industrial) to join the esteemed 10th Medical Group at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. In this critical GS-12 clinical role, you will lead visual health initiatives, treat duty-related ocular injuries, perform high-level diagnostic assessments, and manage military occupational eyewear safety programs. This direct-hire vacancy offers unmatched federal benefits, including potential recruitment or relocation bonuses, student loan repayment options, and salary negotiations for candidates new to federal service.

Requirements for Optometrist (Industrial)

Must be a United States Citizen.
Possess a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from an educational program accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).
Must have received a passing score on all sections of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations.
Possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level (or equivalent) diagnosing and treating visual system disorders, OR successful completion of a one-year accredited residency program.
Your professional resume must be strictly limited to two (2) pages or less. Submissions exceeding this limit will be disqualified.
Must be able to pass a background suitability investigation and credentialing check.
Must undergo and pass a pre-employment drug screening.
Selective Service registration is required for male applicants born after December 31, 1959.

Preferred Qualifications for Optometrist (Industrial)

Prior clinical experience managing occupational health, safety, or industrial vision programs.
Clinical residency training with an emphasis on primary eye care, ocular disease, or binocular vision.
Demonstrated expertise prescribing specialized ballistic or task-specific protective eyewear for tactical operations.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Highly competitive GS-12 base salary with locality adjustments included.
✓Potential authorization of a recruitment or relocation incentive.
✓Authorization potential for the federal Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).
✓Creditable service for non-federal work experience to accelerate annual leave accrual rates.
✓Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance programs.
✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
✓Defined benefit pension plan under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
✓Paid federal holidays, annual sick leave, and generous annual vacation time.

💡 How to Apply Optometrist (Industrial) Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Optometrist (Industrial) Job

Step 1: Review your resume and ensure it is strictly formatted to be two (2) pages or less.
Step 2: Collect all mandatory supporting documentation, including your official optometry transcripts and active clinical license.
Step 3: Click the apply button to access USA Staffing and log into your active USAJOBS account.
Step 4: Answer the detailed online occupational questionnaire truthfully and thoroughly.
Step 5: Attach your tailored resume, transcripts, clinical license, and any relevant veteran/spouse preference verification.
Step 6: Review your complete submission package and finalize your application before the closing deadline on August 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.

💡 General Tips

Strict Two-Page Resume Limit: Ensure your resume does not exceed two pages. The HR office enforces a zero-tolerance policy for resumes exceeding this limit, resulting in automatic disqualification.
Specify Hours and Dates: For each job listed on your resume, you must include the company name, your exact title, the month and year of employment, and the number of hours worked per week to verify your specialized experience.
Credential Verification: Double-check that your uploaded transcripts show the degree conferral date and that your license documentation is current and clear.
Avoid Acronyms: Spell out professional organizations, diagnostic procedures, and specialized testing equipment to help non-clinical HR specialists verify your qualifications easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can educational achievements substitute for the specialized experience requirement?

No. For this GS-12 position, you must qualify based on your practical experience alone. You must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level OR have successfully completed an accredited one-year clinical residency program.

Is telework or remote work available for this position?

No. Due to the hands-on clinical nature of this role, including physical patient exams, duty-related emergency treatments, and in-person fittings for tactical protective equipment, this position is strictly on-site at the Air Force Academy.

What happens if my resume is longer than two pages?

If your resume exceeds two pages, it will be automatically removed from consideration. Please edit your resume carefully to meet this strict requirement.

Are relocation expenses paid by the agency?

Standard Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are not authorized. However, a recruitment or relocation incentive may be approved for highly qualified candidates on a case-by-case basis.

Optometrist (Industrial) Job

Military Treatment Facilities Under Dha